1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to boats that use a jet propulsion unit.
2. Description of Related Art
A bass boat is a small boat that is designed and equipped primarily for bass fishing or fishing for other panfish, usually in freshwater such as lakes, rivers, and streams. Bass boats are typically powered by an outboard engine and include large flat decks or fishing platforms that facilitate standing on the deck and fishing from a variety of positions and angles on the boat.
Jet propulsion boats produce a propulsion force that is generated by expelling or ejecting water rearwardly from the back of the boat. The jet propulsion boat generally draws water from under the boat into a jet pump disposed in the boat. The water then passes through a series of impellers and stators which increase the velocity of the water flow. The jet pump then discharges the water at a high velocity rearwardly through a nozzle at the stern to generate the propulsion force that pushes the boat forward.
One or more embodiments of the present invention provides a boat with a hull; an inboard rotary engine supported by the hull, the engine having a drive shaft; a jet propulsion unit supported by the hull; and a direct drive connection between the drive shaft and the jet propulsion unit.
The hull may include a stepped hull that includes a transom, a planing bottom surface, a stepped bottom surface that is upwardly offset from the planing bottom surface, the stepped bottom surface being disposed between the planing bottom surface and the transom, and a connecting surface extending between the planing bottom surface and the stepped bottom surface.
The boat may include an exhaust port extending through the stepped bottom surface, and an exhaust passageway fluidly connecting an exhaust outlet of the engine to the exhaust port. A check valve may be disposed in the exhaust passageway and oriented so as to discourage water from entering the engine via the exhaust port.
According to one or more embodiments, the boat includes a floating valve seal in a portion of the exhaust passageway that extends at least partially vertically. The floating valve seal is moveable between an upward sealing position and a lower unsealed position. The floating valve seal is configured to move into the upward sealing position in response to a water level in the portion of the exhaust passageway rising. The floating valve seal discourages water from entering the engine via the exhaust port when the floating valve seal is in the upward sealing position.
According to various embodiments, the hull is at least 10, 12, or 14 feet long and/or may be less than 30 feet long.
According to one or more embodiments, the exhaust passageway has a water ingress height defined as a height of water within the exhaust passageway at which water would backflow into the engine. The water ingress height may be less than 30, 28, and/or 25 inches above a bottom of the hull.
According to one or more embodiments, the boat has a waterline defined when the boat is fully fueled and ready for operation, but is unmanned. The water ingress height is less than 11, 10, and/or 9 inches above the waterline.
According to one or more embodiments, the boat has a cockpit having a steering wheel and separate throttle controller. According to one or more embodiments, the boat comprises side-by-side seats.
According to one or more embodiments, the boat includes an exhaust port extending through the hull to an outer surface of the hull that is below a waterline of the boat defined when the boat is fully fueled and ready for operation, but is unmanned; an exhaust passageway fluidly connecting an exhaust outlet of the engine to the exhaust port; and a check valve in the exhaust passageway, the check valve being oriented so as to discourage water from entering the engine via the exhaust port.
According to one or more embodiments, the boat includes an exhaust port extending through the hull to an outer surface of the hull that is below a waterline of the boat defined when the boat is fully fueled and ready for operation, but is unmanned; an exhaust passageway fluidly connecting an exhaust outlet of the engine to the exhaust port; and a floating valve seal in a portion of the exhaust passageway that extends at least partially vertically, the floating valve seal being moveable between an upward sealing position and a lower unsealed position, the floating valve seal being configured to move into the upward sealing position in response to a water level in the portion of the exhaust passageway rising, the floating valve seal discouraging water from entering the engine via the exhaust port when the floating valve seal is in the upward sealing position.
According to one or more embodiments, the engine does not connect to the jet propulsion unit via a transmission.
One or more embodiments of the present invention provides a boat with a stepped hull having a transom, a planing bottom surface, a stepped bottom surface that is upwardly offset from the planing bottom surface, the stepped bottom surface being disposed between the planing bottom surface and the transom, and a connecting surface extending between the planing bottom surface and the stepped bottom surface. The boat also includes an inboard rotary engine supported by the hull, and a jet propulsion unit supported by the hull and operatively connected to the engine to propel the boat when driven by the engine.
