US3070956A - Swinging gate for jet boat - Google Patents

Description

Em. 1, 1963 w. c. CHRISTENSEN 3,070,956

I SWINGING GATE FOR JET BOAT Filed March 2, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 llt I "HUI III- INVENTOR. WARREN C. CHmsTENsEN Y 3%; WM 5M1 mm" Jan. 1, 1963 w. c. CHRISTENSEN 3,070,956

SWINGING GATE FOR JET BOAT Filed March 2, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l I III 3 I II I l IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'll!I'I'IIIIII'IIII'IIIIIIIA WARREN C. CHmsTENsEN fzhmffi/M Mmza/d Afforneys United States Patent 3,070,956 SWINGING GATE FOR JET BOAT Warren C. Christensen, Indianapolis, Ind., assignor to The Buehler Corporation, Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Mar. 2, 1961, Ser. No. 92,968 4 Claims. (Cl. 6035.54)

The present invention relates to jet propelled watercraft and more particularly to means for controlling the direction of such craft.

At least one form of water jet-propelled boat involves an engine arranged to drive a pump which is located within a conduit through the boat. Water is drawn into the conduit through an intake opening at the bottom of the hoat, is pumped through the conduit by the pump and is exhausted in a stream from the rear of the boat, the stream leaving the boat above the Water within which the boat is floating or is supported. The propulsion principle depends directly on a basic law of physics which prov des that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Thus, as water is ejected astern, the boat moves forward.

One problem present in the construction and operation of such water jet-propelled boats is that of controlling the direction of movement of the boat whereby the boat moves forwardly, rearwardly or retains position. This control may be accomplished by deflecting the stream of water as it leaves the rear of the boat in such a manner as to cause the stream to flow forwardly of and beneath the boat. There are presently available slidable devices for accomplishing such deflection; however, such devices offer a relatively great frictional resistance to movement when they are operated in the jet stream. Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is to provide means for controlling the direction of a jet boat whereby relatively easy shifting from one operating position to another is permitted.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a jet boat direction control which may be easily shifted from one operating position to another even though the jet pump is operating at relatively great speed.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a jet boat direction control which provides greater clearance for sand to be washed through the control than does presently available direction control apparatus of this type.

Further objects of the present invention are to provide a jet boat direction control which is easier to operate, which lends itself to better styling, and which lends itself to easier mechanical coupling than presently available direction control apparatus of this type.

Related objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

' One embodiment of the invention comprises a direction control system for a water-craft including means for moviilg water in a jet rearwardly of the craft and a gate pivotally mounted on the craft for controlling the flow of: the jet. The gate is provided with an aperture therethrough which may be positioned in registry with the jet to permit continued rearward flow thereof. The gate is also provided with a solid portion which may be positioned to block flow of the jet. The gate is further provided with a concave portion which may be positioned to redirect the jet forwardly of the craft.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a jet boat incorporating the novel direction control of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section of the rear of the boat of FIG. 1 taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is illustrated a jet boat 10 having a hull 11, the hull being provided with an intake opening 12 communicating between the bottom of the boat and a pump 13. The pump 13 has a passage therethrough communicating between the intake opening 12 and a passage 15 through a tailpipe 16 secured to the rear of the boat. The pump 13 is driven by a conventional marine engine 14 through shaft 14A and functions to pump water from the intake 12 to and out of the rear of the boat. The water is formed into a stream by the converging surface 17 of an annular member 18 fixed within the passage 15 and passes through an adapter 19 secured to the tailpipe 16 and forming a part of the tailpipe assembly, the adapter being provided with an aperture in registry with and the same size as the exit end of annular member 18. When the boat is moving forwardly, the stream is projected through the adapter leaving the boat above the water line.

