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:
Aug. 06, 2002
Filed:
Aug. 11, 2001
Fletcher C. Belt, Woodstock, IL (US);
Bombardier Motor Corporation of America, Grant, FL (US);
Abstract
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.