Abstract: A direct fuel injection internal combustion engine configured to reduce engine knock during high speed operation of the engine is provided. The engine comprises a cylinder head including a lower surface portion closing an upper end of a cylinder to define a combustion chamber between a piston upper surface and the cylinder head lower surface portion. The lower surface portion has therein an upwardly extending recess. The recess has a lower end which is complementary with the piston surface and an upper end. The lower end of said recess has an area in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cylinder and that area comprises a range from more than 20% to about 65% of the cross-sectional area of the cylinder.

Abstract: A watercraft is provided that includes a rearwardly facing ventilation opening, which allows ambient air to flow into a hull assembly of the watercraft. A seat is provided that has a seating surface configured to accommodate at least one rider seated thereon. The seat is mounted on the hull assembly such that the seat covers the ventilation opening of the hull assembly to obstruct water from flowing therein and forms one or more air pathways between the seat and hull assembly. Each of the one or more air pathways has one end open to the atmosphere and an opposite end open to the ventilation opening to enable air to flow between the atmosphere and the ventilation opening between the seat and the hull assembly via the one or more air pathways.

Abstract: The present invention includes an oiling distribution system having an oil distribution manifold for evenly distributing engine oil to the cylinders of an internal combustion engine and an adapter base for coupling to the oil distribution manifold having therein an air purging passage for purging any air accompanying the oil exiting an oil pumping system. The air purging passage discharges air to the oil distribution manifold wherein the air is transported to the fuel system of an internal combustion engine through a fuel system oiling outlet. The air purging passage has an air inlet and air outlet that are sufficient size to allow the transport of air but minimize the flow of oil through the air purging passage. The present invention also provides a method for purging air from an oiling system.

Abstract: A two-speed transmission (30) with reverse gearing for a watercraft (10). The transmission is disposed in the gimbal housing (25) passing through the transom (14) of the watercraft. A pair of planetary gears (46,80) share a common ring gear (40) to provide both forward-reverse and first-second gearing in a very compact package. The transmission housing may be formed in two portions, a first housing (32) containing the forward-reverse gear mechanisms and a second housing (62) containing the first-second gear mechanism. The transmission output shaft (64) is connected to the drive shaft (122) of a vertical drive unit (24) by a double universal joint (74) that may be replaced without disassembling the transmission components.

Abstract: A boat having a propulsion system and a station containing throttle, shift and cruise controls at some distance from the propulsion system. The throttle, shift and cruise control elements generate electrical signals which are transmitted to a electronic control unit in the propulsion system. The electronic control unit controls the fuel injection and the ignition of fuel for the propulsion system and also signals the throttle and the transmission in response to an operator's manipulation of the throttle, shift or cruise control elements. There are no mechanical links or cables between the throttle, shift and cruise control elements and the propulsion system.

Abstract: A vent control system having a closed biased vent valve is used to separate vapor and/or air from a liquid in an enclosed chamber. The closed biased vent valve has a float having an upwardly extending float arm which cooperates with a lever arm of the closed biased vent valve to prevent unintended release of vapor or liquid from the enclosed chamber. The upwardly extending float arm and the lever arm are coupled to one another when the float is located beneath a designated level in the enclosed chamber and are decoupled from one another when the float rises above the designated level. The vent control system is much less susceptible to vibration induced vent opening than a traditional vent valve. The vent control system is well suited for use in a fuel vapor separator that includes a housing having the enclosed chamber formed within it.

Abstract: A breathing mask is provided for a helmet which reduces the formation of water on the lens of the eyeglasses of the wearer or on the shield of the helmet. The helmet comprises a head portion, a shield portion, and a breathing mask. The shield portion comprises a jaw shield and an eye shield. The breathing mask is hermetically adapted to the face of the wearer to evacuate the wearer's breath outside the helmet through breathing channels. The jaw shield can be pivotally opened or closed and is locked to the head portion in the closed position. The eye shield is pivotally connected to the head portion and includes a see-through shield and a tinted shield. The tinted shield can be lowered inside the helmet to protect the wearer from sun rays and reflexions.

Abstract: A water jet apparatus for a boat has a reverse gate optimized for braking. The reverse gate has a pair of flow-reversing passages for providing reverse thrust when the reverse gate is deployed and a lateral steering passage for directing flow, discharged to one side by the steering nozzle, to the opposite side. The flow-reversing passages start on opposite sides of a deflector body and curve outward and forward. The lateral steering passage is located aft of the deflector body and reversing passages and has discharge openings on opposite ends thereof, i.e., on the port and starboard sides of the reverse gate. The center of the aft wall of the reversing passages has an aperture, which allows water discharged from the steering nozzle to enter the steering passages. The deflector is situated in front of the aperture to deflect the pump discharge to the sides. The deflector takes the form of a flat body having an oval cross section with rounded side edges and having an hourglass shape when viewed from the front.

Abstract: A jet-powered watercraft has a water jet propulsion unit driven by a powerhead and a rudder pivotably mounted to the water jet propulsion unit. The rudder is pivotable between a retracted position, where the rudder extends out of the water, and a down position, where the rudder extends in the water. Means are provided for changing the position of the rudder when the revolutions per unit time of the powerhead reaches a predetermined threshold, e.g., pivoting the rudder from the down position to the retracted position when the powerhead rpm level exceeds a predetermined threshold. In one embodiment, the revolutions per unit time of the drive shaft are detected. In another embodiment, the control position of the operator throttle control device is detected. Pivoting of the rudder may be actuated by a solenoid, a hydraulic cylinder or any other functionally equivalent electrical, mechanical or electromechanical device.

