Device for moving a watercraft

Abstract

A device for moving a watercraft comprises: —at least one propulsion chamber having a first inlet section for a liquid, referred to as the upstream edge, and a second outlet section for the liquid, referred to as the downstream edge; at least one flexible membrane housed in the chamber; and at least one actuator configured to produce thrust from the watercraft through undulation of the membrane between the upstream edge and the downstream edge.

1 . A device for moving a watercraft, the device comprising:
 at least one propulsion chamber comprising a first inlet section for a liquid, referred to as the upstream edge and a second outlet section for the liquid, referred to as the downstream edge;   at least one flexible membrane housed in the chamber; and   at least one actuator configured to produce thrust of the watercraft through undulation of the membrane between the upstream edge and the downstream edge.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator is configured to undulate the membrane with a predetermined frequency and amplitude. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator is configured to move at least one end of the membrane to produce the undulation of the membrane. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the propulsion chamber comprises at least one volume, the volume being formed by at least one wall connecting the upstream edge and the downstream edge. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least two propulsion chambers arranged in series or in parallel. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of flexible membranes housed in the same chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein at least two membranes of the plurality housed in the same chamber undulate with a phase shift by an angle chosen from a group consisting of: an angle substantially equal to 0°, an angle substantially equal to 90°, an angle substantially equal to 180°, an angle substantially equal to 270°, and an angle substantially equal to 360° divided by the number of membranes in the chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flexible membrane and the at least one actuator are configured to generate energy from a movement of the actuator by the flexible membrane. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the upstream edge and/or the downstream edge comprises at least one liquid deflector. 
     
     
         10 . A watercraft, comprising:
 a hull; and   a movement device, the movement device comprising:
 at least one propulsion chamber comprising a first inlet section for a liquid, referred to as the upstream edge and a second outlet section for the liquid, referred to as the downstream edge; 
 at least one flexible membrane housed in the chamber; and 
 at least one actuator configured to produce thrust of the watercraft through undulation of the membrane between the upstream edge and the downstream edge. 
   
     
     
         11 . The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the hull comprises:
 at least a first element comprising the upstream edge of at least one propulsion chamber; and   at least a second element comprising the downstream edge of the at least one propulsion chamber.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one actuator is configured to undulate the membrane with a predetermined frequency and amplitude. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one actuator is configured to move at least one end of the membrane to produce the undulation of the membrane. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the propulsion chamber comprises at least one volume, the volume being formed by at least one wall connecting the upstream edge and the downstream edge. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising at least two propulsion chambers arranged in series or in parallel. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of flexible membranes housed in the same chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein at least two membranes of the plurality housed in the same chamber undulate with a phase shift by an angle chosen from a group consisting of: an angle substantially equal to 0°, an angle substantially equal to 90°, an angle substantially equal to 180°, an angle substantially equal to 270°, and an angle substantially equal to 360° divided by the number of membranes in the chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one flexible membrane and the at least one actuator are configured to generate energy from a movement of the actuator by the flexible membrane. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the upstream edge and/or the downstream edge comprises at least one liquid deflector.