Methods and arrangements for redirecting thrust from a propeller

An apparatus to redirect a thrust generated by a propeller for a watercraft, comprising:

• a control surface to redirect the thrust from the propeller based upon a position of the control surface with respect to the propeller, wherein the redirected thrust comprises a component of non-forward thrust;
• a first member to couple with the watercraft to apply force to adjust a spatial relationship between the control surface and the propeller to position the control surface at least partially within an area in which prop wash is to be expelled by the propeller, wherein the first member comprises a rigid member;
• a non-rigid joint to couple the rigid member with the control surface to restrict movement of the control surface in at least one direction, wherein the non-rigid joint is adapted to rotate the control surface between a first position in which the control surface is substantially perpendicular to the thrust and a second position in which the control surface is substantially parallel to the thrust, wherein positions between the first position and the second position and the shape and size of the control surface are adapted to sufficiently redirect the thrust generated by the propeller to provide a variable, net reverse thrust responsive to the thrust generated by the propeller;
• a spring coupled between the rigid member and the control surface, wherein the spring is adapted to apply the force to the control surface to maintain the control surface at least partially within the prop wash at least until a magnitude of the thrust reaches a threshold magnitude based upon a loading curve of the spring, which allows the control surface to disengage, wherein the position, shape, and size of the control surface and a loading characteristic of the spring are adapted to sufficiently redirect the thrust generated by the propeller to provide a variable, net reverse thrust responsive to the thrust generated by the propeller;
• and
• an adjustable member to couple with the control surface adapted to provide force via a driver in addition to the force applied via the spring to adjust rotation of the control surface between the first position and the second position, the adjustable member to hold the control surface at the first position, the second position, and the positions between the first position and the second position.

A method to redirect a thrust generated by a propeller via a control surface for a watercraft, the method comprising:

• applying force via a first member to adjust a spatial relationship between the control surface and the propeller to position the control surface at a position at least partially within an area in which prop wash is to be expelled by the propeller;
• redirecting the thrust from the propeller via the control surface based upon the spatial relationship of the control surface with respect to the propeller, wherein the redirected thrust comprises a component of non-forward thrust;
• and
• adjusting the position of the control surface with respect to the propeller, further comprising disabling control by an operator of the watercraft to move the control surface into the prop wash while the watercraft exceeds a specified speed or the propeller exceeds a revolutions per minute threshold.

A method to redirect a thrust generated by a propeller via a control surface for a watercraft, the method comprising:

• applying force via a first member to adjust a spatial relationship between the control surface and the propeller to position the control surface at a position at least partially within an area in which prop wash is to be expelled by the propeller, wherein applying the force comprises holding the control surface in the position via a spring coupled with the control surface;
• redirecting the thrust from the propeller via the control surface based upon the spatial relationship of the control surface with respect to the propeller, wherein the redirected thrust comprises a component of non-forward thrust;
• and
• adjusting the position of the control surface with respect to the propeller by adjusting a length of an adjustable member to rotate the first member to move the control surface between different positions within the area in which prop wash is to be expelled by the propeller to positions not directly within the area in which prop wash is to be expelled by the propeller to generate a net thrust to steer the watercraft.

A method to redirect a thrust generated by a propeller via a control surface for a watercraft, the method comprising:

• applying force via a first member to adjust a spatial relationship between the control surface and the propeller to position the control surface at a position at least partially within an area in which prop wash is to be expelled by the propeller;
• redirecting the thrust from the propeller via the control surface based upon the spatial relationship of the control surface with respect to the propeller, wherein the redirected thrust comprises a component of non-forward thrust wherein redirecting the thrust comprises generating a net, zero thrust while the control surface is positioned at an angle substantially perpendicular to the prop wash, wherein the net, zero thrust is based upon the position, distance and angle between the control surface and the propeller;
• and
• adjusting the position of the control surface with respect to the propeller by adjusting a length of an adjustable member to rotate the first member to move the control surface between different positions within the area in which prop wash is to be expelled by the propeller to positions not directly within the area in which prop wash is to be expelled by the propeller to generate a net thrust to steer the watercraft.

A watercraft capable of redirecting a thrust generated by a propeller, the watercraft comprising:

• a hull having a motor coupled with the propeller to rotate the propeller to expel prop wash to generate the thrust;
• a control surface to redirect the thrust from the propeller, based upon a position of the control surface with respect to the propeller, wherein the redirected thrust comprises a component of non-forward thrust, wherein the control surface comprises a first flat surface substantially perpendicular to the thrust and one or more other surfaces operating in conjunction with the first flat surface to redirect the thrust;
• and
• a first member to couple with the hull to apply force to adjust a spatial relationship between the control surface and the propeller to position the control surface at least partially within the prop wash, wherein the first member couples with the control surface via a spring.