Abstract: A watercraft with a steer-responsive speed controller generates thrust when the steerable propulsion unit is turned beyond a predetermined angular threshold. Turning the steering wheel beyond the threshold causes the speed controller to increase engine speed so that the propulsion unit produces thrust at least equal to the minimal propulsive force needed to effectively steer the watercraft. This system ensures that there is always sufficient thrust for steering the watercraft. This system is applicable to single-engine personal watercraft, twin-engine jet boats or motorboats equipped with swivel-mounted outboard motors. In one form of the system, rotation of the steering wheel beyond the angular threshold causes an actuating cable to open the throttle to increase engine speed. Alternatively, an electronic control system regulates the engine by calculating the optimal power settings based on measurements derived from a speed sensor, a steering angle sensor and, optionally, a throttle position sensor.

Abstract: A jet-propelled boat having an inboard motor and a hull which incorporates an inlet ramp penetrated by a driven shaft. The driven shaft couples a drive shaft of the inboard motor to an impeller of a water jet propulsion assembly which is mounted in cantilever fashion to the hull transom. The hull penetration is accomplished by a through-hull housing which is installed in an opening formed in the hull inlet ramp. Preferably the through-hull housing is made of thick metal plate with a transverse linear bore for shaft penetration and a peripheral flange which seats in a peripheral recess formed along the edge of the opening in the inlet ramp. The through-hull housing is clamped to the recessed hull edge, which forms the opening in the inlet ramp, by an annular clamp plate. An inlet grate extending from the outboard surface of the through-hull housing. A through-hull housing and inlet grate assembly is installed in the hull opening as a module.

Abstract: A piston for a two-stroke direct fuel injection internal combustion engine coupled to drive a marine propulsion unit is provided. The piston has a generally cylindrical body with one or more grooves formed therein. Each groove defines an opening to receive a respective piston ring. A thermal-protection coating is applied by anodizing the interior of the grooves. The respective region of the piston cylindrical body surrounding the respective groove openings is free of the coating.

Abstract: A reciprocating fluid pump includes a drive section and a pump section. The drive section has a pair of coils which may be energized to cause displacement of a reciprocating assembly. Each coil is a reluctance gap arrangement in which a magnetic circuit is interrupted by a gap towards which an armature of the reciprocating assembly is drawn when energizing current is applied to the coil. The reciprocating assembly includes an element which is extended into and retracted from a pump chamber during its reciprocating motion, causing fluid to be drawn into and expelled from the pump chamber. The pump is particularly well suited for use in cyclic pumping applications, such as internal combustion engine fuel injection. Cycle times in such applications may be reduced by appropriate control of the current waveforms applied to the coils.

Abstract: A multi-function pressure relief valve having a moveable seat and a needle is mounted on a fuel vapor separator. The needle is connected to a float assembly for opening and closing the pressure relief valve for venting an internal chamber of the fuel vapor separator. The moveable seat is biased to engage the needle for relieving excess pressure when vapor pressure in the internal chamber exceeds a biasing force on the movable seat. The valve opens in response to at least one of (1) changing fluid level in the fuel vapor separator, and (2) excess vapor pressure within the vapor fuel separator. During operation, the valve vents an internal chamber of the fuel vapor separator by disengaging the needle from the movable seat using a float attached to the needle. The valve closes when the float reaches a desired position to pressurize the internal chamber by engaging the needle to the movable seat.

Abstract: A fuel vapor separator is disclosed having a fuel distribution network, a damper chamber, and a closed biased vent valve. The fuel vapor separator has a housing having two opposed ends enclosed by top and bottom covers. The housing is formed by extrusion and the top and bottom covers are molded identically. An integral fuel distribution network is provided to supply fuel to each fuel injector of an engine and to receive fuel return from each fuel injector. A fuel damper chamber communicates with the fuel inlet port to absorb pressure surges. A fuel float having an upwardly extending float arm is located in an enclosed fuel chamber and connected to a closed biased vent valve mounted in the housing. The float is arranged to decouple from the closed biased vent valve to present “engine spit.

Abstract: By controlling a power source in response to a load power demand, more efficient operation is obtained. Faster response is also realized by incorporating a compensation for inertia in the path between the power source and the load. In one exemplary embodiment, a further-driven system for electric power generation is controlled according to increased values of a load power demand and a turbine output shaft speed.

Abstract: A noise reducing system for a personal watercraft. The system includes a pump insulating system which insulates the pump housing from the hull. More particularly, the pump insulating system includes at least one insulating attachment for connecting a pump housing to a supporting surface of a personal watercraft. Such insulating attachment includes an insulator having a portion mounted between the pump housing and the supporting surface. Advantageously, the system also includes a resonator and a shield, both mounted on the exhaust system, and an insulating material mounted inside an air intake pipe.

Abstract: An arrangement for exhaust timing control by controlling the effective height of an exhaust port of a cylinder of a two-cycle internal combustion engine and comprising a control valve assembly arranged in a guide channel so as to be displaceable relative to the exhaust port and having an associated operating assembly for shifting thereof, the control valve assembly, in its advanced position, decreases the height of the exhaust port and, in its retracted position, exposes the entire cross-section of the exhaust port; a seal effective between the guide and the control valve assembly is provided in the end region of the control valve assembly facing the exhaust port.

Abstract: The escape of acoustic energy via an opening in a motor housing penetrated by a steering arm is reduced by installing a pair of acoustic seals. The seals have respective membranes which extend across respective portions of the opening in the housing. These membranes are flexible, self-supporting and substantially block the transmission therethrough of acoustic wave energy in the range of 1,000 to 3,000 hertz. The acoustic seals installed in the housing opening, in combination with a vibro-acoustic treatment applied on the inner surface of the motor housing, suppress noise produced by the motor.