GB700393A - Improvements in and relating to the propulsion of nautical vessels by water reactiontubes - Google Patents

Abstract

700,393. Propelling ships. ENGINEERING CORPORATION, Ltd. Aug. 23, 1951, No. 19867/51. Class 114 In a method of propelling a vessel by water reaction tubes through which water is propelled by gas pressure, the gas is produced initially in a pre-combustion chamber at a substantially constant pressure and relatively low temperature in the presence of excess air and is brought to complete combustion at substantially constant volume in a final combustion chamber opening into the reaction tube. Air is supplied continuously through a pipe 2 to a pre-combustion chamber 1, Fig. 1, and fuel is injected continuously through a nozzle 3. A rotary valve 5, driven initially by an electric motor 6 and thereafter by a screw 7, distributes the gas alternately through passages 8, containing further fuel injection nozzles 3a, to final combustion chambers 10 disposed in bodies 12 in the water tubes 9. The front portion 13 of each body slides over a tubular portion of the combustion chamber 10 containing gas outlet ports 16 and is adapted to close the inlet 15 of the water tube when the gas outlets are open. In another embodiment, Fig. 2, the water tubes 9 are spaced circumferentially on a circle. Air is supplied by a compressor 17 to the pre-combustion chamber 1 into which fuel is injected by nozzles 3 supplied by a pump 20. The combustion gas passes through a turbine 18, which drives the compressor, and an intermediate chamber 19 into a rotary final combustion chamber 10 which is common to all the water tubes. Additional fuel is injected by nozzles 3a into the chamber 10 and the gas is finally supplied by a rotary distributer 21 to each pair of opposite water tubes in succession. The distributer is driven by an electric motor through bevel gears 32. A screw 7 has its shaft 30 connected through a reduction gear 29 with the turbine 18 so as to be driven thereby. The screw which exerts an additional thrust preferably for starting may be disconnected from the turbine shaft at a given velocity and its blades may then be retracted into its hub 26, or it may be used to drive the distributer. In a further embodiment only part of the gas in the combustion chamber passes through the turbine and is then exhausted whilst the remainder passes direct to the final combustion chamber. A vessel may be propelled by four sets of propulsion units each set comprising several units arranged in series. The units are pivoted to the hull and may be reversed for driving the vessel astern.