Abstract: A distributed communication system includes one or more sources configured to communicate one or more communications when triggered thereto; one or more communicators configured to receive communications from the sources, and to signal the received communications to one or more recipients; and a control device configured to track communications originating from the sources, wherein the sources are configured to include an identificator into each communication originating therefrom, and to transmit for each communication a message with the associated identificator to the control device, wherein the communicators are configured to transmit an acknowledgment to the control device regarding signaling of a received communication, including the identificator associated with the signaled communication, and wherein the control device is configured to track communications within the distributed communication system by means of received associated identificators and to raise an alarm condition upon non-arrival of assoc

Abstract: A fluid power conversion apparatus (1) serving fluid pumping and/or power-generation functions, including: (a) an impeller (5) having a hub (8) and a periphery; (b) a housing (13) around the impeller; (c) a diffusor (12) having an outer wall attached to the housing, a diffusor hub (7) axially-aligned with the impeller hub, rotatable support of the impeller being provided only by a bearing assembly (6) internal to the hubs, and at least one stator vane (11) securing the diffusor hub to the outer wall; and (d) a rotating electrical machine with an armature (16) attached to the housing and a rotor (20) attached to the impeller periphery and positioned to form a gap (18) between rotor and armature. The impeller and the rotor form an integrated unit.

Abstract: A waterjet-propelled marine vessel having a hull with a transom and a bottom, a jet pump, and an intake duct, the improvement comprising: (1) the transom and bottom having a common opening for intake duct installation and (2) the intake duct having an intake duct upper part and an intake duct lower part, whereby the intake duct upper part closes the common opening and the intake duct lower part fits into the intake duct upper part to form the intake duct.

Abstract: A fluid power conversion apparatus serving fluid pumping and/or power-generation functions, comprising: an impeller having an impeller hub and a periphery; a housing around the impeller; a diffusor having (a) an outer wall attached to the housing, (b) a diffusor hub rotatably supporting the impeller, and (c) at least one stator vane securing the diffusor hub to the outer wall; and a rotating electrical machine having (a) an armature attached to the housing and (b) a rotor attached to the impeller periphery and positioned to form a rotor-armature gap, whereby the impeller and the rotor form an integrated unit with fluid flow through the rotor.

Abstract: An outboard waterjet propulsion system for a marine vessel having a bottom and a transom with a top edge, the propulsion system comprising: an intake duct with grid bars; a motor; an impeller with an impeller hub and driven by the motor; a steering deflector; and a diffusor with a diffusor hub rigidly attached to the intake duct and supporting the steering deflector. The propulsion system is positioned outboard of the vessel against the transom, and vessel steering is achieved by articulation of the steering deflector.

Abstract: An integrated motor support and transmission apparatus for a marine propulsion system having a motor and marine drive with a drive shaft, comprising: an output shaft; a support housing attached to a marine vessel and having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end supporting the motor and the lower end substantially aligning the output shaft with the marine drive; and a transmission connecting the motor to the output shaft, whereby the motor, transmission, and output shaft can be installed in the marine vessel in a single operation.

Abstract: Steering and reversing apparatus for a waterjet-powered marine vessel, the waterjet having an intake duct, a diffuser, and a steering nozzle and producing a rearward water stream flowing from the steering nozzle, the apparatus comprising: a nozzle pivot pivotably attaching the nozzle to the diffuser about a substantially vertical axis perpendicular to the water stream; at least one reversing duct affixed to and positioned substantially below the nozzle and having an opening to the nozzle; a reverse deflector pivotably attached to the diffuser about a horizontal axis substantially perpendicular to the water stream and having a sealing portion; and a nozzle sealing face having an exit shape mating with the sealing portion of the reverse deflector at any angular position of the steering nozzle, whereby, when the reverse deflector is pivoted such that the sealing portion mates with the nozzle sealing face, the water stream is deflected forward and underneath the vessel through the opening to the nozzle, steerably

Abstract: A directionally-stabilized waterjet steering system for a marine vessel having a vessel structure and steered by an operator, comprising: a steering deflector with a center position; a tiller arm connected to the steering deflector; an input device; and a centering module connected between the tiller arm and the vessel structure, the centering module having a center detent corresponding to the center position, whereby the operator senses the center position of the steering deflector through the steering input device.

Abstract: A marine waterjet propulsion system having an impeller with an impeller hub, a diffusor with a diffusor hub, and a motor driving the impeller, the motor being placed inside at least one of said impeller and diffusor hubs. In one preferred embodiment of the propulsion system, the motor is an electric motor.