Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.

Gilles Pesant

Patrice Dusablon

Bhaskar Marathe

Richard Simard

Sam Spade

Yves Berthiaume

Daniel Nadeau

Jean Daunais

Normand Beauregard

Robert Bourret

Martin Talbot

Martin Pelletier

Jean-François Forest

DuSablon Patrice

A marine jet propulsion system has a jet pump, a venturi connected to the jet pump, a first steering nozzle rotationally mounted relative to the venturi about a first steering axis, and a second steering nozzle rotationally mounted relative to the first steering nozzle about a second steering axis. The second steering axis is disposed rearwardly of the first steering axis. Rotation of the first steering nozzle relative to the venturi about the first steering axis in a steering direction causes the second steering axis to rotate about the first steering axis in the steering direction and the second steering nozzle to rotate relative to the first steering nozzle about the second steering axis in the steering direction. A watercraft having the jet propulsion system and a nozzle assembly for a marine jet propulsion system are also disclosed.

Dual steering nozzle marine jet propulsion system

A watercraft includes a watercraft control mechanism that is capable of steering, decelerating, and/or trimming a watercraft without causing the stern to elevate and the bow to dive; steers or assists steering in off-power situations; steers, trims and/or decelerates a watercraft, or assists in steering, trimming, and/or decelerating a watercraft that can be stowed or retracted to minimize hydrodynamic drag at high speeds; steers, trims and/or decelerates a watercraft, or assists in steering, trimming, and/or decelerating a watercraft that does not become clogged or jammed by seaweed or flotsam or foreign objects floating in the water; and decelerates or assists in decelerating a watercraft in a smooth and stable manner when the watercraft is travelling at high speeds.

Watercraft control mechanism

The present invention provides a jet pump assembly that includes a rotatable shaft adapted to be operationally coupled to a power source. An impeller is operationally connected to the rotatable shaft. A housing surrounds at least a portion of the rotatable shaft operationally coupled to the impeller. In addition, a single bearing is disposed between the housing and the rotatable shaft, permitting rotation of the rotatable shaft therein. The bearing has at least an inner race operationally coupled to the rotatable shaft and an outer race operationally coupled to the housing. The bearing also includes at least two sets of rolling components disposed, side-by-side between the inner and outer races, permitting rotation of the inner and outer races with respect to one another.

Jet pump bearing assembly

A watercraft, equipped with a jet propulsion system with improved efficiency of operation is disclosed. Structures are disposed within a water passage of the jet propulsion system at a position upstream of the jet propulsion unit that modulate the amount of water that is allowed to pass through the water passage. The structures can be a flexible fluid filled bag, an adjustable ride plate, and an additional water passage. Each of the structures allow a greater amount of water into the water passage during acceleration than during constant speed travel of the watercraft.

Watercraft having a jet propulsion system with improved efficiency

Variable venturi for use in jet propulsion systems of watercraft include discharge openings with selectively variable discharge areas that enable a venturi controller to selectively maximize top speed, acceleration, and/or fuel efficiency. The variable venturi may include a plurality of circumferentially-spaced, squeezable, flexible sections that selectively move radially inwardly to alter the discharge area. Alternatively, the variable venturi may include a flexible venturi with a variably-shaped flexible discharge opening. Alternatively, the variable venturi may include a main rear discharge opening and a plurality of additional discharge openings with selectively openable valves, whereby selective opening of the valves effectively increases the discharge area. Alternatively, the variable venturi may have a movable end flap that selectively varies the discharge area.

Variable venturi

The invention is directed to a thick stator vane that effects continuous acceleration of the water stream within the jet pump, a non-uniform spacing of stator vanes or impeller blades to reduce noise output of the jet pump during operation, and a coupling structure positioned between the impeller and engine that prevents transfer of axial thrust to the engine caused by jet pump failure.

Growing community of inventors

Palm Bay, FL, United States of America

Gilles Pesant