Patent ID: 7370611

Claim:
A cooling system for a marine propulsion device, comprising: a cooling passage disposed in thermal communication with a heat emitting component; a pump having an outlet port connected in fluid communication with an outlet conduit and an inlet port connected in fluid communication with an inlet conduit, said inlet conduit being configured to conduct water to said pump from a body of water in which said marine propulsion device is operated, said outlet conduit being connected in fluid communication with said cooling passage; a bypass conduit connected in fluid communication between said outlet conduit and said inlet conduit; an exhaust conduit connected in fluid communication with said outlet conduit, said bypass conduit being connected to said outlet conduit between said pump and said exhaust conduit; a valve connected in fluid communication with said bypass conduit and configured to affect the rate of flow of water from said outlet conduit to said inlet conduit; and a controller connected in signal communication with said valve and configured to control said valve as a function of a sensed operating parameter of said marine propulsion device.