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US 6,352,455 B1Granted
Marine propulsion device
OwnerPeter A. Guagliano, Anthony C. Rossinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The propulsion device (10) includes a housing (12) having an incoming end cap (14) and an outflowing end cap (16). A tubular bladder (20) within the housing is interconnected to each end cap, thereby varying the volume of both a chamber (22) within the bladder and a chamber (24) between the bladder and the housing during attractive or repulsive movement between end caps (14,16). Check valves control the flowthrough the end caps. The propulsion device is highly efficient and is able to move the vessel through water with little or no cavitation.
Claims25
A propulsion device for moving a vessel through water, comprising:
- a housing having a throughbore about a central axis;
- an incoming end cap and an outflowing end cap each mounted along said throughbore and spaced axially from each other, one of said end caps being mounted for movement along the central axis relative to the other end cap;
- a flexible generally tubular bladder interconnected at one end to said incoming end cap and at an opposite end to said outflowing end cap, the bladder defining (a) an inner chamber therein and between the end caps, and (b) an outer chamber between the bladder and the housing and between the end caps;
- an incoming inner chamber check valve along a flow path interconnecting the water with the inner chamber;
- an outflowing inner chamber check valve along a flow path interconnecting the inner chamber with the water;
- at least one incoming outer chamber check valve each along a flow path interconnecting the water with the outer chamber;
- at least one outflowing outer chamber check valve each along a flow path interconnecting the outer chamber with the water;
- and
- a power supply for controlling the attraction and repulsion of the end caps to cyclically move said one end cap with respect to the other end cap along the central axis in a manner which cyclically varies the volume of both the inner chamber and the outer chamber, thereby creating propulsion as water is drawn into and discharged from the device.
6 more elements
The propulsion device as defined in claim further comprising:
- one or more additional electromagnetic members spaced between the incoming end cap and the outflowing end cap.
A propulsion device for moving a vessel through water, comprising:
- a housing having a throughbore about a central axis;
- an incoming end cap and an oufflowing end cap mounted axially in said throughbore and spaced longitudinally from each other, one of said end caps being mounted for movement along the central axis relative to the other end cap;
- a flexible generally tubular bladder including a fibrous reinforced weave interconnected at one end to said incoming end cap and at an opposite end to said outflowing end cap, the bladder defining (a) an inner chamber therein and between the end caps, and (b) an outer chamber between the bladder and the housing and between the end caps;
- an incoming inner chamber check valve along a flow path interconnecting the water with the inner chamber;
- an outflowing inner chamber check valve along a flow path interconnecting the inner chamber with the water;
- at least one incoming outer chamber check valve each along a flow path interconnecting the water with the outer chamber;
- at least one outflowing outer chamber check valve each along a flow path interconnecting the outer chamber with the water;
- and
- a power supply for controlling the attraction and repulsion of the end caps to cyclically move said one end cap with respect to the other end cap along the central axis in a manner which cyclically varies the volume of both the inner chamber and the outer chamber, thereby creating propulsion as water is drawn into and discharged from the device.
6 more elements
A method of powering a vehicle for moving through water, comprising:
- providing a housing having a throughbore about a central axis;
- providing an incoming end cap and an outflowing end cap along the central axis within the housing;
- mounting one of said end caps for axial movement along the control axis relative to the other end cap;
- interconnecting a flexible generally tubular bladder at one end to said incoming end cap and at an opposite end to said oufflowing end cap, the bladder defining (a) an inner chamber therein and between the end caps, and (b) an outer chamber between the bladder and the housing and between the end caps;
- positioning an incoming inner chamber check valve along a flow path interconnecting the water with the inner chamber;
- positioning an outflowing inner chamber check valve along a flow path interconnecting the inner chamber with the water;
- positioning at least one incoming outer chamber check valve each along a flow path interconnecting the water with the outer chamber;
- positioning at least one outflowing outer chamber check valve each along a flow path interconnecting the outer chamber with the water;
- and
- controlling the attraction and repulsion of the end caps to cyclically move one of said end caps with respect to the other end cap along the central axis in a manner which cyclically varies the volume of both the inner chamber and the outer chamber, thereby creating propulsion as water is drawn into and discharged from the housing.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.