Inlet grate for a water jet propulsion system

Abstract

An inlet grate for a water jet propulsion system to be used in a watercraft has a water passage having an inlet defined by a forward and a rearward area with respect to the watercraft. The inlet grate comprises a first end portion adapted to be connected to the forward area of the inlet and a second end portion adapted to be connected to the rearward area of the inlet as well as at least one elongated member extending from the first end portion toward the second end portion. The inlet grate also comprises at least one deflector having a forward end and a rearward end, the forward end being adjacent to the first end portion of the inlet grate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An inlet grate for a water jet propulsion system to be used in a watercraft, the water jet propulsion system having a water passage, the water passage having an inlet, the inlet having a forward area and a rearward area with respect to the watercraft, the inlet grate comprising:
 a first end portion adapted to be connected to the forward area of the inlet and a second end portion adapted to be connected to the rearward area of the inlet;   at least one elongated member extending from the first end portion toward the second end portion;   at least one deflector having a forward end and a rearward end, the forward end being adjacent to the first end portion, the deflector extending from the first end portion toward the second end portion and away from the elongated member such that the rearward end of the deflector is disposed inside the water passage when the grate is installed on the jet propulsion system.   
     
     
         2 . The inlet grate of  claim 1 , wherein the forward end of the at least one deflector is connected to the first end portion. 
     
     
         3 . The inlet grate of  claim 1 , wherein the first end portion and the deflector are integrally formed. 
     
     
         4 . The inlet grate of  claim 1 , wherein the first end portion includes a first plate adapted to be connected to the forward area of the inlet and the second end portion includes a second plate adapted to be connected to the rearward area of the inlet. 
     
     
         5 . The inlet grate of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one elongated member is at least two elongated members extending from the first end portion toward the second end portion; and   the deflector extends between at least two of the at least two elongated members.   
     
     
         6 . The inlet grate of  claim 5 , wherein portions of sides of the deflector are adjacent to the at least two elongated members. 
     
     
         7 . The inlet grate of  claim 6 , wherein portions of sides of the deflector are connected to the at least two elongated members. 
     
     
         8 . The inlet grate of  claim 1 , wherein a first line extending from the first end portion to the second end portion defines an acute angle with a second line extending from the forward end of the deflector to the rearward end of the deflector. 
     
     
         9 . The inlet grate of  claim 8 , wherein the acute angle is between 0° and 45°. 
     
     
         10 . The inlet grate of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elongated member extends from the first end portion to the second end portion. 
     
     
         11 . The inlet grate of  claim 1 , wherein a position of the deflector relative to the at least one elongated member is fix. 
     
     
         12 . The inlet grate of  claim 1 , further comprises a top loader connected to the at least one elongated member between the at least one deflector and the second end portion. 
     
     
         13 . A watercraft comprising:
 a hull;   a deck disposed on the hull;   a water jet propulsion system connected to the hull and having a water passage, the water passage having an inlet, the inlet having a forward area and a rearward area;   an engine supported by the hull and adapted to drive the water jet propulsion system;   at least one elongated member extending from the forward area of the inlet toward the rearward area of the inlet; and   at least one deflector having a forward end and a rearward end, the forward end being adjacent to the forward area of the inlet, the deflector extending from the forward area of the inlet toward the rearward area of the inlet and away from the at least one elongated member such that the rearward end of the deflector is disposed inside the water passage.   
     
     
         14 . The watercraft of  claim 13 , wherein the forward end of the at least one deflector is connected to the forward area of the inlet. 
     
     
         15 . The watercraft of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a first plate connected to the forward area of the inlet;   a second plate connected to the rearward area of the inlet;   the at least one elongated member extending from the first plate to the second plate; and   the at least one deflector being adjacent to the first plate.   
     
     
         16 . The watercraft of  claim 15 , wherein the forward end of the at least one deflector is connected to the first plate. 
     
     
         17 . The watercraft of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the at least one elongated member is at least two elongated members extending from the forward area of the inlet toward the rearward area of the inlet; and   the deflector extends between at least two of the at least two elongated members.   
     
     
         18 . The watercraft of  claim 17 , wherein portions of sides of the deflector are adjacent to the at least two elongated members. 
     
     
         19 . The watercraft of  claim 18 , wherein portions of sides of the deflector are connected to the at least two elongated members. 
     
     
         20 . The watercraft of  claim 13 , wherein a first line extending from the forward area of the inlet to the rearward area defines an acute angle with a second line extending from the forward end of the deflector to the rearward end of the deflector. 
     
     
         21 . The watercraft of  claim 20 , wherein the acute angle is between 0° and 45°. 
     
     
         22 . The inlet grate of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the hull has an exterior wall in fluid contact with the body of water on which the watercraft is traveling;   the deflector has a bottom surface; and   an inclination of the bottom surface of the deflector is substantially similar to the inclination of a portion of the exterior wall of the hull in the vicinity of the forward area of the inlet.   
     
     
         23 . The watercraft of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one elongated member extends from the forward area of the inlet to the rearward area of the inlet. 
     
     
         24 . The watercraft of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a straddle seat disposed on the deck; and   a handlebar operatively connected to the jet propulsion system for steering the watercraft.   
     
     
         25 . The inlet grate of  claim 13 , wherein a position of the deflector relative to the at least one elongated member is fix. 
     
     
         26 . The watercraft of  claim 13 , wherein the water jet propulsion system comprises a top loader disposed in the vicinity of the inlet of the water passage. 
     
     
         27 . The watercraft of  claim 13 , wherein the water jet propulsion system is a first water jet propulsion system having a first water passage, the first water passage having a first inlet, the at least one elongated member is at least one first elongated member, and the at least one deflector is at least one first deflector, the watercraft further comprising:
 a second water jet propulsion system having a second water passage, the second water passage having a second inlet, the second inlet having a forward area and a rearward area;   at least one second elongated member extending from the forward area of the second inlet toward the rearward area of the second inlet;   at least one second deflector having a forward end and a rearward end, the forward end being adjacent to the forward area of the second inlet, the second deflector extending from the forward area of the second inlet toward the rearward area of the second inlet and away from the at least one second elongated member such that the rearward end of the second deflector is disposed inside the second water passage.   
     
     
         28 . The watercraft of  claim 27 , wherein the forward end of the at least one second deflector is connected to the forward area of the inlet. 
     
     
         29 . The watercraft of  claim 27 , wherein the first inlet and the second inlet are on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the watercraft.