Marine engine flushing and lubricating accessory

Abstract

An improved flushing system accessory that comprises a connector and a lubricating-fluid vessel. The connector has a threaded first intake port connected to a water supply hose, and a second intake port coupled to a non-vented bottle containing lubricating fluid. The connector further includes a threaded outlet port sized for connection to a marine engine flushing accessory. The connector has an internal chamber to draw fluid from which is divided by a partition wall into a first passageway and a second passageway. The intake and outlet ports are in fluid communication with the interior chamber. Lubricating fluid supplied by the lubricating-fluid vessel, and water supplied by a water supply hose, enter through a first and second intake port, respectively. They then pass through the connector outlet port and into an attached marine engine flushing accessory.

Claims

1. A flushing system accessory comprising: a connector housing having a first intake port securable to a source of pressurized water, a second intake port, and an outlet port securable to a marine engine; a bottle containing lubricating fluid threadingly coupled to said second intake port, said bottle having a single threaded opening; a directional wall forming a first passageway for bleeding a predetermined amount of pressurized water into said threaded opening of said bottle, a second passageway drawing lubricating fluid from said bottle into a mixing chamber, and a third passageway directing the remaining amount of said pressurized water into said mixing chamber; wherein lubricating fluid from said bottle and pressurized water is admixed in said mixing chamber and directed through said outlet port to the marine engine.

2. The flushing system accessory according to claim 1, wherein said second intake port includes threads constructed and arranged to engage said threaded opening on said bottle.

3. The flushing system accessory according to claim 1, further including threads disposed on said first intake port for receipt of a hose of a predefined length and diameter having a threaded first end sized to engage said threads on said first intake port and a second end constructed and arranged to engage a source of water.

4. The flushing system accessory according to claim 1, further including a restriction member positioned within said first intake port, said restriction member having a predefined inner diameter aperture to restrict the amount of pressurized water entering said first and said second passageway.

5. The flushing system accessory according to claim 4, wherein said restriction member has an outer diameter of about 1 inch, a sidewall diameter of about 0.20 inches, an inner diameter of about 0.60 inches, and a thickness of about 0.10 inches.

6. The flushing system accessory according to claim 1, further including an on-off valve coupled to said first intake port, said on-off valve having a manually rotatable handle to adjust the flow of pressurized water.

7. The flushing system accessory according to claim 1, wherein said first passageway is sized to insert fluid into said bottle at a rate equal to or exceeding a rate of fluid flow through said second passageway.

8. The flushing system accessory according to claim 1, wherein said first passageway is smaller than said second passageway, and said second passageway is smaller than said third passageway.

9. The flushing system accessory according to claim 1, further including threads disposed on said outlet port for securement to a marine engine flushing aid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the flushing and lubricating device of the prior art;

(2) FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of the flushing and lubricating device of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the flushing and lubricating device of the present invention attached to a sealing cup of a conventional marine engine flushing aid;

(4) FIG. 4 is a side view of the collector and bottle;

(5) FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the collector;

(6) FIG. 6 is a top view of the collector;

(7) FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the collector, restrictor gasket and on-off valve; and

(8) FIG. 8 is a top view of the collector with restrictor gasket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(9) Detailed embodiments of the instant invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific functional and structural details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representation basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

(10) With reference to FIG. 1, set forth is the flushing accessory 10 of the prior art shown attached to a motor 14 extending from the rear or stern 16 of the boat 12. The flushing accessory 10, described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,836, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference, is formed from a connector 20 for securing a disposable bottle 22 to a marine engine flushing accessory formed from a U-shaped ear-muff bracket 66. The connector 20 has a first intake port 26, a second intake port 28, and a single outlet port 30. The connector 20 is coupled to a first sealing cup 64 placed against a marine engine water cooling jacket inlet located on the lower unit 18 of the outboard motor. The first sealing cup 64 is connected, via the U-shaped bracket 66, to a second sealing cup 65 positioned on the opposite side of the outboard motor lower unit 18. The first and second sealing cups 64, 65 of the U-shaped bracket 66 cooperate to secure the outlet port 30 against the marine engine water inlet. The first intake port 26 contains threads sized to engage a disposable bottle 22 containing a lubricating fluid; the disposable bottle 22 having a vent opening 50 that extends through the bottom wall 52 of the bottle 22 to prevent creation of a vacuum within the bottle when fluid is drawn out of the bottle. When the outlet port 30 is fluidly coupled with the marine engine water inlet, lubricating fluid and a continuous supply of water passes through the connector 20 and enters the marine engine lower unit 18. Operating the marine engine water pump as the lubricating fluid and water are introduced, will simultaneously lubricate and flush the marine engine, lengthening the operating life of the motor. The use of a vented bottle requires a vent opening to be formed before use. The vent must be positioned in a location that prevents leakage. Further, if over-pressurization of the incoming water occurs, lubricating fluid can be pushed out the vent.

