Ventilation with filter for watercraft

Abstract

A watercraft has a water preclusion structure for internal ventilated cavities. A ventilation tube connects an internal cavity, such as an engine compartment, with the atmosphere for allowing air transfer to or from the cavity. A water preclusion structure is disposed between the atmosphere and the cavity. In one arrangement, water repellant filters are installed over an end of a tube that allows the air transfer. In another arrangement, an air box that communicates with the cavity contains air inlets that have water repellant filters disposed between the outlet of the air box and the inlet of the air box. The air box also contains a drain to allow water removed from the air to drain out of the air box.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A personal watercraft comprising a deck and a lower hull, said deck and said lower hull being joined to define a cavity within said personal watercraft, a ventilation system comprising a passageway extending between said cavity and a location outside of said cavity, said location being in communication with atmospheric air and said ventilation system comprising a water repellant filter disposed along said passageway.  
     
     
         2 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein said passageway comprises an inlet disposed proximate said location and said water repellant filter is disposed at said inlet.  
     
     
         3 . The watercraft of  claim 2 , wherein said inlet is disposed within an air chamber defined between said deck and a body panel.  
     
     
         4 . The watercraft of  claim 3 , wherein said inlet is disposed proximate a bow hatch and said body panel comprises said bow hatch.  
     
     
         5 . The watercraft of  claim 3 , wherein said inlet is disposed beneath a forward portion of a seat of said watercraft and said body panel comprises a side panel.  
     
     
         6 . The watercraft of  claim 2 , wherein said inlet is disposed within an air chamber defined beneath a seat of said watercraft.  
     
     
         7 . The watercraft of  claim 6 , wherein said inlet is disposed on a sloping surface positioned below said seat.  
     
     
         8 . The watercraft of  claim 7 , wherein said inlet is disposed lower than said sloping surface.  
     
     
         9 . The watercraft of  claim 8 , wherein said inlet is disposed beneath a rear portion of said seat.  
     
     
         10 . The watercraft of  claim 8 , wherein said seat comprises separable front and rear portions and said inlet is disposed beneath a juncture of said portions.  
     
     
         11 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein said filter has a length defined along a longitudinal direction of said watercraft and a width defined along a transverse direction of said watercraft, said width being greater than said width.  
     
     
         12 . The watercraft of  claim 11 , wherein said filter has a generally rectangular plan-view section.  
     
     
         13 . The watercraft of  claim 11 , where said filter comprises four upstanding walls.  
     
     
         14 . A personal watercraft comprising a hull defining a substantially enclosed cavity, a ventilation system comprising a first passage, a second passage and a third passage, each of said passages extending outward from said cavity to a region filled with atmospheric air, a water-repellant filter disposed over an end of each of said passages that is associated with said region filled with atmospheric air.  
     
     
         15 . The watercraft of  claim 14  further comprising a longitudinally extending central vertical plane, said filters associated with said first, second and third passages each being disposed along said plane.  
     
     
         16 . The watercraft of  claim 14 , wherein said filters comprise a nonwoven fabric that is air permeable and water repellant.  
     
     
         17 . The watercraft of  claim 14 , wherein each said region comprises at least one drain that lead from said region to a location outside of said cavity.  
     
     
         18 . The watercraft of  claim 14 , wherein said filters are removably mounted to said watercraft.  
     
     
         19 . A removable filtration unit for a personal watercraft comprising an upper plate, a lower plate, an opening extending through said lower plate, a filter disposed between said upper plate and said lower plate and encircling said opening, said filter being formed of a material that is air permeable and water repellant.  
     
     
         20 . The filtration unit of  claim 19 , wherein said opening has a rectangular shape and said filter has a corresponding rectangular shape.  
     
     
         21 . The filtration unit of  claim 19 , wherein said upper plate comprises a sleeve that is adapted to receive a mounting fixture for a watercraft seat.  
     
     
         22 . The filtration unit of  claim 19 , wherein said upper plate comprises a portion of a bow hatch locking arrangement.  
     
     
         23 . The filtration unit of  claim 19 , wherein said opening comprises a downwardly depending wall that extends below said lower plate.  
     
     
         24 . The filtration unit of  claim 23 , wherein said wall is rectangular in plan-view cross section.  
     
     
         25 . A personal watercraft comprising a hull, a cavity disposed within said hull, a removable filtration unit attached to said hull and comprising an upper plate, a lower plate, and an opening extending through said lower plate, said opening cooperating with an opening through said hull, a filter being disposed between said upper plate and said lower plate and encircling said opening, said filter being formed of a material that is air permeable and water repellant.  
     
     
         26 . A personal watercraft comprising a hull, a cavity communicating with the atmosphere through a ventilation opening and means for repelling water from said opening.