Water jet propulsion boat

Abstract: The present invention relates to a water jet propulsion boat comprising a hull member with a hull bottom plate, a jet unit disposed in a cavity at the stern bottom and an engine disposed in front of said jet unit for driving an impeller of the jet unit which, moreover, communicates to a water suction port opened and defined at the hull bottom plate enabling water to be sucked in through said water suction port and injected rearward of the stern through a deflector, said jet unit being supported pivotably about a horizontal axis to be tilted by a lifting means enabling the jet unit to be pivoted about a horizontal axis which, a trim adjusting bottom plate is affixed to the lower side of the jet unit to be movable together with the jet unit by said lifting means, said jet unit being liftable or descendable to provide appropriate trim adjusting while the boat is planing on the water.

Description: The present invention relates to a water jet propulsion boat comprising a hull member with a hull bottom plate, a jet unit disposed in a cavity at the stern bottom of the boat and an engine disposed at the front of said jet unit for driving an impeller of the jet unit which, moreover, communicates to a water suction port opened and defined at the hull bottom plate enabling water to be sucked in through said water suction port and to be injected rearward of the stern through a deflector wherein said jet unit is supported by lifting means enabling the jet unit to be pivoted about a horizontal axis. Recently, water jet propulsion boats have been widely used for planing over water and enjoying various sportive movements. Generally, such a jet propulsion boat includes a jet unit (jet propulsion unit) disposed at the stern end of the hull bottom such that the smooth hull configuration of the boat is not effected by the drive unit and, accordingly, the jet propulsion unit does not project downward or rearward of the hull bottom. The jet propulsion unit comprises a tube-shaped water introducing portion defining the water suction port in the hull bottom plate extending to a impeller duct portion wherein the impeller is rotatably supported driven by an impeller shaft which is in driving connection to an output shaft of the engine. With the impeller rotating in the impeller duct portion sucking in water from below the hull through the water suction port and the water introducing tube portion to inject same from the stern through a deflector at the rear end of the flow passage straightly rearwards or through a deflector swung about a vertical axis enabling the boat to be propelled and steered or turned during planing. Such a jet unit driven watercraft is advantageous in that a water jet propulsion unit enables the operation of the watercraft in shallower water and, moreover, they assist to provide a neat configuration of the boat enabling the storage thereof both in the water and out of the water to be facilitated. For jet propelled boats sometimes the encrustation of elements such as barnacles in the running components of the propulsion unit can be a problem when the boat is left in the water for a long period of time and is not utilized. In that case it may happen that such barnacles or the like will stick on the inside of the water flow passage of the jet unit and servicing thereof to release it from clogs of foreign material such as seaweed, sand or the like can be troublesome. In order to obviate this problem enabling the water jet propulsion unit to be drained of water when the watercraft is not being operated but is still in the body of water and removing the need to land the boat also is supported pivotably within the hull of the boat in such a manner that the jet propulsion unit, as a whole, is can swing about a generally horizontally extending axis that extends transversely to the longitudinal centre line of the boat. In order to facilitate the water suction port and associated flow passage to be inspected and serviced it has also already been proposed to increase the freedom of movability of the jet propulsion unit further in that way that the water inlet portion, in an upwardly erected position of the water jet propulsion unit, can be rotated about a generally horizontally extending axis that extends longitudinally relative to the boat in order to rotate the water inlet portion from a downwardly facing position to an upwardly facing position. A water jet propulsion boat of the afore-indicated type was already proposed by the applicant's European patent application publication n º EP-A-0386760. In that case, however, trim adjustment of the jet propulsion boat is not assured as convenient and variable as desirable considering the fact that a pair of hydraulic cylinders is provided to support the jet propulsion unit