Back to results
US 6,899,575 B1Granted
Jet drive marine propulsion system with a water pump
AssigneeBrunswick Corporation
InventorsNeil A. Rothe, Thomas S. Lonnborg, Ricky G. Jaeger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a water pump in addition to the impeller system of a marine propulsion system. This allows the water pump to operate independently of the impeller if a clutch is provided which disconnects the impeller from torque transmitting relation with an engine. When a clutch is not provided, the independent water pump of the present invention allows the marine propulsion system to be operated at a lower idle speed than would otherwise be possible because the impeller is not relied upon for a flow of cooling water to the engine.
Claims36
A marine propulsion system, comprising:
- a water passage having an inlet opening disposable in fluid communication with a body of water in which said marine propulsion system is operated and an outlet opening from which water can be expelled to provide a propulsive force for a marine vessel;
- an impeller connectable in torque transmitting association with an output shaft of an engine, said impeller being disposed within said water passage between said inlet opening and said outlet opening;
- a water pump having an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit, said inlet conduit being disposable in fluid communication with said body of water in which said marine propulsion system is operated, said outlet conduit being connectable in fluid communication with a cooling system of said engine;
- and
- a clutch connectable in torque transmitting association between said impeller and said output shaft of said engine said clutch being configured to disconnect said impeller from torque transmitting relation with said output shaft of said engine.
2 more elements
A marine propulsion system, comprising:
- a water passage having an inlet opening disposable in fluid communication with a body of water in which said marine propulsion system is operated and an outlet opening from which water can be expelled to provide a propulsive force for a marine vessel;
- an impeller connectable in torque transmitting association with an output shaft of an engine, said impeller being disposed within said water passage between said inlet opening and said outlet opening, said impeller being attached to an impeller shaft for rotation with said impeller shaft which is supported for rotation about a horizontal axis;
- and
- an electric water pump having an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit, said inlet conduit being disposable in fluid communication with said body of water in which said marine propulsion system is operated, said outlet conduit being connectable in fluid communication with a cooling system of said engine, said electric water pump being displaced from said water passage.
1 more element
A marine propulsion system, comprising:
- an engine;
- a water passage having an inlet opening disposable in fluid communication with a body of water in which said marine propulsion system is operated and an outlet opening from which water can be expelled to provide a propulsive force for a marine vessel;
- an impeller connectable in torque transmitting association with an output shaft of an engine, said impeller being disposed within said water passage between said inlet opening and said outlet opening, said impeller being attached to an impeller shaft for rotation with said impeller shaft which is supported for rotation about a horizontal axis;
- a water pump having an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit, said inlet conduit being disposable in fluid communication with said body of water in which said marine propulsion system is operated, said outlet conduit being connectable in fluid communication with a cooling system of said engine, said water pump being a positive displacement pump;
- and
- a clutch connectable in torque transmitting association between said impeller and said output shaft of said engine said clutch being configured to disconnect said impeller from torque transmitting relation with said output shaft of said engine.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.