Self-halt device for water craft

• US 4,743,213 A
• Filed: 02/27/1987
• Issued: 05/10/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Kawasaki Heavy Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Kawasaki Heavy Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Nishida, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Swinehart, Edwin L.
• Application Number:
  US07/020,074
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 114/270, 440/38, 440/1, 440/2, 180/290, 180/273, 180/272
• US Class Current: 440/1
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 34/10 Power-driven personal watercraft, e.g. water scooters water jet propulsion B63H11/00; jet steering B63H25/46; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/50 Slowing-down means not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A self-halt device for water-jet, power-driven water craft is disclosed, which includes a duct connected at a forward end thereof to the atmosphere and, at its opposite end, to a water passage defined in the rear bottom of the water craft in which a propeller is connected to an engine through a propeller shaft. A valve is installed in the duct, which closes or opens the duct in response to sensing the weight of a driver properly sitting in or standing on a driver seat mounted on top of the water craft deck. With the valve in its operating position where the duct is closed, the engine rotates the propeller in the water passage filled with water which is discharged in a jet from the stern. When the pressure is removed from the driver seat, as when the driver was inadvertently displaced from board, the valve is actuated to open the duct permitting atmospheric air into the water passage, so that engine rotates the propeller on air. Thus, the water craft is brought to a halt, without stopping the engine, within easy reach of the displaced user who can swim over and recapture the water craft.

Claims

1. A self-halt device for a water-jet power-driven water craft, said water craft comprising an elongate buoyant hollow hull that is defined by a bottom, stern, sidewalls, a deck mounted on top of said hull, an engine-containing compartment defined in said hull, a water passage defined in said bottom, an internal combustion engine mounted in said compartment, said engine comprising a carburetor having a throttle valve, an air inlet and an exhaust line, and an output shaft, a propulsion system comprising a propeller shaft that is operatively connected at one end thereof to said output shaft and a propeller mounted at a rear portion of said bottom and connected to the opposite end of said propeller shaft, said propulsion system being so disposed in said water passage that said propeller rotates to discharge in a jet at said stern water that is introduced into said water passage as the body of said buoyant water craft is sunk into the water by the weight of a user on said deck, a steering system adapted for steering said water craft, said steering system comprising a steering column mounted on said deck and a handle bar rotatably disposed in said steering column for a user to manipulate, a grip rotatably mounted on said handle bar and drivingly connected to said engine in such a manner that manual rotation of said grip controls the speed of said water craft, and a platform mounted on top of said deck and adapted for a user to stand or sit on when operating said water craft, said self-halt device comprising:

sensor means in said water craft, said sensor means being capable of generating a signal in response to the user being thrown off the water craft during cruising;

a duct for conveying gaseous fluids defined in said hull, and extending into said water passage; and

a valve installed in said duct and operatively connected to said sensor means, said valve being actuated to move between a first position where said valve closes said duct and, in response to said signal from said sensor, a second position where said valve opens said duct allowing said gaseous fluids to enter said water passage so that said propeller comes to rotate on the introduced said gaseous fluids within said passage, bringing said water craft to an immediate stop.

2. A self-halt device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sensor means is a sensor system capable of detecting the weight of a user on said platform, said sensor system being activated to generate said signal in response to absence of such weight.

3. A self-halt device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said valve is an electromagnetic valve.

4. A self-halt device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said electromagnetic valve is operated to move between said first and second positions in response to the weight of a user on said platform.

5. A self-halt device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said electromagnetic valve is operated to move between said first and second position in response to the operator'"'"'s gripping pressure exerted on said grip of said handle bar.

6. A self-halt device for a water-jet power-driven water craft, said water craft comprising an elongate buoyant hollow hull that is defined by a bottom, stern, sidewalls, a deck mounted on top of said hull, an engine-containing compartment defined in said hull, a water passage defined in said bottom, an internal combustion engine mounted in said compartment, said engine comprising a carburetor having a throttle valve, an air inlet and an exhaust line, and an output shaft, a propulsion system comprising a propeller that is operatively connected at one end thereof to said output shaft and a propeller mounted at a rear portion of said bottom and connected to the opposite end of said propeller shaft, said propulsion system being so disposed in said water passage that said propeller rotates to discharge in a jet at said stern water that is introduced into said water passage as the body of said buoyant water craft is sunk into the water by the weight of a user on said deck, a steering system adapted for steering said water craft, said steering system comprising a steering column mounted on said deck and a handle bar rotatably disposed in said steering column for a user to manipulate, a grip rotatably mounted on said handle bar and drivingly connected to said engine in such a manner that manual rotation of said grip controls the speed of said water craft, and a platform mounted on top of said deck and adapted for a user to stand or sit on when operating said water craft, said self-halt device comprising:

sensor means in said water craft, said sensor means being capable of generating a signal in response to the user being thrown off the water craft during cruising;

a duct for conveying gaseous fluids defined in said hull, and extending into said water passage; and

a valve installed in said duct and operatively connected to said sensor means, said valve being actuated to move between a first position where said valve closes said duct and, in response to said signal from said sensor, a second position where said valve opens said duct allowing said gaseous fluids to enter said water passage so that said propeller comes to rotate on the introduced gaseous fluids within said passage, bringing said water craft to an immediate stop;

said duct being connected in fluid-flow relationship to said exhaust line and said gaseous fluids being exhaust gases said valve being actuated into said second position in response to said signal establishing fluid-flow communication between said exhaust line and said water passage so that exhaust gases are admitted into said water passage.

