Marine drive exhaust system with shaped O-ring seals

Claim 2

In a marine drive having an exhaust manifold and an exhaust elbow each having a central exhaust passage surrounded by a plurality of peripheral water passages for cooling exhaust gas in said exhaust passage, said exhaust manifold and said exhaust elbow having facing surfaces mating with each other, a resilient, shaped O-ring seal between said facing surfaces, said shaped O-ring seal having and inner peripheral rib extending peripherally around said exhaust passage and generally conforming to the shape thereof and being spaced laterally between said exhaust passage and said water passages, said shaped O-ring seal having an outer peripheral rib extending peripherally around said water passages and being spaced laterally outward of said inner rib by a gap through which said water passages extend.

Claim 3

The invention according to claim 1 comprising an inner groove formed in one of said facing surfaces and extending peripherally around said exhaust passage and generally conforming to the shape of and receiving said inner rib of said shaped O-ring seal therein, an outer groove in one of said facing surfaces and extending peripherally around said water passages and generally conforming to the shape of and receiving said outer rib of said shaped O-ring seal therein, said ribs extending beyond said grooves and being deformed upon mating of said facing surfaces to form a tight seal therebetween and isolate water between said inner and outer ribs.

Claim 4

The invention according to claim 2 wherein said grooves are formed in the same said facing surface.

Claim 5

The invention according to claim 3 comprising one or more cross-ribs extending integrally between said inner and outer ribs to support one from the other as a unitary member for placement in said grooves, and comprising one or more cross-grooves each extending between said inner and outer grooves and generally conforming to and receiving a respective said cross-rib therein.

Claim 6

The invention according to claim 2 wherein said exhaust elbow is mounted to said exhaust manifold by a plurality of bolts extending through said facing surfaces, and wherein said outer rib of said shaped O-ring seal is shaped to extend laterally inwardly of a designated set of one or more said bolts to direct and limit water flow at said facing surfaces along a path laterally inward of said set of bolts to isolate the latter from water in said water passages.

Claim 7

The invention according to claim 5 wherein said bolts of said set are generally peripherally aligned with said peripheral water passages, and wherein said outer rib is curved to extend laterally inwardly of each said bolt of said set.

Claim 8

The invention according to claim 6 wherein said outer rib at each said bolt of said set has a first portion extending toward the respective said bolt, a second portion extending from said first portion and convexly curved adjacent said bolt, a third portion extending from said second portion and concavely curved adjacent said bolt, a fourth portion extending from said third portion and convexly curved adjacent said bolt, and fifth portion extending from said fourth portion and away from said bolt.

Claim 9

The invention according to claim 7 wherein said inner rib has a convexly curved portion opposite said bolt, and wherein said third portion of said outer rib curves concavely inwardly toward said convexly curved portion of said inner rib.

Claim 10

The invention according to claim 8 wherein said convexly curved portion of said inner rib and said concavely curved third portion of said outer rib are spaced by a lateral gap therebetween communicating with water passages on both peripheral sides thereof.

Claim 11

The invention according to claim 8 wherein said first and fifth portions of said outer rib extend generally at right angles to each other.

Claim 12

The invention according to claim 2 wherein said exhaust elbow is mounted to said exhaust manifold by a plurality of bolts extending through said facing surfaces, a designated set of one or more said bolts being generally peripherally aligned with said peripheral water passages, and comprising a set of one or more pairs of cross-ribs, one pair for each said bolt of said set, each pair extending between said inner and outer ribs and being spaced by a gap therebetween receiving and respective said bolt and surrounding said bolt to isolate said bolt from water in said water passages.

Claim 13

The invention according to claim 11 wherein said inner and outer ribs extend substantially straight and parallel to each other at said bolt and on opposite lateral sides thereof.

Claim 14

The invention according to claim 12 wherein said cross-ribs extend substantially straight and parallel to each other and substantially at right angles to said inner and outer ribs, such that said inner and outer ribs and said cross-ribs form a substantially rectangular shaped enclosure around said bolt.

