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An impeller mounting system for a jet propelled watercraft uses an impeller shaft having a tapered portion and an impeller hub having a coaxial opening with a corresponding tapered seat. The impeller hub is tightened onto the impeller shaft so that the tapered portion of the impeller shaft presses a

An impeller mounting system for a jet propelled watercraft uses an impeller shaft having a tapered portion and an impeller hub having a coaxial opening with a corresponding tapered seat. The impeller hub is tightened onto the impeller shaft so that the tapered portion of the impeller shaft presses against the tapered seat of the coaxial opening in the impeller hub with sufficient force to prevent the impeller hub from slipping with respect to the impeller shaft when the impeller shaft rotates to drive the impeller hub. Static frictional forces between the tapered surfaces bear the entire rotational load for the jet drive, therefore reducing chatter noise and wear which can be caused by load bearing splines or the like. The tapered seat configuration virtually assures proper concentric alignment of the impeller within the wear ring. The impeller shaft also preferably includes a bearing support portion extending rearward from the coaxial opening in the hub. The bearing support portion of the impeller shaft is preferably supported rigidly in a bearing support sleeve located in the hub of a stator mounted rearward of the impeller. This impeller mounting system facilitates easy assembly and disassembly when it is desirable to replace the impeller or otherwise provide maintenance to the jet drive.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] A jet propelled watercraft comprising:an impeller that rotates within a wear ring, the impeller having an impeller hub and one or more impeller blades extending outward from the hub, the impeller hub having a coaxial opening that includes a tapered seat in which the diameter of the

[ I claim:] [1.] A jet propelled watercraft comprising:an impeller that rotates within a wear ring, the impeller having an impeller hub and one or more impeller blades extending outward from the hub, the impeller hub having a coaxial opening that includes a tapered seat in which the diameter of the opening lessens as the opening extends rearward through the impeller hub and a splined section rearward of the tapered seat the diameter of the splined section of the coaxial opening through the impeller hub being constant and less than the smallest diameter of the tapered seat of the coaxial opening through the impeller hub;an impeller shaft that is mounted through the impeller by locating the impeller shaft through the coaxial opening in the impeller hub, the impeller shaft including:a main portion,a tapered portion rearward of the main portion in which the diameter of the impeller shaft lessens as the impeller shaft extends rearward,a threaded portion rearward of the tapered portion and having a diameter smaller than the smallest diameter of the tapered portion;a splined portion between the tapered portion of the impeller shaft and the threaded portion of the impeller shaft that engages the splined section of the coaxial opening through the impeller hub, the outer diameter of the threaded portion of the impeller shaft being less than the smallest diameter of the splined portion of the impeller shaft, anda jam nut that engages the threaded portion of the impeller shaft to tighten the impeller shaft within the coaxial opening through the impeller hub so that the tapered portion of the impeller shaft presses against the tapered seat of the coaxial opening in the impeller hub with sufficient force to prevent the impeller hub from slipping with respect to the impeller shaft when the impeller shaft rotates to drive the impeller hub;wherein the splined portion of the impeller shaft loosely engages the splined section of the coaxial opening through the impeller hub when the impeller shaft is mounted through the impeller hub and the jam nut is tightened to tighten the impeller hub on the impeller shaft.