Multi-flow marine jet-propulsion apparatus

Claim 2

Marine propulsion apparatus comprising a stator tube, a rotor having a rotor tube, said tubes being in axial alignment, and means mounting said rotor tube in axially displaceable relation with respect to said stator tube, said tubes having interengaging parts co-acting to form a variable-volume chamber for entrapping fluid and thereby controlling the axial rotor speed during displacement.

Claim 3

The structure recited in claim 1 and wherein said rotor is positioned forwardly of said stator tube and one of said interengaging parts has a recess in telescopic engagement with another of said parts.

Claim 4

The structure recited in claim 2 and wherein said recess is toroid-shaped, formed in said rotor tube, and coaxial with said tubes, and wherein said another interengaging part is the forward end of said stator tube.

Claim 5

Marine propulsion apparatus comprising a transmission housing, a stator tube, support means connecting said stator tube to said housing, a rotor having a rotor tube, said tubes being in alignment and forming an axial passageway, means mounting said rotor tube for axial displacement with respect to said stator tube between forward and rearward positions, said housing comprising an engine exhaust chamber communicating with a ring member fixed to said housing, said ring member being located between said housing and said rotor, said ring member being aligned with said tubes and telescopically engaging said rotor tube to form a substantially fluid-tight joint when said rotor is in the forward position, and to form an opening for the discharge of exhaust gases in radially outward directions at a location between said housing and said rotor when said rotor is in the rearward position, a butterfly valve mounted in said rotor tube for swinging about a transverse pivot axis between an open position and a closed position, said pivot axis being fixed with respect to said tube, and means responsive to axial displacement of said rotor for operating said valve, whereby said valve is open when said rotor is in the forward position and closed when said rotor is in the rearward position.

Claim 6

Marine propulsion apparatus comprising a transmission housing, a stator tube, support means connecting said stator tube to said housing, a rotor having a rotor tube, said tubes being in alignment and forming an axial passageway, means mounting said rotor tube for axial displacement with respect to said stator tube between forward and rearward positions, said housing comprising an engine exhaust chamber communicating with a ring member fixed to said housing, said ring member being located between said housing and said rotor, said ring member being aligned with said tubes and telescopically engaging said rotor tube to form a substantially fluid-tight joint when said rotor is in the forward position, and to form an opening for the discharge of exhaust gases in radially outward directions at a location between said housing and said rotor when said rotor is in the rearward position, a butterfly valve mounted in said rotor tube for swinging about a transverse pivot axis between an open position and a closed position, said pivot axis being fixed with respect to said tube, and means responsive to axial displacement of said rotor for operating said valve, whereby said valve is open when said rotor is in the forward position and closed when said rotor is in the rearward position.

Claim 7

The structure recited in claim 4 and wherein said valve operating means includes a resilient link connected at one end to said valve and at its other end to means for maintaining said other end fixed against axial displacement with respect to said stator tube.

Claim 8

The structure recited in claim 5 and wherein said tubes have interengaging parts co-acting to form a variable-volume chamber for entrapping fluid and thereby controlling the axial speed of the rotor during its displacement relative to the stator.

Claim 9

The structure recited in claim 6 and wherein said rotor is positioned forwardly of said stator tube and one of said interengaging parts has a recess in telescopic engagement with another of said parts.

Claim 10

The structure recited in claim 7 and wherein said recess is toroid-shaped, formed in said rotor tube, and co-axial with said tubes, and wherein said another interengaging part is the forward end of said stator tube.

Claim 11

The structure recited in claim 3 and wherein said forward end constitutes a tubular plunger arranged for relative axial displacement within said recess, whereby the volume of said chamber is varied and said interengaging parts coact to function as a dashpot during relative axial movement of said parts.

Claim 12

The structure recited in claim 8 and wherein said forward end constitutes a tubular plunger arranged for relative axial displacement within said recess, whereby the volume of said chamber is varied and said interengaging parts coact to function as a dashpot during relative axial movement of said parts.