Motor Flushing System

Abstract

A marine flushing apparatus for an inboard motor, generator set or air conditioning unit of an aquatic vessel, the apparatus including a fresh water holding tank with a level indicator on board the vessel, at least one flushing pump for each motor or generator set, a solenoid valve located between the at least one flushing pump and the motor or generator set and a raw water feed and the fresh water holding tank and a controller to check at actuation, the level of fresh water in the fresh water holding tank and to abort startup of a flushing sequence if the level is insufficient and to actuate a flushing sequence if the level is sufficient wherein, if the level is sufficient, the controller insures that the solenoid valve these energized after actuation of the at least one flushing pump to ensure that the raw water feed is replaced by fresh water from the fresh water holding tank without substantial interruption.

1 . A marine flushing apparatus for an inboard motor, generator set or air conditioning unit of an aquatic vessel, the apparatus including a fresh water holding tank with a level indicator on board the vessel, at least one flushing pump for each motor or generator set associated with the fresh water holding tank, a solenoid valve located between the at least one flushing pump of the motor or generator set and a raw water feed and a controller to check at actuation, the level of fresh water in the fresh water holding tank and to abort startup of a flushing sequence if the level is insufficient and to actuate a flushing sequence if the level is sufficient wherein, if the level is sufficient, the controller insures that the solenoid valve is energized after actuation of the at least one flushing pump to ensure that the raw water feed is replaced by fresh water from the fresh water holding tank without substantial interruption. 
     
     
         2 . A marine flushing apparatus for an inboard motor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein one or more fluid communication lines are provided between components in the apparatus and electrical communication lines are provided between an operations centre and/or engine room into the controller, solenoid valve, flushing pump or other electrical component. 
     
     
         3 . A marine flushing apparatus for an inboard motor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the freshwater holding tank is on board the vessel and has a level sensor adapted to sense and reporting the level in the freshwater holding tank to the controller so that the controller and any software operating on the controller can make decisions based upon the level in the freshwater holding tank. 
     
     
         4 . A marine flushing apparatus for an inboard motor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein at least one flushing pump is located between the freshwater holding tank and the solenoid valve for each motor or generator set in the aquatic vessel. 
     
     
         5 . A marine flushing apparatus for an inboard motor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each flushing pump operates on a different control circuit to allow independent flushing of each motor/generator set. 
     
     
         6 . A marine flushing apparatus for an inboard motor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the controller operates each flushing pump for a predetermined time. 
     
     
         7 . A marine flushing apparatus for an inboard motor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the controller operates each flushing pump for a time based on a measure flow rate of flushing liquid. 
     
     
         8 . A marine flushing apparatus for an inboard motor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a solenoid valve is located between a raw water inlet for each motor or generator set and a flushing pump for each motor or generator set. 
     
     
         9 . A marine flushing apparatus for an inboard motor as claimed in  claim 8  wherein each solenoid valve has a pair of inlets, one for the raw water and one for fresh fluid and one outlet which is connected to a fluid communication conduit leading to a respective motor or generator set. 
     
     
         10 . A marine flushing apparatus for an inboard motor as claimed in  claim 9  wherein each solenoid valve has a normally closed configuration in which the raw water flows through the solenoid valve and out through the outlet, and then to the motor or generator set but switchable to an open configuration in which flow of the raw water through the valve is prevented and the fresh water is allowed to flow. 
     
     
         11 . A marine flushing apparatus for an inboard motor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the solenoid valve is manually actuated from a bridge of the vessel or an engine room of the vessel. 
     
     
         12 . A marine flushing apparatus for an inboard motor as claimed in  claim 1  that is configured to be operated in a manual or automatic configuration. 
     
     
         13 . A marine flushing apparatus for an inboard motor as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the automatic mode is actuated when an ignition key for each motor or generator circuit is moved to an off position following which, the controller assumes control of flushing apparatus and motor or generator set to ensure correct flushing sequence and operation. 
     
     
         14 . A marine flushing apparatus for an inboard motor as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the manual mode is actuated manually and operation of the flushing pump occurs subsequently according to an operator. 
     
     
         15 . A method of operating a marine flushing apparatus for an inboard motor as claimed in  claim 1  in a manual mode, including the steps of actuation of the manual mode, running the motor or generator set to be flushed, polling a level sensor in the freshwater holding tank to ascertain the level in the freshwater holding tank and if the level in the freshwater holding tank is sufficient, indicating to an operator that a flushing sequence can be run but if the level in the freshwater holding tank is insufficient for flushing, indicating that the flushing sequence cannot be run at that time and that further fresh water is required in the freshwater holding tank before flushing can commence. 
     
     
         16 . A method of operating a marine flushing apparatus for an inboard motor as claimed in  claim 15  wherein upon indication that the flushing sequence can be run, the operator operating an actuator switch into an operative position to actuate one or more flushing pumps and the solenoid pump shortly thereafter. 
     
     
         17 . A method of operating a marine flushing apparatus for an inboard motor as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the operator maintains the actuator switch into an operative position for a predetermined duration and once the duration has been exceeded, the inboard motor, generator set or air conditioning unit of the aquatic vessel is deactivated while the flush is still operative to ensure that flushing liquid is in trained in the fluid circuit of the motor or generator set. 
     
     
         18 . A method of operating a marine flushing apparatus for an inboard motor as claimed in  claim 17  further including the step of maintaining the flush for a further period after deactivation of the inboard motor, generator set or air conditioning unit of the aquatic vessel to back flush through the apparatus and allow freshwater to be maintained in the solenoid valve. 
     
     
         19 . A method of operating a marine flushing apparatus for an inboard motor as claimed in  claim 1  in an automatic mode, including the steps of actuation of the manual mode, running the motor or generator set to be flushed, polling a level sensor in the freshwater holding tank to ascertain the level in the freshwater holding tank and if the level in the freshwater holding tank is insufficient, indicating that the flushing sequence cannot be run at that time and that further fresh water is required in the freshwater holding tank before flushing can commence and if the level in the freshwater holding tank is sufficient an automatic flush controller assumes responsibility for a flushing sequence and once the automatic flush controller has taken over, the operator deactivating the motor or generator set. 
     
     
         20 . A method of operating a marine flushing apparatus for an inboard motor as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the automatic flushing controller is positioned between a power source of the vessel and a bridge or operation centre of the vessel allowing the operative condition of the motor or generator set to be controlled by the flushing controller such that the automatic flushing controller continues to supply power to run the motor or generator set in order to maintain operation while the flushing sequence is undertaken. 
     
     
         21 . A method of operating a marine flushing apparatus for an inboard motor as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the automatic flushing controller includes a timer set to maintain the engine or generator set in operation for a particular set flushing period. 
     
     
         22 . A method of operating a marine flushing apparatus for an inboard motor as claimed in  claim 21  wherein once the flushing period has expired, the automatic flushing controller continues operation of the flushing pump but deactivates the motor or generator set for a purge period to back flush through the solenoid valve. 
     
     
         23 . A method of operating a marine flushing apparatus for an inboard motor as claimed in  claim 22  wherein once the flushing period has expired, the motor or generator set is powered down and once the purge period had expired, the freshwater pump and solenoid valve are deactivated and then closed respectively. 
     
     
         24 . A method of operating a marine flushing apparatus for an inboard motor as claimed in  claim 19  wherein if the level in the freshwater tank falls below a low setpoint, the automatic flushing controller shuts down in order to prevent damage to the motor and/or fluid pumps. 
     
     
         25 . A method of operating a marine flushing apparatus for an inboard motor as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the level sensor in the freshwater tank is monitored to ascertain the level of fresh water remaining to the automatic flushing controller.