Flushmaster Fresh Water Flushing System ^"

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

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 or out of the water, and irrespective of whether the engine is running or is shut off.

Description of the Background Art

Throughout the United States efforts are being taken to improve fresh water flushing systems for marine engines. The primary object of the invention is to allow the operator of a motor boat to flush the salt water entrained in the engine after the motor is turned off. Fresh water flushing is recommended universally by every marine engine manufacturer. Flushing fresh water through a marine engine substantially prolongs the life of the equipment, lowers the maintenance costs, and protects the significant investment in the engine itself.

Current systems treat the cooling system as a single cavity, as opposed to a group of cavities, water pathways, and equipment. Traditional flushing systems currently available are time consuming to use, error prone, and in many cases just not feasible to use for commercial crafts or pleasure crafts.

For example, most flushing devices cannot be used if the boat is lifted from the water by a davit or is stored in a boathouse. Current flushing equipment usually requires the engine to be running while the boat is in the water. Under certain conditions, flushing the engine can be

hazardous. The current flushing systems have limitations on convenience and reliability that make them user unfriendly. Most current systems merely relocate salt and mineral residues to another location within the cooling system.

Patent number 3,441,044 issued to Rodriguez discloses a pressure responsive valve for flushing marine engines.

Patent 3,001,546 issued to Salisbury discloses a check valve having tapered side walls and is responsive to pressure changes.

Patent 3,067,770 issued to Francher discloses a two-way pressure flow valve having tapered side walls and further having a retaining cap with an "O" ring to effect a positive seal .

Patent 3,267,959 discloses a check valve having a valve seal with an "0" ring mounted in an external groove and further having an inwardly tapered sidewall to engage the valve body to effect a proportional closing of the orifice in response to a pressure change.

Patent 3,756,273 issued to Hangesbach discloses a valve plug having an axially tapered peripheral wall and an "O" ring oriented to form a tight seal when the pressure is reduced.

None of these previous efforts, however, provide the benefits intended with the present invention. Additionally, prior techniques do not suggest the present inventive combination of component elements as disclosed and claimed herein. The present invention achieves its intended purposes, objectives and advantages over the prior art devices through a new, useful, and nonobvious combination of component elements, which is simple to use, utilizes a minimum number of functioning parts, at a reasonable cost to manufacture, assemble, test, and by employing only readily available material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is defined by the appended claims with the specific embodiment shown in the attached drawings. For the purpose of summarizing the invention, the invention may be incorporated into a fresh water flushing system for displacing sea water in a marine engine whether the boat is in or out of the water. The fresh water flushing system comprises a control panel mounted on an interior of the boat having a fresh water supply connection and a gate valve for regulating the flow of fresh water, a fresh water flush valve having an inlet port for receiving the flow of fresh water, and a plurality of axial outlet ports for proportionally discharging the flow of fresh water, and a fresh water conduit therebetween.

In addition, the system also has a plurality of tubular "T" shaped fittings interconnecting the fresh water flush valve to a raw sea water conduit on the marine engine, and a plurality of flexible hoses therebetween for establishing fluid communication between each one of the axial outlet ports and one of the tubular "T" shaped fittings.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fresh water flushing system to expel entrained sea water from a raw sea water cooling conduit of a marine engine whether the boat is in or out of the water.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a fresh water flushing system that works with a variety of marine engines including inboard/outboard engines (I/O) , V8 stern drive engines, jet skis, and the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a fresh water flushing system that can be easily retrofitted into existing boats.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a fresh water flushing system that proportions the flow of fresh water to each subsystem and component of the cooling system to insure correct filling and draining of harmful

minerals and salts and other residues from the cooling system.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a fresh water flushing system that can be easily incorporated as an Original Equipment Manufactured (OEM) component for newly manufactured boats.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a fresh water flushing system that will resist the corrosive effects of salt air and sea water on the fixed and movable working parts of the invention.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a fresh water flushing system that will not impair the operational performance of the marine engine when the fresh water flushing system is not in use and operation and the marine engine is operating in the water.

It is a final object of the invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a fresh water flushing system in accordance with the preceding objects and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction, and be easy to use so as to provide a device that would be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation, and will provide superior flushing performance.

The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring the detailed description of the preferred embodiments in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects- of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings where like numerals correspond to identical components throughout the several drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention in an inboard embodiment showing the relative location of the system to the inboard mounted motor.

