Marine propulsor with inlet fluid inducer

Abstract

Presented is a fluid propulsor for propelling a vehicle that incorporates a Coanda Effect Inducer (CEI), more commonly called an inlet fluid inducer in this application, in its inlet to induce fluids passing by the vehicle to turn uniformly toward a powered fluid energizing device such as a rotor of the propulsor. This concept enhances the efficiency of the rotor and the overall efficiency of the propulsor. The rotor is preferably at least primarily enclosed in a housing and the rotor may operate either fully submerged in liquid or in a partially liquid and partially gaseous environment. Fluid flow directing devices may be incorporated to separate liquid from gas flowing to the rotor in some instances. The inlet fluid inducer may take the shape of a cylinder or any other flow directing shape and while more effective when rotating in the direction of fluid flow is also viable when not rotating.

1 . In an improved propulsor for propelling a vehicle wherein said propulsor accelerates fluid to produce thrust and wherein said fluid is obtained through an inlet that intakes fluid from external to the vehicle and directs said fluid toward a powered fluid energizing device, the improvement comprising: 
 an inlet fluid inducer wherein said inlet fluid inducer is capable of three hundred sixty degrees of rotation to direct said fluid toward the powered fluid energizing device and thereby provide a uniformity to the fluid supplied to the powered fluid energizing device and wherein said inlet fluid inducer is oriented more perpendicular than parallel to a plane that includes a rotational axis of the powered fluid energizing device.    
   
   
       2 . The improved propulsor of  claim 1  wherein the inlet fluid inducer rotates in the direction of fluid flow.  
   
   
       3 . The improved propulsor of  claim 1  wherein said inlet fluid inducer extends less than 60 percent of its maximum dimension perpendicular to fluid flow beyond an average height of a vehicle hull portion when said vehicle hull portion is viewed proximal to, forward of, and in line with the inlet fluid inducer.  
   
   
       4 . The improved propulsor of  claim 1  wherein said inlet fluid inducer extends less than 40 percent of its maximum dimension perpendicular to fluid flow beyond an average height of a vehicle hull portion when said vehicle hull portion is viewed proximal to, forward of, and in line with the inlet fluid inducer.  
   
   
       5 . The improved propulsor of  claim 1  wherein said inlet fluid inducer is driven by a power source that also drives the powered fluid energizing device.  
   
   
       6 . The improved propulsor of  claim 1  wherein said powered fluid energizing device receives primarily liquid over one portion of its rotation and primarily gas over another portion of its rotation.  
   
   
       7 . The improved propulsor of  claim 6  wherein a fluid directing device is disposed at least in its majority downstream of the inlet fluid inducer.  
   
   
       8 . The improved propulsor of  claim 7  wherein said fluid directing device has ability to, in at least one mode of its operation, restrict gas from passing to the powered fluid energizing device.  
   
   
       9 . The improved propulsor of  claim 1  wherein said inlet fluid inducer includes recesses in its periphery that are capable of energizing fluids when the inlet fluid inducer is rotating.  
   
   
       10 . The improved propulsor of  claim 1  wherein the powered fluid energizing device is a rotor.  
   
   
       11 . The improved propulsor of  claim 1  wherein the fluid inlet inducer, as seen in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the fluid inlet inducer, is, on average, circular in cross section.  
   
   
       12 . The improved propulsor of  claim 1  wherein the inlet fluid inlet inducer, when said vehicle is moving forward, is capable of free wheeling rotation in a direction of fluid flow when said inlet fluid inducer is not powered.  
   
   
       13 . In an improved propulsor for propelling a vehicle wherein said propulsor accelerates fluid to produce thrust and wherein said fluid is obtained through an inlet that intakes the fluid from external to the vehicle and directs said fluid toward a powered fluid energizing device, the improvement comprising: 
 an inlet fluid inducer wherein said inlet fluid inducer is capable of three hundred degrees of rotation to direct said fluid toward the powered fluid energizing device to thereby provide direction to the fluid supplied to the powered fluid energizing device and wherein the inlet fluid inducer rotates in the direction of fluid flow.    
   
