US4003331A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Exhaust valve assembly for preventing ingress of water to an outboard marine engine
Assignee: R N L I TRADING Ltd
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Filing: 1975-07-30
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Granted: 1977-01-18
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Expires: 1995-07-30
Abstract
Abstract A marine outboard motor is provided with an exhaust valve assembly to operate automatically and prevent ingress of water in the event of a capsize. The exhaust gases pass downward through a vertical tube, to a ring of exhaust ports in the tube wall and, if the engine is inverted, a weighted sleeve fitted telescopically round the lower end of the tube drops into a position where it closes the exhaust ports in a fluid-tight manner. Inside the tube is a check-valve in the form of a captive ball, that upon inversion, drops on to a valve seat located above the ring of exhaust ports.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Brian Jervis Brinton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:04
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01N; F01N13/00; F01N13/08; F01N13/085; F02; F02B; F02B61/00; F02B61/04; F02B61/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
An automatic valve assembly for preventing ingress of water to a gas-flow housing of an outboard marine engine in the event of a capsize, comprising a gas manifold for attachment to said housing and having a gas-flow opening, a gas-flow tube secured to said manifold at the location of said gas-flow opening and having its interior communicating with said gas-flow opening, said gas-flow tube being oriented approximately vertically and having at least one gas-flow port in its tube wall at a location spaced vertically from its communication with said gas-flow opening of said manifold, a movable valve member mounted on said tube and normally resting in a position where said port is unobstructed by it, which valve member is slidable relatively to said tube to a closed position where it obstructs said port if the valve assembly is inverted, and gravity-actuated valve-operating means mounted on said tube to operate said valve member and slide it into the closed position upon inversion of the assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
An automatic valve assembly for preventing ingress of water to a gas-flow housing of an outboard marine engine in the event of a capsize, comprising a gas manifold for attachment to said housing and having a gas-flow opening, a gas-flow tube secured to said manifold at the location of said gas-flow opening and having its interior communicating with said gas-flow opening, said gas-flow tube being oriented approximately vertically and having at least one gas-flow port in its tube wall at a location spaced vertically from its communication with said gas-flow opening of said manifold, a movable valve member mounted on said tube and normally resting in a position where said port is unobstructed by it, which valve member is slidable relatively to said tube to a closed position where it obstructs said port if the valve assembly is inverted, and gravity-actuated valve-operating means mounted on said tube to operate said valve member and slide it into the closed position upon inversion of the assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the gravity-actuated means comprises a weighted sleeve that is coaxial with and slides telescopically about the tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
A device according to claim 2, wherein, the tube and sleeve are vertical with the sleeve extending below the tube, and a rod fixed to and depending from the tube passes down through the sleeve and has at its lower end a stop to limit downward movement of the sleeve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device according to claim 1, the valve member comprising a gravity-actuated ball check valve contained within said tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device according to claim 4, wherein the check valve comprises a captive ball, and lower and upper ball seats which are respectively below and above said gas-flow port and between which the ball is free to move under its own weight ports.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 5, wherein the ball seat above said port is a precision valve seat of stainless steel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-01-18 | 1980-07-19 | 1981-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-01-18 | 1984-07-19 | 1985-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-01-18 | 1988-07-19 | 1989-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |