Induction air cooling for watercraft

Abstract

A watercraft has a compact construction and a water tight engine compartment. The air inside the engine compartment becomes warm due the radiating engine heat. This warming of the induction air reduces combustion efficiency, lower engine performance. An induction air cooling arrangement is provided to cool the air inside the engine compartment without using excess engine compartment space and not restricting induction airflow. The cooler provides the engine with cooler, denser air in order to improve combustion, therefore raising engine performance.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A watercraft comprising a hull, the hull defining an engine compartment, an engine positioned within the engine compartment, an induction system configured to guide air into the engine, a cooling system configured to cool at least one component within the engine compartment with water in which the watercraft can operate, and an induction air cooler configured to receive water from the cooling system to cool air flowing in the induction system.  
     
     
         2 . The watercraft of  claim 1  additionally comprising at least one air duct between the engine compartment and the atmosphere.  
     
     
         3 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the engine includes at least one induction air intake passage.  
     
     
         4 . The watercraft of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one induction air cooler is mounted near the vicinity of the engine induction air intake passage.  
     
     
         5 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality induction air coolers are mounted in various positions within the engine cavity.  
     
     
         6 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the cooler comprises a plurality of fins arranged substantially parallel to a flow of induction air.  
     
     
         7 . The watercraft of  claim 6 , wherein the induction air cooler is configured to transfer heat from induction air through the fins to water at a lower temperature than the induction air, the water being circulated through the induction air cooler.  
     
     
         8 . A watercraft comprising a hull, the hull defining an engine compartment, an engine positioned within the engine compartment, an induction system configured to guide air into the engine, and means for cooling air flowing in the induction system with water from a body of water in which the watercraft can operate.  
     
     
         9 . The watercraft of  claim 9 , additionally comprising at least on air duct configured to guide air between the engine compartment and the atmosphere.  
     
     
         10 . The watercraft of  claim 9 , wherein the engine includes at least one induction air intake passage.  
     
     
         11 . A watercraft comprising a hull, the hull defining an engine compartment, an engine positioned within the engine compartment, an induction system configured to guide air into the engine, at least one induction air cooler configured to use water as a cooling medium flowing inside the housing of the cooler and to thereby cool induction air coming into thermal communication with the outer surface of the cooler housing.  
     
     
         12 . The watercraft of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one induction air cooler is mounted near the vicinity of an inlet of an induction system.  
     
     
         13 . The watercraft of  claim 11 , wherein a plurality of induction air coolers are mounted in various positions within the engine compartment.  
     
     
         14 . The watercraft of  claim 8 , wherein the cooler comprises a plurality of fins arranged parallel to a flow of induction air.  
     
     
         15 . The watercraft of  claim 14 , wherein the induction air cooler transfers heat from the induction air through the fins to water at a lower temperature than the induction air, the water being circulated through the induction air cooler.  
     
     
         16 . A watercraft comprising a hull, the hull defining an engine compartment, an engine positioned within the engine compartment, an induction system configured to guide air into the engine, at least one induction air cooler configured to use water as a cooling medium flowing inside the housing of the cooler and to thereby cool induction air coming into thermal communication with the outer surface of the cooler housing, the induction air cooler be placed adjacent to an inlet of the induction system.  
     
     
         17 . The watercraft of  claim 18 , wherein a plurality of induction air coolers are placed adjacent the inlet.  
     
     
         18 . The watercraft of  claim 18 , wherein the induction air cooler is placed directly in front of the inlet.