7. A self-halt device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said valve is an electromagnetic valve.

8. A self-halt device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said electromagnetic valve is operated to move between said first and second positions in response to the weight of a user on said platform.

9. A self-halt device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said electromagnetic valve is operated to move between said first and second positions in response to the operator'"'"'s gripping pressure exerted on said grip of said handle bar.

10. A self-halt device for a water-jet power-driven water craft, said water craft comprising an elongate buoyant hollow hull that is defined by a bottom, stern, sidewalls, a deck mounted on top of said hull, an engine-containing compartment defined in said hull, a water passage defined in said bottom, an internal combustion engine mounted in said compartment, said engine comprising a carburetor having a throttle valve, an air inlet and an exhaust line, and an output shaft, a propulsion system comprising a propeller shaft that is operatively connected at one end thereof to said output shaft and a propeller mounted at a rear portion of said bottom and connected to the opposite end of said propeller shaft, said propulsion system being so disposed in said water passage that said propeller rotates to discharge in a jet at said stern water that is introduced into said water passage as the body of said buoyant water craft is sunk into the water by the weight of a user on said deck, a steering system adapted for steering said water craft, said steering system comprising a steering column mountd on said deck and a handle bar rotatably disposed in said steering column for a user to manipulate, a grip rotatably mounted on said handle bar and drivingly connected to said engine in such a manner that manual rotation of said grip controls the speed of said water craft, and a platform mounted on top of said deck and adapted for a user to stand or sit on when operating said water craft, said self-halt device comprising:

sensor means in said water craft,

a duct defined in said hull, said duct being formed to open at a first end thereof in said deck into the atmosphere and at a second end thereof into said water passage; and

a valve installed in said duct and operatively connected to said sensor means, said valve being actuated to move between a first position where said valve closes said duct and, a second position where said valve opens said duct allowing atmospheric air to enter said water passage so that said propeller comes to rotate on the introduced air within said passage, bringing said water craft to an immediate stop;

said sensor means being a sensor system capable of detecting the weight of a user on said platform, and comprising spring members that are seated in said deck and on which said platform is vertically movably supported to move between an upper and a lower position, said valve being secured to the backside of said platform for vertical movement therewith and vertically movably disposed in said duct to shift between said first and second positions, the combined force of said spring members being so selected that the weight of the user causes said platform to move down into said lower position against the spring members bringing said valve into said first position whereas the absence of such weight allows said platform to hold way above said deck in said upper position holding said valve in said second position.

11. A self-halt device for a water-jet power-driven water craft, said water craft comprising an elongate buoyant hollow hull that is defined by a bottom, stern, and sidewalls, a deck mounted on top of said hull, an engine compartment defined in said hull, a water passage defined in said bottom, an engine mounted in said engine compartment, said engine comprising an air inlet and an exhaust line, and an output shaft, a propulsion system comprising a propeller shaft operatively connected at one end thereof to said output shaft and a propeller mounted at a rear portion of said bottom and connected to the opposite end of said propeller shaft, said propulsion system being so disposed in said water passage that said propeller rotates to discharge at said stern in a jet water that is introduced into said water passage, a steering system for steering said water craft, and a platform mounted on top of said deck and adapted for a user to stand or sit on when operating said water craft, said self-halt device comprising:

sensor means mounted in said water craft, said sensor means being capable of generating a signal in response to the user being thrown off the water craft during the cruising;

a duct for conveying gaseous fluids defined in said hull, and extending into said water passage; and

a valve installed in said duct and operatively connected to said sensor means, said valve being actuated to move between a first position wherein said valve closes said duct and, in response to said signal from said sensor, a second position wherein said valve opens said duct allowing said gaseous fluid to enter said water passage so that said propeller rotates on the introduced said gaseous fluids within said passage, bringing said water craft to an immediate stop.

12. A self-halt device for a water-jet power-driven water craft, said water craft comprising an elongate buoyant hollow hull that is defined by a bottom, stern, and sidewalls, a deck mounted on top of said hull, an engine compartment defined in said hull, a water passage defined in said bottom, an engine mounted in said engine compartment, said engine comprising an air inlet and an exhaust line, and an output shaft, a propulsion system comprising a propeller shaft operatively connected at one end thereof to said output shaft and a propeller mounted at a rear portion of said bottom and connected to the opposite end of said propeller shaft, said propulsion system being so disposed in said water passage that said propeller rotates to discharge at said stern in a jet water that is introduced into said water passage, a steering system for steering said water craft, and a platform mounted on top of said deck and adapted for a user to stand or sit on when operating said water craft, said self-halt device comprising:

sensor means mounted in said water craft;

a duct defined in said hull, said duct being formed to open at a first end thereof in said deck into the atmosphere and at a second end into said water passage; and

a valve installed in said duct and operatively connected to said sensor means, said valve being actuated to move between a first position wherein said valve closes said duct and, a second position wherein said valve opens said duct allowing atmospheric air to enter said water passage so that said propeller rotates on the introduced air within said passage, bringing said water craft to an immediate stop;

said sensor means comprising a plurality of coil springs seated in fixed positions in said deck, said platform being vertically movably disposed on said coil springs, said valve being secured to a backside of said platform, the combined spring force of said coil springs being so pre-determined that the body weight of a user on said platform causes said platform to come down overcoming said combined spring force thereby causing said valve to move into said first position whereas said platform is held up by said coil springs in the absence of a user'"'"'s body weight on said platform.