Induction system for personal watercraft

Abstract

An induction system for an internal combustion engine of a small watercraft includes an improved construction that directs water away from the induction system. The air induction system includes an air intake box defining a plenum chamber. An upper surface of the air intake box includes at least one surface feature such as a channel, groove, depression, humps, protrusion and/or ramp. The surface features promote drainage of water disposed on top of the air box.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A watercraft comprising a hull defining an engine compartment, an internal combustion engine disposed within the engine compartment, the engine including an engine body defining a combustion chamber, an air induction system comprising an intake air chamber configured to guide air toward the combustion chamber, an upper surface of the intake air chamber being configured to direct water away from the upper surface.  
     
     
         2 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface comprises at least one channel.  
     
     
         3 . The watercraft of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one channel runs in a longitudinal direction relative to the hull.  
     
     
         4 . The watercraft of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one channel extends from a first edge of the upper surface to a second edge of the upper surface.  
     
     
         5 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface comprises a first depression having a Y-shape in plan view.  
     
     
         6 . The watercraft of  claim 5 , wherein the first depression defines legs which open toward an aft portion of the watercraft.  
     
     
         7 . The watercraft of  claim 6 , wherein a portion of the upper surface bounded by the legs comprises a second depression having an elevation less than the first depression.  
     
     
         8 . The watercraft of  claim 1  wherein the upper surface comprises at least one groove oriented in a direction transverse to the watercraft.  
     
     
         9 . The watercraft of  claim 8 , further comprising a channel oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of the watercraft.  
     
     
         10 . The watercraft of  claim 9 , wherein the channel is substantially centered on the upper surface.  
     
     
         11 . The watercraft of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one groove extends from a first edge of the channel to a first edge of the upper surface.  
     
     
         12 . The watercraft of  claim 11  additionally comprising a second groove which extends from a second edge of the channel to a second edge of the upper surface.  
     
     
         13 . The watercraft of  claim 12 , wherein a width of the channel is greater than a width of the grooves.  
     
     
         14 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface comprises at least one protrusion.  
     
     
         15 . The watercraft of  claim 14 , wherein the protrusion is dome-shaped.  
     
     
         16 . The watercraft of  claim 14 , wherein the protrusion is an ellipse in plan view.  
     
     
         17 . The watercraft of  claim 16 , wherein a minor axis of the at least one protrusion is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the watercraft.  
     
     
         18 . The watercraft of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one channel.  
     
     
         19 . The watercraft of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one channel is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the watercraft.  
     
     
         20 . The watercraft of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one channel extends from a first edge of the upper surface to a second edge of the upper surface.  
     
     
         21 . The watercraft of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one channel is spaced from the at least one protrusion in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the watercraft.  
     
     
         22 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface comprises at least one ramp.  
     
     
         23 . The watercraft of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one ramp comprises a half-oval in plan view.  
     
     
         24 . The watercraft of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one ramp slopes toward a first edge of the upper surface and away from a rounded portion of the half-oval.  
     
     
         25 . The watercraft of  claim 24 , further comprising at least one channel.  
     
     
         26 . The watercraft of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one channel runs in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the watercraft.  
     
     
         27 . The watercraft of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one channel reaches from a second edge of the upper surface to a third edge of the upper surface.  
     
     
         28 . The watercraft of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one channel is spaced from the at least one ramp in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the watercraft.  
     
     
         29 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the air box is substantially horizontal when the watercraft is at rest and floating on a body of water.  
     
     
         30 . An intake air chamber configured to guide air toward a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the intake air chamber comprising an upper surface configured to direct water away from the upper surface.  
     
     
         31 . The intake air chamber of  claim 30 , wherein the upper surface comprises at least one channel.  
     
     
         32 . The intake air chamber of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one channel runs in a direction parallel to a first axis of the upper surface.  
     
     
         33 . The intake air chamber of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one channel extends from a second edge of the upper surface to a third edge of the upper surface.  
     
     
         34 . The intake air chamber of  claim 30 , wherein the upper surface comprises a first depression having a Y-shape in plan view, the Y-shape defining first and second legs.  
     
     
         35 . The intake air chamber of  claim 34 , wherein a portion of the upper surface bounded by the legs comprises a second depression having an elevation less than the first depression.  
     
     
         36 . The intake air chamber of  claim 30 , wherein the upper surface feature comprises at least one channel in the upper surface, the channel extending from a first edge of the upper surface to a second edge of the upper surface, and at least one groove oriented in a direction transverse to the channel.  
     
     
         37 . The intake air chamber of  claim 36 , wherein the channel is substantially centered on the upper surface.  
     
     
         38 . The intake air chamber of  claim 37 , wherein a first at least one groove extends from a first edge of the channel to a third edge of the upper surface.  
     
     
         39 . The intake air chamber of  claim 38  additionally comprising a second groove extending from a second edge of the channel to a fourth edge of the upper surface.  
     
     
         40 . The intake air chamber of  claim 39 , wherein a width of the channel is greater than a width of the grooves.  
     
     
         41 . The intake air chamber of  claim 30 , wherein the surface features comprise at least one projection.  
     
     
         42 . The intake air chamber of  claim 41 , wherein the at least one projection is dome-shaped and comprises an ellipse in plan view.  
     
     
         43 . The intake air chamber of  claim 42 , wherein a major axis of the projection is parallel to a first axis of the upper surface.  
     
     
         44 . The intake air chamber of  claim 43  additionally comprising at least one channel.  
     
     
         45 . The intake air chamber of  claim 44 , wherein the at least one channel is parallel to a minor axis of the at least one dome.  
     
     
         46 . The intake air chamber of  claim 45 , wherein the at least one channel extends from a first edge of the upper surface to a second edge of the upper surface.  
     
