Patent US2056674A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5362265A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5362265A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Marine engine flushing apparatus and method
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1993-05-12
•
Granted: 1994-11-08
•
Expires: 2013-05-12
Abstract
Abstract An apperatus and method for flushing a marine engine (3) which is both the flow of fluid to the marine engine (3) and the starting of the engine. The apparatus employs a conduit (14) coupled to a fluid supply (1) for supplying fluid to the marine engine (3). A valve assembly (2) is mounted to the conduit (14) between the fluid supply (1) and the cooling inlet port (2) and controls the flow of fluid to the cooling inlet port (2). The valve assembly (2) is responsive to a start signal to permit the flow of fluid; and a switch assembly (4) is electrically coupled to the valve assembly (2) and to the marine engine (3) for providing the start signal to the valve assembly (2) to allow the fluid to flow and an engine signal to the marine engine (3) to enable starting of the engine.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark Gervais
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 09:11
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63H; B63H21/00; B63H21/38; B63H20/00; B63H20/36; F; F02; F02B; F02B61/00; F02B61/04; F02B61/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A flushing apparatus for a marine engine having at least one cooling inlet port, comprising: conduit means formed at one end for coupling to a fluid supply and formed at another end for coupling to said marine engine to supply fluid to an inlet port of said marine engine; a valve assembly mounted to said conduit means between the ends for controlling the flow of fluid from said fluid supply to said inlet port, said valve assembly being responsive to an electrical start signal to open said valve assembly for the flow of fluid in said conduit means from said fluid supply to said inlet port; and a switch assembly electrically coupled to said valve assembly and formed for electrical coupling to said marine engine, said switch assembly being responsive to user input to provide said start signal to said valve assembly to cause said valve assembly to allow fluid to flow from said fluid supply to said marine engine and to provide an engine signal to said marine engine to cause at least one of enabling said marine engine to start and starting of said marine engine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
A flushing apparatus for a marine engine having at least one cooling inlet port, comprising: conduit means formed at one end for coupling to a fluid supply and formed at another end for coupling to said marine engine to supply fluid to an inlet port of said marine engine; a valve assembly mounted to said conduit means between the ends for controlling the flow of fluid from said fluid supply to said inlet port, said valve assembly being responsive to an electrical start signal to open said valve assembly for the flow of fluid in said conduit means from said fluid supply to said inlet port; and a switch assembly electrically coupled to said valve assembly and formed for electrical coupling to said marine engine, said switch assembly being responsive to user input to provide said start signal to said valve assembly to cause said valve assembly to allow fluid to flow from said fluid supply to said marine engine and to provide an engine signal to said marine engine to cause at least one of enabling said marine engine to start and starting of said marine engine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The flushing apparatus recited in claim 1, further comprising: an engine flushing accessory coupled to said another end of said conduit and formed for supply of fluid to said inlet port.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The flushing apparatus recited in claim 2, wherein said engine flushing accessory includes a self-gripping clamp.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The flushing apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said valve assembly is a solenoid switched valve assembly electrically connected to said switch assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The flushing apparatus recited in claim 1, further comprising: a universal plug electrically coupled to said switch assembly; and a dedicated plug adapter electrically coupled to said universal plug and formed for coupling of said universal plug to a socket on any of a plurality of socket types on said marine engine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The flushing apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said one end of said conduit means is coupled to a water supply.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The flushing apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said switch assembly comprises valve assembly switch for generating said start signal and an engine start switch for generating said engine signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The flushing apparatus recited in claim 8, wherein said engine start switch is a momentary switch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The flushing apparatus recited in claim 1, further including a display for displaying at least one condition of said marine engine.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of flushing a marine engine, comprising the steps of: supplying fluid to said marine engine from a fluid supply; controlling the flow of fluid from said fluid supply to said marine engine using a valve assembly coupled between said fluid supply and said marine engine; activating a switch to generate a start signal; transmitting said start signal to said valve assembly to start the flow of fluid from said fluid supply to said marine engine; and in response to said transmitting step, further communicating an engine signal to said marine engine to start said marine engine.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of flushing a marine engine, comprising the steps of: supplying fluid to said marine engine from a fluid supply; controlling the flow of fluid from said fluid supply to said marine engine using a valve assembly coupled between said fluid supply and said marine engine; activating a switch to generate a start signal; transmitting said start signal to said valve assembly to start the flow of fluid from said fluid supply to said marine engine; and in response to said transmitting step, further communicating an engine signal to said marine engine to start said marine engine.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The flushing method recited in claim 11, wherein said step of transmitting said start signal to said valve assembly starts the flow of fluid to said marine engine by energizing said valve assembly.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The flushing method recited in claim 11, further including the step of; displaying at least one condition of said marine engine.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3931828A
Cited
US4276914A
Cited
US4246863A
Cited
US4336918A
Cited
US4359063A
Cited
US4540009A
Cited
US4877043A
Cited
US5090458A
Cited
US4991608A
Cited
US4973276A
Cited
US5051104A
Cited
US5071377A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-11-07 | 1998-05-09 | 1998-11-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-11-07 | 2002-05-09 | 2002-11-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-11-07 | 2006-05-09 | 2006-11-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |