WATER JET PROPELLED KAYAK

KAYAK PROPULSE PAR HYDROJET

English Abstract

A kayak having a kayak-style hull (2) with one or more cockpits (6), and an inboard power device that accelerates water and directs
it out a steerable stern nozzle (4). In the embodiment described, an internal combustion engine (18) drives a water impeller that receives
water from an intake (32) communicating with a body of water on which the kayak is located. The stern nozzle (4) laterally redirects the
accelerated water from the impeller over an angular range centered on a long axis of the hull (2). The operator controls the angle of the
stem nozzle (4) by a foot pedal (12) accessible to an operator in the cockpit (6). The kayak also has a foot pedal (14) for controlling a
throttle of the engine (18).

French Abstract

Kayak présentant une coque de kayak (2) à un ou plusieurs trous d'homme (6), et un dispositif à moteur intérieur qui propulse l'eau et la dirige à l'extérieur d'une buse de poupe (4) orientable. Dans le mode de réalisation décrit, un moteur à combustion interne (18) entraîne une roue hélice alimentée en eau par une admission (32) communicant avec l'eau sur laquelle évolue le kayak. La buse de poupe (4) redirige latéralement l'eau propulsée provenant de la roue hélice sur une plage angulaire centrée sur un axe long de la coque (2). L'opérateur commande l'angle de la buse de poupe (4) au moyen d'une pédale (12) accessible dans le trou d'homme (6). Le kayak est également doté d'une pédale (14) permettant de commander un étrangleur du moteur (18).

Claims

CLAIMS
1. A powered kayak comprising:
(a) a kayak-style hull defining an operator's cockpit and
having a stern,
(b) means, disposed within the hull aft of the cockpit,
for accelerating water sternward,
(c) intake means, communicating with a body of water on
which the kayak is located, for providing water to the means
for accelerating water,
(d) means, at the stern of the hull and at least
partially below the water level of the body of water, for
laterally redirecting the accelerated water over an angular
range centered on a long axis of the hull, and
(f) means, accessible to an operator in the cockpit, for
selectively controlling the angular position within said
angular range of the means for redirecting the accelerated
water.

2. The kayak according to claim 1 wherein the hull is a
displacement hull.

3. The kayak according to claim 1 wherein the hull is a
double-ended displacement hull.

4. The kayak according to claim 1 further comprising:
(a) impeller means, disposed in the hull forward of the
stern, for accelerating the water to the means for redirecting
the water,




(b) a fuel consuming engine disposed in the hull for
turning the impeller means,
(c) a fuel supply disposed in the hull, and
(d) throttle means, accessible to an operator in the
cockpit, for regulating the flow of fuel from the supply to
the engine.

5. The kayak according to claim 4 wherein the hull is a
displacement hull.

6. The kayak according to claim 4 wherein the hull is a
double-ended displacement hull.

7. The kayak according to claim 1 further comprising at least
one protective plate for shielding the means for redirecting
the accelerated water.

8. The kayak according to claim 4 further comprising at least
one protective plate f or shielding the means for redirecting
the accelerated water.

9. The kayak according to claim 1 further comprising means
for operating the means for selectively controlling the
angular position by foot.

10. The kayak according to claim 1 further comprising further
comprising foot pedal means for selectively controlling the
angular position by foot.




11. The kayak according to claim 4 further comprising means
for operating the throttle means by foot.

12. The kayak according to claim 4 further comprising foot
pedal means for operating the throttle means.

13. The kayak according to claim 9 further comprising means
for operating the throttle means by foot.

14. The kayak according to claim 10 further comprising means
for operating the throttle means by foot.

15. The kayak according to claim 1 further comprising a
watertight compartment means in which the means for
accelerating water sternward is disposed.

16. The kayak according to claim 15 wherein the watertight
compartment is defined by the hull, an aft deck and a bulkhead
extending between the aft deck and the hull.

17. The kayak according to claim 4 further comprising a
watertight compartment means in which the engine is disposed.

18 . The kayak according to claim 17 wherein the watertight
compartment is defined by the hull, an aft deck and a bulkhead
extending between the aft deck and the hull.

Description

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wo ss/29092 2 1 8 ~ q 3 0 ~ S9 ~
to white water ~ nfl~ t i ~7nq .
~n operator can u3e a j et kayak according to this
invention in white water r ~nfl; tj ~nq because it 6till has a low
center of gravity which is an advantageous kayak
characteri3tic that has been proven over centuries with
traditional non-power kayaks. Moreover the same btretch of
white water can be re-run ;nfl~f;n;tely without hauling the
craft over land because of its ~r~h;l ;ty to go upstream under
power. Thus by re-runs an operator can travel the same amount
of white water in a short distance from a l ~lln~hing area as
would otherwise require transporting the kayak to long white
water runs, normally in wilderness areas.
Even though many variations of "jet skis" and ~Iwave
runners" have evolved from the original jet ski designs, a jet
kayak according to this invention has a si~n; ~ nt advantage
over them in that it gives the operator the nf.~ 5S~ry
stability to negotiate the craft in white water conditions.
Other advantages and attributes of this invention will
be readily discprn~hl~ upon a reading of the text hereinafter.
S~LaRY OF l~IE lNV
An object of this invention is to provide a water jet
propelled kayak.
A further object of this invention i8 to provide a kayak
that can be used and enj oyed as are conventional kayaks, but
that has an inboard engine ~driving a water impeller for
propulsion, particularly for upstream propulsion.
A further object of this invention is to provide a water
~et propelled kayak that can be steered, when under power, by
_ . _ _ . . .. ... _ _ . _ . : . _ .. . .: . .... . .