against a fixed bottom plate in conjunction with a pair a upwardly extending arcuate arms of said jet unit supporting and pivoting structure. On the otherhand, it is desirable to adjust the trim of the boat and to provide the hull bottom of a trim adjusting means for the reasons: to improve the planing posture of the boat taking the rider's weight into consideration when same deviates from an average weight, to optimize the jumping or landing posture of the boat according to the wave conditions and the speed of the boat, to select an appropriate boat posture when same is running straight on or when same is turning considering the capabilities and the driving technique of the operator of the boat etc. On the other hand, the trim adjusting means should not add to the jet unit to become more complicated. Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a water jet propulsion boat, the jet propulsion unit thereof can easily be serviced and inspected and the water flow passage thereof can be prevented from being clogged with foreign materials and, which allows the trim of the boat to be easily adjusted to consider different boat operating conditions. According to the present invention the afore-indicated objective is performed by a water jet propulsion boat as indicated initially about which is characterized in that a trim adjusting bottom plate is affixed to the lower side of the jet unit downstream of the water suction port thereof to be movable together with the jet unit by the lifting means provided to tilt up the jet unit to an upper rest position above the water line or to lift or to descend the jet unit to provide appropriate trim adjusting by said trim adjusting bottom plate while the boat is planing on the water. With the afore-described structure according to the present invention the jet unit can be lifted up by the lifting means while at anchor so that the water suction port of the jet unit can be positioned above the water line to prevent same from being clogged by foreign material such as barnacles or the like while at rest over a longer period. Moreover, as the jet unit also comprises the trim adjusting bottom plate in a unitary structure appropriate lifting or descending of the jet unit for a smaller angle while the boat is running allows that the trim of the boat can be adjusted efficiently considering that a deflector, which in turn, is pivotably supported at the rear end of the conical nozzle of the jet unit to swing about a vertical axis, is inclined concurrently with the inclination of the trim adjusting rear bottom plate. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention a jet unit accommodating structure is provided at the hull bottom sealingly engaging an associated insert of the pivotable jet unit. Preferably, the jet unit accommodating structure is adapted to define a jet unit insert opening through the hull bottom comprising a pair of opposite inner side walls to sealingly engage related adjacent side walls of a bottom flange portion of the water suction port of the jet unit. According to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a jet unit accommodating bracket is provided in front of the water suction port of the curved water introducing flange portion of the jet unit defining an insert opening for the jet unit and comprising a pair of outer side walls and an integral front bottom plate both extending from a front wall of the bracket to define said insert opening with a pair of inner side walls which extend along both longitudinal sides of said opening and collaborating with the side walls of a bottom flange portion defining the water suction port of the water introducing tube portion of the jet unit to establish a water sealed support fitting of the jet unit. Other preferred embodiments of the present invention are laid down in the further subclaims. In the following the present invention is explained in greater detail refering to a specific embodiment thereof as described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a water jet propulsion boat constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention as floating in the water with the stern portion of the boat shown in section and some portions broken away, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken through the hull of the jet boat showing the jet propulsion unit and its driving arrangement in a normal operating condition and in phantom in a servicing position, Figure 3, a plane view of the jet propulsion unit and its mounting arrangement, Figure 4, an exploded perspective view of the jet propulsion unit and its mounting arrangement, Figure 5, a vertical sectional view of the water introducing arrangement including the water suction port of the jet propulsion unit, Figure 6 is a vertical sectional side view of the water