# US 10,864,971 B2 · Wakeboat hydraulic manifold assemblies and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,971 B2 - Document ID: US10864971B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/841,484 - Filed: 2020-04-06 - Published: 2020-07-23 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-09 - Applicants: Richard L. Hartman - Inventors: Richard L. Hartman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864971B2 ## CPC - B63B 32/70: Accessories not specially adapted for a particular type of board, e.g. paddings or buoyancy elements - B63B 34/70: Arrangements on vessels specially adapted for generating waves for surfing, wakeboarding or the like, e.g. ballast tanks - B63B 32/20: Boards specially adapted for use in a prone position, e.g. wild-water sledges (towed water sledges B63B34/54) - B63B 32/40: Twintip boards; Wakeboards; Surfboards; Windsurfing boards; Paddle boards, e.g. SUP boards; Accessories specially adapted therefor - B63B 39/03: by transferring liquids - B63H 25/38: Rudders - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) - B63H: MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING (propulsion of air-cushion vehicles B60V1/14; specially adapted for submarines, other than nuclear propulsion, B63G; specially adapted for torpedoes F42B19/00) ## Abstract Hydraulic manifold assemblies for wakeboats are provided. The assemblies can include: a chamber configured as a hydraulic fluid source; at least one conduit in selective fluid communication with the chamber; at least one valve operatively aligned with the at least one conduit; and processing circuitry operatively coupled to the at least one valve. Wakeboats are also provided that can include: an engine; a hydraulic pump powered by the engine; and a hydraulic manifold assembly in fluid communication with the hydraulic pump. Methods for distributing hydraulic fluid aboard a wakeboat are provided. The methods can include controlling at least one valve to provide hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic pump to one or more hydraulic components. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hydraulic manifold assembly aboard a wakeboat, the assembly aboard the wakeboat comprising: a chamber configured as a hydraulic fluid source; at least one conduit in selective fluid communication with the chamber; at least one valve operatively aligned with the at least one conduit; and processing circuitry operatively coupled to the at least one valve. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a communication interface operatively coupled to the processing circuitry, the communication interface operatively configured to engage one or more of Controller Area Network, Local Interconnect Network, NMEA, Ethernet, analog, optical, and/or wireless communications. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a sensor operatively engaged with the manifold. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The assembly of claim 3 wherein the sensor is mounted directly to or remotely from the manifold. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The assembly of claim 3 wherein the sensor is operatively coupled to the processing circuitry. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1 wherein the manifold comprises: a plurality of conduits in selective fluid communication with the chamber; individual valves operatively aligned with each of the plurality of conduits; and processing circuitry operatively coupled to each of the individual valves. ### Claim 7 A wakeboat comprising: an engine; a hydraulic pump powered by the engine; and a hydraulic manifold assembly aboard the wakeboat and in fluid communication with the hydraulic pump, the hydraulic manifold assembly comprising: at least one conduit in selective fluid communication with the hydraulic pump; at least one valve operatively aligned with the at least one conduit; and processing circuitry operatively coupled to the at least one valve. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The wakeboat of claim 7 further comprising connections between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic manifold. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The wakeboat of claim 8 wherein the connections comprise one or more of hoses, tubing, fittings, and/or direct attachments. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The wakeboat of claim 8 wherein one or more of the connections are operatively engaged with one or more of a hydraulic fluid filter, a hydraulic fluid reservoir, and/or a hydraulic fluid cooler. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The wakeboat of claim 7 further comprising one or more hydraulic components operatively engaged with the manifold. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The wakeboat of claim 11 wherein the hydraulic component is a hydraulic motor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The wakeboat of claim 12 wherein the hydraulic motor is configured as a component of a water pump. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The wakeboat of claim 10 wherein the hydraulic component is a hydraulic cylinder. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The wakeboat of claim 14 wherein the hydraulic cylinder is configured as a component of a tower lift. ### Claim 16 A method for distributing hydraulic fluid aboard a wakeboat, the method comprising: controlling at least one valve to provide hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic pump to one or more hydraulic components, wherein the valve, the hydraulic pump, and one or more hydraulic components are aboard the wakeboat; and using processing circuitry to selectively monitor and control the at least one valve in response to data transmitted and/or received from a communication interface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 further comprising using the processing circuitry to selectively communicate a status of the at least one valve via the communication interface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 further comprising measuring at least one of pressure, temperature, flow rate, and/or contamination of the hydraulic fluid and communicating the measurements using the communication interface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 using processing circuitry to control hydraulic flow to one or more components operatively coupled to the manifold. ### Claim 20 A method for distributing hydraulic fluid aboard a wakeboat, the method comprising: controlling one or more valves of a plurality of valves to provide hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic pump to one or more hydraulic components, wherein the one or more valves, the hydraulic pump, and one or more hydraulic components are aboard the wakeboat; and using processing circuitry to selectively monitor and/or control the one or more valves of the plurality of valves in response to data transmitted and/or received from a communication interface. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 further comprising using the processing circuitry to selectively communicate a status of individual valves via the communication interface. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 further comprising measuring at least one of pressure, temperature, flow rate, and/or contamination of the hydraulic fluid and communicating the measurements using the communication interface. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 using processing circuitry to control hydraulic flow to one or more components operatively coupled to the manifold.