According to one or more embodiments, the jet propulsion unit has an intake portion that projects downwardly from the stepped bottom surface such that a bottom of the intake portion is vertically aligned with the planing bottom surface.
According to one or more embodiments, the hull has a jet propulsion unit mount that projects downwardly from the stepped bottom surface such that a bottom of the jet propulsion unit mount is vertically aligned with the planing bottom surface, and the jet propulsion unit is mounted to the jet propulsion unit mount. According to one or more embodiments, a portion of the jet propulsion unit mount projects rearwardly from the transom.
According to one or more embodiments, the boat has a cockpit having a steering wheel and a throttle controller separate from the steering wheel. The cockpit may have a seat adapted for use by a person driving the boat, the seat having a bottom portion and an upwardly extending back support.
According to one or more embodiments, the hull extends rearwardly farther than any part of the jet propulsion unit.
One or more embodiments of the present invention provides a boat with a hull less than 30 feet long; an aft fishing deck extending across at least 80% of the width of the hull, the deck extending above a bottom of the hull by less than 27 inches; an inboard engine supported by the hull, the engine having a drive shaft; and a propulsion unit supported by the hull and operatively connected to the drive shaft to propel the boat when driven by the drive shaft. The engine is disposed entirely lower than the aft deck.
According to one or more embodiments, the boat further includes an engine exhaust passageway extending from the engine to an exterior exhaust port, and the exhaust passageway is disposed entirely lower than the aft deck.
According to one or more embodiments, the aft deck extends above the waterline by less than 15, 11, or 10 inches.
According to one or more embodiments, the aft deck is vertically separated from a bottom of the hull by less than 28 or 26 inches at any longitudinal point along the aft deck as viewed from the side.
According to one or more embodiments, lateral sides of the hull extend vertically higher than the deck by less than 10 inches at any longitudinal position of the aft deck as viewed from the side.
According to one or more embodiments, the engine exhaust passageway falls entirely within a downwardly projected outer perimeter of the aft deck.
According to one or more embodiments, the engine falls entirely within a downwardly projected outer perimeter of the aft deck.
According to one or more embodiments, the aft deck has a flush-mount engine compartment lid that forms part of the aft deck when closed and provides access to the engine when open.
According to various embodiments, the boat may be a bass boat, a runabout, or another type of boat.
According to one or more embodiments, an area of the aft deck is at least 10 square feet.
According to one or more embodiments, a height of the aft deck does not deviate by more than 2 inches over the course of a foot in any direction.
According to one or more embodiments, the aft deck extends the whole way to the transom. The aft deck may be higher than the transom.
One or more embodiments of the present invention provides a boat with a hull having a length of between 12 and 30 feet; an aft fishing deck that is at least 4 feet wide and 2.5 feet long and has an area of at least 10 square feet; an inboard engine supported by the hull, the engine having a drive shaft; and a propulsion unit supported by the hull and operatively connected to the drive shaft to propel the boat when driven by the drive shaft. The aft deck extends above a bottom of the hull by less than 27 inches.
One or more embodiments of the present invention provides a boat with a hull; an inboard engine supported by the hull, the engine having a drive shaft; a propulsion unit supported by the hull and operatively connected to the drive shaft to propel the boat when driven by the drive shaft; an exhaust port extending through the hull and opening into an ambient environment; and an exhaust passageway fluidly connecting an exhaust outlet of the engine to the exhaust port. The boat is longer than 14 feet. The water ingress height is less than 26 inches above a bottom of the hull.
According to one or more embodiments, the boat includes an aft fishing deck that is disposed higher than the exhaust passageway.
One or more embodiments of the present invention provides a boat with a hull; an inboard engine supported by the hull, the engine having a drive shaft; a jet propulsion unit supported by the hull, the jet propulsion unit having an input shaft operatively connected to the drive shaft to propel the boat when driven by the drive shaft; a male mount having an outer surface, the male mount being connected to one of the engine and the jet propulsion unit; a female mount having an inner surface that is complimentary of the outer surface of the male mount, the female mount being connected to the other of the engine and jet propulsion unit; an elastomeric ring physically interposed between the inner and outer surfaces and providing a structural connection between the male and female mounts so as to form a structural connection between the engine and jet propulsion unit; and a drive train operatively connecting the engine to the jet propulsion unit, the drive train comprising the drive shaft and the input shaft, wherein the drive train extends through the female mount, the male mount, and the elastomeric ring.