introducing portion according to Figure 5, Figures 7(a), 7(b) and 7(c) are perspective views showing the trim adjusting operation of the trim adjusting bottom support plate with the water jet propulsion unit being omitted, Figures 8(a), 8(b) and 8(c) are explanatory side viewing the trim adjusting operation of the tiltably supported jet propulsion unit with the tilt adjusting bottom support plate affixed thereto. Referring first to Figure 1, a water jet propulsion boat 10 is shown therein constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention and powered by a jet propulsion drive unit (hereinafter called jet unit) 3 constructed in accordance with certain features of the present invention either. It should be understood, that the hull and general configuration of the boat to be described are only one of several ones with which the present invention can be practised. The jet propulsion boat 10 is comprised of a hull assembly that includes a hull member 12 constituting the hull bottom including the hull bottom plate, and deck member 11 constituting the upper deck and bonded to each other at their peripheries. Both hull members are integrally formed preferably from moulded fibreglass reinforced resins but, of course, also other appropriate material, preferably plastics could be utilized as well. As is usual for such boats the hull provides a seat area (not shown) in front of which a steering wheel 10a is disposed for steering of the boat. The hull configuration of the jet propelled boat 10 comprises an engine compartment 18 containing an internal combustion engine 1 for driving a jet propulsion unit 3 disposed behind said engine 1 in a cavity of tunnel portion 1a behind the engine compartment 18 and separated therefrom by a partitioning wall 15. In that way the jet unit 3 is not only appropriately powered by the engine 1 but is also safely accommodated and protected from being damaged by objects such as woods drifting in the water. Mount members 14 are provided to support the internal combustion engine on the hull bottom 12. As will be described in greater detail hereinafter with respect to the other Figures the jet unit 3 is received in the cavity or tunnel portion 1a in a pivotable manner, i.e. it can be lifted up or ascended down through hydraulic lifting cylinders 50 and an associated mounting assembly including lifting arms 5, support bracket 4 and so forth as indicated later on. It should readily be noted that the specific design of said mounting assembly and lay-out of the lifting means as described hereinafter indicates only one of several choices for a skilled designer of jet propulsion drive boats. Referring now primarily to Figures 2 to 5, the internal combustion engine 1 received in the engine compartment 18 comprises a power transmitting shaft 13 of the engine 1 penetrating the partitioning wall 15 rotatably supporting by a bearing member 16 including a bearing 16a. To the rear end portion of the transmitting shaft 13 an impeller shaft 2 of the jet propulsion unit 3 is connected via a universal joint 46 allowing the rotational power of the engine 1 to be transmitted to an impeller 20 of the jet unit 3 mounted on the rear end portion of the impeller shaft 2 but enabling the impeller shaft 2 to be tilted with respect to said transmission shaft 13 as shown in Figure 2 as well. As is conventional, an impeller 20 is mounted on the rear end portion of the impeller shaft 2 so that it can be rotated within an impeller housing 32 whereas the rear end portion of the impeller shaft 2 is supported by a bearing 34a formed at the centre hub portion of a stator blade 34b of an impeller duct portion 34. A water sealing member 38b is interposed between the impeller shaft 2 and a shaft guide portion 31a so as to prevent leakage on the one hand and air from mixing into a water flow passage 37 on the other hand. The water jet unit 3 is primarily comprised of a water introducing tube portion 31 which may be of a unitary or fabricatd construction and defines a water flow passage 37 that terminates in a downwardly extending water suction port (30) that is defined by a peripheral bottom flange portion 38. In the normal operating condition the water suction port 30 and inlet portion of the water flow passage 37 is disposed beneath the normal operating water level. Rearwardly of the water introducing tube portion 31 the impeller housing 32 is connected through a flange communicating to the impeller duct 34 which is connected to the rear end portion of the cylindrical impeller housing 32 through another flange. The impeller duct portion 34 establishing an inner cylinder is rotatably fitted in a retainer cylinder 60 forming an outer cylinder and comprising an integral outer gear 33 formed around its periphery, adapted to be in mesh with a pinion 70 as