Pump jet with an exhaust bypass and associated methods

A pump jet for a marine outboard motor comprising:

• a rotor hub and a rotor carried thereby, said rotor hub to be connected to a drive output of the outboard motor for selective rotation for forward or reverse motion, said rotor hub having an internal passageway to be in fluid communication with an exhaust outlet of the outboard motor;
• and
• an exhaust bypass movable between normal and bypassed positions, said exhaust bypass comprising
• an outer sleeve having a plurality of
• spaced apart exhaust windows therethrough, and
• an inner sleeve having a plurality of spaced apart exhaust windows therethrough,
• said exhaust bypass being in the normal position when the spaced apart exhaust windows are non-overlapping for directing exhaust through the internal passageway of said rotor hub to discharge downstream of said rotor during forward motion, and being in the bypassed position when the exhaust windows are overlapping for bypassing exhaust from the internal passageway to discharge downstream of said rotor during reverse motion.

A marine outboard motor comprising:

• a power unit comprising a drive output and an exhaust outlet;
• a pump jet comprising
• a rotor hub and a rotor carried thereby, said rotor hub connected to the drive output of said power unit for selective rotation for forward or reverse motion, said rotor hub having an internal passageway connected in fluid communication with the exhaust outlet, and
• an exhaust bypass movable between normal and bypassed positions, said exhaust bypass when in the normal position directing exhaust through the internal passageway of said rotor hub to discharge downstream of said rotor during forward motion, said exhaust bypass when in the bypassed position bypassing exhaust from the internal passageway to discharge downstream of said rotor during reverse motion;
• a rotor housing enclosing said rotor hub, said rotor and said exhaust bypass;
• and
• a stator housing connected to said rotor housing and comprising a stator hub having an internal passageway connected in fluid communication with the internal passageway of said rotor hub.