Figure 2 is a conceptual flow schematic showing the control panel having a fresh water connection and a gate valve, and a fresh water proportioning flush valve in longitudinal cross-section, and a standard radiator hose therebetween.

Figure 3 is an exploded longitudinal perspective view of the proportioning flush valve showing the components of the flush valve prior to assembly.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the proportioning flush valve showing in the assembled status.

Figure 5 is a conceptual flow diagram showing the interconnection of the proportioning flush valve system to a typical raw sea water cooling conduit for a typical outboard marine engine.

Figure 6 is a conceptual flow diagram showing a plurality of proportioning flushmaster flush valves interconnecting to a raw sea water cooling conduit of a typical V-8 stern drive marine engine.

Figure 7 is a conceptual flow diagram of the invention showing the plurality of proportioning flush valves interconnecting to the raw sea water cooling conduit of a typical V-8 inboard marine engine.

Figure 8 is a conceptual flow diagram showing the proportioning flush valve interconnecting to the raw sea

water cooling conduit of a typical four cylinder stern drive marine engine.

Figure 9 is a conceptual flow diagram showing the proportioning flush valve interconnecting to the raw sea water cooling conduit of a typical four cylinder stern drive marine engine having a closed cooling system.

Figure 10 is a conceptual flow diagram showing the proportioning flush valve interconnecting to the raw sea water cooling conduit of a jet ski marine engine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to Figures 1 and 5, the invention 10 generally comprises a control panel 12, a fresh water flush valve 14, and a fresh water conduit 16 therebetween. In addition, a plurality of fresh water hoses 18, 20 is interconnected between the fresh water flush valve 14 and a plurality of "T" shaped tubular interconnections 22, 24 mounted in the raw sea water cooling conduit 26 of the marine engine 28.

As best seen in Figures 1, 2, and 8, the control panel 12 is mounted on an interior portion 30 of a boat 32, preferably in close proximity to the engine 28. Usually in a marina, fresh water is available dockside through a 1/2 inch hose outlet. Accordingly, the control panel 12 has a fresh water supply connector 34 adapted to receive a dockside source of fresh water, preferably a 1/2 inch threaded connection. The control panel 12 also houses a gate valve 36 for modulating the flow of fresh water through the fresh water conduit 16. The fresh water conduit 16 can be fabricated from any tubular material, preferably a standard 1/2 inch radiator hose.

As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 the fresh water conduit 16 interconnects the gate valve 36 and the fresh water flush valve 14. The fresh water flush valve 14 has an inlet port 38 adapted to threadably receive the fresh water conduit 16 and a plurality of axial outlet ports 40, 42 adapted for threadable attachment to the fresh water hoses 18,20 respectively for establishing proportional fluid communication between each one of the axial outlet ports 40, 42 and the tubular "T" shaped fittings 22, 24 respectively in the raw sea water cooling conduit 26. Each flexible hose 18,20 is secured to the raw sea water cooling conduit 26 with conventional hose clamps (not illustrated) .

In Figures 2 and 4, the fresh water flush valve 14 comprises an upper valve body 44 and a lower valve body 46

and a threaded nipple 48 therebetween. The upper valve body 44 and the lower valve body 46 are threadably adapted to receive the threaded nipple 48 for forming the outer shell 50 of the fresh water flush valve 14. The inlet port 38 in the lower valve body 46 is adapted to threadably receive the fresh water conduit 16 for establishing fluid flow communication between the fresh water conduit 16 and the fresh water flush valve 14. In addition, the lower valve body 46 houses a valve plunger 52 and a biased spring 54 in a cavity 56 therein. The biased spring 54 is disposed helically around the valve plunger 52 and surrounds the valve plunger 52 from a normally closed position at zero fresh water pressure to a coiled biased open status when the fresh water pressure is sufficiently increased. The valve plunger 52 has a plurality of transverse discharge ports 58, 58a for establishing proportional fresh water fluid flow through the fresh water inlet port 38 to an interior chamber 60 of the upper valve body 44.

A valve plug 62 having a recess 64 is in threadable communication with a first end 66 of the valve plunger 52 and is disposed within the threaded nipple 48. In this manner, any displacement of the valve plunger 52 results in an equal displacement of the valve plug 62. An upper portion 68 of the valve plug 62 has a first "O" ring 70 disposed on an outer periphery 72 to restrict back flow of fresh water to the control panel 12 when the flushing process is completed, or sea water when the flushing invention 10 is not in use or operation.