   
       14 . The improved propulsor of  claim 13  wherein said inlet fluid inducer is oriented more perpendicular than parallel to a plane that includes a rotational axis of the powered fluid energizing device.  
   
   
       15 . The improved propulsor of  claim 13  wherein said inlet fluid inducer extends less than 60 percent of its of its maximum dimension perpendicular to fluid flow beyond an average height of a vehicle hull portion when said vehicle hull portion is viewed proximal to, forward of, and in line with the inlet fluid inducer.  
   
   
       16 . The improved propulsor of  claim 13  wherein said inlet fluid inducer extends less than 40 percent of its of its maximum dimension perpendicular to fluid flow beyond an average height of a vehicle hull portion when said vehicle hull portion is viewed proximal to, forward of, and in line with the inlet fluid inducer.  
   
   
       17 . The improved propulsor of  claim 13  wherein said inlet fluid inducer is driven by a power source that also drives the powered fluid energizing device.  
   
   
       18 . The improved propulsor of  claim 13  wherein said powered fluid energizing device receives primarily liquid over one portion of its rotation and primarily gas over another portion of its rotation.  
   
   
       19 . The improved propulsor of  claim 13  wherein a fluid directing device is disposed at least in its majority downstream of the inlet fluid inducer.  
   
   
       20 . The improved propulsor of  claim 19  wherein said fluid directing device has ability to, in at least one mode of its operation, restrict gas from passing to the powered fluid energizing device.  
   
   
       21 . The improved propulsor of  claim 13  wherein said inlet fluid inducer includes recesses in its periphery that are capable of energizing fluids when the inlet fluid inducer is rotating.  
   
   
       22 . The improved propulsor of  claim 13  wherein the fluid inlet inducer, as seen in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the fluid inlet inducer, is, on average, circular in cross section.  
   
   
       23 . The improved propulsor of  claim 13  wherein the inlet fluid inlet inducer, when said vehicle is moving forward, is capable of free wheeling rotation in a direction of fluid flow when said inlet fluid inducer is not powered.  
   
   
       24 . In an improved propulsor for propelling a vehicle wherein said propulsor accelerates fluid to produce thrust and wherein said fluid is obtained through an inlet that intakes the fluid from external to the vehicle and directs said fluid toward a powered fluid energizing device, the improvement comprising: 
 an inlet fluid inducer wherein said inlet fluid inducer is capable of three hundred sixty degrees of rotation to direct said fluid toward the powered fluid energizing device and thereby provide uniformity to the fluid supplied to the powered fluid energizing device and wherein said inlet fluid inducer extends less than 60 percent of its maximum dimension perpendicular to fluid flow beyond an average height of a vehicle hull portion when said vehicle hull portion is viewed proximal to, forward of, and in line with the inlet fluid inducer.    
   
   
       25 . The improved propulsor of  claim 24  wherein said inlet fluid inducer is oriented more perpendicular than parallel to a plane that includes a rotational axis of the powered fluid energizing device.  
   
   
       26 . The improved propulsor of  claim 24  wherein said inlet fluid inducer is driven by a power source that also drives the powered fluid energizing device.  
   
   
       27 . The improved propulsor of  claim 24  wherein said fluid energizing device receives primarily liquid over one portion of its rotation and primarily gas over another portion of its rotation.  
   
   
       28 . The improved propulsor of  claim 24  wherein a fluid directing device is disposed at least in its majority downstream of the inlet fluid inducer.  
   
   
       29 . The improved propulsor of  claim 28  wherein said fluid directing device has ability to, in at least one mode of its operation, restrict gas from passing to the powered fluid energizing device.  
   
   
       30 . The improved propulsor of  claim 24  wherein the fluid inlet inducer, as seen in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the fluid inlet inducer, is, on average, circular in cross section.  
   
   
       31 . The improved propulsor of  claim 24  wherein the inlet fluid inlet inducer, when said vehicle is moving forward, is capable of free wheeling rotation in a direction of fluid flow when said inlet fluid inducer is not powered.