According to one or more embodiments, the outer surface tapers inwardly toward its distal end and the inner surface tapers outwardly toward its distal end such that the mounts self align the engine relative to the jet propulsion unit when the male mount is slid into the female mount.
According to one or more embodiments, the engine is mounted to the hull via a three-point connection. A first point of the three point connection is defined by the male and female mounts and the elastomeric ring. Second and third points of the three-point connection are defined by first and second laterally spaced engine mounts extending between the engine and the hull.
According to one or more embodiments, the engine mounts comprise an elastomeric material such that all three points of the three point connection vibrationally dampen the engine relative to the hull.
One or more embodiments of the present invention provides a boat with a hull; an inboard engine supported by the hull, the engine having a drive shaft; a propulsion unit supported by the hull, the propulsion unit having an input shaft operatively connected to the drive shaft to propel the boat when driven by the drive shaft; a male mount having an outer surface, the male mount being connected to one of the engine and the propulsion unit; a female mount having an inner surface that is complimentary of the outer surface of the male mount, the female mount being connected to the other of the engine and propulsion unit; an elastomeric ring physically interposed between the inner and outer surfaces and providing a structural connection between the male and female mounts so as to form a structural connection between the engine and propulsion unit; a drive train operatively connecting the engine to the propulsion unit, the drive train comprising the drive shaft and the input shaft, wherein the drive train extends through the female mount, the male mount, and the elastomeric ring; and a three-point connection that mounts the engine to the hull. A first point of the three point connection is defined by the male and female mounts and the elastomeric ring. Second and third points of the three-point connection are defined by first and second laterally spaced engine mounts extending between the engine and the hull.
These and other aspects of various embodiments of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent, upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. In one embodiment of the invention, the structural components illustrated herein may be considered drawn to scale. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In addition, it should be appreciated that structural features shown or described in any one embodiment herein can be used in other embodiments as well. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
For a better understanding of embodiments of the present invention as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following description which is to be used in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where:
According to various embodiments of the invention, the boat 10 comprises a bass boat. The boat may include an electric, outboard trolling motor (not shown) for propelling the boat 10 without using the engine 30.
In the illustrated embodiment, the hull 20 comprises a planing, stepped, hull designed for high-speed planing on lakes, rivers, bays, and other bodies of water. As shown in
As shown in
According to various embodiments, the hull 20 is longer than 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, or 17 feet. According to various embodiments, the hull 20 is shorter than 38, 35, 33, 30, 28, 26, 25, 24, or 23 feet.
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In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom B of the hull 20 also defines an absolute bottom of the boat 10, including the jet propulsion unit 40. However, according to an alternative embodiment, a conventional stern-drive propulsion unit is used in place of the jet propulsion unit 40, and the stern drive unit extends lower than the bottom B of the hull 20.
According to various embodiments, the engine 30 has at least 50, 55, 60, 65, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, or 110 hp.
An air intake 35 operatively mounts to the engine 30. Although the illustrated rotary engine 30 is a single rotor engine, a multi-rotor rotary engine may alternatively be used without deviating from the scope of the present invention (e.g., a two rotor rotary engine with the rotors longitudinally aligned along the longitudinal direction of the boat 10).
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Although a particular jet propulsion unit 40 is shown and described, a variety of other suitable types of jet population units may be used instead without deviating from the scope of the present invention. Moreover, a variety of other types of propulsion units 40 may be used without deviating from the scope of the present invention (e.g., conventional propeller or surface drive propeller).
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the mount 252 is a male mount, while the mount 254 is a female mount. The relative positions of the mounts 252, 254 could be reversed without deviating from the scope of the present invention.
In the illustrated embodiment, the mating surfaces of the mounts 252, 254 have circular profiles that align with the axes of the drive shaft 235 and input shaft 217. Alternatively, these surfaces may have any other suitable complimentary shapes/profiles (e.g., tapered oval or rectilinear profiles) without deviating from the scope of the present invention.