explained later on. The cylindrical impeller duct portion 34 is supported rotatably by the outer retainer 60 through a bushing 62. On the rear side of the afore-mentioned first retainer cylinder 60 another, second retainer cylinder 61 is provided, said both retainer cylinders 60, 61 being joined to one another and held at their both side portions by joint members 55 which, in turn, are supported respectively on a movable end inside of opposite lifting arms 5 of the jet unit lifting means as described below. The water flow passage 37 downstream of the water introducing tube portion 31, the impeller housing 32 and the impeller duct portion 34 and retainer cylinder 61 terminates into a tapered inner flow passage of a conical nozzle 35 connected to the rear end portion of the retainer cylinder 61. Said nozzle 35 at its rear end portion supports swingably a deflector 8 which can be swung about a vertical axis. The deflector 8 in turn pivotally supports an arm 82 journalled about a horizontal pin 82a and, moreover, pivotally supports a reverse gate 81 which is journalled about a horizontal axis as well, established by another horizontal pin 81a. Said gate 81 is adapted to open or close the rear face of the deflector 8 in order to assure a good manoeuvrability of the boat. The gate 81 is operated by the arm 82 in response to a push/pull operation of an operating cable such as a Bowden Cable affixed to said arm and operated by the driver of the boat. The transmitting shaft 13 on the one hand is spline connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine 1 and is connected by the universal joint 46 to the impeller shaft 2 which, in turn, supports the impeller 20 at its rear end and is connected to the universal joint 46 through splines. As shown in Figures 2 to 4 the end of the shaft guiding portion 31a of the water introducing tube portion 31 is connected to a housing 49 comprising a pair of arms 49c at the front end thereof. Moreover, a receipt structure for the jet unit 3 at the hull bottom of the boat is provided which, in this case, comprises a bracket 4 composed of a pair of side walls 41, a hull bottom plate 42 disposed between both side walls 41 and a front wall 43 where in the side walls 41 extend longitudinally to establish an integral receipt structure for the jet propulsion unit 3 comprising a pair of inner side walls 42c defining a water inlet opening of the hull member or jet unit insert opening 42a, respectively. The front wall 43 of the bracket 4 comprises a yoke member 47 to provide a hinge connection to the pair of arms 49c by means of a pivot shaft 47a enabling the jet propulsion unit 3 to be pivoted about the transverse horizontally extending axis defined by the pivot shaft 47a as explained in detail hereinafter. An elastic boot 48 is fitted on the outer periphery portions of the housing 49 and the yoke member 47 fastened with each other by a band 48a. The elastic boot 48 encircles the universal joint 46 connecting the output side of the transmitting shaft 13 and the input side of the impeller shaft 2 providing a watertight seal in this area. The impeller shaft 2 is rotatably supported by a bearing 49a in the housing 49 of the jet unit 3. The pivot axis of the pivot shaft 47a pivotally supporting the housing 49 of the jet unit at the fixed bracket 4 by means of the yoke 47 and the pivot axis (flex axis) of the universal 46 are set to be positioned on a coinciding straight horizontal line. In this way a pivotal connection of the jet unit 3 with respect to the hull of the boat is provided as will become yet more apparent when the description proceeds. In order to enable the jet unit 3 to be pivoted about the horizontal axis defined through the pivot shaft 47a, for example in order to position the drive unit in a upper rest position as indicated in phantom in Figure 2 or to adjust the trim of the boat, the front wall 43 comprises fork-shaped bearing portions 45 at the upper end thereof at both sides of the yoke portion 47 adapted to rotatably receive a pair of lifting drive means established by a pair of hydraulic cylinders 50, respectively. Accordingly, each of said bearing portions 45 of the bracket 4 is adapted to rotatably receive the base ends of hydraulic cylinders 50 attached to said bearing portions 45 by a pivot pin 45a. On the other hand, the movable end of a piston rod 50c of each of said hydraulic cylinders 50 is pivotally attached by a pivot pin 50a to a projecting rib 51 provided at the middle portion of a lifting arm 5 to establish a lifting means for the jet unit 3. The opposite pair of lifting arms 5, on the one hand, is pivoted to the outer surface of each side wall 41 of the bracket 4 using a pivot pin 5a, respectively, whereas the other end of each lifting arm 5 is attached to the joint members 55 to transfer