Patent ID: 6033272
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: B63H

Abstract:
A marine jet propulsion system comprising:a power plant for rotating a drive shaft;a gear system connected to said drive shaft and configured to engage and rotate an impeller shaft;an impeller mounted to said impeller shaft;a housing which surrounds said impeller, said housing having a water inlet opening and a jet stream exit opening;said gear system including a first gear connected to said drive shaft and in operative engagement with second and third gears, said second and third gears rotating in opposite directions when said first gear rotates in a predetermined direction;a clutch member for selectively causing said impeller shaft to alternatively be coupled to one of said second and third gears and thereby selectively rotate said impeller in either of opposite directions during rotation of said first gear;a control system for controlling the state of said clutch member, said control system comprising a clutch actuator and a bellcrank, said bellcrank having a first angular position when said clutch member is in a first state corresponding to said impeller shaft being coupled to said second gear and having a second angular position when said clutch member is in a second state corresponding to said impeller shaft being coupled to said third gear,whereby rotation of said impeller in a first direction draws water through said housing exit opening and causes debris to be flushed out of said inlet opening.