In Figures 1, 3, and 4 an upper portion 74 of the valve plunger 52 has a second "0" ring 76 disposed on an outer surface 78 above the transverse discharge ports 58, 58a to further restrict back flow of fresh water to the control panel 12 after the flushing process is completed. Finally, a middle portion 80 of the valve plug 62 having a tapered shape forming a conical outer surface 82, engages an interior surface 84 of the threaded nipple 48 to still

further close off back flow of fresh water to the control panel 12 after the flushing process is completed. In addition, the back flow restriction is important when the marine engine 28 is in use and operation on the high seas, and the invention 10 is inoperative. If back flow were to occur under normal operating conditions, the sea water would infiltrate through the flushing system and result in malfunction and possible harm to the occupants of the boat.

The spring 54 is in spherical biased communication with a plurality of shoulders 86, 88 on the valve plunger 52 to maintain the valve plunger 52 in a normally closed position when the spring 54 is in an extended unbiased state. When the fresh water pressurizes the valve plunger 52, the valve plunger 52 moves linearly to establish fresh water fluid flow communication between the transverse discharge ports 58, 58a and the interior chamber 60 of the upper valve body 44, and the spring 54 is compressed to a biased status.

It is shown in Figures 3 and 4 that when the fresh water pressure is relieved, the status of the spring 54 is reversed. That is, the spring 54 returns to an extended, normally closed status. The plunger 52 also returns linearly to its normally closed position and disconnects the fresh water fluid flow communication between the transverse discharge port 58, 58a and the interior chamber 60 of the upper valve body 44.

The major advantage of the invention 10 (see Figures 1 and 9) over previous fresh water flushing systems is the ability to flush the entrained sea water from the raw sea water cooling conduit 26 without pulling the boat from the water. The owner can operate the invention 10 while the boat 32 is in a slip with the engine off.

Fresh water flushing is recommended universally by every engine manufacturer. The fresh water flushing of a marine engine 28 prolongs the life of the equipment, lowers the maintenance cost, and protects the significant investment in the engine 28 itself. This ease of operation

will encourage more frequent flushing of the raw sea water cooling conduit 26 and hence, significantly increase the reliability of the engine 28 and the safety of the boat's occupants. Engine life will be increased significantly since corrosion of the engine 28 will be dramatically retarded.

Certain types of engines, particularly inboard engines and stern drive engines have very complex cooling systems . In the above cited cases, a plurality of flush valves 14 are deployed to properly proportion the fresh water flow to all of the engine cooling sub-systems and components, as best seen in Figures 6 and 7.

Additionally, as seen in these figures, when the invention 10 is in use and operation, the operator connects a source of fresh water to the fresh water supply connector 34 on the control panel 12. Then the gate valve 36 on the control panel 12 is rotated to an open position thereby establishing a pressurized fresh water flow to the fresh water flushing valve 14 through a fresh water conduit 16.

As shown in Figures 2 and 4, fresh water flows through the inlet port 38 on a lower valve body 46 of the fresh water flush valve 14. The fresh water pressure moves a valve plunger 52 to an open status and the fresh water flows through an inlet port 38 and then through a plurality of discharge ports 58, 58a disposed transversely on the valve plunger 52 into an interior chamber 60 of an upper valve body 44 of the fresh water flush valve 14.

The fresh water discharges from the upper valve body 44 through a plurality of axial outlet ports 40, 42 and enters the raw sea water cooling conduit 26 through a plurality of "T" shaped tubular interconnections 22,24, which is illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 10. The fresh water transits the raw sea water cooling conduit 26 and flushes the entrained sea water through a tell-tale nozzle 90.

When fresh water is detected exiting the tell-tale nozzle 90, the operator closes the gate valve 36 on the

control panel 12. The spring biased plunger 52 and the valve plug 62 then return to a closed position as the pressure in the invention 10 returns to- zero. The spring 54 extends to an uncoiled biased status and returns the valve plunger 52 to a closed position. The first and second "0" rings 70 and 76 respectively act harmoniously to disconnect the fresh water fluid flow communication and eliminate any back flow of fluid to the control panel 12. The fresh water flush valve 14 can be manufactured from any corrosion resistant metal, preferably stainless steel. The "0" rings 70 and 76 respectively can be manufactured from any elastomeric material, preferably polytetraflouroethylene (PTFE) .

The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims, as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of structures and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.