Claim 15

The invention according to claim 2 wherein said exhaust elbow is mounted to said exhaust manifold by a plurality of bolts extending through said facing surfaces, said bolts being generally peripherally aligned with said peripheral water passages, and wherein said outer rib of said shaped O-ring seal is shaped to extend laterally inwardly of a designated first set of one or more said bolts to direct and limit water flow at said facing surfaces along a path laterally inwardly of said bolts of said first set to isolate the latter from said water passages, and comparing a set of one or more pairs of cross-ribs, one pair for each bolt of a second set of one or more said bolts, each pair of cross-ribs extending between said inner and outer ribs and being spaced by a gap therebetween receiving the respective said bolt of said second set and surrounding said last mentioned bolt to isolate same from water in said water passages.

Claim 16

The invention according to claim 14 wherein said inner rib has a convexly curved portion opposite each said bolt of said first set, and wherein said outer rib at each said bolt of said first set has a first portion extending toward the respective said bolt, a second portion extending from said first portion and convexly curved adjacent said last mentioned bolt, a third portion extending from said second portion and concavely curved adjacent said last mentioned bolt, a fourth portion extending from said third portion and convexly curved adjacent said last mentioned bolt, and fifth portion extending from said fourth portion and away from said last mentioned bolt, and wherein said third portion of said outer rib curves concavely inwardly toward said convexly curved portion of said inner rib.

Claim 17

In a marine drive having an exhaust elbow and an exhaust pipe each having a central exhaust passage surrounded by a plurality of peripheral water passages for cooling exhaust gas in said exhaust passage, said exhaust elbow and said exhaust pipe having facing surfaces mating with each other, a resilient, shaped O-ring seal between said facing surfaces, said shaped O-ring seal having an inner peripheral rib extending peripherally around said exhaust passage and generally conforming to the shape thereof and being spaced laterally between said exhaust passage and said water passages, said shaped O-ring seal having an outer peripheral rib extending peripherally around said water passages and being spaced laterally outward of said inner rib by a gap through which said water passages extend.

Claim 18

In a marine drive having an exhaust elbow and an exhaust pipe each having a central exhaust passage surrounded by a plurality of peripheral water passages for cooling exhaust gas in said exhaust passage, said exhaust elbow and said exhaust pipe having facing surfaces mating with each other, a resilient, shaped O-ring seal between said facing surfaces, said shaped O-ring seal having an inner peripheral rib extending peripherally around said exhaust passage and generally conforming to the shape thereof and being spaced laterally between said exhaust passage and said water passages, said shaped O-ring seal having an outer peripheral rib extending peripherally around said water passages and being spaced laterally outward of said inner rib by a gap through which said water passages extend.

Claim 19

The invention according to claim 16 comprising an inner groove formed in one of said facing surfaces and extending peripherally around said exhaust passage and generally conforming to the shape of and receiving said inner rib of said shaped O-ring seal therein, an outer groove in one of said facing surfaces and extending peripherally around said water passages and generally conforming to the shape of and receiving said outer rib of said shaped O-ring seal therein, said ribs extending beyond said grooves and being deformed upon mating of said facing surfaces to form a tight seal therebetween and isolate water between said inner and outer ribs.

Claim 20

The invention according to claim 17 wherein said grooves are formed in the same said facing surface.

Claim 21

The invention according to claim 18 comprising one or more cross-ribs extending integrally between said inner and outer ribs to support one from the other as a unitary member for placement in said grooves, and comprising one or more cross-grooves each extending between said inner and outer grooves and generally conforming to and receiving a respective said cross-rib therein.

Claim 22

The invention according to claim 17 wherein said exhaust pipe is mounted to said exhaust elbow by a plurality of bolts extending through said facing surfaces, and wherein said outer rib of said shaped O-ring seal is shaped to extend laterally inwardly of said bolts to direct and limit water flow at said facing surfaces along a path laterally inward of said bolts to isolate the latter from water in said water passages.

Claim 23

The invention according to claim 20 wherein said bolts are generally peripherally aligned with said water passages, and wherein said outer rib is curved to extend laterally inwardly of each said bolt.

Claim 24

The invention according to claim 21 wherein said outer rib at each said bolt has a first portion extending toward the respective said bolt, a second portion extending from said first portion and convexly curved adjacent said bolt, a third portion extending from said second portion and concavely curved adjacent said bolt, a fourth portion extending from said third portion and convexly curved adjacent said bolt, and fifth portion extending from said fourth portion and away from said bolt.

Claim 25

The invention according to claim 22 wherein said inner rib curves toward said bolt, and wherein said third portion of said outer rib curves concavely inwardly toward said inner rib.

