Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a fresh water flushing system for marine engines, and in particular to a fresh water flushing system that expels entrained sea water from a raw sea water cooling conduit of the marine engine whether the boat is in the water or out of the water, and irrespective of whether the engine is running or is shut off. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Throughout the United States efforts are being taken to improve fresh water flushing systems for marine engines. Engine manufacturers universally recommend fresh water flushing. Flushing fresh water in a marine engine prolongs the life of the equipment, lowers the maintenance cost, and protects the significant investment in the engine itself. 
   Current systems treat marine engine cooling systems as a single cavity, as opposed to a group of cavities, water pathways, and equipment. These systems typically pump fresh water through a single conduit into the engine cooling system. Additionally, current flushing systems generally operate by the simple circulation of fresh water through the cooling system at relatively constant pressure. These systems rely on the hydrodynamic forces of steady-state circulation to purge the salt and sediment from the cooling system. This simplistic approach to flushing a marine engine&#39;s cooling system is often ineffective, resulting in the relocation of salt and mineral residues to other locations within the cooling system rather than expelling them. 
   Furthermore, traditional flushing systems currently available are time consuming, complicated and ineffective at removing salt buildup. Also, the current flushing systems have limitations on convenience and reliability. 
   Accordingly, it would be beneficial to have a fresh water flushing system that proportions and controls the flow of fresh water to each subsystem and component of the cooling system to ensure effective removal of harmful minerals, salts, and other residues from the cooling system. It would also be beneficial to deliver enhanced hydrodynamic forces during the flushing of the cooling system for optimal purging. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a marine engine flushing system comprising an off-axis inlet port for receiving the flow of fresh water, a rotary distribution cylinder, and a plurality of axial outlet ports for proportionately discharging the flow of fresh water. The rotary distribution cylinder provides enhanced hydrodynamic forces that help break up salt and mineral deposits. 
   The preferred embodiment employs a control panel mounted on an interior of the boat, a freshwater supply connection, and a control valve for regulating the flow of fresh water there through. The distributing unit for the flushing system also includes a turbine assembly which includes an impeller, a plurality of inlet ports, a rotary distribution cylinder, and a plurality of metering discharge ports. Flexible hoses can be attached from the axial outlet ports to strategic locations within the engine&#39;s cooling system for optimal purging. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1A  is a section view, showing the present invention. 
       FIG. 1B  is a section view, showing the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view, showing the parts of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a cut-away view, showing the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a section view, showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded view, showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a flow diagram, showing the present invention integrated with an engine cooling system. 
   

   REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS 
   
     
       
             
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
           
           
             
               10 
               distributing unit 
               12 
               main body 
             
             
               14 
               plug 
               16 
               inlet fitting 
             
             
               18 
               turbine assembly 
               20 
               impeller 
             
             
               22 
               distribution cylinder 
               24 
               axial outlet ports 
             
             
               26 
               hose barbs 
               28 
               metering discharge ports 
             
             
               30 
               impeller blades 
               32 
               impeller entry ports 
             
             
               34 
               main body interior 
               36 
               inlet port 
             
             
               38 
               control valve 
               40 
               sea water pick-up pump 
             
             
               42 
               thermostat housing 
               44 
               first tuned exhaust header 
             
             
               46 
               second tuned exhaust header 
               48 
               outlet hoses 
             
             
               50 
               mating wall 
               52 
               turbine head 
             
             
               54 
               turbine interior 
               56 
               distribution cylinder 
             
