Marine propulsion – Jet drive
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-17
2001-06-26
Sotelo, Jesus D. (Department: 3617)
Marine propulsion
Jet drive
C440S044000, C060S227000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250978
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to propulsion means for large ships, and more particularly concerns a steam-driven rotary member that acts directly on the water upon which the ship is floating.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is well known to employ turbine-driven propellers for the propulsion of large ships. Such turbines may be driven by steam or other heated or high velocity gas caused to impinge tangentially upon the blades of a multi-bladed rotor. The rotor shaft is usually co-extensive with a conventional propeller shaft.
Another type of propulsion system that has been disclosed for use in large ships is a waterjet drive wherein water is forced rearwardly at high velocity to produce a propulsive thrust effect analogous to that of rocket engines. The waterjet propels the ship by virtue of a reaction force imparted by the momentum of rearwardly ejected water. The velocity and total mass of the rearwardly expelled water accordingly determine the total propulsive force. It has earlier been disclosed to employ a steam-driven turbine to operate the waterjet drive. The utilized steam may originate from conventional or nuclear powered boilers.
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a turbine-driven waterjet drive engine having improved performance characteristics.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved turbine-driven waterjet drive engine as in the foregoing object of durable, simple construction amenable to low cost manufacture.
These objects and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above and other beneficial objects and advantages are accomplished in accordance with the present invention by a turbine-driven waterjet drive engine comprising :
a) a water conduit elongated upon a center axis and having a rearwardly directed exhaust portal centered upon said axis, a middle portion of larger diameter than the diameter of said exhaust portal and symmetrically configured with respect to said axis, and a forward extremity having a water intake portal,
b) a hollow axially symmetrical chamber centrally positioned within said middle portion and defining therewith an annular interstitial zone, said chamber having a streamlined forward portion and convergently tapered rear portion having an axially centered exit port,
c) an axially centered shaft which enters said water conduit at said forward extremity, extends through said forward chamber portion, and terminates in a distal extremity, said shaft being journaled with respect to said water conduit and forward chamber portion for rotation about said axis,
d) a number of propulsion blades associated with the distal extremity of said shaft and radially directed therefrom in a centrifugally balanced circular array positioned within said interstitial zone and pitched so as to drive water rearwardly with rotation of said shaft, and
e) a plurality of steam injector nozzles disposed within said forward chamber portion and directed toward said exit port.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5989082 (1999-11-01), Corliss
Rainer Norman B.
Sotelo Jesus D.
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