Watercraft components that include a fluid system

Abstract

Watercrafts that include a fluid system are described. An example watercraft includes a fluid system, a hull, a sail, and a compressor. The hull has a bow and a stern. The sail has a first end, a second end disposed on the hull, a lengthwise axis, a central axis, a first side, a second side, and defines an injection opening, a suction opening, and a channel. The lengthwise axis extends from the first end to the second end. The central axis is disposed orthogonally to the lengthwise axis and between the first side and the second side. The suction opening is disposed on the second side and between the injection opening and the first side. The channel extends from the suction opening to the injection opening such that fluid can travel into the suction opening and exit the injection opening. The compressor is disposed within the channel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A watercraft that includes a fluid system comprising:
 a hull having a bow and a stern;   a sail disposed between the bow and the stern, the sail having a first end, a second end disposed on the hull, a lengthwise axis, a central axis, a first side, a second side opposably facing the first side, and defining an injection opening, a suction opening, and a channel, the lengthwise axis extending from the first end to the second end, the central axis disposed orthogonally to the lengthwise axis and between the first side and the second side, the suction opening disposed on the second side and between the injection opening and the first side, the channel extending from the suction opening to the injection opening such that fluid can travel into the suction opening and exit the injection opening; and   a compressor disposed within the channel.   
     
     
         2 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the injection opening is disposed on an injection opening axis disposed at a first angle relative to the central axis; and
 wherein the first angle is between about −5 degrees and about 20 degrees.   
     
     
         3 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the suction opening is disposed on a suction opening axis disposed at a second angle relative to the injection opening axis; and
 wherein the second angle is between about 10 degrees and about 270 degrees.   
     
     
         4 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the injection opening is disposed on the central axis. 
     
     
         5 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the injection opening is disposed on the second side between the central axis and the suction opening. 
     
     
         6 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the sail includes an intermediate portion disposed on the second side and between the injection opening and the suction opening;
 wherein the injection opening is defined on the sail such that fluid exits the injection opening tangentially relative to the intermediate portion; and   wherein the suction opening is defined on the sail such that fluid enters the suction opening tangentially relative to the intermediate portion.   
     
     
         7 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein when said watercraft is traveling through a fluid the sail has a windward side and a leeward side;
 wherein the central axis divides the windward side and the leeward side;   wherein the first side of the sail is disposed on the windward side;   wherein the second side of the sail is disposed on the leeward side; and   wherein the injection opening is disposed on the leeward side of the sail.   
     
     
         8 . The watercraft of  claim 7 , wherein the sail is rotatable relative to the hull such that the central axis continuously divides the windward side and the leeward side. 
     
     
         9 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the sail has a main body; and
 wherein the injection opening, suction opening, and channel are defined by the main body of the sail.   
     
     
         10 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein when said watercraft is traveling through a fluid the sail has a windward side and a leeward side;
 wherein the windward side faces an apparent wind on said sail; and   wherein the injection opening is defined on the sail such that fluid exits the injection opening about coaxially with the apparent wind.   
     
     
         11 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the injection opening is disposed on the second side;
 wherein the sail defines a second injection opening and a second suction opening, the second injection disposed on the first side, the second suction opening disposed on the first side;   wherein the channel bifurcates between the compressor and the injection opening and the second injection opening and extends from the compressor to the injection opening and the second injection opening; and   wherein the channel bifurcates between the compressor and the suction opening and the second suction opening and extends from the compressor to the suction opening and the second suction opening such that fluid can travel into the suction opening and exit the injection opening, can travel into the suction opening and exit the second injection opening, can travel into the suction opening and exit the injection opening and the second injection opening, can travel into the second suction opening and exit the injection opening, can travel into the second suction opening and exit the second injection opening, can travel into the second suction opening and exit the injection opening and the second injection opening, can travel into the suction opening and the second suction opening and exit the injection opening, can travel into the suction opening and the second suction opening and exit the second injection opening, can travel into the suction opening and the second suction opening and exit the injection opening and the second injection opening.   
     
