摘要 |
A mechanism for cleaning out an inlet grate of a water jet propulsion system. The mechanism includes an actuator and a wiper. The actuator penetrates and is supported by a through-hull housing installed in an opening in the hull. The actuator is linearly displaceable relative to the through-hull housing by manipulation of a handle or other operator input device or system. An inlet grate comprising a plurality of cantilever tines is pivotably mounted to and supported by the through-hull housing. A weed wiper is connected to the end of the actuator remote from the end that is actuated by the boat operator. When the actuator is displaced downward, the weed wiper moves downward along a linear path. At the point in the wiper displacement where the wiper bar engages the tines of the inlet grate, the downwardly displacing weed wiper causes the grate to pivot downward. During this action, the wiper slides across the grate and pushes any weeds or other debris entangled on the grate toward the ends of the tines. Because weeds usually wrap and ball around the inlet grate tines, the weeds will slide off easily when pushed or dragged by the sweeping wiper bar.
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