US5882236A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Exhaust system for small watercraft
Assignee: Yamaha Motor Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1997-01-27
•
Granted: 1999-03-16
•
Expires: 2017-01-27
Abstract
Abstract A small watercraft includes an improved exhaust system that reduces the width of the engine and associated exhaust pipes. The watercraft includes a hull having a length in a longitudinal direction, a width in a lateral direction, and a longitudinal center line. A multi-cylinder engine is carried by the hull. The engine includes an exhaust system with multiple exhaust inlet ends and at least one downstream end. The exhaust inlet ends communicate with the respective cylinders of the engine. A flow axis through each inlet end extends in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hull. As a result, the exhaust system does not significantly protrude in a lateral direction beyond the sides of the engine. The hull consequently has a smaller width than the prior watercrafts which improves it maneuverability.
Inventors
- 👤 Shigeyuki Ozawa
- 👤 Shigeharu Mineo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:16
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01N; F01N13/00; F01N13/12; F01N13/08; F01N2590/00; F01N2590/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A small watercraft comprising a hull having a length in a longitudinal direction and a width in a lateral direction, the hull including a longitudinal center line, a multi-cylinder engine carried by said hull, an exhaust system including at least one exhaust inlet end directly communicating with a respective cylinder of said engine, and said at least one exhaust inlet end having an exhaust flow axis extending in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal center line of the hull.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
A small watercraft comprising a hull having a length in a longitudinal direction and a width in a lateral direction, the hull including a longitudinal center line, a multi-cylinder engine carried by said hull, an exhaust system including at least one exhaust inlet end directly communicating with a respective cylinder of said engine, and said at least one exhaust inlet end having an exhaust flow axis extending in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal center line of the hull.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The small watercraft of claim 1, wherein said engine is a V-type engine having a pair of cylinder banks angled partially in the lateral direction of the hull.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The small watercraft of claim 2, further including an induction system for said engine at least partially disposed between said cylinder banks.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The small watercraft of claim 1, wherein said exhaust system comprises multiple exhaust sections that communicate directly with the respective cylinders of said engine, at least part of said exhaust sections extending rearwardly of said engine, and each of said exhaust sections having a respective exhaust flow axis that is symmetrically located with respect to said longitudinal center line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The small watercraft of claim 4, wherein said exhaust sections comprise a pair of exhaust conduits each exhaust conduit extends from a rear part of said cylinder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The small watercraft of claim 5, wherein each of said exhaust sections includes an expansion chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The small watercraft of claim 6, wherein a support is provided for said expansion chambers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The small watercraft of claim 5, wherein at least one water trap device communicates with said exhaust sections.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The small watercraft of claim 5, wherein said exhaust system includes at least one discharge end at a transom of the watercraft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The small watercraft of claim 5, wherein said exhaust system includes an expansion chamber located in the longitudinal center line of the hull.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The small watercraft of claim 10, wherein a support is provided for said expansion chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The small watercraft of claim 4, wherein said exhaust sections comprise a pair of exhaust conduits wherein each exhaust conduit extends from a front part of said cylinder.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The small watercraft of claim 12, wherein said exhaust sections cross each other at the longitudinal center line of the hull and have an exaggerated length for facilitating exhaust tuning of the engine.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The small watercraft of claim 13, wherein each of said exhaust sections includes an expansion chamber symmetrically disposed with respect to said longitudinal center line.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The small watercraft of claim 14, wherein a support is provided for each of said expansion chambers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The small watercraft of claim 13, wherein each of said exhaust sections includes a water trap device symmetrically disposed with respect to said longitudinal center line.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The small watercraft of claim 13, wherein each of said exhaust sections includes a discharge end at the transom of the watercraft symmetrically disposed with respect to the longitudinal center line.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The small watercraft of claim 13, further including a fuel tank located behind said engine in said hull, and said fuel tank being symmetrically disposed with respect to said longitudinal center line.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
64 words
A small watercraft comprising a hull having a length in a longitudinal direction and a width in a lateral direction, a multi-cylinder engine carried by said hull, an exhaust system including multiple separate exhaust conduit portions that communicate directly with a respective cylinder of said engine, and said multiple separate exhaust conduit portions extending behind the engine in the longitudinal direction of the hull.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
64 words
A small watercraft comprising a hull having a length in a longitudinal direction and a width in a lateral direction, a multi-cylinder engine carried by said hull, an exhaust system including multiple separate exhaust conduit portions that communicate directly with a respective cylinder of said engine, and said multiple separate exhaust conduit portions extending behind the engine in the longitudinal direction of the hull.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The small watercraft of claim 19, wherein said engine is a V-type engine having a pair of cylinder banks angled partially in the lateral direction of the hull.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The small watercraft of claim 20, further including an induction system for said engine at least partially disposed between said cylinder banks.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The small watercraft of claim 19, wherein said hull includes a longitudinal center line, said exhaust conduit portions include corresponding exhaust conduit sections which are arranged to be symmetric with respect to the longitudinal center line.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The small watercraft of claim 22, wherein each exhaust conduit portion extends from a rear part of said cylinder.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The small watercraft of claim 23, wherein each of said exhaust sections includes an expansion chamber.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The small watercraft of claim 24, wherein a support is provided for said expansion chambers.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The small watercraft of claim 23, wherein at least one water trap device communicates with said exhaust sections.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The small watercraft of claim 23, wherein said exhaust system includes at least one discharge end at a transom of the watercraft.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The small watercraft of claim 23, wherein said exhaust system includes an expansion chamber symmetrically disposed in the longitudinal center line of the hull.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
