Boat engine cooling system

Abstract

The boat engine cooling system provides cooling of the engine of a boat or other nautical vehicle through both chemical coolant, such as an antifreeze solution, and environmental water; i.e., the water the vehicle is passing through. In use, heated engine coolant is expelled by the engine and passes through a coolant inlet port formed through a hollow tank, where it is transported through a coolant pipe to the engine. Further, water from the environment (i.e., the lake, ocean or other body of water the vehicle is passing through) is injected into a cooling reservoir in the hollow tank through a water inlet port. The engine coolant passing through a central portion of the coolant pipe is cooled by the water in the cooling reservoir prior to circulating back through the engine.

1 . A boat engine cooling system, comprising:
 a hollow tank having an outer wall and an engine coolant inlet port, an engine coolant outlet port, a water inlet port and at least one water outlet port formed through the outer wall;   an inner wall mounted within said hollow tank, the inner wall dividing the hollow tank into a cooling reservoir and an inner tank, the inner wall having a passage formed therethrough, the cooling reservoir being in communication with the engine coolant inlet port, the water inlet port and the at least one water outlet port, the inner tank being in communication with the engine coolant outlet port;   a coolant pipe having an inlet extending into the tank through the engine coolant inlet port and an outlet extending through the passage formed through the inner wall into the inner tank, the inlet of the coolant pipe and the engine coolant outlet port being adapted for attachment to a boat engine in order to circulate a chemical coolant through the engine, the coolant pipe being formed from a thermally conductive material and forming a heat exchange coil within the tank;   means for pumping a chemical coolant through the coolant pipe; and   means for drawing cool water through the cooling reservoir;   whereby the chemical coolant cools the engine and is itself cooled by heat exchange with cool water in the cooling reservoir.   
   
   
       2 . The boat engine cooling system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure relief port formed through said hollow tank, the pressure relief port being in communication with the inner tank. 
   
   
       3 . The boat engine cooling system as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a coolant expansion tank positioned external to said hollow tank, the coolant expansion tank being in fluid communication with the pressure relief port. 
   
   
       4 . The boat engine cooling system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said coolant pipe has a substantially serpentine contour. 
   
   
       5 . The boat engine cooling system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the passage formed through said inner wall is positioned above the engine coolant outlet port. 
   
   
       6 . The boat engine cooling system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising means for expelling water from the cooling reservoir through the at least one water outlet port. 
   
   
       7 . The boat engine cooling system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the water inlet port is formed through an upper portion of said hollow tank. 
   
   
       8 . The boat engine cooling system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the at least one water outlet port is formed through a lower portion of said hollow tank. 
   
   
       9 . The boat engine cooling system as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising a pressure relief port formed through the upper portion of said hollow tank, the pressure relief port being in communication with the inner tank. 
   
   
       10 . The boat engine cooling system as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising a coolant expansion tank positioned external to said hollow tank, the coolant expansion tank being in fluid communication with the pressure relief port. 
   
   
       11 . A boat engine cooling system, comprising:
 a hollow tank having an outer wall and an engine coolant inlet port, an engine coolant outlet port, a water inlet port and at least one water outlet port formed through the outer wall;   an inner wall mounted within the hollow tank, the inner wall dividing the hollow tank into a cooling reservoir and an inner tank, the inner wall having a passage formed therethrough, the cooling reservoir being in communication with the engine coolant inlet port, the water inlet port and the at least one water outlet port, the inner tank being in communication with the engine coolant outlet port;   a coolant pipe having an inlet extending into the tank through the engine coolant inlet port and an outlet extending through the passage formed through the inner wall into the inner tank, the inlet of the coolant pipe and the engine coolant outlet port being adapted for attachment to a boat engine in order to circulate a chemical coolant through the engine, the coolant pipe being formed from a thermally conductive material and forming a heat exchange coil within the tank;   means for pumping a chemical coolant through the coolant pipe;   means for drawing cool water through the cooling reservoir; and   means for expelling water from the cooling reservoir through the at least one water outlet port;   whereby the chemical coolant cools the engine and is itself cooled by heat exchange with cool water in the cooling reservoir.   
   
   
       12 . The boat engine cooling system as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a pressure relief port formed through said hollow tank, the pressure relief port being in communication with the inner tank. 
   
   
       13 . The boat engine cooling system as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising a coolant expansion tank positioned external to said hollow tank, the coolant expansion tank being in fluid communication with the pressure relief port. 
   
   
       14 . The boat engine cooling system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said coolant pipe has a substantially serpentine contour. 
   
   
       15 . The boat engine cooling system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the passage formed through said inner wall is positioned above the engine coolant outlet port. 
   
   
       16 . The boat engine cooling system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the water inlet port is formed through an upper portion of said hollow tank. 
   
   
       17 . The boat engine cooling system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the at least one water outlet port is formed through a lower portion of said hollow tank. 
   
   
       18 . The boat engine cooling system as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising a pressure relief port formed through the upper portion of said hollow tank, the pressure relief port being in communication with the inner tank. 
   
   
       19 . The boat engine cooling system as recited in  claim 18 , further comprising a coolant expansion tank positioned external to said hollow tank, the coolant expansion tank being in fluid communication with the pressure relief port. 
   
   
       20 . A boat engine cooling system, comprising:
 a hollow tank having an outer wall and an engine coolant inlet port, an engine coolant outlet port, a water inlet port and at least one water outlet port formed through the outer wall, the tank forming a cooling reservoir;   a coolant pipe having an inlet extending into the tank and an outlet extending from the tank, the inlet and the outlet being adapted for attachment to a boat engine in order to circulate a chemical coolant through the engine, the coolant pipe being formed from a thermally conductive material and forming a heat exchange coil within the tank;   means for pumping a chemical coolant through the coolant pipe; and   means for drawing cool water through the cooling reservoir;   wherein the chemical coolant cools the engine and is itself cooled by heat exchange with cool water in the cooling reservoir.