Device for non-lethal stoppage of water jet propelled craft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10323911-B1
Application number	US-201615252290-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Aug 31, 2016
Priority date	Aug 31, 2016
Publication date	Jun 18, 2019
Grant date	Jun 18, 2019

Abstract

The disclosed invention is a device for non-lethally stopping or slowing any water jet propelled craft, such as a common personal watercraft (PWC), by disrupting the water suction and thereby reducing the generated thrust. Most PWCs have an inboard engine that is coupled to a water jet pump which uses an impeller to generate thrust. This invention is ingested by the PWC intake to either clog the intake gate (or screen) or fill critical volume in any portion of the jet pump (such as the intake, impeller, stator, or pressure nozzle). In any case, water flow through the jet drive is significantly reduced which reduces the vessel's thrust. PWCs depend on adequate water flow through the jet pump to generate the thrust required for propulsion and steerage, and to provide engine cooling. Since this invention is designed to interrupt water flow, the result is reduced speed, steerage, and/or engine overheating.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for non-lethal stoppage of a water jet propelled craft comprising:
a head section constructed of fabric, wherein
the head section comprises a volume, wherein
a part of the volume is filled with a malleable, weighted material, and wherein
a remaining part of the volume is filled with a malleable flotation material, and wherein
a combination of the malleable weighted material and the malleable flotation material in the volume of the head section make the head section negatively buoyant; and

multiple tail sections attached to the head section, and constructed from a flexible, material, wherein,
the multiple tail sections are positively buoyant, and wherein

the negative buoyance of the head section offsets the positive buoyance of the multiple tail sections such that portions of the multiple tail sections float at or near a surface of a body of water while the head section is suspended below the surface of the body of water so that, when the water jet propelled craft passes over the multiple tail sections, the multiple tail sections are injested by an intake system of the water jet propelled craft, and the intake system pulls the multiple tail sections and the head section into the intake system and stops propulsion of the water jet propelled craft.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the head section is approximately 2-3 inches in diameter so that it can fit through an intake grate opening to the intake system of the water jet propelled craft.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the multiple tail sections are a approximately 3 feet long and approximately two inches wide to maximize a probability of getting injested and pulled into the intake system of the water jet propelled craft.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein
the malleable, weighted material comprises a mass and density that allows the device to be launched out over the body of water to stop a water jet propelled craft at a safe distance.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the malleable, weighted material is granular, and encased in a packet, separate from the malleable flotation material, inside the head section.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the malleable, flotation material is water soluble.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the malleable weighted material is water soluble.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is constructed of biodegradable material.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is constructed of a tacky material to facilitate adhesion to, and filling of a volume of the intake system of the water jet propelled craft that stops the propulsion system.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is constructed with a hydrophilic material.

11. The device of claim 6 , wherein the malleable, flotation water soluble material comprises dissolving foam.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the malleable weighted material is combined with the malleable flotation material inside the head section of the device.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the multiple tail sections are attached to the head section by sewing them to the head section.

14. The device of claim 1 , wherein the multiple tail sections are attached to the head section by fusing them to the head section.

15. The device of claim 1 , wherein the multiple tail sections are attached to the head section by gluing them to the head section.

16. A method for non-lethal stoppage of a water jet propelled craft comprising:
inserting a device in a path of the water jet propelled craft to be injested by an intake system of the water jet propelled craft, wherein the device comprises:
a head section constructed of fabric, wherein
the head section comprises a volume, wherein
a part of the volume is filled with a malleable, weighted material, and wherein
a remaining part of the volume is filled with a malleable flotation material, and wherein
a combination of the malleable weighted material and the malleable flotation material in the volume of the head section make the head section negatively buoyant; and

multiple tail sections attached to the head section, and constructed from a flexible material, wherein
the multiple tail sections are positively buoyant, and wherein
the negative buoyance of the head section offsets the positive buoyance of the multiple tail sections such that portions of the multiple tails section float at or near a surface of a body of water so that, when the water jet propelled craft passes over the multiple tail sections, the multiple tail sections are injested by the intake system of the water jet propelled craft and the intake system pulls the device into the intake system and stops propulsion of the water jet propelled craft.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein inserting the device in the path of the water jet propelled craft comprises any one of the following:
launching the device through air into the water so that it stops the water jet propelled craft at a safe distance;
dropping the device into the water from above the water;
launching the device from underwater;
placing the device in the water manually.

Assignees

• Krauss Andrew
• Brandis Steve
• Bretall Damien
• Faber Ryan
• Jacobson Alma
• Shores Chelsea
• Us Navy

Inventors

• Krauss Andrew
• Brandis Steve
• Bretall Damien
• Faber Ryan
• Jacobson Alma
• Shores Chelsea

Classifications

• B63B35/00

  Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B63G13/00

  Other offensive or defensive arrangements on vessels; Vessels characterised thereby · CPC title

• F41H13/0006

  Ballistically deployed systems for restraining persons or animals, e.g. ballistically deployed nets · CPC title

• F41H11/05 Primary

  Net barriers for harbour defence {(arrangement of mines F42B22/24; protective nets used with ships B63G9/04)} · CPC title

• F41H11/08 Primary

  Barbed-wire obstacles; Barricades; Stanchions; Tank traps; Vehicle-impeding devices; Caltrops {(making barbed wire B21F25/00; barbed-wire fencing E04H17/04; road barricades, obstructing passage of vehicles or pedestrians E01F13/00)} · CPC title