Marine propulsion – Jet drive – Direction control for fluid jet
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-24
2001-06-12
Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)
Marine propulsion
Jet drive
Direction control for fluid jet
C440S042000, C440S082000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244914
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to water jet apparatus for propelling boats and other watercraft. In particular, the invention relates to mechanisms for steering and/or shifting a water jet apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to propel a boat or other watercraft using a water jet apparatus mounted to the hull, with the powerhead being placed inside (inboard) the hull. The drive shaft of the water jet apparatus is coupled to the output shaft of the inboard motor. The impeller is mounted on the drive shaft and housed in a jet propulsion pipe or water tunnel.
To facilitate use of water jet-propelled boats in shallow water, it is known to mount the water jet at an elevation such that the water jet does not project below the bottom of the boat hull. This can be accomplished, for example, by installing a duct in the stern of the boat, the duct being arranged to connect one or more inlet holes formed in the bottom of the hull with an outlet hole formed in the transom. The water jet is then installed outside the hull in a position such that the water jet inlet is in flow communication with the duct outlet at the transom. Such a system is shown in Australian Patent Specification No. 262306, published in 1963. Alternatively, the water jet can be installed inside the duct built into the hull, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,868.
In another type of design, a water jet apparatus is installed inside the hull and penetrates the transom. An inlet housing of the water jet has a horizontal opening and an inclined water tunnel for guiding water to the impeller. The horizontal opening of the inlet housing is mounted in a hole in the bottom or near the bottom of the hull. A similar design is disclosed in Swiss Patent No. 481788.
The prior art cited above does not disclose means for passing through the hull the control system for shifting and steering the reverse gate and the steering nozzle respectively of a water jet apparatus mounted to the hull. In particular, there is a need for a design which would allow the shift and steering control system to penetrate a horizontal section of the hull.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a shift and steering control assembly for activating the steering nozzle and reverse gate of a water jet apparatus. The water jet apparatus comprises an inlet housing which is mounted outside the hull in a cavity. The control cables are located inside the hull and activate the steering nozzle and reverse gate by means of levers and links. The shift and steering control assembly is designed for easy assembly. In particular, the shift and steering control assembly comprises a modular lever and shaft assembly which can be installed in the inlet housing, before the inlet housing is installed in the hull. When the inlet housing is installed, the modular lever and shaft assembly penetrates the hull. To facilitate passage of the upper portion of the lever and shaft assembly through an opening in the hull, one of the upper levers is not attached to the assembly until after the inlet housing is attached to the hull. Then the shift and steering cables are connected to upper shift and steering levers respectively. In the final assembled state, the shift and steering cables and upper shift and steering levers are inside the hull, while the lower shift and steering levers and the shift and steering rods reside outside the hull.
In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the modular lever and shaft assembly comprises a shift and steering control housing which is mounted to the inlet housing. The shift and steering control housing has respective bores for housing shift and steering shafts. Upper shift and steering levers are coupled to the upper ends of the shift and steering shafts respectively, while lower shift and steering levers are coupled to the lower ends of the shift and steering shafts respectively, thus forming rigid structures which are rotatably supported by the shift and steering control housing. In response to operation of one of the cables, the corresponding rigid lever and shaft assembly is rotated, causing the respective lower lever to swing, thereby displacing the corresponding control rod. The steering nozzle is activated in response to operation of the steering cable, while the reverse gate is activated in response to operation of the shift cable.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2993463 (1961-07-01), McKinney
patent: 3105353 (1963-10-01), Schulz
patent: 3422789 (1969-01-01), Wynne et al.
patent: 3641964 (1972-02-01), Lee
patent: 3782114 (1974-01-01), Broes
patent: 3795105 (1974-03-01), Aschauer
patent: 3807346 (1974-04-01), Delfeld
patent: 3834342 (1974-09-01), Schoell
patent: 3842787 (1974-10-01), Giacosa
patent: 3906885 (1975-09-01), Woodfill
patent: 3942464 (1976-03-01), Schoell
patent: 4031844 (1977-06-01), Onai et al.
patent: 4231315 (1980-11-01), Tachibana et al.
patent: 4652244 (1987-03-01), Drury
patent: 4813895 (1989-03-01), Takahashi
patent: 5421753 (1995-06-01), Roos
patent: 5752964 (1998-05-01), Jones et al.
Freitag Michael W.
Jones James R.
McChesney Richard M.
Westhoff Paul E.
Bombardier Motor Corporation of America
Flaherty Dennis M.
Morano S. Joseph
Vasudeva Ajay
LandOfFree
Shift and steering control system for water jet apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Shift and steering control system for water jet apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Shift and steering control system for water jet apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2502110