Claims
- 1. An outboard motor comprising:a propulsion unit including a powerhead which includes an internal combustion engine, a lower unit driven by the engine and having thereon a propeller; the lower unit driven by the engine and having thereon a propeller; a cowling extending over the engine and downwardly to said drive shaft housing, said cowling defining an enclosed space containing the engine; an opening to the enclosed space comprising a necked inlet, said necked inlet extending through at least one of said cowling and said drive shaft housing to the juncture between the cowling and the drive shaft housing; a plurality of electrical control cables entering said enclosed space through said opening for controlling operation of said engine; and a housing mounted to a side of the engine and being sealed from moisture, said housing containing a plurality of electrical devices for operating said engine and having a plurality of external water tight connections for electrical connection to said devices; wherein said cables connect to preselected connections on said housing.
- 2. The outboard motor of claim 1 where said connections are plug-in electrical connections.
- 3. The outboard motor of claim 1 wherein said electrical control cables include a battery cable.
- 4. The outboard motor of claim 1 wherein said cables include an ignition starting cable.
- 5. The outboard motor of claim 1 wherein said cables include an auxiliary lighting circuit cable.
- 6. The outboard motor of claim 1 wherein said housing is mounted on the starboard side of said engine.
- 7. The outboard motor of claim 1 wherein said electrical devices include a fuse and relay assembly.
- 8. The outboard motor of claim 1 wherein said electrical devices include a starter solenoid.
- 9. The outboard motor of claim 1 wherein said housing is provided with a removable cover for accessing the interior of the housing.
- 10. The outboard motor of claim 1 wherein said housing is spaced from said drive shaft housing.
- 11. The outboard motor of claim 1 wherein a throttle cable also enters the enclosed space defined by said cowling through said opening.
- 12. The outboard motor of claim 1 wherein a fuel line also enters the enclosed space defined by said cowling through said opening.
- 13. The outboard motor of claim 1 wherein an oil line also enters the enclosed space defined by said cowling through said opening.
- 14. The outboard motor of claim 1 wherein said opening is on the starboard side of said engine.
- 15. An outboard motor comprising:an internal combustion engine and a drive shaft housing extending from said engine; a cowling extending over said engine and to said drive shaft housing, said cowling defining an enclosed space including said engine; an opening to said enclosed space comprising a necked inlet, said necked inlet extending through at least one of said cowling and said drive shaft housing to a junction between said cowling and said drive shaft housing; a plurality of electrical control cables entering said enclosed space through said opening for controlling operation of said engine; a housing mounted on a side of said engine; and a plurality of external water tight electrical connections mounted to said housing.
- 16. The outboard motor of claim 15 wherein said electrical control cables connect to preselected said connections mounted to said housing.
- 17. The outboard motor of claim 16 wherein said connections are plug-in electrical connections.
- 18. The outboard motor of claim 15 wherein electrical devices are located within said housing, said devices comprising at least two from a group of devices comprising a fuse, a relay, a starter solenoid, a suppressor assembly, and an electrical plug-in connection adapted to be connected to a battery cable.
- 19. The outboard motor of claim 15 wherein said opening is on a starboard side of said engine.
- 20. The outboard motor of claim 15 wherein said housing is mounted on a starboard side of said engine in close proximity to said opening.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation application of copending International Application Serial No. PCT/US97/10747, filed Jun. 19, 1997 claiming the benefit of U.S. provisional Application Serial No. 60/020,256, filed Jun. 21, 1996.
US Referenced Citations (10)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
406211191 |
Aug 1994 |
JP |
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60/020256 |
Jun 1996 |
US |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
PCT/US97/10747 |
Jun 1997 |
US |
Child |
09/195386 |
|
US |