Watercraft having a closed coolant circulating system with a heat exchanger that constitutes an exterior surface of the hull

Abstract

A closed coolant circulating system for a watercraft, for traveling along a surface of a body of water, containing a supply of coolant that is caused to flow through the coolant circulating system. The watercraft comprises a hull and an engine. The watercraft also comprises a heat exchanger formed from heat conductive material and having a fluid path defined therein with an inlet port and an outlet port. The heat exchanger has a heat exchanging exterior surface and is mounted to the hull such that the heat exchanging exterior surface constitutes a portion of the exterior surface of the hull that is normally disposed below the surface of the body of water. The heat conductive material of the heat exchanger allows the heat absorbed by the coolant to dissipate from the coolant to the body of water via the heat exchanging exterior surface as the coolant flows through the fluid path.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A watercraft for travelling along a surface of a body of water, said watercraft comprising: 
 a hull having an exterior surface;    an engine positioned within the hull;    the engine having a heat absorbing portion positioned to allow heat transfer thereto;    a propulsion system operatively connected to the engine;    a closed coolant circulating system in fluid communication with the engine heat absorbing portion;    a first plate-like heat exchanger having a fluid path, including an inlet port, and an outlet port, defined therein, and a heat exchanging exterior surface;    a second plate-like heat exchanger having a fluid path, including an inlet port, and an outlet port, defined therein, and a heat exchanging exterior surface;    the closed coolant circulating system including the fluid paths of the first and second heat exchangers;    the first heat exchanger mounted to the hull on a port side thereof such that the heat exchanging exterior surface constitutes a portion of the port side exterior surface of the hull; and    the second heat exchanger mounted to the hull on a starboard side thereof such that the heat exchanging exterior surface constitutes a portion of the starboard side exterior surface of the hull;    wherein the heat exchanging fluid paths of the first and second heat exchangers communicate in series within the closed coolant circulating system.    
     
     
         2 . A watercraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is made of aluminum.  
     
     
         3 . A watercraft for travelling along a surface of a body of water, said watercraft comprising: 
 a hull having an exterior surface;    an engine positioned within the hull;    the engine having a heat absorbing portion positioned to allow heat transfer thereto;    a propulsion system operatively connected to the engine;    a closed coolant circulating system in fluid communication with the engine heat absorbing portion;    a first plate-like heat exchanger having a fluid path, including an inlet port, and an outlet port, defined therein, and a heat exchanging exterior surface;    a second plate-like heat exchanger having a fluid path, including an inlet port, and an outlet port, defined therein, and a heat exchanging exterior surface;    the closed coolant circulating system including the fluid paths of the first and second heat exchangers;    the first heat exchanger mounted to the hull on a port side thereof such that the heat exchanging exterior surface constitutes a portion of the port side exterior surface of the hull; and    the second heat exchanger mounted to the hull on a starboard side thereof such that the heat exchanging exterior surface constitutes a portion of the starboard side exterior surface of the hull;    wherein the heat exchanging fluid paths of the first and second heat exchangers communicate in parallel within the closed coolant circulating system.    
     
     
         4 . A watercraft according to  claim 3 , wherein the heat exchanger is made of aluminum.  
     
     
         5 . A watercraft for travelling along a surface of a body of water, said watercraft comprising: 
 a hull having an exterior surface with a recess formed therein;    an engine positioned within the hull;    the engine having a heat absorbing portion positioned to allow heat transfer thereto;    a propulsion system operatively connected to the engine;    a closed coolant circulating system in fluid communication with the engine heat absorbing portion;    at least one plate-like heat exchanger having a fluid path defined therein;    the at least one heat exchanger also having an inlet port, an outlet port, and a heat exchanging exterior surface;    the closed coolant circulating system including the fluid path of the at least one heat exchanger;    the at least one heat exchanger being mounted in the recess such that the heat exchanging exterior surface is flush with portions of the exterior surface of the hull adjacent thereto.    
     
     
         6 . A watercraft according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one heat exchanger comprises a base portion and a cover portion coupled to the base portion to form the heat exchanging fluid path.  
     
     
         7 . A watercraft according to  claim 6 , wherein the cover portion is adjacent to a portion of exterior of the hull forming the recess.  
     
     
         8 . A watercraft according to  claim 5 , wherein the watercraft is a personal watercraft.  
     
     
         9 . A watercraft according to  claim 5 , wherein the watercraft is a sport boat.