Outboard motors and cooling systems for outboard motors
An outboard motor comprises a first cooling system comprising a first pump configured to circulate the first cooling fluid through the outboard motor and a second cooling system comprising a reservoir configured to contain a second cooling fluid and a second pump configured to pump the second cooling fluid to at least one component of the outboard motor. A heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat between the first cooling fluid and the second cooling fluid to cool the at least one component of the outboard motor. The second pump is located longitudinally forwardly of the reservoir and axially below the reservoir.
1 . An outboard motor extending from a top to a bottom in an axial direction, from a port side to a starboard side in a lateral direction which is perpendicular to the axial direction, and from a front side to a rear side in a longitudinal direction which is perpendicular to the axial direction and perpendicular to the lateral direction, the outboard motor comprising:
a first cooling system comprising a first pump configured to circulate a first cooling fluid through the outboard motor;
a second cooling system comprising a reservoir configured to contain a second cooling fluid and a second pump configured to pump the second cooling fluid to at least one component of the outboard motor; and
a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the first cooling fluid and the second cooling fluid to cool the at least one component of the outboard motor;
wherein the second pump is located longitudinally forwardly of the reservoir and axially below the reservoir.
2 . The outboard motor according to claim 1 , wherein the second cooling system is configured such that any air that collects in the second pump tends to move upwardly and rearwardly from the second pump to the reservoir.
3 . The outboard motor according to claim 1 , further comprising an inlet conduit configured to supply the second cooling fluid to the second pump, and wherein the inlet conduit is sloped axially downwardly from the reservoir to the second pump.
4 . The outboard motor according to claim 1 , further comprising
a transom bracket configured to couple the outboard motor to a marine vessel so as to facilitate trimming of the outboard motor through a range of trim positions; and
an inlet conduit configured to supply the second cooling fluid from the reservoir to the second pump;
wherein the inlet conduit is sloped axially downwardly from the reservoir to the second pump throughout the range of trim positions.
5 . The outboard motor according to claim 4 , wherein the range of trim positions comprises a vertical position, a tucked position relative to the vertical position, and a trimmed-up position relative to the vertical position, and wherein the inlet conduit is sloped axially downwardly in each of the vertical position, the tucked position, and the trimmed-up position.
6 . The outboard motor according to claim 5 , wherein the second pump is located longitudinally between the transom bracket and the reservoir.
7 . The outboard motor according to claim 1 , further comprising a top cowl and a lower cowl, wherein the second pump is accessible for servicing from above the outboard motor via opening or removal of the top cowl.
8 . The outboard motor according to claim 1 , further comprising a top cowl and a lower cowl;
and wherein the first pump is accessible for servicing from above the outboard motor via opening or removal of the top cowl.
9 . The outboard motor according to claim 1 , wherein the first pump is located longitudinally rearwardly of and axially below the reservoir.
10 . The outboard motor according to claim 1 , wherein the second pump comprises a pump inlet configured for receiving the second cooling fluid from the reservoir, and wherein the pump inlet is oriented upwardly in the axial direction.
11 . The outboard motor according to claim 1 , wherein the first pump is located axially lower than the second pump.
12 . The outboard motor according to claim 1 , wherein the second pump is located closer to the port side than the starboard side.
13 . An outboard motor extending from a top to a bottom in an axial direction, from a port side to a starboard side in a lateral direction which is perpendicular to the axial direction, and from a front side to a rear side in a longitudinal direction which is perpendicular to the axial direction and perpendicular to the lateral direction, the outboard motor comprising:
a powerhead;
a top cowl enclosing the powerhead in a powerhead compartment, wherein the top cowl can be opened or removed from the outboard motor to provide access to the powerhead from above the outboard motor;
a first cooling system comprising a first pump configured to circulate a first cooling fluid through the outboard motor;
a second cooling system comprising a reservoir configured to contain a second cooling fluid and a second pump configured to pump the second cooling fluid to cool at least one component of the outboard motor; and
a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the first cooling fluid and the second cooling fluid to cool the at least one component of the outboard motor;
wherein the first pump and the second pump are accessible from above the outboard motor upon opening and/or removal of the top cowl.
14 . The outboard motor according to claim 13 , wherein the powerhead comprises an electric motor, and wherein the second pump is located longitudinally forwardly of the electric motor and the reservoir is located axially higher than the second pump.
15 . The outboard motor according to claim 14 , wherein the first pump is located longitudinally rearwardly of the electric motor.
16 . The outboard motor according to claim 13 , further comprising an adapter plate below the powerhead compartment, and wherein the first pump is located on or above the adapter plate and below the second pump.
17 . The outboard motor according to claim 13 , wherein the heat exchanger is located in the powerhead compartment.
18 . The outboard motor according to claim 13 , wherein the second cooling system is configured such that any air that collects in the second pump tends to move upwardly and rearwardly from the second pump to the reservoir.
19 . The outboard motor according to claim 13 , further comprising an inlet conduit configured to supply the second cooling fluid from the reservoir to the second pump, and wherein the inlet conduit is sloped axially downwardly from the reservoir to the second pump.
20 . The outboard motor according to claim 13 , further comprising
a transom bracket configured to couple the outboard motor to a marine vessel so as to facilitate trimming of the outboard motor through a range of trim positions; and
an inlet conduit configured to supply the second cooling fluid from the reservoir to the second pump;
wherein the inlet conduit is sloped axially downwardly from the reservoir to the second pump throughout the range of trim positions.