The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 09, 1999
Filed:
Aug. 13, 1997
James R Jones, Neosho, WI (US);
Brunswick Corporation, Lake Forest, IL (US);
Abstract
An automatic trim control system for a marine jet drive adjusts trim in response to water pressure in the jet drive duct immediately upstream of the impeller. The preferred system includes a mechanical actuator consisting of a spring biased link rod mounted to a resilient diaphragm located in an actuator housing. The diaphragm separates the chamber within the housing into a front portion and a rear portion. The front portion of the housing communicates through a water pressure tap line with the water pressure in the jet drive duct immediately upstream of the impeller. When the watercraft is traveling at high speeds on plane, water pressure in the jet drive duct is sufficient to push the diaphragm rearward against the spring biasing force, thus positioning the jet drive in a trim-up position. However, when the watercraft is accelerating at low speeds and the impeller is creating suction within the jet drive duct, water pressure within the front portion of the chamber of the actuator housing is insufficient to push the link rod against the spring biasing force and the jet drive remains in a trim-down position. Alternatively, a pressure sensor and an electronically controlled servomotor trim actuator can be used to carry out the invention.