Jet pump propulsion system

Abstract

Embodiments of a jet pump system are disclosed where certain embodiments comprise an inlet component, an electronic controller which is cooled via the inflow of water through the inlet component, a combined motor impeller system positioned adjacent to the outflow aperture of the inlet component, and a nozzle pump positioned adjacent to the outflow of the motor impeller system.

1 . A marine propulsion system comprising:
 an inlet conduit, including an inlet opening and an outlet opening,   an electronic controller thermally coupled to the inlet conduit,   an impeller positioned downstream relative to the outlet opening of the inlet conduit, the impeller including at least one impeller blade and a cylindrical outer shell coupled to the at least one impeller blade;   an electric motor coupled to the cylindrical outer shell of the impeller; and   a nozzle positioned downstream relative to the impeller.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a least a portion of the electric motor is positioned in a concentric manner relative to the cylindrical outer shell of the impeller. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electric motor comprises a stator and a rotor yoke, and the rotor yoke is physically coupled to the cylindrical outer shell of the impeller such that when the rotor yoke rotates, the cylindrical outer shell follows. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electric motor comprises a stator and a rotor yoke, and the rotor yoke is physically coupled to the cylindrical outer shell such that the cylindrical outer shell provides structural support for the rotor yoke. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first structure defining a plurality of inlet apertures positioned downstream of the impeller;   a second structure defining a plurality of outlet apertures positioned upstream of the impeller; and   at least one void hydraulically coupling the plurality of inlet apertures to the plurality of outlet apertures.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising an exterior sleeve positioned around at least part of the electric motor which creates the void between a stator and the exterior sleeve. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a non-rotating stabilizing shaft positioned within the impeller. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a stabilizing inlet structure coupled to the non-rotating stabilizing shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of de-swirling vanes positioned downstream of the impeller. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a vane guide positioned downstream from the impeller and upstream of the nozzle, the vane guide having at least a portion of the de-swirling vanes. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a cone having a threaded upstream end for mating with the vane guide and a pointed downstream end, the cone having a plurality of longitudinal slots for engaging a torque inducing instrument. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an enclosure for housing the electronic controller that is integral with the inlet conduit. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an enclosure for housing the electronic controller that is separate from the inlet conduit, but thermally coupled to the inlet conduit. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller is an electronic speed controller. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller includes heat generating components attached to the inlet conduit. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the heat generating components attached to the inlet conduit are MOSFETS. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method of cooling an electronic controller of a water craft, the method comprising:
 thermally coupling heat generating components of the electronic controller to an inlet conduit,   causing water to flow through the inlet conduit;   generating heat within heat generating components of the electronic controller;   transferring a portion of the heat generated by the heat generating components to the inlet conduit; and   transferring a portion of the heat from the inlet conduct to water flowing through the inlet conduit such that the electronic components of the electronic controller are cooled by the above transferring steps.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the generating heat with heat generating components includes changing a rotational speed of a motor coupled to the water craft. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the transferring a portion of the heat generated by the heat generating components to the inlet conduit includes transferring a portion of the heat generated by the heat generating components to a thermally conductive plate embedded in the inlet conduit. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the transferring a portion of the heat generated by the heat generating components to the inlet conduit includes thermally coupling the heat generating components directly to the inlet conduit.