Centrifugal engine

Abstract

A novel kind of propulsion system that uses centrifugal force to accelerate the surrounding work-fluid. A rotor ( 10 ) with radially mounted blades ( 11 ) is enclosed by a cylindrical enclosure ( 12 ). The cylinder wall of the enclosure ( 12 ) is partially open to the surrounding work fluid. The rotor is rotated in the housing and surrounding fluid thereby generating the propulsive force.

1 . A propulsion system for propelling a vessel in a fluid comprising: 
 a vessel;    a housing mounted on the vessel and immersed in an underlying fluid, and having a concave portion; 
 a rotor having a plurality of blades extending from the periphery of the rotor, the rotor mounted to the housing and having a rear peripheral portion positioned adjacent the concave portion of the housing; and,  
 the system operable to rotate the rotor thereby generating a propulsive force to propel the vessel through the fluid.  
   
   
   
       2 . A propulsion system according to  claim 1  further comprising each blade having a distal portion angled toward the direction of rotation of the rotor.  
   
   
       3 . A propulsion system according to  claim 1  further comprising each blade being curved and having a distal portion angled toward the direction of rotation of the rotor.  
   
   
       4 . A propulsion system according to  claim 1  operatively mounted on a vessel.  
   
   
       5 . A propulsion system according to  claim 1  operatively mounted on a vessel and rotationally relative to the vessel.  
   
   
       6 . A propulsion system according to  claim 5  operable to apply a propulsive force to the vessel in a plurality of directions.  
   
   
       7 . A propulsion system according to  claim 6  rotationally mounted on a vessel and operable to apply a propulsive force to the vessel in a plurality of directions.  
   
   
       8 . A propulsion system according to  claim 1  further comprising a motor operatively connected to the rotor.  
   
   
       9 . A propulsion system according to  claim 8  wherein the motor is selected from the group consisting of an electric motor, a hydraulic motor, a steam motor, an internal combustion motor, and a turbine.  
   
   
       10 . A propulsion system for generating a propulsive force in a fluid comprising: 
 a housing having at least first and second concave portions;    first and second rotors having respective rear peripheral portions positioned adjacent the respective first and second concave portions of the housing, and also having respective first and second pluralities of blades extending from the respective peripheries of the first and second rotors; and,    the first and second rotors operable in a fluid to rotate the respective pluralities of blades past the respective concave portions of the housing thereby generating at least one propulsive force acting to drive the propulsion system through the fluid.    
   
   
       11 . A propulsion system according to  claim 10  further comprising each blade having a distal portion angled toward the direction of rotation of the rotor.  
   
   
       12 . A propulsion system according to  claim 10  further comprising each blade being curved and having a distal portion angled toward the direction of rotation of the rotor.  
   
   
       13 . A propulsion system according to  claim 10  operatively mounted on a vessel.  
   
   
       14 . A propulsion system according to  claim 10  operatively mounted on a vessel and rotationally relative to the vessel.  
   
   
       15 . A propulsion system according to  claim 14  operable to apply a propulsive force to the vessel in a plurality of directions.  
   
   
       16 . A propulsion system according to  claim 15  rotationally mounted on a vessel and operable to apply a propulsive force to the vessel in a plurality of directions.  
   
   
       17 . A propulsion system according to  claim 10  further comprising a motor operatively connected to each rotor.  
   
   
       18 . A propulsion system according to  claim 17  wherein each motor is selected from the group consisting of an electric motor, a hydraulic motor, a steam motor, an internal combustion motor, and a turbine.  
   
   
       19 . A propulsion system according to  claim 1  wherein the rotor mounted to the housing and having a rear peripheral portion positioned adjacent the concave portion of the housing includes a clearance between the rear peripheral portion and the concave portion is selected to be the minimum required to provide clearance between the rotor and the housing.