Ships – Steering mechanism – Remote control steering excluding manual operation
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-16
2002-06-18
Avila, Stephen (Department: 3617)
Ships
Steering mechanism
Remote control steering excluding manual operation
C440S001000, C440S084000, C440S087000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06405669
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a steering system for a watercraft vehicle powered by a jet propulsion unit. More particularly, this invention relates to a novel apparatus for controlling steering and movement of a watercraft vehicle when the engine is operating at a reduced speed and a means for controlling the thrust of the water exiting the jet propulsion unit at corresponding low engine speeds.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Directional control of watercraft vehicles depend upon the thrust of the water exiting a jet propulsion unit. As the thrust of the water exiting the venturi and the exit nozzle of the jet propulsion unit decreases so does the engine speed of the watercraft vehicle. A conventional jet propulsion unit
210
for a watercraft is shown in FIG.
7
and is comprised of an inner housing and an outer housing. The outer housing comprises a water inlet portion
215
for allowing water into the propulsion unit. At low speed, the jet propulsion unit
210
creates a vacuum force at the intake through which the water travels. In a preferred embodiment, the water inlet portion is comprised of an intake grate like member, as shown at
215
. The intake grate is attached to the outer housing by means of screws at a distal end of the outer housing, and it allows for the free flow of water while protecting the jet propulsion unit
210
and its parts, such as an impeller
242
, from pulling any harmful debris into the jet propulsion unit
210
.
The outer housing further comprises a support
218
at a proximal end for receiving the impeller
242
, an impeller housing assembly
240
, and a venturi
230
. The support
218
comprises a circularly shaped aperture extending through the center of the support
218
, and is adapted for receiving the impeller
242
. In addition, the support
218
comprises a means for receiving the impeller housing assembly
240
and is secured thereto by means of fasteners and o-rings. The support
218
and the impeller housing assembly
240
are both adapted for receiving the impeller
242
and its associated wear-ring
246
. The impeller
242
comprises a plurality of blades
248
and a wear-ring
246
which surrounds the impeller
242
as it spins. The impeller
242
spins inside very tight tolerances within the propulsion unit
210
. The wear-ring
246
surrounds the impeller
242
such that if there is a problem the impeller
242
will damage an easy to replace item instead of the entire jet propulsion unit
210
. The impeller
242
further comprises an impeller shaft
244
which is connected to the drive shaft of the engine through the impeller
242
The drive shaft of the engine causes the impeller
242
to rotate during use of the watercraft vehicle. At low speed, it is the rotation of the impeller
242
which creates a vacuum that pulls water into the inlet
215
of the jet propulsion unit
210
. As the water approaches the rotating impeller
242
, the blades
248
of the impeller
242
force the water toward a venturi
230
and a steering nozzle
228
at a stem end of the vehicle. It is the thrust created by the water mass accelerating in the venturi
230
which forces water through the jet propulsion unit
210
and moves the vehicle. The configuration of the jet propulsion unit
210
together with the impeller
242
allows the spinning impeller
242
to thrust water through the venturi
230
.
The impeller
242
which is surrounded by a wear-ring
246
is further enclosed within an impeller housing
240
comprising a distal end
241
and a proximal end
249
. The distal end
241
of the impeller housing
240
comprises a plurality of apertures for receiving attaching means and securing the impeller housing
240
to the support
218
. The proximal end
249
of the impeller housing
240
has a plurality of apertures for securing the impeller housing
240
to a nozzle assembly
250
. The impeller housing
240
further comprises stator vanes
224
formed integrally within the impeller housing
240
. The spinning action of the impeller
242
causes the water to leave the impeller housing
240
in a swirling torrent of inefficient force. The stator vanes
224
located aft of the impeller
242
function to align the water as it moves away from the impeller housing
240
. Attached to a proximal end of the impeller housing
249
is a thrust cone
226
for directing the water to the nozzle assembly
250
. The thrust cone
226
controls the acceleration of the water as it exits the stator vanes
224
during its acceleration through the nozzle assembly
250
.
The nozzle assembly
250
is attached to the secondary housing by means of screws. The steering nozzle
228
works to push the exiting water rearward in a controlled stream of propulsion. As shown in
FIG. 1
, the venturi
230
is distal of the steering nozzle
228
and functions to control the thrust and velocity of the water flow exiting the impeller housing
240
. Accordingly, the water exiting the venturi
230
enters the steering nozzle
228
which redirects the water exiting the jet propulsion unit
210
, allowing for controlled maneuvering of the watercraft vehicle.
Typically, the directional control and movement of the watercraft vehicle at low speeds has been through activating the engine throttle to increase engine speed and create an increased thrust from the water exiting the jet propulsion unit. In general, the throttle controls the thrust of the water passing through and exiting the jet propulsion unit by regulating engine speed, thereby controlling the speed of the vehicle and allowing the operator to move a steering helm wheel, or a similar means, to control the directional movement of the vehicle. Accordingly, it has become common practice in the art for an operator to manually utilize the throttle together with the steering helm wheel in order to regulate the direction and velocity of water exiting the jet propulsion unit, thereby controlling the watercraft vehicle's direction for travel.
Several steering control apparatus for watercraft vehicles have been patented. The steering control apparatus disclosed in the Prior Art comprise means for controlling the direction of the fluids exiting the nozzles, thereby controlling the direction of travel of the vehicle. However, none of the patents disclose a means for controlling movement of the watercraft vehicle at low speeds by means of activating and controlling the carburetor and the air-fuel mixture being supplied to the carburetor. Furthermore, the Prior Art fails to disclose means for controlling the thrust and directional control of the vehicle at low speeds through the exclusive use of the steering helm assembly.
Therefore, what is desirable is a novel steering apparatus for a jet propulsion unit for a watercraft vehicle having a means for controlling the air-fuel mixture of the carburetor and corresponding internal combustion engine, wherein the thrust of the water exiting the venturi and corresponding exit nozzle may be alternatively controlled by the steering helm assembly or a series of electronic sensors and switches. The apparatus is variable among several different positions so that the steering helm assembly or an electronic control means may each be alternatively activated to control the thrust as well as directional movement of the vehicle during alternative riding conditions when the engine speed is low or reduced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore the general object of the present invention to provide a low speed steering system for a watercraft vehicle for controlling and enhancing the directional movement of a watercraft vehicle at such speeds.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a plurality of cables within the low speed steering system for controlling the thrust of the jet propulsion unit by means of the steering helm assembly. By placing the throttle control in an off position, the operator may control the thrust of the water exiting the jet propulsion unit exclusively by means of the steering helm.
It is an even further object of the inv
Michel Camille
Rheault Alain
Avila Stephen
Bombardier Inc.
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