Claim 26

The invention according to claim 23 wherein said inner rib and said concavely curved third portion of said outer rib are spaced by a lateral gap therebetween communicating with water passages on both peripheral sides thereof.

Claim 27

The invention according to claim 23 wherein said first and fifth portions of said outer rib extend generally at right angles to each other.

Claim 28

In a marine drive having an exhaust manifold, and exhaust elbow, and an exhaust pipe each having a central exhaust passage surrounded by a plurality of peripheral water passages for cooling exhaust gases in said exhaust passage, said exhaust manifold and said exhaust elbow having facing surfaces mating with each other, said exhaust elbow and said exhaust pipe having facing surfaces mating with each other, a first resilient, shaped O-ring seal between said facing surfaces of said exhaust manifold and said exhaust elbow, a second resilient, shaped O-ring seal between said facing surfaces of said exhaust elbow and said exhaust pipe, said first shaped O-ring seal having an inner peripheral rib extending peripherally around said exhaust passage and generally conforming to the shape thereof and being spaced laterally between said exhaust passage and said water passages, said first shaped O-ring seal having an outer peripheral rib extending peripherally around said water passages and being spaced laterally outward of said inner rib by a gap through which said water passages extend, said second shaped O-ring seal having an inner peripheral rib extending peripherally around said exhaust passage and generally conforming to the shape thereof and being spaced laterally between said exhaust passage and said water passages, said second shaped O-ring seal having an outer peripheral rib extending peripherally around said water passages and being spaced laterally outward of said inner rib of said second shaped O-ring seal by a gap through which said water passages extend.

Claim 29

In a marine drive having an exhaust manifold, and exhaust elbow, and an exhaust pipe each having a central exhaust passage surrounded by a plurality of peripheral water passages for cooling exhaust gases in said exhaust passage, said exhaust manifold and said exhaust elbow having facing surfaces mating with each other, said exhaust elbow and said exhaust pipe having facing surfaces mating with each other, a first resilient, shaped O-ring seal between said facing surfaces of said exhaust manifold and said exhaust elbow, a second resilient, shaped O-ring seal between said facing surfaces of said exhaust elbow and said exhaust pipe, said first shaped O-ring seal having an inner peripheral rib extending peripherally around said exhaust passage and generally conforming to the shape thereof and being spaced laterally between said exhaust passage and said water passages, said first shaped O-ring seal having an outer peripheral rib extending peripherally around said water passages and being spaced laterally outward of said inner rib by a gap through which said water passages extend, said second shaped O-ring seal having an inner peripheral rib extending peripherally around said exhaust passage and generally conforming to the shape thereof and being spaced laterally between said exhaust passage and said water passages, said second shaped O-ring seal having an outer peripheral rib extending peripherally around said water passages and being spaced laterally outward of said inner rib of said second shaped O-ring seal by a gap through which said water passages extend.

Claim 30

The invention according to claim 26 comprising a first inner groove formed in one of said facing surfaces of said exhaust manifold and said exhaust elbow and extending peripherally around said exhaust passage and generally conforming to the shape of and receiving said inner rib of said first shaped O-ring seal therein, a first outer groove in one of said facing surfaces of said exhaust manifold and said exhaust elbow and extending peripherally around said water passages and generally conforming to the shape of and receiving said outer rib of said first shaped O-ring seal therein, said inner and outer ribs of said first shaped O-ring seal extending beyond said first and second grooves and being deformed upon mating of said facing surfaces of said exhaust manifold and said exhaust elbow to form a tight seal therebetween and isolate water between said inner and outer ribs of said first shaped O-ring seal, a second inner groove formed in one of said facing surfaces of said exhaust elbow and said exhaust pipe and extending peripherally around said exhaust passage and generally conforming to the shape of and receiving said inner rib of said second shaped O-ring seal therein, a second outer groove in one of said facing surfaces of said exhaust elbow and said exhaust pipe and extending peripherally around said water passages and generally conforming to the shape of and receiving said outer rib of said second shaped O-ring seal therein, said inner and outer ribs of said second shaped O-ring seal extending beyond said second inner and outer grooves and being deformed upon mating of said facing surfaces of said exhaust elbow and said exhaust pipe to form a tight seal therebetween and isolate water between said inner and outer ribs of said second shaped O-ring seal.

