Outboard motor with cowling

Abstract

An outboard motor includes an engine having an air intake device. A cowling has an internal space in which the engine is disposed and an air intake opening through which ambient air is introduced into the internal space. The internal space defines an air intake passage connecting the air intake opening of the cowling to the air intake device of the engine. An air/water separator is disposed within the air intake passage for separating water from the air. The air/water separator has a relative large volume so as to temporarily hold water from a sudden flow of water that may flow into the cowling air intake. Water accumulated in the separator is drained from the cowling.

1 . An outboard motor comprising an engine having an air intake device, a cowling defining an internal space in which the engine and air intake device are disposed, and an air intake opening through which air from outside of the cowling is introduced into the internal space, an air intake passage within the internal space, the intake passage connecting the air intake opening of the cowling to the air intake device of the engine, and an air/water separator disposed within the air intake passage for separating water from the air, the air/water separator being elongate in a generally vertical direction and having a water discharge opening arranged at a position vertically lower than a vertical center of the engine.  
     
     
         2 . The outboard motor according to  claim 1 , wherein the air/water separator extends across a majority of the width of the cowling.  
     
     
         3 . The outboard motor according to  claim 1 , wherein the water discharge opening extends through the cowling so that water is discharged outside of the cowling.  
     
     
         4 . An outboard motor comprising an engine having an air intake device, a cowling defining an internal space in which the engine and air intake device are disposed, and an air intake opening through which air from outside of the cowling is introduced into the internal space, an air intake passage within the internal space, the intake passage comprising first and second passage sections that extend generally parallel to each other and are separated from each other by a partition, the first passage section communicating with the air intake opening, the second passage section communicating with a terminus of the air intake passage so that air that enters the cowling through the air intake opening flows through the first and second passage sections, through the terminus and into an engine compartment defined within the cowling, and an air/water separator is disposed within the air intake passage for separating water from the air, the air/water separator being elongate in a generally vertical direction.  
     
     
         5 . The outboard motor according to  claim 4 , wherein air flows in a first direction in the first passage section and air flows in a second direction in the second passage section, and the first and second flow directions generally oppose to each other.  
     
     
         6 . The outboard motor according to  claim 4 , wherein the first and second passage sections extend generally horizontally.  
     
     
         7 . The outboard motor according to  claim 6 , wherein the first and second passage sections extend in a generally fore-to-aft direction, the air intake opening is positioned on one of a front side or rear side of the cowling, and the air/water separator is positioned on the other of the front side or rears side of the cowling.  
     
     
         8 . The outboard motor according to  claim 4 , wherein the air/water separator communicates with both of the first and second passage sections.  
     
     
         9 . The outboard motor according to  claim 8 , wherein the air/water separator is disposed at or adjacent a first side of the cowling and the air intake passage terminus is disposed on a second side of the cowling generally opposite the first side.  
     
     
         10 . The outboard motor according to  claim 9 , wherein the air intake opening is positioned on the second side.  
     
     
         11 . An outboard motor comprising an engine having an air intake device, a cowling defining an internal space in which the engine and air intake device are disposed, and an air intake opening through which air from outside of the cowling is introduced into the internal space, an air intake passage within the internal space, the intake passage connecting the air intake opening of the cowling to the air intake device of the engine, an air/water separator disposed within the air intake passage for separating water from the air, the air/water separator extending generally vertically and having a water discharge opening, a water discharge valve disposed at the water discharge opening and being movable between an open position and a closed position, a sensor adapted to detect an operational condition of the outboard motor, and a control device adapted to control the water discharge valve based upon a signal of the sensor.  
     
     
         12 . The outboard motor according to  claim 11 , wherein the air/water separator functions as an air intake silencer for attenuating intake air noise.  
     
     
         13 . The outboard motor according to  claim 11 , wherein the air/water separator comprises a water releasing section and a water receiving section communicating with each other, at least the water releasing section has the water discharge opening having the water discharge valve.  
     
     
         14 . The outboard motor according to  claim 13 , wherein the water receiving section comprises a voluminous chamber.  
     
     
         15 . The outboard motor according to  claim 14 , wherein the voluminous chamber has a second water discharge opening that has no water discharge valve and is always open.  
     
     
         16 . The outboard motor according to  claim 11 , wherein the air intake passage includes a plurality of air/water separators arranged physically in series relative to one another.  
     
     
         17 . The outboard motor according to  claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the air intake passage downstream of the air/water separator comprises a supplemental air inlet port opening into the internal space, the port having an air inlet valve adapted to selectively open or close the port, the valve being controlled by a control device that controls the air inlet valve based upon the signal of the sensor.  
     
     
         18 . The outboard motor according to  claim 11 , wherein the sensor detects at least one of water invasion into the air intake passage, deceleration of the outboard motor, an engine speed of the engine and a shift position of a transmission of the outboard motor.  
     
     
         19 . An outboard motor comprising an engine, a cowling enclosing the engine, and a partition defining an air passage and an engine compartment within the cowling, the partition having an aperture through which the air passage communicates with the engine compartment, the cowling having a first opening adapted so that air from outside the cowling is introduced into the air passage through the first opening, a portion of the air passage forming a water receiving chamber adapted to accumulate and hold a flow of water flowing through the air passage upstream of the chamber so that the water does not flow through the air passage downstream of the chamber.  
     
     
         20 . The outboard motor according to  claim 19 , wherein the cowling has a second opening communicating with the water receiving chamber, the second opening configured so that water is discharged therethrough.  
     
     
         21 . The outboard motor according to  claim 20 , wherein the first opening is positioned on one of a front side or rear side of the cowling, and the second opening is positioned on the other of the front side or rear side of the cowling.  
     
     
         22 . The outboard motor according to  claim 19 , wherein the partition divides the air passage into first and second paths, both of the first and second paths communicating with the water receiver, the first path communicating with the first opening, the second path communicating with the engine compartment through the aperture of the partition, and the aperture is positioned closer to the first opening than to the water receiver.  
     
     
         23 . The outboard motor according to  claim 22 , wherein the first and second paths extend generally horizontally, and the water receiver is generally vertically elongate.  
     
     
         24 . The outboard motor according to  claim 19 , wherein the water receiver chamber is interposed between the engine and a generally vertically extending portion of the cowling.  
     
     
         25 . An outboard motor comprising an engine having an air intake device, a cowling defining an internal space that encloses the engine and the air intake device, an air intake opening being formed through the cowling and enabling air from outside the cowling to be drawn into the internal space, the internal space comprising an air intake passage connecting the air intake opening of the cowling to the air intake device of the engine, and means for separating water from air flowing through the air intake passage, the means for separating water comprising a water releaser positioned at a location vertically lower than a center of the engine.  
     
     
         26 . The outboard motor according to  claim 25 , wherein the water releaser comprises an opening extending through a portion of the cowling.  
     
     
         27 . The outboard motor according to  claim 25 , wherein the engine has an air silencer positioned upstream of the air intake device, and the water releaser is disposed in the air silencer.  
     
     
         28 . The outboard motor according to  claim 27 , wherein the water releaser includes a discharge port, and a valve normally closing the discharge port and opening the discharge port when a relatively large volume of water enters the air silencer.  
     
     
         29 . The outboard motor according to  claim 25 , wherein the water separating means comprises a plurality of water separators disposed in the air intake passage, and one of the water separators comprises the water releaser.