Oscillating appendage for fin propulsion
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorThomas J. Gieseke
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An oscillating appendage includes a vessel housing a supply of pressurized fluid with reinforced tubes selectively receiving the pressurized fluid from the vessel, an oscillating valve for controlling the supply of pressurized fluid from the vessel to the reinforced tubes, and a flexible skin encompassing the vessel, the reinforced tubes, and the valve. The flexible skin defines an outer shape of the oscillating appendage with a tail member affixed at a terminal end of the appendage to further propel the appendage by an oscillating motion of the appendage.
Claims14
A device for propulsion as an oscillating appendage, said device comprising:
- a vessel housing a supply of pressurized fluid;
- a plurality of reinforced tubes in fluid communication with said vessel;
- a valve for selectively controlling the supply of the pressurized fluid from said vessel to said reinforced tubes and release of the pressurized fluid from said reinforced tubes wherein the controlled supply and released flow of the pressurized fluid oscillates said oscillating appendage to propel said oscillating appendage;
- and
- a flexible skin encompassing said vessel, said reinforced tubes, and said valve wherein said flexible skin defines an outer shape of said oscillating appendage.
A device for propulsion as an oscillating appendage, said device comprising:
- a supply of pressurized fluid;
- a plurality of reinforced tubes in fluid communication with said supply of pressurized fluid;
- a means for directing said supply of pressurized fluid to a separate reinforced tube of said plurality of reinforced tubes;
- a means for releasing in the same instant pressurized fluid from an alternate reinforced tube of said plurality of reinforced tubes thereby creating an oscillating motion by said oscillating appendage to propel said oscillating appendage;
- and
- a flexible skin encompassing said supply of pressurized fluid, said plurality of reinforced tubes, said directing means and said releasing means, said flexible skin responsive to said oscillating motion in propulsion of said device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.