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. The CEI and the powered fluid energizing device are, in the preferred embodiment, installed in an inlet housing of the propulsor. 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 marine 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 marine vehicle and directs said fluid toward a powered fluid energizing device of said propulsor, the improvement comprising:
 an inlet fluid inducer wherein said inlet fluid inducer is capable of three hundred sixty degrees of rotation to thereby energize and direct said fluid toward the powered fluid energizing device and wherein a power source that supplies power to said powered fluid energizing device of said propulsor also supplies power to said inlet fluid inducer and wherein said inlet fluid inducer is driven by drive means in mechanical communication with a drive shaft of the powered fluid energizing device of said propulsor.   
   
   
       2 . The improved propulsor of  claim 1  wherein said drive means includes gears. 
   
   
       3 . The improved propulsor of  claim 1  wherein a distance from an aft portion of said inlet fluid inducer to a forward portion of the fluid energizing device is no more than six diameters of the fluid energizing device. 
   
   
       4 . The improved propulsor of  claim 1  wherein a distance from an aft portion of said inlet fluid inducer to a forward portion of the fluid energizing device is no more than four diameters of the fluid energizing device. 
   
   
       5 . The improved propulsor of  claim 1  wherein said inlet fluid inducer and the fluid energizing device are in mechanical communication by means of one or more housings of the propulsor. 
   
   
       6 . 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. 
   
   
       7 . 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. 
   
   
       8 . The improved propulsor of  claim 7  wherein a fluid directing device is disposed, at least in its majority, downstream of the inlet fluid inducer and upstream of the 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 inlet fluid inlet inducer is capable of free wheeling rotation in a direction of fluid flow when said inlet fluid inducer is not powered. 
   
   
       11 . In an improved propulsor for propelling a marine 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 marine vehicle and directs said fluid toward a powered fluid energizing device of said propulsor, the improvement comprising:
 an inlet fluid inducer wherein said inlet fluid inducer is capable of three hundred sixty degrees of rotation to thereby energize and direct said fluid toward the powered fluid energizing device and wherein a distance from an aft portion of said inlet fluid inducer to a forward portion of the fluid energizing device is no more than six diameters of the fluid energizing device.   
   
   
       12 . The improved propulsor of  claim 11  wherein a distance from an aft portion of said inlet fluid inducer to a forward portion of the fluid energizing device is no more than four diameters of the fluid energizing device. 
   
   
       13 . The improved propulsor of  claim 11  wherein said inlet fluid inducer and the fluid energizing device are in mechanical communication by means of one or more housings of the propulsor. 
   
   
       14 . The improved propulsor of  claim 11  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. 
   
   
       15 . The improved propulsor of  claim 11  wherein said inlet fluid inducer is driven by drive means in mechanical communication with a drive shaft of the powered fluid energizing device of said propulsor. 
   
   
       16 . The improved propulsor of  claim 11  wherein said powered fluid energizing device receives primarily liquid over one portion of its rotation and primarily gas over another portion of its rotation. 
   
   
       17 . The improved propulsor of  claim 11  wherein a fluid directing device is disposed, at least in its majority, downstream of the inlet fluid inducer and upstream of the fluid energizing device. 
   
   
       18 . The improved propulsor of  claim 11  wherein said inlet fluid inducer includes recesses in its periphery that are capable of energizing fluids when the inlet fluid inducer is rotating. 
   
   
       19 . The improved propulsor of  claim 11  wherein the inlet fluid inlet inducer is capable of free wheeling rotation in a direction of fluid flow when said inlet fluid inducer is not powered. 
   
   
       20 . The improved propulsor of  claim 11  wherein a distance from an aft portion of said inlet fluid inducer to a forward portion of the fluid energizing device is no more than six diameters of the fluid energizing device. 
   
   
       21 . The improved propulsor of  claim 11  wherein a distance from an aft portion of said inlet fluid inducer to a forward portion of the fluid energizing device is no more than four diameters of the fluid energizing device. 
   
   
       22 . In an improved propulsor for propelling a marine 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 marine vehicle and directs said fluid toward a powered fluid energizing device of said propulsor, the improvement comprising:
 an inlet fluid inducer wherein said inlet fluid inducer is capable of three hundred sixty degrees of rotation to energize and direct said fluid toward the powered fluid energizing device and wherein said inlet fluid inducer and the fluid energizing device are in mechanical communication by means of one or more housings of the propulsor.   
   
   
       23 . The improved propulsor of  claim 22  wherein a distance from an aft portion of said inlet fluid inducer to a forward portion of the fluid energizing device is no more than six diameters of the fluid energizing device. 
   
   
       24 . The improved propulsor of  claim 22  wherein a distance from an aft portion of said inlet fluid inducer to a forward portion of the fluid energizing device is no more than four diameters of the fluid energizing device. 
   
   
       25 . The improved propulsor of  claim 22  wherein said inlet fluid inducer is driven by drive means in mechanical communication with a drive shaft of the powered fluid energizing device of said propulsor. 
   
   
       26 . The improved propulsor of  claim 22  wherein said fluid energizing device receives primarily liquid over one portion of its rotation and primarily gas over another portion of its rotation. 
   
   
       27 . The improved propulsor of  claim 22  wherein a fluid directing device is disposed at least in its majority downstream of the inlet fluid inducer.