Cylinder-driven marine propulsion system

In a marine vessel of the hull displacement type wherein the vessel hull is partially submerged when said vessel is in motion, a propulsion system comprising:

• a flow duct extending along the bottom of said hull, said duct being open at both ends and closed along its top, bottom and side walls, said duct being mostly submerged with the upper portion of its forward end extendng above the water line when said vessel is in motion;
• a reaction device in the form of a driven cylinder located proximate the forward end of said duct and entirely within the confines of said hull, said cylinder having a longitudinal axis extending horizontally and perpendicular to the direction of vessel foward motion, the cylinder being positioned at a depth such that its periphery remains partially submerged during vessel motion, said cylinder having a plurality of spaced, thin annular members projecting from the cylinder periphery in vertical planes which are parallel to the direction of motion of said vessel, the cylinder periphery between said annular members comprising substantially smooth circumferential surfaces which are substantially devoid of projections therefrom, said cylinder being arranged to be rotatably driven in a first direction about its longitudinal axis such that said circumferential surfaces viscously force air and water under said cylinder and through said duct from forward of said vessel;
• and
• means for selectively rotating said cylinder about said longitudinal axis in said first direction;
• wherein said top wall of said duct extends rearwardly from a leading edge thereof, said leading being positioned adjacent said cylinder and below the top of said cylinder, said leading edge extending the length of said cylinder to direct water and air driven by said cylinder into said duct in a rearward flow direction;
• wherein the bottom and side walls of said duct extend forwardly of said leading edge of said top wall and at least as far forward as the forwardmost portion of said cylinder;
• whereby water and air driven rearwardly through said duct by said cylinder initiates a reactive force which drives said vessel in a forward direction without imparting a lift force to said vessel.