Claim 31

The invention according to claim 27 wherein said first inner and outer grooves are formed in the same said facing surface of said exhaust manifold and said exhaust elbow, and wherein said second inner and outer grooves are formed in the same said facing surface of said exhaust elbow and said exhaust pipe.

Claim 32

The invention according to claim 28 comprising a first set of one or more cross-ribs extending integrally between said inner and outer ribs of said first shaped O-ring seal to support one from the other as a unitary member for placement in said first inner and outer grooves, and comprising a first set of one or more cross-grooves each extending between said first inner and outer grooves and generally conforming to the receiving a respective said cross-rib of said first set therein, a second set of one or cross-ribs extending integrally between said inner and outer ribs of said second shaped O-ring seal to support one from the other as a unitary member for placement in said second inner and outer grooves, a second set of one or more cross-grooves each extending between said second inner and outer grooves and generally conforming to and receiving a respective said cross-rib of said second set therein.

Claim 33

The invention according to claim 27 wherein said exhaust elbow is mounted to said exhaust manifold by a first set of a plurality of bolts extending through said facing surfaces of said exhaust manifold and said exhaust elbow, and wherein said outer rib of said first shaped O-ring seal is shaped to extend laterally inwardly of a designated subset of one or more said bolts to direct and limit water flow at said facing surfaces of said exhaust manifold and said exhaust elbow along a path laterally inward of said bolts of said subset of said first set to isolate the latter from water in said water passages, and wherein said exhaust pipe is mounted to said exhaust elbow by a second set of a plurality of bolts extending through said facing surface of said exhaust pipe and said exhaust elbow, and wherein said outer rib of said second shaped O-ring seal is shaped to extend laterally inwardly of said bolts of said second set to direct and limit water flow at said facing surfaces of said exhaust elbow and said exhaust pipe along a path laterally inward of said bolts of said second set to isolate the latter from water in said passages.

Claim 34

The invention according to claim 30 wherein said bolts of said subset of said first set are generally peripherally aligned with said peripheral water passages, said outer rib of said first shaped O-ring seal is curved to extend laterally inwardly of each said bolt of said subset, said second set of bolts are generally peripherally aligned with said peripheral water passages, said outer rib of said second shaped O-ring seal is curved to extend laterally inwardly of each said bolt of said second set.

Claim 35

The invention according to claim 31 wherein said outer rib of said first shaped O-ring seal at each said bolt to said subset of said first set has a first portion extending toward the respective said bolt, a second portion extending from said first portion and convexly curved adjacent said last mentioned bolt, a third portion extending from said second portion and concavely curved adjacent said last mentioned bolt, a fourth portion extending from said third portion and convexly curved adjacent said last mentioned bolt, and fifth portion extending from said fourth portion and away from said last mentioned bolt, said outer rib of said second shaped O-ring seal at each said bolt of said second set has a first portion extending toward respective said bolt, a second portion extending from said last mentioned first portion and convexly curved adjacent said last mentioned bolt, a third portion extending from said last mentioned second portion and concavely curved adjacent said last mentioned bolt, a fourth portion extending from said last mentioned third portion and convexly curved adjacent said last mentioned bolt, and a fifth portion extending from said last mentioned fourth portion and away from said last mentioned bolt.

Claim 36

The invention according to claim 32 wherein said inner rib of said first shaped O-ring seal has a convexly curved portion opposite the respective said bolt of said subset of said first set, said third portion of said outer rib of said first shaped O-ring seal curves concavely inwardly toward said convexly curved portion of said inner rib of said first shaped O-ring seal said inner rib of said second shaped seal curves toward the respective said bolt of O-ring said second set, said third portion of said outer rib of said second shaped O-ring seal curves concavely inwardly toward said inner rib of said second shaped O-ring seal.

Claim 37

The invention according to claim 33 wherein said convexly curved portion of said inner rib of said first shaped O-ring seal and said concavely curved third portion of said outer rib of said first shaped O-ring seal are spaced by a lateral gap therebetween communicating with water passages on both peripheral sides thereof, said inner rib of said second shaped O-ring seal and said concavely curved third portion of said outer rib of said second shaped O-ring seal are spaced by lateral gap therebetween communicating with water passages on both peripheral sides thereof.

Claim 38

The invention according to claim 33 wherein said first and fifth portions of said outer rib of said first shaped O-ring seal extend generally at right angles to each other, and said first and fifth portions of said outer rib of said second shaped O-ring seal extend generally at right angles to each other.