Fixed to the transom 20 of the craft is a housing 21, one function of which is to conceal the direction control of the present invention. It should be noted that the housing 21 has an aesthetically pleasing semi-cylindrical shape which is permitted by the corresponding shape of the direction control. The housing 21 also functions as a mount for a pair of deflectors 22 which are pivoted upon rearwardly projecting elements 25 and 26 integral with the housing. Any suitable means may be used to pivot the deflectors one way or another to deflect the rearwardly moving jet stream in a horizontal direction for steering the boat. Since the deflectors 22 do not form a part of the present invention, they will not be described in further detail.

Pivoted upon the tailpipe 16 about an axis 27 is an arcuately shaped gate 39 including a part-cylindrical portion 31 (which extends through approximately degrees) and radially extending arms 32 which connect the partcylindrical portion 31 with the bearings 35 also forming a part of the gate and providing the pivotal mounting for the gate. The gate may be pivoted about its axis by any suitable means such as, for example, cables 36 which are connected to the edges of the part-cylindrical portion and extend through the transom into the boat for operation by suitable steering means.

The part-cylindrical portion of the gate has formed at horizontally spaced locations therealong, various control surfaces which are adapted to control in one manner or another the stream of water being projected from the tailpipe assembly. At the leftward portion of the gate, as viewed in FIG. 4, there is provided a circular aperture 37 which has a size equal to the passage through the adapter 19. The aperture 37 is so positioned vertically that the gate may be pivoted to a position wherein the aperture is in registry with the exit end of the passage through the tailpipe assembly and the water being pumped into the tailpipe will be projected directly rearwardly for moving the boat in a forward direction. As has been mentioned, the deflectors 22 may be used to deflect the stream passing through the aperture 37 in order to steer the boat in one direction or another.

It should be noted that the exit end 40 of the adapter has a part-cylindrical configuration which is just adjacent to and is concentric with the part-cylindrical portion 31 of the gate 30. For this reason, the part-cylindrical portion 31 will remain adjacent to the exit end of the tailpipe even though it is pivoted by the cables 36. The central section 41 of the part-cylindrical portion 31 may be positioned as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 directly covering the exit end of the tailpipe 16. In this position, the passage of water from the tailpipe is blocked and the water is bottled up preventing any thrust being produced to move the craft through the water.

The part-cylindrical portion 31 has formed therein at its rightward end as viewed in FIG. 3 a scoop-shaped or concave section 42. The section 42 is so proportioned and arranged within the gate that the gate may be pivoted to a position wherein the upward end portion of the scoop is positioned directly rearwardly of the tailpipe exit. The scoop 42 extends downwardly a substantial distance and does not curve forwardly again until it is below the housing 21 (FIG. 2) and an angularly arranged guide 45 secured to the transom 20 and the lower surface of the housing 21. It should be mentioned that the adapter 19 extends downwardly to engagement with the lower portion of the housing and is sufficiently wide so as to form, with the section 42, a closed conduit which opens forwardly at the lower end of section 42. It can be appreciated that this conduit will deflect the water being projected from the tailpipe assembly downwardly and forwardly in order to produce a thrust acting to move the boat rearwardly. The guide 45 acts to prevent the water from striking the transom of the boat and reducing thrust in this manner.

Because of the fact that the gate 30 is pivotal rather than slidable, frictional resistance to gate movement is greatly reduced. Any suitable material may be used in constructing the bearings 35 of the present control, for example, self-lubricating nylon or Teflon or possibly brass may be used. From the above description, it can be appreciated that the present invention provides an improved means for controlling the direction of a jet boat. It should be mentioned that the direction control of the present invention can be operated while the engine 14 of the boat is operating at full speed and this is not possible with presently available direction control devices. It can also be appreciated that the present invention provides a jet boat direction control which lends itself to better styling as evidenced by the appearance of the housing 21. The simplicity of the mechanical coupling and the ease of operation of the present device should be obvious from the drawings and the above description.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims are also desired to be protected.

