Abstract: A marine outboard motor includes a power unit and a pump jet. The power unit includes a drive output and an exhaust outlet, and the pump jet includes a rotor hub and a rotor carried thereby. The rotor hub is connected to the drive output of the power unit for selective rotation for forward or reverse motion, and the rotor hub has an internal passageway connected in fluid communication with the exhaust outlet. The pump jet further includes an exhaust bypass movable between normal and bypassed positions. The exhaust bypass when in the normal position directing exhaust through the internal passageway of the rotor hub to discharge downstream of the rotor during forward motion. The exhaust bypass when in the bypassed position bypassing exhaust from the internal passageway to discharge downstream of the rotor during reverse motion.

Abstract: A marine outboard motor includes a power unit and a pump jet. The power unit includes a drive output and an exhaust outlet, and the pump jet includes a rotor hub and a rotor carried thereby. The rotor hub is connected to the drive output of the power unit for selective rotation for forward or reverse motion, and the rotor hub has an internal passageway connected in fluid communication with the exhaust outlet. The pump jet further includes an exhaust bypass movable between normal and bypassed positions. The exhaust bypass when in the normal position directing exhaust through the internal passageway of the rotor hub to discharge downstream of the rotor during forward motion. The exhaust bypass when in the bypassed position bypassing exhaust from the internal passageway to discharge downstream of the rotor during reverse motion.

Abstract: A pump jet having a perforated wear liner inside the rotor housing for altering the spectrum of noise produced by the pump jet. The perforated wear liner is inserted in a circumferential recess formed on the inner surface of the rotor housing and surrounds the rotor tip region. The throughholes or perforations are preferably constant in size and regularly spaced. The perforated wear liner acts as a Helmholtz resonator liner which alters the spectrum of noise emitted from the pump jet during operation. Proper selection of the size, number and spacing of the holes permits the designer to control the specific noise spectrum range that is emitted from the front and rear lobes of the pump jet, thereby altering the hydrodynamic noise field.

Abstract: A pump jet in which the axial flow of water through the device is controlled by bleeding exhaust gas into the pump jet water stream, thereby producing a thrust loss. The addition of gas into the primary pump jet water flow stream reduces the effective flow density of the exit media, thereby reducing the exit momentum (and thrust) produced by the pump jet. The thrust modulation device can be actuated using any conventional electrical or mechanical actuation subsystem via a knob or lever positioned near the throttle control.

Abstract: An ETV-type pump jet having a stator housing with an attachment for minimizing the mismatches between the velocity and direction of the exhaust gas stream flowing out of a stator vane outlet and the velocity and direction of boat and pump jet motion. In one embodiment, a multiplicity of exhaust ducts are attached to the external surface of the stator housing, each exhaust duct being positioned to be in flow communication with the exhaust gas outlet of a respective hollow stator vane. Exhaust gases exiting the exhaust outlets are redirected by the inner surfaces of the ducts to flow in parallel with the rotor shaft axis. In another embodiment, a circumferential exhaust skirt made of sheet metal is substituted for the exhaust ducts. The exhaust skirt surrounds the stator housing and redirects the exhaust gas stream to be substantially parallel with the surrounding water flow.

Abstract: A pump jet apparatus having a double-walled stator housing containing an annular passage through which exhaust gas can flow. Gas enters the annulus through an exhaust gas inlet or port formed in the outer stator shell at the top of the stator housing, flows in two streams around the annular passage formed between the inner and outer stator shells, and exits the stator housing through exhaust outlets or ports formed in the outer stator shell near the bottom of the stator housing. The streams of exhaust gas and impelled water flowing through the stator housing of the pump jet are kept separate by the inner stator shell.

Abstract: A marine pump jet includes a rotor located upstream and in front of the rotor drive mechanism. The lower unit of the tractor pump jet has a rotor housing which substantially surrounds the rotor and a stator housing located downstream of the rotor and rotor housing. A drive shaft extending from an upper gear case enters the stator hub where a pinion gear engages a crown gear attached to the rotor shaft. This places the rotor drive mechanism downstream of the rotor so that the rotor is substantially the first mechanical element that water initially comes into contact with. The inlet opening of the pump jet is larger than the outlet opening at the outlet of the stator housing. Because the rotor operates on essentially undisturbed, non-turbulent water, it is more efficient than traditional pump jets where the rotor is located aft of the drive mechanism. The upper gear case includes a reverse shifting mechanism that permits the tractor pump jet to operate in either the forward or reverse direction.

Abstract: A marine pump jet includes a rotor located upstream and in front of the rotor drive mechanism. The lower unit of the tractor pump jet has a rotor housing which substantially surrounds the rotor and a stator housing located downstream of the rotor and rotor housing. The drive shaft extending from the power head enters the stator hub where a pinion gear engages a crown gear attached to the rotor shaft. This places the rotor drive mechanism downstream of the rotor so that the rotor is substantially the first mechanical element that water initially comes into contact with. The inlet opening of the pump jet is larger than the outlet opening at the outlet of the stator housing. Because the rotor operates on essentially undisturbed, non-turbulent water, it is more efficient than traditional pump jets where the rotor is located aft of the drive mechanism. According to an alternative embodiment, a reverse shifting mechanism permits the tractor pump jet to operate in either the forward or reverse direction.

Abstract: An exhaust-through-the-hub system described herein includes an apparatus for discharge of exhaust gases from a marine outboard motor to the outer perimeter of an attached pump jet. Exhaust gas is ducted downwardly through the central body of the motor and rearwardly into a plenum cavity positioned in the pump jet. At least one hollow stator vane receives the exhaust gas and discharges the exhaust gas through the stator housing at a substantial depth below the water line, thereby resulting in a quieter running engine. The exhaust-through-the-hub system provides forward thrust when the motor is in forward gear and reverse thrust when the motor is in reverse gear.