     
         47 . The intake air chamber of  claim 46 , wherein the at least one channel is spaced from the at least one dome in a direction parallel to the first axis of the upper surface.  
     
     
         48 . The intake air chamber of  claim 30 , wherein the upper surface comprises at least one ramp.  
     
     
         49 . The intake air chamber of  claim 48 , wherein the at least one ramp comprises a half-oval in plan view.  
     
     
         50 . The intake air chamber of  claim 49 , wherein the at least one ramp slopes toward a first edge of the upper surface and away from a rounded portion of the half-oval.  
     
     
         51 . The intake air chamber of  claim 50 , further comprising at least one channel.  
     
     
         52 . The intake air chamber of  claim 51 , wherein the at least one channel extends in a direction perpendicular to a straight edge of the half-oval.  
     
     
         53 . The intake air chamber of  claim 52 , wherein the at least one channel extends from a second edge of the upper surface to a third edge of the upper surface.  
     
     
         54 . The intake air chamber of  claim 53 , wherein the at least one channel is spaced from the at least one ramp in a direction perpendicular to the first edge of the upper surface.  
     
     
         55 . A watercraft, comprising a hull defining an engine compartment an internal combustion engine disposed within the engine compartment, the engine including an lubricant tank, an upper surface of the lubricant tank is configured to direct water away from the upper surface.  
     
     
         56 . The watercraft of  claim 55 , wherein the upper surface comprises at least one channel.  
     
     
         57 . The watercraft of  claim 56 , wherein the at least one channel extends in a longitudinal direction relative to the watercraft.  
     
     
         58 . The watercraft of  claim 57 , wherein the at least one channel extends from a first edge of the upper surface to a second edge of the upper surface.  
     
     
         59 . The watercraft of  claim 55 , wherein the upper surface comprises a first depression.  
     
     
         60 . The watercraft of  claim 59 , wherein the first depression extends in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the watercraft.  
     
     
         61 . The watercraft of  claim 60 , wherein the first depression extends from a first edge of the upper surface to a second edge of the upper surface.  
     
     
         62 . The watercraft of  claim 61 , wherein the first surface further comprises a second depression having an elevation lower than the first depression.  
     
     
         63 . The watercraft of  claim 62 , wherein the second depression extends in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the watercraft.  
     
     
         64 . The watercraft of  claim 63 , wherein the second depression extends from the first edge of the upper surface to the second edge of the upper surface.  
     
     
         65 . The watercraft of  claim 64 , wherein the second depression has a width greater than a width of the first depression.  
     
     
         66 . The watercraft of  claim 55 , wherein the upper surface comprises at least one groove.  
     
     
         67 . The watercraft of  claim 66 , wherein the at least one groove extends in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the watercraft.  
     
     
         68 . The watercraft of  claim 67 , wherein the at least one groove extends from a first edge of the upper surface to a second edge of the upper surface.  
     
     
         69 . The watercraft of  claim 55  additionally comprising a cover covering the upper portion of the lubricant tank and defining the upper surface.  
     
     
         70 . The intake air chamber of  claim 55 , wherein the upper surface is substantially horizontal when the watercraft is at rest and floating on a body of water.  
     
     
         71 . An oil tank for use with an internal combustion engine, the oil tank having a cover, an upper surface of the oil tank cover comprising at least one surface feature configured to direct water away from the upper surface.  
     
     
         72 . The oil tank of  claim 71 , wherein the surface feature comprises at least one channel.  
     
     
         73 . The oil tank of  claim 72 , wherein the at least one channel runs in a transverse direction relative to the oil tank.  
     
     
         74 . The oil tank of  claim 73 , wherein the at least one channel reaches from a first edge of the upper surface to a second edge of the upper surface.  
     
     
         75 . The oil tank of  claim 71 , wherein the surface feature comprises a first depression.  
     
     
         76 . The oil tank of  claim 75 , wherein the first depression extends in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the oil tank.  
     
     
         77 . The oil tank of  claim 76 , wherein the first depression extends from a first edge of the upper surface to a second edge of the upper surface.  
     
     
         78 . The oil tank of  claim 77 , wherein the first surface further comprises a second depression having an elevation lower than the first depression.  
     
     
         79 . The oil tank of  claim 78 , wherein the second depression extends in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the watercraft.  
     
     
         80 . The oil tank of  claim 79 , wherein the second depression extends from the first edge of the upper surface to the second edge of the upper surface.  
     
     
         81 . The oil tank of  claim 71 , wherein the second depression has a width greater than a width of the first depression.  
     
     
         82 . The oil tank of  claim 81 , wherein the surface feature comprises at least one groove.  
     
     
         83 . The oil tank of  claim 82 , wherein the at least one groove runs in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the oil tank.  
     
     
         84 . The oil tank of  claim 83 , wherein the at least one groove extends from a first edge of the upper surface to a second edge of the upper surface.  
     
     
         85 . A watercraft comprising a hull defining an engine compartment, an internal combustion engine disposed within the engine compartment, the engine including an engine body defining a combustion chamber, an upper surface of the engine being configured to direct water away from the upper surface.  
     
     
         86 . The watercraft of  claim 85 , wherein the upper surface is an upper-most surface of the engine.  
     
     
         87 . The watercraft of  claim 85 , wherein the upper surface comprises at least one surface feature configured to drain water from the upper surface.  
     
     
         88 . The watercraft of  claim 85 , wherein the upper surface comprises at least one of a channel, groove, recess, protrusion, dome, and ellipse.  
     
     
         89 . The watercraft of  claim 85  additionally comprising an access opening in the hull, wherein the upper surface is substantially horizontal and is disposed at least partially directly beneath the access opening.