Claim 39

The invention according to claim 27 wherein said exhaust elbow is mounted to said exhaust manifold by a plurality of bolts extending through said facing surfaces, a designated set of one or more said bolts being generally peripherally aligned with said peripheral water passages, and comprising a set of one or more pairs of cross-ribs, one pair for each said bolt of said set, each pair extending between said inner and outer ribs of said first shaped O-ring seal and being spaced by a gap therebetween receiving the respective said bolt and surrounding said last mentioned bolt to isolate same from water in said water passages.

Claim 40

The invention according to claim 36 wherein said inner and outer ribs of said first shaped O-ring seal extend substantially straight and parallel to each other at said last mentioned bolt and on opposite lateral sides thereof.

Claim 41

The invention according to claim 37 wherein said cross-ribs extend substantially straight and parallel to each other and substantially at right angles to said inner and outer ribs of said first shaped O-ring seal, such that said inner and outer ribs of said first shaped O-ring seal and said cross-ribs form a substantially rectangular shaped enclosure around said last mentioned bolt.

Claim 42

The invention according to claim 27 wherein said exhaust elbow is mounted to said exhaust manifold by a first set of plurality of bolts extending through said facing surfaces of said exhaust elbow and said exhaust manifold, said first set comprising first and second subsets, and wherein said outer rib of said first shaped O-ring seal is shaped to extend laterally inwardly of said bolts of said first subset of said first set to direct and limit water flow at said facing surfaces along a path laterally inward of said bolts of said first subset of said first set to isolate the latter from water in said water passages, a set of one or more pairs of cross-ribs, one pair for each bolt of said second subset of said first set, each pair extending between said inner and outer ribs of said first shaped O-ring seal and being spaced by a gap therebetween receiving the respective said bolt and surrounding said last mentioned bolt to isolate same from water in said water passages, and wherein said exhaust pipe is mounted to said exhaust elbow by a second set of a plurality of bolts extending through said facing surfaces of said exhaust pipe and said exhaust elbow, said outer rib of said second shaped O-ring seal is shaped to extend laterally inwardly of said bolts of said second set to direct and limit water flow at said facing surfaces of said exhaust elbow and said exhaust pipe along a path laterally inward of said bolts of said second set to isolate the latter from water in said water passages.

Claim 43

The invention according to claim 39 wherein said inner rib of said first shaped O-ring seal has a convexly curved portion opposite the respective said bolt of said first subset of said first set, said outer rib of said first shaped O-ring seal at each said bolt of said first subset of said first set has a first portion extending toward the respective said bolt, a second portion extending from said first portion and convexly curved adjacent said last mentioned bolt, a third portion extending from said second portion and concavely curved adjacent said last mentioned bolt, a fourth portion extending from said third portion and convexly curved adjacent said last mentioned bolt, and a fifth portion extending from said fourth portion and away from said last mentioned bolt, said third portion of said outer rib of said first shaped O-ring seal curves concavely inwardly toward said convexly curved portion of said inner rib of said first shaped O-ring seal, said inner rib of said second shaped O-ring seal curves toward the respective said bolt of said second set, said outer rib of said second shaped O-ring seal at the respective said bolt of said second set has a first portion extending toward the respective said bolt, a second portion extending from said last mentioned first portion and convexly curved adjacent said last mentioned bolt, a third portion extending from said last mentioned second portion and concavely curved adjacent said last mentioned bolt, a fourth portion extending from said last mentioned third portion and convexly curved adjacent said last mentioned bolt, and fifth portion extending from said last mentioned fourth portion and away from said last mentioned bolt, said third portion of said outer rib of said second shaped O-ring seal curves concavely inwardly toward said inner rib of said second shaped O-ring seal.

Claim 44

The invention according to claim 40 wherein said convexly curved portion of said inner rib of said first shaped O-ring seal and said concavely curved third portion of said outer rib of said first shaped O-ring seal are spaced by a lateral gap therebetween communicating with water passages on both peripheral sides thereof, said inner and outer ribs of said first shaped O-ring seal extend substantially straight and parallel to each other at each respective said bolt of said second subset of said first set and on opposite lateral sides thereof, said inner rib of said second shaped O-ring seal and concavely curved third portion of said outer rib of said second shaped O-ring seal are spaced by a lateral gap therebetween communicating with passages on both peripheral sides thereof.