a lifting or ascending movement of the lifting arms 5 to the jet propulsion unit caused by the elongation of retraction of the piston rods 50c. A hydraulic pump 56 for the hydraulic cylinders 50 is mounted on the front face of the partitioning wall 15 and, accordingly, the respective piston rod 50c is retracted or extended in response to the action of this hydraulic pump 56 and, consequently, the lifting arm 5 can be tilted upwards or descended down about a horizontal axis established by the pin shaft 47a while the lifting arms 5 are smoothly moved up or down pivoting about the pivot pin 5a, respectively. During said movement each lifting arm 5 slides on a thrust support 41a provided at the outer surface of each side wall 41 of the bracket 4 for bearing any lateral forces while simultaneously guiding the tilting movement of the jet unit 3 keeping in contact with the lifting arms 5, respectively. As is apparent from Figures 2 and 4, in an assembled condition the bottom flange portion 38 integral with the water introducing tube portion 31 of the jet unit 3 comprising a pair of side walls 38c forms an insert structure to be disposed in between the opposite inner side walls 42c of the bracket 4 establishing a close sliding contact therewith. In order to provide an actually watertight sealing arrangement in between the stationary bracket 4 and the pivotable jet unit 3 each side wall 38c of the bottom flange portion 38 supports a bonded packing of sealing strips 38a extending longitudinally off the boat with said sealing strips or packing 38 being pressed against the inner side wall 42 of the bracket 4, as shown in Figure 5, allowing the wall suction port 30 of the impeller duct portion 38 to be watertightly sealed at its periphery. Moreover, a screen 39 is attached to the water suction port 30 in order to prevent foreign matters from entering into the water flow passage 37. Moreover, as specifically shown in Figure 2 the front bottom plate 42 of the bracket defining the front end portion of the jet unit insert opening 42a enabling the water suction port 30 of the jet unit to suck water therethrough is shaped to establish a arcuate surface (see also Figure 6) the centre of curvature of which coincides with the horizontal pivot axis defined by the pin shaft 47a and, accordingly, coincides with the rotation centre of the jet unit 3. As the lower front edge portion of the bottom flange portion 38 of the impeller duct 31 is designed in a similar concave shape along said opposite arcuate surface of the front bottom plate 42 both members can be kept in close proximity to each other and, accordingly, there will be no gap generated at this portion. Thus, any undesirable suction of air into the water flow passage 37 is reliably prevented. If need should arise also another sealing strip or flexiable lip portion could be provided in said area in order to prevent air from being sucked into the flow passage 37 in conjunction with a normal or tilted position of the jet unit 3. Another important design aspect of the water jet propulsion boat according to this embodiment of the present invention resides in the fact that not only the water introducing tube portion 31 is integral with the surrounding bottom flange portion 38 but that the outer retainer cylinder 60 rotatably supporting the cylindrical impeller duct portion 34 is fastened to a bottom plate 91 forming a unitary structure therewith, said bottom plate 91 being fastened by screws to the outer retainer cylinder 60 and, to a mount member 94 supporting the conical nozzle 35, respectively. In this way the bottom plate 91 adapted to serve for adjusting the trim of the boat in conjunction with the concurrent inclination of the deflector 8 provides a unitary structure with the jet unit and associated supporting and steering elements enabling the whole rear jet drive assembly to be tilted about the horizontal pivot axis established by the pivot shaft 47a in the area of the universal joint 46 as exemplified in Figures 2, 7 and 8 by means of the lifting assembly comprising the lifting arms 5 and hydraulic cylinders 50, respectively. In a neutral position as shown in solid lines in Figure 2 the trim adjsuting bottom plate 91 is flush with the upstream bottom area of the hull bottom and the flange bottom portion 38 defining the preceding water suction port 30. Moreover, as indicated in Figure 4, the trim adjusting bottom plate 91 comprises integrally a pair of side walls 91a extending opposite to the inner side walls 42c of the bracket 4 as also shown in Figure 3. Thus, the width of the side walls 91a and the general size of the trim adjusting bottom plate 91 is adapted to be suitable for being fitted between the inner side walls 42c of the bracket 4. In addition to the fastening screw attachment to the outer