Gaseous fluid vessel propulsion system

Abstract

A bow mounted gaseous fluid vessel propulsion system provides for the introduction of gaseous fluids, e.g. ambient air and/or exhaust fluid gas from the vessel's engine, into the enclosure or duct which houses or circumscribes the propeller. Air and other fluid gases are drawn down into the upper section of the enclosure or duct to allow the propeller to operate in a half submerged, or water surface-piercing condition, while the vessel is moving forward through the water. The beneficial effects of water surface-piercing propeller operation is thereby obtained within a self-contained unit which continually maintains the top of the propeller out of the water during normal forward vessel operation.

1 . A waterborne vessel for traversing a body of water, said vessel comprising:
 a hull with a bow, a stern, and a bottom surface of given length; and   propulsion means mounted substantially at the bow of the hull for moving the vessel forward over the body of water, said propulsion means comprising a duct substantially housing a water surface-piercing propeller, both the duct and propeller being at least partially located below the surface of the body of water during forward motion of the vessel, and gaseous fluid intake means for providing a flow of gaseous fluid into the duct to maintain the upper section of the duct substantially free of water and filled with said gaseous fluid, whereby the flow of gaseous fluid in the upper section of the duct results in a reduction in cavitation at the propulsion means and during said forward motion of the vessel the propulsion means an intermixing of the gaseous fluid with water to generate bubbles which proceed rearwardly of the bow and directly over and underneath the length of the bottom surface of the vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The waterborne vessel as in  claim 1  wherein the duct comprises a forward section having a bulbous configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The waterborne vessel as in  claim 1  further comprising separation means located within the duct for assisting in maintaining the upper section of the duct substantially filled with gaseous fluid during forward motion of the vessel. 
     
     
         4 . The waterborne vessel as in  claim 3  wherein the separation means comprises a plate extending substantially through the center of the duct. 
     
     
         5 . The waterborne vessel as in  claim 1  wherein the gaseous fluid intake means comprises an ambient airflow passage extending from an opening at the bow to the upper section of the duct. 
     
     
         6 . The waterborne vessel as in  claim 1  wherein the gaseous fluid intake means comprises an exhaust fluid flow passage extending from the hull to the upper section of the duct. 
     
     
         7 . The waterborne vessel as in  claim 1  wherein the gaseous fluid intake means comprises an ambient airflow tube extending up from the upper section of the duct. 
     
     
         8 . The waterborne vessel as in  claim 1  wherein both the duct and propeller are at all times operational below the surface of the body of water. 
     
     
         9 . The waterborne vessel as in  claim 1  further comprising arm means extending from the bow of the vessel for supporting the duct and propeller in space relation to the bow. 
     
     
         10 . The waterborne vessel as in  claim 9  wherein the gaseous fluid intake means is at least partially located in the arm means. 
     
     
         11 . A waterborne vessel for traversing a body of water, said vessel comprising:
 a hull with a bow, a stern, and a bottom surface of given length;   a propeller having propeller blades for moving the vessel forward over the body of water;   an enclosure housing the propeller, both the enclosure and propeller being at least partially located below the surface of the body of water during forward motion of the vessel; and   gaseous fluid intake means for providing a flow of gaseous fluid into the enclosure to maintain at least a section of the enclosure substantially free of water and filled with said gaseous fluid, whereby at all times during the rotation of the propeller, one half of the propeller blades are substantially in the water and one half the propeller blades are in the gaseous fluid filled enclosure, and the flow of gaseous fluid in the enclosure results in a reduction in cavitation at the intake of the propeller and an intermixing of the gaseous fluid and water to generate bubbles which proceed rearwardly of the vessel.   
     
     
         12 . The waterborne vessel as in  claim 11  further comprising separation means located within the enclosure for assisting in maintaining the upper section of the enclosure substantially filled with gaseous fluid during forward motion of the vessel. 
     
     
         13 . The waterborne vessel as in  claim 12  wherein the separation means comprises a plate extending substantially through the center of the enclosure. 
     
     
         14 . The waterborne vessel as in  claim 11  wherein the gaseous fluid intake means comprises an ambient airflow passage. 
     
     
         15 . The waterborne vessel as in  claim 11  wherein the gaseous fluid intake means comprises an exhaust fluid flow passage. 
     
     
         16 . The waterborne vessel as in  claim 11  wherein the gaseous fluid intake means comprises an ambient airflow tube extending up from the enclosure. 
     
     
         17 . The waterborne vessel as in  claim 11  wherein both the enclosure and propeller are at all times operational below the surface of the body of water. 
     
     
         18 . The waterborne vessel as in  claim 11  further comprising arm means extending from the bow of the vessel for supporting the enclosure and the propeller in space relation to the vessel. 
     
     
         19 . The waterborne vessel as in  claim 18  wherein the gaseous fluid intake means is at least partially located in the arm means. 
     
     
         20 . The waterborne vessel as in  claim 11  wherein the enclosure is located within the hull of the vessel. 
     
     
         21 . A waterborne vessel for traversing a body of water, said vessel comprising:
 a hull with a bow, a stern, and a bottom surface of given length;   propeller means mounted substantially at the bow of the hull for moving the vessel forward over the body of water;   an enclosure substantially housing the propeller means, both the enclosure and propeller means being at least partially located below the surface of the body of water during forward motion of the vessel; and   gaseous fluid intake means for providing a flow of gaseous fluid into the enclosure to maintain at least a section of the enclosure substantially free of water and filled with said gaseous fluid, whereby during said forward motion of the vessel the propeller means intermixes the gaseous fluid with water to generate bubbles which proceed rearwardly of the bow and directly over and underneath the length of the bottom surface of the vessel.   
     
     
         22 . The waterborne vessel as in  claim 21  wherein the enclosure comprises a forward section having a bulbous configuration. 
     
     
         23 . The waterborne vessel as in  claim 21  further comprising separation means located within the enclosure for assisting in maintaining the upper section of the enclosure substantially filled with gaseous fluid during forward motion of the vessel. 
     
     
         24 . The waterborne vessel as in  claim 22  wherein the separation means comprises a plate extending substantially through the center of the enclosure. 
     
     
         25 . The waterborne vessel as in  claim 21  wherein the gaseous fluid intake means comprises an ambient airflow passage extending from an opening at the bow to the upper section of the enclosure. 
     
     
         26 . The waterborne vessel as in  claim 21  wherein the gaseous fluid intake means comprises an exhaust fluid flow passage extending from the hull to the upper section of the enclosure. 
     
     
         27 . The waterborne vessel as in  claim 21  wherein the gaseous fluid intake means comprises an ambient airflow tube extending up from the upper section of the enclosure. 
     
     
         28 . The waterborne vessel as in  claim 21  wherein both the enclosure and propeller means are at all times operational below the surface of the body of water. 
     
     
         29 . The waterborne vessel as in  claim 21  further comprising arm means extending from the bow of the vessel for supporting the enclosure and propeller means in space relation to the bow. 
     
     
         30 . The waterborne vessel as in  claim 29  wherein the gaseous fluid intake means is at least partially located in the arm means. 
     
     
         31 . The waterborne vessel as in  claim 21  wherein the enclosure is located within the hull of the vessel.