Marine propulsion unit having exteriorly accessible clean-out capability and flushing device for same

A jet pump for a marine craft, said jet pump comprising:

• an internal combustion power head for powering the pump, said power head having an output drive shaft;
• a housing adapted to be installed in a marine craft and having a first portion located substantially within the marine craft and including a structure associated with said power head and a second portion located outside of the marine craft, said first portion having an inlet passage for receiving water from adjacent the pump, and said second portion is slidably connected to the remaining portion thereof, so that said part can be moved away from said remaining portion, said impeller separating from said power output drive shaft as said part is moved away, thereby exposing said impeller and permitting cleaning of debris from the interior of said second portion and said impeller;
• impeller means for pumping water through the pump for propelling the marine craft, said impeller means being mounted for rotation within a passage in said second portion;
• coupling means for coupling said output drive shaft to said impeller means, said coupling means including a power output drive shaft that is releasably connected to said impeller means, said coupling means being primarily journaled in said first portion and having said power output drive shaft extending to said second portion;
• a direction controlling outlet nozzle means attached to the rear portion of said second portion, said nozzle means being adapted to adjustably control the direction that the water is expelled from the pump;
• and
• said impeller means being releasably connected to said power output drive shaft, at least a part of said second portion being reciprocally moveable and releasably clamped relative to said first portion so that the interior of said second portion is accessible from the outside of the pump without requiring disassembly of said housing.

A jet propulsion unit for a marine craft, comprising:

• a power head with a cooling jacket;
• a pump unit connected to said power head for supplying coolant to said power head;
• access means associated with said pump unit for accessing said cooling jacket and for introducing a flushing fluid therein;
• said pump unit includes an impeller housing having a separable portion, and said access means includes an internal port in said impeller housing in communication with said cooling jacket which is accessible for introduction of flushing fluid only upon separation of said separable portion from said pump unit.

A jet propulsion unit for a marine craft, comprising:

• a power head for powering the unit, said power head having an output drive shaft;
• impeller means for driving water through the unit for propelling the marine craft;
• a water inlet housing providing a mounting structure for said power head;
• said impeller means including an impeller housing having a passage therein and an rotatable impeller mounted to said housing and located within said passage, said impeller housing being connected to said water inlet housing, said water inlet housing having an intake passage for receiving water from adjacent the unit, said intake passage being in communication with said impeller housing passage;
• a direction controlling outlet nozzle means attached to the rear portion of said impeller housing, said nozzle means being adapted to adjustably control the direction of the water being expelled from the unit during operation;
• said impeller being releasably connected to said power head, at least a portion of said impeller housing being moveable relative to said water inlet housing so that the interior of said impeller housing is accessible from the outside of the unit;
• and
• wherein said power head comprises an internal combustion engine being water cooled and having a cooling water outlet port located in said water inlet housing and being aligned and in communication with a port in said impeller housing, said impeller housing water outlet port communicating the cooling water to said passage wherein said impeller is located, said water inlet housing water outlet port being exposed for connection to a fitting adapted to be in communication with a source of cleaning fluid when said portion of said impeller housing is moved relative to said water inlet housing and the interior of said impeller housing is accessible from the outside of the unit.

A jet propulsion unit for a marine craft, comprising:

• a power head for powering the unit, said power head having an output drive shaft;
• impeller means for driving water through the unit for propelling the marine craft;
• a water inlet housing providing a mounting structure for mounting said power head thereto;
• said impeller means including an impeller housing having a passage therein and an rotatable impeller mounted to said housing and located within said passage, said impeller housing being connected to said water inlet housing, said water inlet having an intake passage for receiving water from adjacent the unit, said intake passage being in communication with said impeller housing passage;
• a direction controlling outlet nozzle means attached to the rear portion of said impeller housing, said nozzle means being adapted to adjustably control the direction of the water being expelled from the unit during operation;
• said impeller being releasably connected to said power head, at least a moveable portion of said impeller housing being reciprocally moveable and releasably clamped relative to said water inlet housing so that the interior of said impeller housing is accessible from the outside of the unit without requiring disassembly of said unit;
• and
• a first side of said moveable portion of said impeller housing is hingedly connected to a remaining portion remaining attached to said water inlet housing thereof, so that said moveable portion can be pivoted away from said remaining portion, said impeller separating from said power head as said moveable portion is pivoted away, thereby exposing said impeller and permitting cleaning of debris from the interior of said impeller housing and said impeller.

A jet propulsion unit for a marine craft, comprising:

• a power head for powering the unit and having a cooling jacket;
• impeller means connected to said power head and constructed for driving water through the unit for propelling the marine craft;
• water inlet means for supplying water to said impeller means;
• said impeller means including an impeller housing having a passage therein and a rotatable impeller mounted to said housing and located within said passage, said impeller housing, having an outlet through which passes the water driven by said impeller means, said housing being connected to said water inlet means and including a passageway for fluid communication with said cooling jacket, said passageway having an entry port disposed in said passage adjacent said impeller so that water is forced into said passageway by said impeller;
• and
• pressure relief means for regulating the pressure of cooling water in said passageway for cooling said power head, said pressure relief means including a pressure regulated check valve disposed in a valve chamber in said impeller housing adjacent said outlet and in fluid communication with said passageway and with said entry port, and at least one pressure relief port in fluid communication with said valve for exhausting excess water driven into said entry port by said impeller.