Jet-propulsion watercraft

• US 6,722,302 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2001
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2000
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Matsuda, Yoshimoto, Asakura, Yukio
• Primary Examiner(s): SWINEHART, EDWIN L
• Application Number:
  US09/953,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20030066469A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 440/1, 440/2, 440/87, 114/144.R
• US Class Current: 114/144.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 11/107 Direction control of propulsive fluid B63H11/101 takes precedence

Abstract

A jet-propulsion watercraft, comprises a steering position sensor for detecting a steering operation of a steering operation means. A steering means adapted to be subjected to a steering assist mode control, when a signal indicating that the steering position sensor has detected the steering operation is received from the steering position sensor. A control device that gives a signal to the steering position sensor and receives a signal indicating that the steering operation means is or is not steered from the steering position sensor, and the signal from the steering position sensor is set equal in level to the signal given from the control device to the steering position sensor when the steering operation means is not steered.

Claims

1. A jet-propulsion watercraft, comprising:

a water jet pump including an outlet port and a steering nozzle, said water jet pump pressurizing and accelerating sucked water and ejecting the water from the outlet port to propel the watercraft as a reaction of the ejecting water;

a steering operation means operating in association with the steering nozzle of the water jet pump;

a steering sensor comprised of a proximity sensor, for detecting a steering operation of the steering operation means;

a steering means for steering the watercraft adapted to be subjected to a steering assist mode control, when a signal indicating that the steering position sensor has detected the steering operation is received; and

a control device connected to the steering position sensor by a signal line, the control device giving a signal to the steering position sensor and detecting a signal in the signal line indicating that the steering operation means is or is not steered, wherein

the signal in the signal line does not change when the steering operation means is not steered, and thereby the control device does not execute the steering assist mode control, and the signal in the signal line changes when the steering operation means is steered, and thereby the control device executes the steering assist mode control.

2. The jet-propulsion watereraft according to claim 1, wherein the signal in the signal line being detected by the control device is a High voltage level signal which is lower than a predetermined voltage, and the signal being given from the control device to the steering position sensor is a High voltage level signal when the steering operation means is not steered.

3. The jet-propulsion watercraft according to claim 1, wherein the signal in the signal line being detected by the control device is a Low voltage level signal which is higher than a predetermined voltage, and the signal being given from the control device to the steering position sensor is a Low voltage level signal when the steering operation means is not steered.

4. A jet-propulsion watercraft, comprising:

a water jet pump including an outlet port and a steering nozzle, said water jet pump pressurizing and accelerating sucked water and ejecting the water from the outlet port to propel the watercraft as a reaction of the ejecting water;

a steering operation means operating in association with the steering nozzle of the water jet pump;

a steering position sensor for detecting a steering operation of the steering operation means, said steering position sensor comprising a proximity switch having two proximity sensors provided on a portion of a rotational shaft of the steering operation means of the watercraft, wherein

one terminal of each of the proximity sensors is connected to the control device by the signal line to allow a High voltage level of the signal to be applied to the one terminal from the control device, and the other terminal of each of the proximity sensors is electrically grounded,

when the steering operation means is steered, the proximity sensor placed on steered side is activated to short the terminals of the proximity sensor placed on a steered side is activated to short the terminals of the proximity sensor to cause the voltage to change from High level to Low level;

a steering means for steering the watercraft adapted to be subjected to a steering assist mode control, when a signal indicating that the steering position sensor has detected the steering operation is received; and

a control device connected to the steering position sensor by a signal line, the control device giving a signal to the steering position sensor and detecting a signal in the signal line indicating that the steering operation means is or is not steered, wherein

the signal in the signal line does not change when the steering operation means is not steered, and thereby the control device does not execute the steering assist mode control, and the signal in the signal line changes when the steering operation means is steered, and thereby the control device executes the steering assist mode control.

5. A jet-propulsion watercraft, comprising:

a water jet pump including an outlet port and a steering nozzle, said water jet pump pressurizing and accelerating sucked water and ejecting the water from the outlet port to propel the watercraft as a reaction of the ejecting water;

a steering operation means operating in association with the steering nozzle of the water jet pump;

a steering position sensor for detecting a steering operation of the steering operation means, said steering position sensor comprising a proximity switch having two proximity sensors provided on a portion of a rotational shaft of the steering operation means of the watercraft, wherein

one terminal of each of the proximity sensors is electrically grounded through the control device by the signal line, and the other terminal of each of the proximity sensors is connected to an electric power source to allow a High voltage level of the signal to be applied to the other terminal from the electric power source,

when the steering operation means is steered, the proximity sensor placed on a steered side is activated to short the terminals of the proximity switch to cause the voltage level of the signal to change from High level to Low level;

a steering means for steering the watercraft adapted to be subjected to a steering assist mode control, when a signal indicating that the steering position sensor has detected the steering operation is received; and

a control device connected to the steering position sensor by a signal line, the control device giving a signal to the steering position sensor and detecting a signal in the signal line indicating that the steering operation means is or is not steered, wherein

the signal in the signal line does not change when the steering operation means is not steered, and thereby the control device does not execute the steering assist mode control, and the signal in the signal line changes when the steering operation means is steered, and thereby the control device executes the steering assist mode control.