             
               58 
               blade face 
               60 
               fresh water source 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The external and internal components of a distributing unit for use in a marine engine super flushing and corrosion control system are shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B .  FIG. 1A  shows distributing unit  10  from the side.  FIG. 1B  shows distributing unit  10  from the end. Distributing unit  10  is generally composed of main body  12  and plug  14  which are used to enclose turbine assembly  18 . Main body  12  has inlet port  36  which is positioned in an off-axis orientation as seen in  FIG. 1B . This off-axis orientation helps turn turbine assembly  18  as will be explained subsequently. Main body  12  also has a plurality of axial outlet ports  24 . Although four axial outlet ports  24  are shown in  FIG. 1A , any number can be used. A range of two to eight is believed to be optimal, but the preferred number of outlet ports depends on the type and size of the marine engine and cooling system for which the flushing and corrosion control system is to be used. 
   Inlet fitting  16  is attached to main body  12  at inlet port  36 , and hose barbs  26  are attached at each axial outlet port  24 . Inlet fitting  16  and hose barbs  26  can be screwed in place. Additionally, although inlet fitting  16  and hose barbs  26  are illustrated with “barbs,” other fastening means can be used to attach hoses or other forms of piping to distributing unit  10 . For example, screw-on hoses and threaded fittings could also be used. 
   Turbine assembly  18  is contained within main body  12 . Impeller blades  30  of turbine assembly  18  are positioned next to off-axis inlet port  36  so that fluid flow through inlet port  36  against impeller blades  30  causes turbine assembly  18  to spin inside main body  12 . Water enters turbine interior  54  of turbine assembly  18  through impeller entry points  32  (illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). 
   Referring back to  FIG. 1A , turbine assembly  18  features a plurality of metering discharge ports  28 . Metering discharge ports  28  are positioned along distribution cylinder  56  so that when the assembly spins each metering discharge port  28  alternates into alignment with corresponding axial outlet port  24 , thereby discharging a volume of water through each axial outlet port for each rotation of turbine assembly  18 . This particular feature allows for maximum fluid pressure to be discharged through each axial outlet port  24  in alternating fashion. The cyclical timing of fluid flow through each axial outlet port  24  also provides enhanced hydrodynamic forces. The oscillating pressure sequences through each axial outlet port  24  creates a non-constant fluid velocity profile which helps break down salt and mineral deposits. 
   An exploded-parts view of distributing unit  10  is shown in  FIG. 2 . The reader will appreciate that turbine assembly  18  can be contained within main body interior  34  with the use of plug  14 . Plug  14  can be attached to main body  12  in any desirable way, and can even be made detachable (such as by using threads to make it screw on and off). Turbine assembly  18  has impeller entry ports  32  located between impeller blades  30  which allow water to enter the inside of turbine assembly  18  when subjected to fluid flow through off-axis inlet port  36 . 
   A cut-away view of distributing unit  10  is provided in  FIG. 3 . The viewer will appreciate that when water flows in inlet port  36  it enters the annular flow space bounded by turbine head  52 , main body  12 , mating wall  50 , and plug  14  (not shown here). Hydrodynamic forces provided by water flowing against blade face  58  and through impeller entry ports  32  cause turbine assembly to rotate in the clockwise direction. Some of the water immediately enters into impeller entry port  32 , but some of the water travels further around the annular flow space before entering impeller other entry ports  32 . Each impeller entry port  32  opens into turbine interior  54 . Those that are skilled in the art will know that the water continues to travel in an approximately clockwise fashion as it travels down the length of turbine assembly  18  before exiting out axial outlet ports  24  (not shown here). Turbine head  52  mounts flush with mating wall  50  and creates an approximately water tight seal. This forces the water that enters inlet port  36  into turbine interior  54 . 
   An alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 4 . This particular version of the invention utilizes only one metering discharge port  28  to service a plurality of axial outlet ports  24 . Instead of employing plurality of axial outlet ports  24  down the length of main body  12 , axial outlet ports  24  are arranged in a circle around the circumference of main body  12 . 
   An exploded-parts view of the alternate embodiment of distributing unit  10  is shown in  FIG. 5 . The alternate embodiment is very similar to the version shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , except that a single metering discharge port  28  is used and hose barbs  26  are placed around the circumference of main body  12 . 
   Distributing unit  10  can be installed in many ways. One example describing a system for the fresh water flushing of a marine engine&#39;s cooling system is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,252 to Douglas Brogdon and is incorporated herein by reference. In addition, a flow-diagram for a system utilizing distributing unit  10  is provided in  FIG. 6 . Control valve  38  can be used to actuate the flow of fresh water from fresh water source  60  to distributing unit  10 . A control panel could be provided on the boat with a fresh water supply connector along with a handle that actuates control valve  38 . Outlet hoses  48  are connected to each hose barb  26  at each axial outlet port  24 . One outlet hose  48  can be attached to and allows for the fresh water flushing of sea water pickup pump  40 . A second outlet hose  48  can be attached to and allows for the fresh water flushing of thermostat housing  42 . A third and fourth outlet hose  48  can be attached to first tuned exhaust header  44  and second tuned exhaust header  46  for flushing of the exhaust headers. 
   Other arrangements for a flushing system are possible as well, and the aforementioned flow system is meant to provide only an example of how the distributing unit can be used as part of an integrated flushing system. The optimal placement locations for outlet hoses  48  varies with the marine engine for which flushing is desired. 
   One unique feature of the present invention is that it can be easily calibrated for optimal flushing of any marine engine cooling system. The quantity of axial outlet ports  24 , the size of metering discharge ports  28 , the dimensions of turbine assembly  18 , and the locations on the cooling system where outlet hoses  48  are attached can all be changed as required for optimal flushing of a given marine engine and cooling system. 
   Those that are skilled in the art will know that making metering discharge port  28  larger when increase the volume of water in a given pulse. Different marine engines have different characteristics making it desirable to have a flushing system which can be calibrated for optimal flushing of specific engines. As an example, some marine engines have larger components to be cleaned. These engines may require larger pulses for optimal flushing than marine engines with smaller components. 
   The preceding description contains significant detail regarding the novel aspects of the present invention. It should not be construed, however, as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations of the preferred embodiments of the invention. As an example, many arrangements of metering discharge ports  28  and axial outlet ports  24  are possible. Such a variation would not alter the function of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be fixed by the following claims, rather than by the examples given.

Technology Category: 2