(11) Referring now to FIGS. 2-8, the flushing system accessory of the instant invention comprises a connector housing 100 having a first intake port 102 securable to a source of pressurized water, such as a conventional garden hose 103. In the preferred embodiment, an on-off valve 104 is positioned between the first intake port 102 and the garden hose 103. The on-off valve 104 has a threaded socket inlet 105 and a threaded male outlet 106, using a manually rotatable handle 108 to adjust the flow of water from the source of pressurized water. The threaded socket inlet 105 is constructed for receipt of a conventional garden hose 103 of a length and diameter having a threaded first end sized to engage the threads on the inlet 105 and a second end, not shown, constructed and arranged to engage a source of water, such as a conventional water spigot used on residential and commercial properties. The first intake port 102 has a threaded inlet 110. A second intake port 112, having a threaded inlet 114, is constructed and arranged to receive a bottle 116 storing a lubricant 118. The bottle 116 is non-vented, with the only aperture being a threaded opening 120 securable to the threaded inlet 114. The use of a non-vented bottle 116 allows for secure shipping and storage by eliminating the need for a preformed vent aperture, as required on the known prior art. Further, a non-vented bottle 116 eliminates the need for vent forming at the time of use, which otherwise requires the use of a sharp tool to puncture the bottle. In addition, a non-vented bottle 116 can be refilled and reused indefinitely, further reducing the cost of the flushing operation. The connector housing 100 includes an outlet port 122 having a threaded surface 124 for direct securement to an outboard motor flushing accessory formed from a U-shaped ear-muff bracket 66 having a sealing cup 64, 65 that engages each side of the lower unit 18 of the outboard motor 14.

(12) Referring in particular to FIG. 5, set forth is a cross sectional view of the connector 100 having a directional wall 140 forming a first passageway 142 for bleeding a predetermined amount of pressurized water into the second intake port 112 that secures to the bottle 116. A second passageway 144 receives the majority of the pressurized water which passes the directional wall 140 end 146, which has an angled lip 148, causing a draw of lubricating fluid 118 from the bottle 116 into a mixing chamber 150 through a third passageway 152. The first passageway 142 refills the bottle 116 as the lubricating fluid 118 is being drawn through the third passageway 152. The first passageway 142 is constructed and arranged to match the flow rate through the mixing chamber 150, providing a mix of a predetermined ratio. The lubricating fluid 118 from said bottle 116 and the pressurized water directed through the second passageway 144 is admixed in the mixing chamber 150 and directed through the outlet port 122 to the outboard motor flushing accessory 10.

(13) Referring to FIG. 6, illustrated is a top view of the connector 100 depicting the second end 154 of the directional wall 140 forming an opening 156 along the end of the first passageway 142, and an opening 158 along the beginning of the second passageway 144. In a preferred embodiment, a restriction member 160 is positioned between the connector 100 and the on-off valve 104. The restrictor 160 is preferable made of rubber, and provides a flexible gasket to accommodate various flow rates and pressures from the water source. The restriction member 160 has an outer diameter d1 of 1 inch, a sidewall diameter d2 of 0.20 inches, an inner diameter d3 of 0.60 inches, and a thickness of 0.10 inches. A predefined inner diameter d3 forms an aperture 161 restricts the amount of pressurized water entering the first passageway 142 and second passageway 144, as depicted in FIG. 8. The restriction member 160 is sized to allow the insertion of water into the bottle at a rate equal to or exceeding a rate of fluid flow through the second passageway, so as to avoid the creation of a vacuum condition in the bottle.

(14) One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary, and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.

(15) The use of the word a or an when used in conjunction with the term comprising in the claims and/or the specification may mean one, but it is also consistent with the meaning of one or more or at least one. The term about means, in general, the stated value plus or minus 5%. The use of the term or in the claims is used to mean and/or unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternative are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternatives and and/or.

(16) The terms comprise (and any form of comprise, such as comprises and comprising), have (and any form of have, such as has and having), include (and any form of include, such as includes and including) and contain (and any form of contain, such as contains and containing) are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a device that comprises, has, includes or contains one or more steps or elements, possesses those one or more steps or elements, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more elements. Likewise, a step of a method or an element of a device that comprises, has, includes or contains one or more features, possesses those one or more features, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more features. Furthermore, a device or structure that is configured in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.