retainer cylinder 60 the trim adjusting bottom plate 91 is similarly attached to the conical nozzle 35 via a mount member 94 providing a receipt area adapted to the contour of the conical nozzle 35. As already indicated above mount member 71 and 72 are attached to the second retainer cylinder 61 and a drive motor 7 is fixed to the outer surface of the retainer cylinder 60. A rotary output shaft 7a of this drive motor 7 supports a pinion 70 in mesh with the outer gear 33 provided along the outer periphery of the impeller duct portion 34. In order to perform said meshing engagement in between the pinion 70 and the outer gear 33 the retainer cylinder 60 comprises a recessed notch portion 60a through which the pinion 70 projects to mesh with the outer gear 33 while being surrounded by the mount members 71 and 72. Finally, it is preferred that an inspection window 9 provided with a openable hatch cover (not shown) is formed through the upside wall portion 19 of the cavity 1a facilitating servicing of the jet unit 3 through this inspection windown in order inspect an clean the jet unit 3. In the following the operation of the system is described. With the afore-indicated structure and the position of the jet unit 3 as shown Figure 2 in solid lines a driver on the seat with the steering wheel 10a gripped can make the engine 1 work to rotate the impeller 20 resulting in water being sucked into the water flow passage 37 through the water suction port 30 and being rejected rearward of the stern through the defector 8 in order to propel or turn the boat. On the otherhand, while the boat 10 is addressed and, normally the water suction port 30 is positioned lower then the water line 90 with the flow passage 37 remaining in a condition wherein water is present therein it is advantageous to be able to lift up the jet unit 3 in order to avoid the flow passage 37 to be clogged with barnacles or encrustation to occur. Accordingly, the jet unit 3 can be uplifted as shown in phantom in Figure 2. Specifically, by actuating the hydraulic pump 56 to retract the piston rods 50c by the hydraulic cylinders 50 the lifting arms 5 will swing up about the pivot pins 5a lifting the jet unit 3 through the joint members 55 from the stage shown in solid lines in Figure 1 to an inoperative position shown in phantom. With this lifting the impeller shaft 2 will also be flexed at the portion of the universal joint 46 which connects the impeller shaft 12 to the transmitting shaft 13. By this lifting movement the water suction port 30 will be reliably positioned above the water line 90 and the trim adjsuting bottom plate 91 is uplifted as will being integral with the jet unit 3. In the lifted condition of the jet unit 3 no excessive compression forces will act upon the impeller shaft 2 even such considerable compression forces act on the jet unit 3 in the impeller shaft direction as these forces will be borne by said pair of lifting arms 5. Moreover, in order to facilitate the inspection of the water suction port and associated water flow passage 37 it is desirable to be able to rotate the water suction port 13 from a downwardly facing position to an upwardly facing position opposite to the inspection window 9. In order to arrive at such a servicing position the impeller duct portion 34 can be rotated through the pinion 70 and the gear 33 by the drive motor 7 with the impeller housing 32 and the water introducing tube portion 31 both connected to said duct portion 34 being similarly rotated and, consequently, the water suction port 30 can be directed upward as shown in phantom in Figure 2. In this position cleaning and inspection work can be done easily through the inspection window 9. In this connection it is pointed out that trim adjusting bottom plate 91 will never interfere with the rotating movement of the jet unit 3 along its longitudinal axis as it is mounted to members such as the conical nozzle 35 and outer retainer cylinder 60 which will not rotate as is also apparent from Figure 2. Referring primarily to Figures 7 and 8 the trim adjusting capabilities of the present jet boat structure according to the present invention are explained. Occasionally, trim adjusting is performed while the boat is running as follows. Figures 7(b) and 8(b), respectively, show the neutral position in which the trim adjusting bottom plate 91 is flush with the hull bottom face whereas Figures 7(a) and 8(a) show the uplifted condition of the jet unit 3 by lifting the joint members 55 from the condition shown in Figures 7(b) and 8(b), respectively. The uplifted condition as shown in Figures 7(a) and 8(a) are obtained by actuating the hydraulic pump 56 to slightly retract the piston rods 50c of the hydraulic cylinders 50 causing swinging up of the lifting arms 5 about the pivot pins 5a. As the trim