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Together, the self-aligning connection 250 and engine mounts 258 form a 3-point connection between the engine 30 and the remainder of the boat 10. The 3-point connection makes the engine 30 easy to install. First, the connection 250 is formed, which self-aligns the engine 30 relative to the jet propulsion unit 40. The engine 30 is then bolted to the engine mounts 258. The engine 30 may be structurally connected to the hull 20 solely via these 3 points. The structural support for the engine 30 may consist of these three points (i.e., two engine mounts 258 and the self-aligning connection 250).
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While the illustrated embodiment utilizes a single exhaust port 290 offset to one lateral side of the hull 20, the port 290 may be replaced with a dual-exhaust system in which exhaust is divided into two (or more) passageways (e.g., via a T- or Y-joint) that vent through ports 290 in the stepped bottom surface 120 disposed on both lateral sides of the jet propulsion unit 40. Such a multi-port exhaust system may better break the suction at the stepped bottom surface 120 over the width of the bottom surface 120.
According to various embodiments, the boat has a draft of less than 16, 14, 12, or 10 inches. The draft is defined by the height difference between the bottom B and the waterline W. According to one embodiment, the draft is about 10 inches.
As shown in
The exhaust valve 270 is fashioned within the muffler body and is designed to discourage water from entering the engine via the exhaust port 290 and the exhaust system 50. As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the seal 300 is a hollow; stainless steel sphere and the tubes 310, 320 are cylindrical. However, a variety of other shapes and materials may be used without deviating from the scope of the present invention (e.g., a cylindrical seal 300; a seal 300 and tubes 310, 320 with corresponding non-circular cross-sections (e.g., square, rectilinear, etc.).
Although the exhaust valve 270 is illustrated as a particular type of valve, a variety of other types of exhaust valves may be used without deviating from the scope of the present invention (e.g., another type of water-height-activated check valve, another type of check valve; etc.).
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A captain's seat 450 is disposed behind the console 410 to facilitate operation of the boat by a captain sitting in the seat 450. As shown in
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According to various embodiments, the deck 500 may extend across at least 70%, 80%, or 90% of the width of the hull 20 at the longitudinal position of the deck 500. According to various embodiments, the deck 500 is at least 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 feet wide (i.e., in a lateral direction of the boat 10). The deck 500 may extend longitudinally from a rear of the seat 450 to the transom 100. According to various embodiments the deck 500 extends longitudinally over at least 70%, 80%, 90%, and or 95% of the fore/aft distance between the back of the seat 450 and the transom 100. According to various embodiments, the deck 500 is at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 feet long in the longitudinal direction. According to various embodiments, the aft deck 500 may merge continuously into other portions of the boat (e.g., providing a continuous deck surface between the aft deck 500 and a fore deck 505 (shown in
According to one or more embodiments, the deck 500 has an area that is at least 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 95% of an area disposed rearwardly of a rearwardmost part of the seat 450 and bounded by the port and starboard walls of the hull 20 and the transom 100. According to various embodiments, the area of the deck 500 is at least 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, or 35% of a total deck area of the entire boat 10. According to various embodiments, the area of the deck 500 is at least 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, or 35% of a total area of the boat 10 as vertically projected onto a horizontal plane. According to various embodiments, the area of the deck 500 is at least 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, or 36 square feet.
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According to various embodiments, the height D of the deck 500 does not deviate by more than 1, 1.5, or 2 inches over the course of a foot in any direction such that the deck 500 is substantially planar and level. However, larger height changes may occur at intersections between the deck 500 and other decks (e.g., a deck beside the seats 450, 480). Thus, according to various embodiments, a height deviation of greater than 1, 1.5, or 2 inches over the course of a foot identifies a border of the deck 500 and a transition into another deck or feature of the boat 10.
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The use of a rotary engine as the engine 30 may provide more power in a smaller engine than a comparable piston engine. Thus, according to one or more embodiments, the rotary engine 30 may not require as large (or high) an engine compartment as would be required if a conventional piston engine were used. Thus, while cowlings for conventional piston engines on bass boats have extended above an aft deck and the hull, the rotary engine 30 according to one or more embodiments may be disposed entirely below the deck 500 and/or hull 20 so as to provide a larger, flatter aft deck 500. The use of the exhaust valve 270 in combination with a lower riser in the exhaust system 50 may likewise facilitate disposing the exhaust system 50 entirely below the deck 500 and/or hull 20, again avoiding any need to obstruct the deck 500 by having an exhaust pipe's riser extend up above the deck according to one or more embodiments.
