Outboard Marine Corporation

Bombardier Motor Corporation of America

Baxter International Inc.

Fletcher C Belt

H Norman Petersen

George T Gillespie

Tom Westberg

Mark R Vandlik

Patrick A McCormick

Chris Tesluk

A jet-powered watercraft has a water jet propulsion unit driven by a powerhead and a rudder pivotably mounted to the water jet propulsion unit. The rudder is pivotable between a retracted position, where the rudder extends out of the water, and a down position, where the rudder extends in the water. Means are provided for changing the position of the rudder when the revolutions per unit time of the powerhead reaches a predetermined threshold, e.g., pivoting the rudder from the down position to the retracted position when the powerhead rpm level exceeds a predetermined threshold. In one embodiment, the revolutions per unit time of the drive shaft are detected. In another embodiment, the control position of the operator throttle control device is detected. Pivoting of the rudder may be actuated by a solenoid, a hydraulic cylinder or any other functionally equivalent electrical, mechanical or electromechanical device. When the water jet propulsion unit is operated with less than a minimum controllable steering thrust, the watercraft can be steered using the rudder in the down position.

Water jet propulsion unit with retractable rudder

A marine vessel or watercraft in which the power plant or engine is cantilevered off of the inboard face of the transom by a mounting adapter. An inboard engine is attached to the mounting adapter. By this arrangement, the mounting adapter provides cantilevered support to the engine. The engine has at least one exhaust port for engine exhaust gases. The mounting adapter has an exhaust channel in flow communication with an exhaust port of the inboard engine. In addition, the transom has an opening in flow communication with the exhaust channel of the mounting adapter. Thus the passage in the mounting adapter provides a flow path for engine exhaust gases to pass through an opening in the hull. Optionally the exhaust channel in the mounting adapter includes a noise suppression device, e.g., a muffler.

Cantilever jet drive package having mounting adapter with exhaust passage

A fluid processing assembly is used in association with a cassette that conveys fluid and a holder to hold the cassette. A door is carried by the holder for movement between an opened position to expose the holder and a closed position enclosing the cassette in the holder. The door carries an expandable gasket. The expandable gasket normally rests, when the door is in the closed position, in a relaxed state out of sealing contact with the held cassette. An actuator applies pressure to the expandable gasket to achieve, when the door is in the closed position, an expanded state in sealing contact against the held cassette. The assembly also includes a latch assembly on the door and holder, which makes engagement when the door is in the closed position. The engagement is unlocked when the gasket rests in the relaxed state. The engagement becomes locked when the gasket achieves the expanded state.

Door latching assembly for holding a fluid pressure actuated cassette during use

A marine vessel and jet propulsion system cantileverly mounted to the transom of a boat having a water tunnel or cavity integrally formed as a part of the boat structure. The turbojet pump assembly is cantileverly mounted on the aft portion of the transom and is connected by a drive shaft to the output of the drive engine of the boat. According to a preferred embodiment, a mounting member located between the transom and the drive engine also serves as an exhaust manifold housing.

Cantilever jet drive package

A two-stroke internal combustion engine comprising an engine block, a plurality of crankcases and including a mounting surface having therein a plurality of inlet openings each communicating with a respective one of the crankcases, a throttle housing defining a throttle passage and including a plenum mounting surface, a throttle valve in the throttle passage, and a plenum member which is separable from both the engine block and the throttle housing and which defines a plurality of intake passages each having an outlet end communicating with a respective one of the inlet openings and each having an inlet end communicating with the throttle passage such that the intake of the engine can be tuned solely by modifying the configuration of the plenum member.

Two-stroke internal combustion engine with improved air intake system

A marine propulsion device comprising a propulsion unit which is adapted to be mounted on a boat and which includes a propeller shaft and an internal combustion engine drivingly connected to the propeller shaft, the engine including engine block structure having a combustion chamber and defining an air intake passage communicable with the combustion chamber, a throttle plate movably supported by the engine block structure and located in the air intake passage, structure for moving the throttle plate in response to movement of an operator control member, and structure supported by the engine block structure for providing a signal indicating the position of the control member independent of the position of the throttle plate.

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Woodstock, IL, United States of America

Fletcher C Belt