adjusting bottom plate 91, affixed to the jet unit 3, is also lifted up and, accordingly, is inclined for example in an amount of 3 o relative to the hull bottom face 120 through this lift up of the jet unit 3 the water level at the hull bottom represented by the water line 90 is also inclined along the trim adjusting bottom plate 91 and deflector 8 is concurrently inclined upwardly causing the water to be injected in that inclined direction. Therefore, the trim adjusting action can be efficiently accomplished. On the other hand, when the jet unit 3 is lowered down to the state shown in Figures 7(c) and 8(c) by extending out the piston rods 50c of the hydraulic cylinders 50, the trim adjusting bottom plate 91 and the associated deflector 8 are inclined downward and a trim adjusting action can be accomplished efficiently the other way around. Although the ascent and descent of the jet unit 3 cause a relative vertical movement between the side walls 91a of the trim adjusting bottom plate 91 and inner side wall 41c of the bracket 4 resulting in a corresponding relative movement in between the bottom flange portion 38 and said side walls 42c the watertightness between them can be assured due to the sealing means 33a interposed therebetween. Moreover, as the front end portion of the water suction area or insert opening 42a (said front end portion) is established through the front wall 43 is formed to provide an arcuate surface with its centre of curvature being positioned coincident to the exit of the pin shaft 47a which is the rotation centre of the jet unit 3 as shown in Figure 6 and the associated edge portion of the water introducing tube portion 31 (or bottom flange portion 38) is shaped similarly so that both portions act together in a hinge-like manner and can be kept in close proximity to each other no gap will be generated at this portion and, therefore, no air suction will be caused to occur affecting the suction of water through the water flow passage 37. As is apparent, the impeller shaft 2 will also be flexed at the portion of the universal joint 46 which joins the impeller shaft 2 to the transmitting shaft 13. The afore-indicated design is advantageous in that lateral forces are reliably borne by said arrangement. Under running conditions, especially when turning, lateral forces act on the portion of the jet unit 3 near its rear ended in a direction contrary to the turning direction trying to move the jet unit 3 in a lateral direction. Since the jet unit 3 is reliably supported by the lifting arms 5 through the side joint members 55 at the propeller duct portion 34 and, in turn, said lifting arms 5 are guided by the thrust support 41a of the bracket 4 (and, therefore, will not be moved laterally) no other forces but an axial force acts on the impeller shaft 2 even while turning the boat. Finally, it should be readily understood by a person skilled in the art that the provision of a separate bracket 4 does not form an compulsory element of the present invention but that a separate bracket 4 can completely be dispensed with leaving the sealing receipt of the jet unit in a water suction opening to an integral design of the hull bottom plate. Moreover, the hydraulic cylinders 50 could also be fixed directly to the partitioning wall 15 or a similar structure also forming the pivot points for attaching the pivot arms. Moreover, it is also possible that the inner side walls 42c of a bracket 4 are omitted but are replaced by a sealing strip arrangement immediately attached to an associated margin of the hull bottom plate defining the insert opening 42a adapted to slidably receive the side walls 91a of the trim adjusting bottom plate 91 as well. Moreover, also the hull bottom plate integrally made from reinforced synthetic resin may integrally provide said side walls 42a defining the opening 42a and establishing sliding and sealing contact to the associated part of the jet unit 3. As described above, according to the present invention, the jet unit 3 can be lifted up by the lifting means 5, 50 while at anchor so that the water suction port 30 of the jet unit may be positioned higher than the waterline 90 thus water may not enter the flow passage 37. Therefore, it is possible securely to prevent barnacles and so forth from sticking on the inside surface of the flow passage, etc., while at anchor. Further, since the jet unit 3 has a bottom plate 91 (hull bottom plate) affixed to the jet unit 3, the boat trim also can be adjusted through the lifting operation of the jet unit 3, and the trim adjusting action can be accomplished efficiently because the deflector 8 is inclined concurrently with the inclination of the trim adjusting plate 91. Further, since no separate device is required to be added for adjusting the boat trim, the structure is simple.

