Patent ID: 8702457
Filing Date: 2014-04-22
Classification: B63H

Abstract:
1. A vessel propulsion apparatus comprising: a nozzle which jets water rearward; a deflector rotatable to the right and to the left around a substantially vertical axis and between a right maximum steering position and a left maximum steering position, the deflector including an outlet which jets water jetted from the nozzle in a rearward direction or an obliquely rearward direction tilted to the right or to the left with respect to the rearward direction; a reverse bucket rotatable up and down around a substantially horizontal axis and between a closed position covering at least a portion of the outlet in a rear view of the vessel propulsion apparatus and an opened position not covering the outlet; and a guide that generates a right branch stream flowing in an obliquely forward right direction and a left branch stream flowing in an obliquely forward left direction by dividing water flowing into the deflector from the nozzle to the right and to the left at equal or substantially equal flow rates in a state in which the reverse bucket is positioned at the closed position and the deflector is positioned at a straight drive position between the right maximum steering position and the left maximum steering position; wherein the left branch stream has a greater flow rate than the right branch stream in a state in which the reverse bucket is positioned at the closed position and the deflector is positioned at a right side relative to the straight drive position; the right branch stream has a greater flow rate than the left branch stream in a state in which the reverse bucket is positioned at the closed position and the deflector is positioned at a left side relative to the straight drive position; the substantially horizontal axis is an axis fixed with respect to the deflector; and the guide generates the left branch stream from a water stream that flows further to the left than a central axis of the deflector and generates the right branch stream from a water stream that flows further to the right than the central axis of the deflector in the state in which the reverse bucket is positioned at the closed position and the deflector is positioned at the straight drive position.