The invention claimed is:

1. A direction control system for watercraft comprising a conduit mounted on the craft and having an exit opening rearwardly thereof, means for pumping water through said conduit toward the exit thereof, a gate mounted upon said craft for pivoting about a vertical axis, a portion of said gate having a generally arcuate shape and being located so as to move outside of the conduit and past the exit of said conduit, said arcuate portion being so proportioned that in one pivotal position said gate does not affect flow from said exit and rearward projection of said water is permitted, in a second position the water is bottled up in said conduit, and in a third position the water is redirected in a direction forward of the craft.

2. A direction control system for watercraft comprising a conduit mounted on the craft and having an exit opening at the rear of the craft and near the bottom thereof, means for pumping water through said conduit toward the exit thereof, a gate mounted on said craft for pivoting about a vertical axis, said gate having a portion formed in an arcuate shape, said conduit exit and gate portion being formed as adjacent part-cylindrical shapes concentric about said axis whereby said gate can be pivoted through various positions and said arcuate portion remains in adjacency to said conduit exit during such pivoting, said arcuate portion having spaced horizontally therealong a solid portion and a concave portion, said solid portion being pivotal to a position wherein it blocks flow from said exit, and said concave portion being pivotal to a position wherein it redirects flow from said exit in a direction forwardly of the craft, said concave portion being long enough to form a vertical passage with the rear of the craft terminating in a forwardly facing outlet below the craft, said gate being pivotal to a further position wherein said gate does not affect flow from said exit.

3. A direction control system for watercraft comprising a conduit mounted on the craft and having an exit opening at the rear of the craft and near the bottom thereof, means for pumping Water through said conduit toward the exit thereof, a gate mounted on said craft for pivoting about a vertical axis, said conduit exit and gate being formed as adjacent part-cylindrical shapes concentric about said axis whereby said gate can be pivoted and said gate will remain in adjacency to said conduit exit, said gate having an aperture therethrough of the same size and shape as the conduit exit, said aperture being so located that said gate may be pivoted to a first position wherein said aperture is in registry with said conduit exit, said gate having a concave portion formed therein, said gate being pivotal to a second position wherein the upper portion of said concave portion is in registry with the exit of said conduit, said concave portion being long enough to form a vertical passage with the rear of the craft, terminating in a forwardly facing outlet below the craft, said gate being pivotal to a third position wherein said gate blocks flow from said exit.

4. A direction control system for watercraft comprising a conduit mounted on the craft and having an exit opening rearwardly thereof, means for pumping water through said conduit toward the exit thereof, a gate mounted upon said craft for pivoting about a vertical axis, a portion of said gate having a generally arcuate shape and being located so as to move outside of the conduit and past the exit of said conduit, said arcuate portion being so proportioned that in one pivotal position said gate does not affect flow from said exit and rearward projection of said water is permitted and in a further position the water is redirected in a direction forward of the craft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 340,237 Nagel 6t al. Apr. 20, 1886 FOREIGN PATENTS 14,631 Great Britain July 15, 1905 OTHER REFERENCES New Zealand Patent Abstract No. 118,815, May 19, 1958.

Claims (1)

1. 4. A DIRECTION CONTROL SYSTEM FOR WATERCRAFT COMPRISING A CONDUIT MOUNTED ON THE CRAFT AND HAVING AN EXIT OPENING REARWARDLY THEREOF, MEANS FOR PUMPING WATER THROUGH SAID CONDUIT TOWARD THE EXIT THEREOF, A GATE MOUNTED UPON SAID CRAFT FOR PIVOTING ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS, A PORTION OF SAID GATE HAVING A GENERALLY ARCUATE SHAPE AND BEING LOCATED SO AS TO MOVE OUTSIDE OF THE CONDUIT AND PAST THE EXIT OF SAID CONDUIT, SAID ARCUATE PORTION BEING SO PROPORTIONED THAT IN ONE PIVOTAL POSITION SAID GATE DOES NOT AFFECT FLOW FROM SAID EXIT AND REARWARD PROJECTION OF SAID WATER IS PERMITTED AND IN A FURTHER POSITION THE WATER IS REDIRECTED IN A DIRECTION FORWARD OF THE CRAFT.

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