Watercraft having water jet lift

A watercraft comprising:

• a hull;
• a power source mounted to said hull;
• a water pump driven by said power source;
• a drogue for extending below said hull for transferring water from a body of water below said hull to said pump by the action of said pump;
• a plurality of nozzles mounted to said hull and connected to receive pressurized water from said pump for producing downwardly directed water jets which produce reaction forces to lift said hull above said body of water;
• and
• a water storage tank connected to said pump for receiving water from said pump and supplying stored water to said pump.

A watercraft comprising:

• a hull;
• a power source mounted to said hull;
• a water pump driven by said power source;
• a drogue for extending below said hull for transferring water from a body of water below said hull to said pump by the action of said pump;
• a plurality of nozzles mounted to said hull and connected to receive pressurized water from said pump for producing downwardly directed water jets which produce reaction forces to lift said hull above said body of water;
• a control system for directing the operation of said power source and said nozzles;
• and
• means mounted on said hull for detecting wave height and generating a control signal for input to said control system.

A watercraft, comprising

• a hull;
• a power source;
• a drogue supported by said hull, said drogue for transmitting water therethrough from a body of water below said hull;
• a pump mounted on said drogue and driven by said power source, said pump for driving said water through said drogue;
• a plurality of nozzles mounted to said hull and connected to receive pressurized water from said pump through said drogue for producing downwardly directed water jets to cause reaction forces for lifting said hull above said body of water;
• a control system for directing the operation of said power source and said nozzles;
• and
• means mounted on said hull for detecting wave height in a projected path of said watercraft and generating a control signal for input to said control system.

A watercraft comprising:

• a hull;
• a power source;
• a drogue supported by said hull, said drogue for transmitting water therethrough from a body of water below said hull;
• a pump mounted on said drogue and driven by said power source, said pump for driving said water through said drogue;
• a plurality of nozzles mounted to said hull and connected to receive pressurized water from said pump through said drogue for producing downwardly directed water jets to cause reaction forces for lifting said hull above said body of water;
• and
• a tank for storing water received from said drogue.

A watercraft comprising:

• a hull;
• a power source;
• a drogue supported by said hull, said drogue for transmitting water therethrough from a body of water below said hull;
• a pump mounted on said drogue and driven by said power source, said pump for driving said water through said drogue;
• a plurality of nozzles mounted to said hull and connected to receive pressurized water from said pump through said drogue for producing downwardly directed water jets to cause reaction forces for lifting said hull above said body of water;
• a control system for directing the operation of said power source and said nozzles;
• and
• means mounted on said hull for detecting wave height and generating a control signal for input to said control system.

A watercraft, comprising:

• a hull;
• a motor mounted to said hull;
• a water pump driven by said motor;
• a multi-function valve mounted at the inlet to said pump;
• a drogue having a first end thereof connected to said multi-function valve and a second end thereof including a port for extending into a body of water below said hull for transporting water from said body of water to said multi-function valve by operation of said pump;
• an actuator connected between said hull and said drogue for positioning said drogue;
• a water distribution means connected to receive pressurized water from the outlet of said pump;
• a water tank mounted on said hull and connected to receive water from said water distribution means and supply water to said multi-function valve;
• a first array of downwardly directed nozzles connected to receive pressurized water from said water distribution means for producing water jets which cause reaction forces to lift said watercraft above said body of water;
• a second array of horizontally directed nozzles connected to receive pressurized water from said water distribution means for producing water jets which cause reaction forces for propelling said watercraft across said body of water;
• and
• control means connected to control the operation of said motor, said multi-function valve and said actuator.

A watercraft, comprising:

• a hull;
• a power source mounted to said hull;
• a water pump driven by said power source;
• a drogue for extending below said hull for transferring water from a body of water below said hull to said pump by the action of said pump;
• a plurality of nozzles mounted to said hull and connected to receive pressurized water from said pump for producing downwardly directed water jets which produce reaction forces to lift said hull above said body of water;
• means for individually controlling the flow of water through selected ones of said nozzles for controlling the attitude of said watercraft above said body of water;
• and
• a water storage tank connected to said pump for receiving water from said pump and supplying stored water to said pump.

A watercraft, comprising:

• a hull;
• a power source mounted to said hull;
• a water pump driven by said power source;
• a drogue for extending below said hull for transferring water from a body of water below said hull to said pump by the action of said pump;
• a plurality of nozzles mounted to said hull and connected to receive pressurized water from said pump for producing downwardly directed water jets which produce reaction forces to lift said hull above said body of water;
• means for individually controlling the flow of water through selected ones of said nozzles for controlling the attitude of said watercraft above said body of water;
• a control system for directing the operation of said power source and said nozzles;
• and
• means mounted on said hull for detecting wave heights in a projected path of said watercraft and generating a control signal for input to said control system.

A watercraft, comprising:

• a hull;
• a power source;
• a drogue supported by said hull, said drogue for transmitting water therethrough from a body of water below said hull;
• a pump mounted on said drogue and drive by said power source, said pump for driving said water through said drogue;
• a plurality of nozzles mounted to said hull and connected to receive pressurized water from said pump through said drogue for producing downwardly directed water jets to cause reaction forces for lifting said hull above said body of water;
• and
• a tank for storing water received from said drogue.