A control system for a watercraft to redirect a thrust generated by a propeller, comprising:

• a control surface to redirect the thrust from the propeller based upon a spatial relationship between the control surface and the propeller, wherein the redirected thrust comprises a component of non-forward thrust;
• an attachment member coupled with the watercraft to apply force to modify the spatial relationship between the control surface and the propeller to position the control surface at least partially within an area in which prop wash is to be expelled by the propeller;
• a driver to transmit the force from the watercraft to the attachment member;
• and
• a controller to determine an adjustment for the spatial relationship between the control surface and the propeller and the communication with the driver to implement the adjustment;
• wherein the control surface resides in a cavity formed into a hull of the watercraft and is adapted to reflect the thrust while a shaft of an inboard motor is raised to direct the prop wash at least partially into the cavity.

A database to redirect a thrust generated by a propeller via a control surface for a watercraft, comprising:

• thrust data to relate a current spatial relationship between the control surface and the propeller with a components of a current redirected thrust;
• propulsion data to relate the components of the current redirected thrust with a current rotational and spatial velocity and acceleration of the watercraft;
• and
• a formula to determine an adjustment to a positional and angular relationship of the current spatial relationship based upon a difference between the current redirected thrust and a new propulsion, the adjustment to position the control surface at least partially within an area in which prop wash is to be expelled by the propeller to effect the new propulsion;
• wherein the adjustment is indicative of an application of force to implement the adjustment.

A method to redirect a thrust generated by a propeller via a control surface for a watercraft, the method comprising:

• applying force via a first member to adjust a spatial relationship between the control surface and the propeller to position the control surface at a position at least partially within an area in which prop wash is to be expelled by the propeller;
• redirecting the thrust from the propeller via the control surface based upon the spatial relationship of the control surface with respect to the propeller, wherein the redirected thrust comprises a component of non-forward thrust;
• and
• adjusting the position of the propeller to direct at least part of the prop wash to the control surface, wherein applying the force comprises holding the control surface in the position via a spring coupled with the control surface.

A method to redirect a thrust generated by a propeller via a control surface for a watercraft, the method comprising:

• applying force via a first member to adjust a spatial relationship between the control surface and the propeller to position the control surface at a position at least partially within an area in which prop wash is to be expelled by the propeller;
• redirecting the thrust from the propeller via the control surface based upon the spatial relationship of the control surface with respect to the propeller, wherein the redirected thrust comprises a component of non-forward thrust;
• and
• adjusting the position of the propeller to direct at least part of the prop wash to the control surface, wherein redirecting the thrust comprises generating a net, zero thrust while the control surface is positioned at an angle substantially perpendicular to the prop wash, wherein the net, zero thrust is based upon the position, distance and angle between the control surface and the propeller.

A method to redirect a thrust generated by a propeller via a control surface for a watercraft, the method comprising:

• applying force via a first member to adjust a spatial relationship between the control surface and the propeller to position the control surface at a position at least partially within an area in which prop wash is to be expelled by the propeller;
• redirecting the thrust from the propeller via the control surface based upon the spatial relationship of the control surface with respect to the propeller, wherein the redirected thrust comprises a component of non-forward thrust;
• and
• adjusting the position of the propeller to direct at least part of the prop wash to the control surface, wherein redirecting the thrust further comprises releasing the control surface to prevent damage when stresses approach design limits.

An apparatus to redirect a thrust generated by a propeller for a watercraft, comprising:

• a control surface to redirect the thrust from the propeller based upon a position of the control surface with respect to the propeller, wherein the redirected thrust comprises a component of non-forward thrust;
• a first member to couple with the watercraft to apply force to adjust a spatial relationship between the control surface and the propeller to position the control surface at least partially within an area in which prop wash is to be expelled by the propeller, wherein the first member comprises a rigid member and the apparatus further comprises a non-rigid joint to couple the rigid member with the control surface to restrict movement of the control surface in at least one direction;
• a spring coupled between the rigid member and the control surface, wherein the spring is adapted to apply the force to the control surface to maintain the control surface at least partially within the prop wash at least until a magnitude of the thrust reaches a threshold magnitude based upon a loading curve of the spring, which allows the control surface to disengage, wherein the position and size of the control surface sufficiently redirect the thrust generated by the propeller to provide a variable, net reverse thrust responsive to the thrust generated by the propeller, wherein the control surface comprises of a bent edge, wherein the bent edge is a distinct member to be coupled with the control surface via a hinge.