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Various unobtrusive openings may be formed in the deck 500. For example, a hole (e.g., having a 1, 2, or 3 inch diameter) may be formed in the deck 500 to facilitate insertion of a correspondingly sized base rod of a removable swivel chair that extends upwardly from the deck 500.
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A propulsion unit guard 1550 extends rearwardly from the transom 1100. In this embodiment, the propulsion unit guard 1550 comprises a horizontally-oriented generally C, U, or V shaped tube 1555 with a plate 1565 mounted thereon to provide a fishing/swim platform.
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According to an alternative embodiment, the second and third stepped bottom surfaces 2125, 2127 are merged into a single second stepped bottom surface and the connecting surface 2137 omitted.
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The hull 4020 may be similar to or identical to any of the hulls of the above-discussed boats 10, 1010, 2010, 3010. The illustrated hull 4020 is similar to the hull 3020. According to various embodiments, the hull 4020 is longer than 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, or 17 feet. According to various embodiments, the hull 4020 is shorter than 30, 28, 26, 25, 24, or 23 feet.
The engine 4030 and propulsion unit 4040 may be similar to or identical to the engine 30 and propulsion unit 40 or the engine and propulsion units of the other above-discussed boats 10, 1010, 2010, 3010. The engine 4030, jet propulsion unit 4040, and exhaust system 4050 may be positioned relative to the rest of the boat 4010 (e.g., bottom B, deck 4500) in the same or similar manner as the engine 30, propulsion unit 40, and exhaust system 50 are positioned relative to comparable components of the boat 10.
The aft deck/swim platform 4500 may positioned in the same or similar position as the deck 500. The deck 4500 is large, substantially flat, and low so as to provide a convenient deck for people to stand on, sit on, move around on, and fish from. Moreover, because the deck 4500 is low, it is easier for a swimmer to get up onto the deck 4500 from the water than with conventional runabouts that have higher aft decks.
According to various embodiments, the deck 4500 may extend across at least 70%, 80%, or 90% of the width of the hull 4020 at the longitudinal position of the deck 4500. According to various embodiments, the deck 4500 is at least 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 feet wide (i.e., in a lateral direction of the boat 4010). As shown in
According to various embodiments, an area of the deck 4500 is at least 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, or 35% of a total deck area of the entire boat 4010. According to various embodiments, the area of the deck 4500 is at least 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, or 35% of a total area of the boat 10 as vertically projected onto a horizontal plane. According to various embodiments, the area of the deck 4500 is at least 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, or 36 square feet.
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Because the engine 4030 and exhaust system 4050 are so low, the deck layout of the boat 4010 can be easily modified to accommodate different designs. For example, an upwardly extending wall 4525 between the deck 4500 and bench seat 4455 may be moved forward, backward, or eliminated altogether. According to one embodiment, the wall 4455 is pushed rearwardly far enough that the bottom seating surface of the bench seat 4455 is disposed over the engine 4030, thereby providing an enlarged cockpit area. The wall 4525 may fold flat so as to join the bench seat 4455 and deck 4500 into a continuous, substantially flat deck with an enlarged area.
The boats 10, 4010 illustrate how aspects of various embodiments of the invention can be incorporated into two example types of boats, bass boats and runabouts. However, one or more embodiments of the present invention may be incorporated into different types of boats without deviating from the scope of the present invention. For example, the engine 30, propulsion unit 40, and exhaust system 50 may be incorporated into a pontoon boat in which the engine 30, jet propulsion unit 40, and exhaust system 50 are all disposed entirely below the main deck of the pontoon boat.
Unless otherwise specifically stated, the vertical direction and vertical distances are measured perpendicular to the bottom B of the hull 20. As used herein, the longitudinal direction means the fore/aft direction of the boat 10. The lateral direction means the port/starboard direction. The term “as viewed from the side” means as viewed in the port/starboard direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (as shown in
As used herein, the term “about” means within 10% of For example, “about 10 inches” means between 9 and 11 inches.
The foregoing illustrated embodiments are provided to illustrate the structural and functional principles of the present invention and are not intended to be limiting. To the contrary, the principles of the present invention are intended to encompass any and all changes, alterations and/or substitutions within the spirit and scope of the following claims.