Closed loop fluid cooling system for marine outboard, inboard, and inboard-outboard motors

1. A closed loop fluid cooling system for marine motors, comprising:

a motor cooling circuit in fluidic communication with fluid cooling jackets proximate to a motor;

a heat dissipation circuit;

the motor cooling circuit in closed fluidic communication with the heat dissipation circuit;

a cooling fluid that circulates between the motor cooling circuit and the heat dissipation circuit;

a heat dissipation member in fluidic communication with the heat dissipation circuit to receive the circulating cooling fluid, and the heat dissipation member submerged in a body of water to transfer heat from the cooling fluid to the body of water;

a temperature control valve in fluidic communication with the motor cooling circuit and the heat dissipation circuit; and

the temperature control valve connects the motor cooling circuit and the heat dissipation circuit in response to a temperature change of the cooling fluid or the motor to provide for the circulation of the cooling fluid between the motor cooling circuit and the heat dissipation circuit.

2. The closed loop fluid cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature control valve provides flow of the cooling fluid to the heat dissipation circuit after a temperature of the cooling fluid rises to a threshold level.

3. The closed loop fluid cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein the flow of the cooling fluid from the motor cooling circuit to the heat dissipation circuit is shut off, and a temperature of a gearbox is raised.

4. The closed loop fluid cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein the heat dissipation member is in indirect thermal communication with the body of water to dissipate heat from the motor cooling circuit; wherein the heat dissipation member is isolated from the body of water.

5. The closed loop fluid cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein the closed loop cooling system does not draw water from the body of water into the motor cooling circuit, the heat dissipation circuit, or the heat dissipation member.

6. The closed loop fluid cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein the heat dissipation circuit is in fluidic communication with gearbox lubricant in a gearbox that is operably connected with the motor, with fluid cooling jackets of the gearbox, with fluid passages of a directional control skeg, with fluid passages within a submerged fin, or with a heat dissipation device integrated into a submerged portion of a boat hull.

7. The closed loop fluid cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein the cooling fluid circulates in the motor cooling circuit and the heat dissipation circuit to control heat dissipation from the motor, and the cooling fluid circulates in a gearbox to lubricate gears in the gearbox.

8. The closed loop fluid cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein the cooling fluid is oil.

9. The closed loop fluid cooling system according to claim 1 , further comprising one or more pumps in fluidic communication with the closed cooling system in order to transfer the cooling fluid between the motor cooling circuit and the heat dissipation circuit, and further comprising one or more fluid filters in fluidic communication with the closed cooling system.

10. The closed loop fluid cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature control valve opens and fluidly connects the motor cooling circuit with the heat dissipation circuit after a temperature of the engine or a temperature of the fluid raises to a lower threshold temperature.

11. The closed loop fluid cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein the valve closes and disconnects the heat dissipation circuit from the motor cooling circuit after a temperature of the motor or the fluid falls to a threshold temperature.

12. The closed loop fluid cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a thermal actuator.

13. The closed loop fluid cooling system according to claim 12 , wherein the thermal actuator comprises a wax-based thermal actuator.

14. The closed loop fluid cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature control valve is configured to permit a partial or complete flow of the cooling fluid through the heat dissipation circuit.

15. The closed loop fluid cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein the heat dissipation member is a gearbox that is operably connected with the motor, a lower unit that is operably connected with the motor, a skeg of the motor, a fin extending downward from a hull of a boat, or a heat dissipation device integrated into a submerged portion of the hull of the boat.

16. A marine vessel having a motor for propelling the marine vessel, the motor having a fluid cooling system, the improvement comprising:

a motor cooling circuit in fluidic communication with fluid cooling jackets proximate to the motor;

a heat dissipation circuit;

the motor cooling circuit in closed fluidic communication with the heat dissipation circuit;

a cooling fluid that circulates between the motor cooling circuit and the heat dissipation circuit;

a heat dissipation member in fluidic communication with the heat dissipation circuit to receive the circulating cooling fluid, and the heat dissipation member submerged in a body of water on which the marine vessel is afloat to transfer heat from the cooling fluid to the body of water; and

a thermostatic control comprising a heat dissipation mode for operating the cooling system and a heat preservation mode for operating the cooling system, wherein the heat dissipation mode permits or causes flow of the cooling fluid from the motor cooling circuit to the heat dissipation circuit and the heat preservation circuit stops flow of the cooling fluid from the motor cooling circuit to the heat dissipation circuit.

17. A method of controlling an operating temperature of a marine motor, comprising:

providing a cooling system for the marine motor, comprising:

a motor cooling circuit in fluidic communication with fluid cooling jackets about proximate to the marine motor;

a heat dissipation circuit;

the motor cooling circuit in closed fluidic communication with the heat dissipation circuit;

a cooling fluid that circulates between the motor cooling circuit and the heat dissipation circuit;

a heat dissipation member in fluidic communication with the heat dissipation circuit to receive the circulating cooling fluid, and the heat dissipation member submerged in a body of water to transfer heat from the cooling fluid to the body of water; and

a temperature control valve in fluidic communication with the motor cooling circuit and the heat dissipation circuit;

actuating the temperature control valve to permit flow of the cooling fluid from the motor cooling circuit to the heat dissipation circuit; and

actuating the temperature control valve to shut off flow of the cooling fluid from the motor cooling circuit to the heat dissipation circuit.

18. The method of controlling an operating temperature of a marine motor according to claim 17 , further comprising actuating the temperature control valve to permit flow of the cooling fluid from the motor cooling circuit to the heat dissipation circuit when a temperature of the motor has raised to a predetermined upper threshold temperature.

19. The method of controlling an operating temperature of a marine motor according to claim 17 , further comprising actuating the temperature control valve to shut off flow of the cooling fluid from the motor cooling circuit to the heat dissipation circuit when a temperature of the motor has lowered to a predetermined lower threshold temperature.

20. The method of controlling an operating temperature of a marine motor according to claim 17 , further comprising indirectly dissipating heat to the body of water from the heat dissipation circuit.

21. The method of controlling an operating temperature of a marine motor according to claim 17 , further comprising elevating a temperature of a submerged gearbox.