Dewatering system for submersible engine

Abstract

An engine dewatering system. The system includes a two-stroke engine having a crankshaft and a housing disposed about the crankshaft. The housing includes a drainage opening and a valve disposed in the drainage opening. The valve can be moved between an open position to permit drainage of water that may accumulate within the engine and a closed position that allows operation of the two-stroke engine. Additionally, the system includes valves coupled to vents for operating fluids, such as fuel and oil.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An engine dewatering system, comprising: 
 a two-stroke engine having a crankshaft and a housing disposed about the crankshaft, the housing including a drainage opening; and    a valve disposed in the drainage opening for movement between an open position for drainage of water and a closed position for operation of the two-stroke engine.    
     
     
         2 . The engine dewatering system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a fuel tank to provide a fuel to the two-stroke engine;    a fuel tank vent; and    a fuel tank valve disposed in cooperation with the fuel tank vent to permit selective opening and closing of the fuel tank vent.    
     
     
         3 . The engine dewatering system as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 an oil reservoir;    an oil reservoir vent; and    an oil reservoir valve disposed in cooperation with the oil reservoir vent to permit selective opening and closing of the oil reservoir vent.    
     
     
         4 . The engine dewatering system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the valve comprises a mechanically actuated valve.  
     
     
         5 . The engine dewatering system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the fuel tank valve comprises a mechanically actuated valve.  
     
     
         6 . The engine dewatering system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the fuel tank valve comprises a mechanically actuated valve.  
     
     
         7 . The engine dewatering system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the valve, the fuel tank and the oil reservoir valve are mechanically actuated valves.  
     
     
         8 . The engine dewatering system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the two-stroke engine comprises a cross-scavenged, two-stroke engine.  
     
     
         9 . The engine dewatering system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the drainage opening is disposed in a lower portion of the housing when the two-stroke engine is in an operating position.  
     
     
         10 . A method for preserving the operability of a two-stroke engine that may be submersed in a liquid, comprising: 
 providing a drainage passage in communication with a crankshaft chamber; and    connecting a selectively actuatable valve to a fuel vent.    
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising placing a drain valve in the drainage passage.  
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 closing the fuel vent via the selectively actuatable valve; and    submersing the two-stroke engine in the liquid.    
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 withdrawing the two-stroke engine from the liquid.    draining liquid from the crankshaft chamber via the drainage passage;    closing the drain valve subsequent to drainage of liquid from the crankshaft chamber; and    opening the selectively actuatable valve for the fuel vent.    
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising coupling the fuel vent to a vapor separator.  
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising deploying an oil vent valve in an oil vent coupled to an oil reservoir.  
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising closing the oil vent valve.  
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 closing the fuel vent via the selectively actuatable valve; and    submersing the two-stroke engine in the liquid.    
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 withdrawing the two-stroke engine from the liquid.    draining liquid from the crankshaft chamber via the drainage passage;    closing the drain valve subsequent to drainage of liquid from the crankshaft chamber;    opening the selectively actuatable valve for the fuel vent; and    opening the oil vent valve.    
     
     
         19 . A system for preserving the operability of a two-stroke engine after submersion in a liquid, comprising: 
 means for selectively draining liquid from a crankshaft chamber; and    means for selectively closing and opening a fuel vent.    
     
     
         20 . The system as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 means for selectively closing and opening an oil vent.    
     
     
         21 . An engine dewatering system, comprising: 
 a two-stroke engine having an actuatable drainage valve;    a fuel tank to supply a fuel to the two-stroke engine, the fuel tank being coupled to a    first vent having a first actuatable vent valve; and    an oil tank to supply an oil to the two-stroke engine, the oil tank being coupled to a second vent having a second actuatable valve.    
     
     
         22 . The engine as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the two-stroke engine is a cross-scavenged, two-stroke engine.  
     
     
         23 . The engine as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the two-stroke engine includes a cylinder, a piston disposed in the cylinder, a crankshaft coupled to the piston by a connecting rod, and a housing disposed about the crankshaft to form a crankshaft chamber.  
     
     
         24 . The engine as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the housing comprises a drainage port, the actuatable drainage valve being coupled to the drainage port.  
     
     
         25 . The engine as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the first actuatable vent valve is a mechanically actuated valve.  
     
     
         26 . The engine as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the second actuatable vent valve is a mechanically actuated valve.