21 8~930
~ W095/29092 P~ J 'C'159

manipulation of a foot corltrol, e.g. a foot pedal.
These objects, and other objectq expressed or implied in
this document, are accomplished by a kayak having: (a) a kayak
~tyle hull ~l~fin;n~ an operator's cockpit and having a stern,
(b) an engine driving a water impeller for accelerating water
sternward (toward the stern), both in a watertight compartment
aft of the cockpit, (c) a water intake communicating with a
body of water on which the kayak is located for providing
water to the water impeller, (d) a qtern nozzle at least
partially below the water level of the body of water for
laterally redirecting the accelerated water over an angular
range centered on a long axis of the hull, and a foot pedal
i~rcPs~ihle to an operator in the cockpit for selectively
controlling the angular position, within the angular range,
of the stern nozzle. The kayak also has a foot pedal for
controlling a throttle of the engine.
~17TF!~ n~ OP TEI3 DRAWT~
Figure l is a plan view of a water j et propelled kayak
according to this invention with portions of the hull cut away
to show the propulsion system.
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the kayak of Fig.
l, again with portions of the hull cut away to show the
propul q ion system .
DES~:KI~ ~ l OF l~IE E~k~
Referring to Figures l and 2, an illustrated kayak has
a hull 2 of generally traditional kayak form except for a
water j et nozzle 4 at its stern. It has a cockpit 6 with a
cuqhion 8 and backrest lO. As illustrated the cockpit
.

Wo gS/29092 2 1 8 8 q 3 3 r~
accommodates one operator, but it can be built for a two
person operation. The flexil:)le enclosure for making the
cockpit watertight is not shown f or clarity . When under
power, the operator can co~trol the kayak by use of two
S control pedals - a steering pedal 12 and a throttle pedal 14.
The operator can also use a kayak paddle in ~_ ' ;n~t;on with
the pedal controls ~or more precise maneuvering.
Re~erring again to Figures 1 and 2, lmmediately af t of
the cockpit is a water-tight compartment separated from the
10 cockpit by a blllkl~p~rl that serves also as a firewall. Within
the compartment is a fuel tank 16 and immediately aft of the
fuel tank is a power plant. The power plant includes an
engine 18, a carburetor 20, an ignition system 22, and an
exhaust and water box 24. The engine is preferably a two-

15 stroke, internal combustion engine having at least twocylinders. The engine turns a drive shaft 26, through a
coupling 28, which in turn transfers rot~t;~n~l power to an
impeller in an impeller housing 34. The coupling can be
direct drive or can incorporate a torque converter. The
20 impeller receives water via a water intake duct 32 and
accelerates the water and ~ tes it through an impeller
duct 36 to a fllnn~l ;n~ jet~ nozzle 38. Ihe water is further
accelerated as it is funneled by the jet nozzle to the stern
nozzle 4 which is a steering ~ozzle. The high velocity water
25 leaving the steering nozzle propels the kayak in reaction.
Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, the throttle pedal
14 is li~ked to the carburetor 20 via a first control cable
40. The steering pedal 12 is linked to the steering noz~le

_ . _ _ _ _ . . .. _ .. . . . _ _ _ _ . . ... ... . .

21 88930
~ WO9S/29092 1~ 5r515~


4 via second control cable 42. Preferably the~e are "Morse"
type cables. The steering nozzle is preferably protected from
impact by foreign objects by top and bottom running plates,
44 and 46. The steering nozzle i8~ however, free to rotate
5 laterally in either direction within an angular range under
control of the steering pedal . As previously r t i~n~d,
steering of the kayak under power can be by a combination of
the steering pedal and a traditional kayak paddle. This gives
the operator much more positive maneuvering control than
10 either one alone. Also, the throttle pedal can be used for
additional steering and maneuvering control. In this way an
operator hae three positive maneuvering tools rather than just
the paddle as with non-powered kayaks. Thi~ positive control
combination makes white-water kayaking much eafer because
15 ob~tacles, such as rocks, can be more easily avoided.
The foregoing description and drawings were given for
illustrative purposes only, it being understood that the
invention is not limited to the emb~ disclosed, but is
;ntf~nr~ to ernbrace any and all alternatives, equivalents,
20 modifications and re~l, ro~ nt~l of elements falling within
the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
For example, this invention i5 also well suited for the "eit
on~ style of kayak hulls, such as those used for kayaks that
are also commonly known as "seagoing~ kayake.
2 5 I CLAIM:

Representative Drawing