     
         12 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the sail includes an intermediate portion disposed on the second side and between the injection opening and the suction opening; and
 wherein the sail has an outer surface on the first side;   wherein the intermediate portion is recessed relative to the outer surface of the sail;   wherein the sail has a first radius from the lengthwise axis to the outer surface; and   wherein the sail has a second radius from the lengthwise axis to the intermediate portion, the second radius being different than the first radius.   
     
     
         13 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the sail has a circular cross-sectional shape, an elliptical cross-sectional shape, or has an airfoil cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         14 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the sail has a length extending from the first end to the second end;
 wherein the injection opening comprises a plurality of injection openings disposed along the length of the sail;   wherein the suction opening comprises a plurality of suction openings disposed along the length of the sail, each suction opening of the plurality of suction openings disposed on the second side and between an injection opening of the plurality of injection openings and the first side;   wherein the channel comprises a plurality of channels disposed along the length of the sail, each channel of the plurality of channels extending from a suction opening of the plurality of suction openings to an injection opening of the plurality of injection openings such that fluid can travel through each channel of the plurality of channels; and   wherein the compressor comprises a plurality of compressors, a compressor of the plurality of compressors disposed within each channel of the plurality of channels.   
     
     
         15 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the sail has a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having the first end, the second end, the lengthwise axis, the central axis, the first side, the second side, and defining the injection opening, the suction opening, and the channel; and
 wherein the second portion is disposed adjacent to the first portion.   
     
     
         16 . The watercraft of  claim 15 , wherein the first portion is rotatable relative to the hull and moveable relative to the second portion; and
 wherein the second portion is rotatable relative to the hull and moveable relative to the first portion.   
     
     
         17 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the sail has a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a first diameter and the second portion having a second diameter that tapers from the first portion to the first end. 
     
     
         18 . A watercraft that includes a fluid system comprising:
 a hull having a bow and a stern;   a sail disposed between the bow and the stern, the sail having a first end, a second end disposed on the hull, a lengthwise axis, a central axis, a first side, a second side opposably facing the first side, and defining an injection opening, a suction opening, and a channel, the lengthwise axis extending from the first end to the second end, the central axis disposed orthogonally to the lengthwise axis and between the first side and the second side, the suction opening disposed on the second side and between the injection opening and the first side, the channel extending from the suction opening to the injection opening such that fluid can travel into the suction opening and exit the injection opening; and   a compressor disposed within the channel;   wherein when said watercraft is traveling through a fluid the sail has a windward side and a leeward side;   wherein the central axis divides the windward side and the leeward side;   wherein the first side of the sail is disposed on the windward side;   wherein the second side of the sail is disposed on the leeward side; and   wherein the sail is rotatable relative to the hull such that the central axis continuously divides the windward side and the leeward side.   
     
     
         19 . The watercraft of  claim 18 , wherein the injection opening is disposed on an injection opening axis disposed at a first angle relative to the central axis; and
 wherein the first angle is between about −5 degrees and about 20 degrees.   
     
     
         20 . A watercraft that includes a fluid system comprising:
 a hull having a bow and a stern;   a sail disposed between the bow and the stern, the sail having a first end, a second end disposed on the hull, a lengthwise axis, a central axis, a first side, a second side opposably facing the first side, and defining an injection opening, a suction opening, and a channel, the lengthwise axis extending from the first end to the second end, the central axis disposed orthogonally to the lengthwise axis and between the first side and the second side, the suction opening disposed on the second side and between the injection opening and the first side, the channel extending from the suction opening to the injection opening such that fluid can travel into the suction opening and exit the injection opening; and   a compressor disposed within the channel;   wherein the injection opening is disposed on an injection opening axis disposed at a first angle relative to the central axis, the first angle being between about −5 degrees and about 20 degrees; and   wherein the suction opening is disposed on a suction opening axis disposed at a second angle relative to the injection opening axis, the second angle being between about 10 degrees and about 270 degrees.