The small watercraft of claim 28, wherein a support is provided for said expansion chamber.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
The small watercraft of claim 19, wherein each exhaust conduit portion extends from a front part of said cylinder.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
33 words
The small watercraft of claim 30, wherein said exhaust sections cross each other at the longitudinal center line of the hull and have an exaggerated length for facilitating exhaust tuning of the engine.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
The small watercraft of claim 31, wherein each of said exhaust sections includes an expansion chamber symmetrically disposed with respect to said longitudinal center line.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
The small watercraft of claim 32, wherein a support is provided for each of said expansion chambers.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
The small watercraft of claim 31, wherein each of said exhaust sections includes a water trap device symmetrically disposed with respect to said longitudinal center line.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
31 words
The small watercraft of claim 31, wherein each of said exhaust sections includes a discharge end at the transom of the watercraft symmetrically disposed with respect to said longitudinal center line.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
32 words
The small watercraft of claim 31, further including a fuel tank located behind said engine in said hull, and said fuel tank being symmetrically disposed with respect to said longitudinal center line.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
78 words
The small watercraft of claim 19, further including an output shaft rotatably driven by said engine, said output shaft having a length in a longitudinal direction and defining a rotational axis, said exhaust system including at least one exhaust inlet end directly communicating with a respective cylinder of said engine, and said at least one exhaust inlet end having an exhaust flow axis extending in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal center line of the output shaft.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
143 words
A small watercraft comprising a hull having a length in a longitudinal direction between fore and aft ends of the watercraft and a width in a lateral direction, an in-line, multi-cylinder engine carried by said hull, said engine including a cylinder block having a plurality of cylinders angled partially in the lateral direction of the hull and an induction system angled partially in an opposite lateral direction of the hull, a longitudinally extending valley formed between said partially angled cylinders and induction system, an exhaust system including a plurality of exhaust inlet ends directly communicating with the respective cylinders of said engine, said plurality of exhaust inlet ends having a corresponding plurality of exhaust flow axes extending forwardly and said exhaust system extending at least partially within said valley between said induction system and said cylinders and around and partially beneath said engine.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
143 words
A small watercraft comprising a hull having a length in a longitudinal direction between fore and aft ends of the watercraft and a width in a lateral direction, an in-line, multi-cylinder engine carried by said hull, said engine including a cylinder block having a plurality of cylinders angled partially in the lateral direction of the hull and an induction system angled partially in an opposite lateral direction of the hull, a longitudinally extending valley formed between said partially angled cylinders and induction system, an exhaust system including a plurality of exhaust inlet ends directly communicating with the respective cylinders of said engine, said plurality of exhaust inlet ends having a corresponding plurality of exhaust flow axes extending forwardly and said exhaust system extending at least partially within said valley between said induction system and said cylinders and around and partially beneath said engine.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
27 words
The small watercraft of claim 38, wherein said exhaust system includes an expansion chamber provided on an opposite side of the engine from said exhaust inlet ends.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
119 words
A small watercraft comprising a hull having a length in a longitudinal direction and a width in a lateral direction, the hull including a longitudinal center line, a multi-cylinder engine carried by said hull, said engine including a crankshaft that rotates about a longitudinally extending rotational axis defined by said crankshaft, each cylinder having a cylinder axis and a cylinder plane defined by a plane that includes said cylinder axis and lies perpendicular to said crankshaft rotational axis, and an exhaust system including at least one exhaust inlet end directly communicating with a respective cylinder of the engine, said at least one exhaust inlet end having an exhaust flow axis which is skewed relative to the corresponding cylinder plane.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
119 words
A small watercraft comprising a hull having a length in a longitudinal direction and a width in a lateral direction, the hull including a longitudinal center line, a multi-cylinder engine carried by said hull, said engine including a crankshaft that rotates about a longitudinally extending rotational axis defined by said crankshaft, each cylinder having a cylinder axis and a cylinder plane defined by a plane that includes said cylinder axis and lies perpendicular to said crankshaft rotational axis, and an exhaust system including at least one exhaust inlet end directly communicating with a respective cylinder of the engine, said at least one exhaust inlet end having an exhaust flow axis which is skewed relative to the corresponding cylinder plane.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
60 words
The small watercraft of claim 40, wherein said exhaust system includes multiple exhaust portions that communicate directly with the respective cylinders of said engine, the exhaust portions include corresponding exhaust sections that extend rearwardly of said engine, and each of said exhaust sections having a respective exhaust flow axis that is symmetrically located with respect to said longitudinal center line.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
17 words
The small watercraft of claim 40, wherein said exhaust flow axis is perpendicular to said cylinder plane.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
18 words
The small watercraft of claim 40, wherein said exhaust flow axis is not parallel to said cylinder plane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4773883A
Cited
US4811560A
Cited
US4997399A
Cited
JPH0218193A
Cited
JPH0285091A
Cited
US4989409A
Cited
US5067448A
Cited
US5096446A
Cited
US5550337A
Cited
US5234364A
Cited
US5449305A
Cited
US5324217A
Cited
US5366401A
Cited
US5511505A
Cited
US5572943A
Cited
US5490474A
Cited
US5536189A
Cited
US5531620A
Cited
US5562509A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-03-15 | 2002-09-14 | 2003-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-15 | 2006-09-14 | 2007-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-15 | 2010-09-14 | 2011-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |