Marine propulsion system and method

Abstract

A marine propulsion system comprises a propulsion wheel that is rotary driven and that includes an arrangement of water-channeling members located to extend only partially below the water level. As a member is partially submerged, water is collected, compressed, accelerated, and ejected as a water jet. An ejection end of each member may be specifically designed to achieve desired thrust characteristics. The water-channeling members may be non-complex, such as being cup-shaped or spoon-shaped, but may include complex curvatures in order to achieve desired thrust characteristics. A hull may be used to precondition the water level presented to the water-channeling members.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A propulsion system for a marine vessel comprising:
 a rotary drive assembly for applying drive power;   a propulsion wheel coupled to said rotary drive assembly such that operation of said rotary drive assembly causes rotation of said propulsion wheel;   a plurality of water-channeling members connected to said propulsion wheel to extend outwardly from said propulsion wheel, each said water-channeling member having a cavity configured such that incoming water is concentrated and accelerated, each said water-channeling member further having an ejection end having a geometry for ejection of said water from said cavity of said water-channeling member; and   a mount configured to secure said propulsion wheel to said marine vessel such that during said rotation of said propulsion wheel each said water-channeling member is positioned to periodically extend only partially into water in which said marine vessel resides and such that a quantity of said water is received within each said water-channeling member upon partial extension into said water.   
     
     
         2 . The propulsion system of  claim 1  wherein said cavity of each said water-channeling member is defined by inwardly sloping surfaces, such that said incoming water is concentrated and accelerated toward a centerline of said cavity, said ejection end being located and oriented to continue laminar flow of said water for said ejection. 
     
     
         3 . The propulsion system of  claim 1  wherein each said water-channeling member has one of a cup-shape or a spoon-shape. 
     
     
         4 . The propulsion system of  claim 1  further comprising a hull, said mount positioning said propulsion wheel such that said water-channeling members only partially below a bottom of said hull during said rotation of said propulsion wheel, said hull being configured to define a selected water level with respect to operation of said propulsion wheel. 
     
     
         5 . The propulsion system of  claim 4  wherein said propulsion wheel has a rotational axis positioned relative to said bottom of said hull such that said ejection ends of said water-channeling members remain above said bottom of said hull during said rotation of said propulsion wheel. 
     
     
         6 . The propulsion system of  claim 4  wherein said hull is attached to said marine vessel by a suspension that enables movement of said hull relative to said marine vessel in response to waves and other changes in levels of water in which said marine vessel resides. 
     
     
         7 . The propulsion system of  claim 1  wherein said ejection end of each said water-channeling member has a configuration to define a direction of an ejected water jet as said propulsion wheel is rotated. 
     
     
         8 . The propulsion system of  claim 7  wherein said configuration of said ejection end includes a termination that is angled downwardly. 
     
     
         9 . The propulsion system of  claim 1  wherein said propulsion wheel has a rotational axis, said rotary drive assembly being connected to drive said propulsion wheel about said rotational axis, said water-channeling members being arranged in at least two axially separate rows, each said row having a plurality of aligned said water-channeling members. 
     
     
         10 . The propulsion system of  claim 9  wherein said water-channeling members of adjacent said rows are axially misaligned, such that said water-channeling members are staggered. 
     
     
         11 . The propulsion system of  claim 1  wherein each said water-channeling member has a plurality of fingers position to scoop said water during said rotation of said propulsion wheel. 
     
     
         12 . A propulsion method for a marine vessel comprising:
 providing a propulsion wheel having a plurality of water-channeling members connected to said propulsion wheel to extend outwardly therefrom, each said water-channeling member having a cavity to receive, concentrate and direct water;   connecting said propulsion wheel to a marine vessel such that said water-channeling members are positioned to periodically extend only partially into water when said propulsion wheel is rotated, including orienting said water-channeling members such that said cavities acquire a quantity of said water when partially extended into said water; and   driving said propulsion wheel so as to rotate in a manner to power said marine vessel, said connecting of said propulsion wheel including directing each said water-channeling member such that said water is collected and concentrated in conformance with a contour of said cavity and is ejected from said water-channeling member following acceleration of said water.   
     
     
         13 . The propulsion method of  claim 12  further comprising controlling a level of water presented to said water-channeling members, such that said level remains substantially constant regardless of changes in conditions of water in which said marine vessel resides. 
     
     
         14 . The propulsion method of  claim 13  wherein controlling said level of water includes connecting said propulsion wheel within a hull such that said water-channeling members are able to extend only partially below a bottom of said hull. 
     
     
         15 . The propulsion system of  claim 14  further comprising attaching said hull to said marine vessel using a suspension system, including enabling said hull to respond to waves independently of said marine vessel. 
     
     
         16 . The propulsion method of  claim 12  wherein connecting said water-channeling members includes establishing an angle of said water-channeling members to provide a lifting force to said marine vessel during driving of said propulsion wheel, said lifting force being variable with changes in rotational speed of said propulsion member. 
     
     
         17 . The propulsion method of  claim 12  wherein connecting said water-channeling members includes providing at least two rows that are offset axially. 
     
     
         18 . The propulsion method of  claim 17  wherein connecting said water-channeling members further includes providing staggering for adjacent said rows, such that said water-channeling members in said adjacent rows are axially misaligned. 
     
     
         19 . The propulsion method of  claim 12  wherein providing said propulsion wheel includes defining said water-channeling members to have one of a spoon-shape or a cup-shape.