Patent ID: 6224434
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: B63H,F02B

Abstract:
A pump jet apparatus for a marine engine, comprising:a rotor assembly for impelling water rearward in a forward thrust mode, said rotor assembly comprising a rotor hub having a channel for receiving exhaust gas from an engine;a rotor housing surrounding said rotor assembly and having an inlet and an outlet;a stator housing coupled to and positioned rearwardly of said rotor housing and having an inlet and an outlet for water flow, said inlet of said stator housing being in flow communication with said outlet of said rotor housing;a stator hub positioned rearwardly of said rotor hub and inside said stator housing, said stator hub comprising an exhaust plenum in flow communication with said channel in said rotor hub and an opening in flow communication with said exhaust plenum, said opening being situated forward of said stator housing outlet and rearward of said rotor assembly;a flow control valve arranged to cover and uncover said opening in said stator hub in closed and open states respectively, wherein exhaust gas flows into a volume external to said stator hub and internal to said stator housing at a point forward of said stator housing outlet via said opening when said flow control valve is in said open state and does not flow through said opening when said flow control valve is in said closed state; andan actuator assembly for actuating said flow control valve to change from said closed state to said open state.