Jet-propulsion watercraft

• US 20030066469A1
• Filed: 09/17/2001
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Matsuda, Yoshimoto, Asakura, Yukio
• Granted Patent: US 6,722,302 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 114/144R
• 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 position sensor for detecting a steering operation of the 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; and

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, wherein

the signal from the steering position sensor is set equal in level to the signal being given from the control device to the steering position sensor when the steering operation means is not steered.

2. The jet-propulsion watercraft according to claim 1, wherein the signal from the steering position sensor is a HIGH level signal and the signal being given from the control device to the steering position sensor is a HIGH level signal when the steering operation means is not steered.

3. The jet-propulsion watercraft according to claim 1, wherein the signal from the steering position sensor is a LOW level signal and the signal being given from the control device to the steering position sensor is a LOW level signal when the steering operation means is not steered.

4. The jet-propulsion watercraft according to claim 1, wherein the steering position sensor comprises a proximity switch having two proximity sensors provided on a portion of a rotational shaft of the steering operation means of the watercraft,

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

when the steering operation means is steered, 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.

5. The jet-propulsion watercraft according to claim 1, wherein the steering position sensor comprises a proximity switch having two proximity sensors provided on a portion of a rotational shaft of the steering operation means of the watercraft,

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

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 to change from LOW level to HIGH level.