Patent ID: 6482055
Filing Date: 2002-11-19
Classification: B63H

Abstract:
A water jet propulsion system comprising:a duct having an inlet and an outlet connected by a channel; an impeller rotatable within said duct; an inlet grate comprising a plurality of cantilever tines, said inlet grate being pivotably mounted to said duct and positioned so that said tines extend at least partly across said channel; an actuator which penetrates said duct and is displaceable along a linear path between first and second positions, said actuator having upper and lower ends; and a wiper supported by said lower end of said actuator, said wiper protruding into said channel when said actuator is in said second position but not when said actuator is in said first position, said wiper engaging at least one of said tines during displacement of said actuator along a portion of said linear path from a third position to said second position, said third position being intermediate said first and second positions, wherein said inlet grate pivots from a first angular position to a second angular position as said actuator displaces from said third position to said second position.