Claims: A water jet propulsion boat comprising a hull member with a hull bottom plate, a jet unit disposed in a cavity at the stern bottom and an engine disposed in front of said jet unit for driving an impeller of the jet unit which, moreover, communicates to a water suction port opened and defined at the hull bottom plate enabling water to be sucked in through said water suction port and ejected rearward of the stern through a deflector, said jet unit being supported pivotably about a horizontal axis to be tilted by a lifting means enabling the jet unit to be pivoted about a horizontal axis, characterized in that a trim adjusting bottom plate (91) is affixed to the lower side of the jet unit (3) to be movable together with the jet unit (3) by said lifting means (4, 5, 50), said jet unit (3) being liftable or descendable to provide appropriate trim adjusting while the boat is planing on the water. A water jet propulsion boat as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that , a jet unit accommodating structure (4) is provided at the hull bottom sealingly engaging an insert section (38) of the pivotable jet unit. A water jet propulsion boat as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that , the jet unit accommodating structure (4) is adapted to define a jet unit insert opening (42a) through the hull bottom comprising a pair of opposite inner side walls enabling said jet unit (3) to be tiltably received between said side walls of the hull bottom in a sealed water tight fitting. A water jet propulsion boat as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the jet unit (3) comprises a water introducing tube portion (31) defining the water suction port (30) and extending from a bottom flange portion (38) a pair of side walls (38c) to establish a sealing arrangement to the adjacent inner side walls of the of the hull bottom enabling said propulsion unit (3) to be tiltably received between said pair of inner side walls of the hull bottom. A water jet propulsion boat as claimed in claims 3 and 4, characterized in that a jet unit accommodating structure comprising a bracket (4) with a pair of outer side walls (41) and an integral front bottom plate (42) between both outer side walls (41) extending from a front wall (43) thereof to define said a jet unit insert opening (42a) with a pair of inner side walls (42c) of the bracket (4) extending along both longitudinal sides of said insert opening (42a). A water jet propulsion boat as claimed in at least of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterized in that , a impeller duct portion (34) of the jet propulsion unit (3) is rotatably fitted through a bushing means (62) in a retainer cylinder arrangement (60, 61) adapted to fixedly support the impeller duct portion (34) by means of the underneath trim adjusting bottom support plate (91). A water jet propulsion boat as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, characterized in that , a rear conical nozzle (35) downstream of the impeller duct portion (34) is supported by a mount member (94) arising from said bottom support plate (91). A water jet propulsion boat as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterized in that , the bottom support plate (91) disposed behind the integral flange portion of the impeller duct portion (38) comprises a pair of integral side walls (91a) formed on both sides thereof opposite to the inner side walls of the hull bottom, the width of said flanged bottom support plate (91) is adapted to be suitable for being fitted between the inner side walls of the hull bottom. A water jet propulsion boat as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 8 , characterized in that , the conical nozzle (35) is provided at the rear end portion of the jet propulsion unit (3) rotatably supported by the retainer cylinder (61) fixed to rotatable mount members (71, 72) said nozzle (35), comprising a tapered inner flow passage and supporting a deflector (8) which is pivotable about a vertical axis whereas said deflector (8) in turn rotatably supports a reverse gate (81). A water jet propulsion both as claimed in at least of the preceding claims 1 to 9, characterized in that , the front end of the insert opening (42a) of the hull bottom comprises a arcuate surface with its centre of curvature being coincident with the rotation centre (47a) of the jet propulsion unit (3) with the lower front edge portion (39) of the water introducing portion (31) being shaped similarly as to provide a gap free smoothly operating receipt structure enabling the jet propulsion unit (3) to be tilted with respect to the hull bottom.

Inventors: FUTAKI YOSHIKI, KOBAYASHI NOBORU, FUTAKI, YOSHIKI, KOBAYASHI, NOBORU
Applicants: YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD, YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B63B17
IPC codes: B63H11, B63B1, B63B17, B63H20, B63B39