US2464797A - Air-pressure differential creating device - Google Patents

Description

March 22, 1949. J. H. DAVIS AIR-PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL CREATING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 30, 1947 villiivpbl" March 22, 1949. v DAVls 4 2,464,797-

AIR-PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL CREATING DEVICE Filed June 50, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 22, 1949.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Filed June 30, 19.47

Patented Mar. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE AIR-PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL CREATING DEVICE John H. Davis, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Jessie A. Davis Foundation, Inc., Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware 14 Claims.

This invention is a novel device for creatin air-pressure differentials, and the principal object thereof is to provide a unit, which may be self-contained, having means for centrifugally producing a radiating spray or film of fluid across one face of the unit in such manner that the film will reduce atmospheric air pressure upon said face, whereby atmospheric pre sure acting upon the remaining surfaces of the device will move or tend to move the device into or towards the area of reduced pressure with tremendous force, thereby providing a device which may be used for lifting or propelling various articles or the like in any desired direction, horizontally, angularly, or vertically, the unit requiring a relatively small power input in order to create the above mentioned fluid spray or film, and being very much more efficient than other lifting, pulling or pushing devices at present known.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the above type having an impeller or centrifuge, rotated by a motor requiring relatively small horsepower, and designed to radiate a spray or film of fluid across one face of the device where the diiferential in air or atmospheric pressure is to be produced, the device consisting of a casing containing a quantity of fluid which forms the spray, the casing being designed to collect the sprayed fluid adjacent the periphery of the surface which faces the zone of rarefied air, the casing containing a prime mover, such as an electric or other motor, driving through suitable gearing the impeller, thereby forming a unit in which the fluid may be used over and over again during operation of the device without appreciable loss.

A further object of the invention is to provide a modification of a device of the above type adapted particularly for use as a propulsion means for movable objects such as ships, automobiles, airplanes or the like, the device being adapted to exert a pull or push thereon to form an efiective air-pressure difierential propelling means, thereby dispensing with the usual engine, motor, or other propelling means with which same are customarily equipped.

Further minor objects of the invention will be hereinafter set forth.

The present application is a continuationin-part of my cQ-pending application Serial No. 512,649 filed December 2, 1943 now abandoned.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying, drawings, which illustrate several practical embodiments thereof, to en-- 2 able others familiar with the art to adopt and use the same; and will summarize in the claims the novel features of construction, and novel combinations of parts, for which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a selfcontained unit according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View, partly broken away, of the rotatable impeller adapted to produce by centrifugal force the radiating spray or film adjacent the surface at or above which the rarefied air zone is to be created.

Fig. 4 is a longitdinal section through the impeller shown in Fig. 3, showing the spray head secured to the larger end of the impeller which forms with said end the spray ejection slot.

Fig. 5 is a partial end elevation of the impeller shown in Fig. 4, with the head removed.

Fig. 5a is a section on the line fizz-5a, Fig. 5.

Fig. 6 is an elevation showing a modification of my device applied to the bow and stern of a speed boat.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged section through the bow of the boat shown in Fig. 6, showing more in detail the arrangement of the parts of the .de-' vice at said end of the boat.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 5, my device may be formed as a simple self-contained unit consisting of a casing of circular plan and of relatively shallow depth having a bottom I, annular side wall 2, and a top 3 which has a relatively large circular axially disposed opening 4 therein, the periphery of opening i being deflected upwardly and inwardly as at 5.

Within the casing are a plurality of radially disposed ribs 6 which may be, but not necessarily, formed integrally with the side 2 or may comprise separate frame members, the same supporting immediately below the opening 4 in the top 3 a fiat circular plate I, the periphery of which terminates adjacent the lower end of the deflector flange 5 of opening 4, the plate I having formed integrally therewith or secured thereto radial ribs 8 on its underside which connect at the center of plate I with an axially disposed ring 9 in which the upper anti-friction bearing E2 of the impeller I0 is journaled. The lower end of impeller Ill is open and a shaft l3 extends therefrom, the lower end of which is journaled in a suitable bearing H mounted on the bottom I of the casing.

Shaft I3 carries a bevel gear l4 meshing with a bevel gear l5 carried by a shaft l6, journaled in a bearing I! and driven directly, or through speed reduction gears if desired, by a prime mover I8 which in the form shown consists of an electric motor disposed within the tank, the prime mover being liquid-proof so as to be unafi'ected in operation by the fluid which fills the casing up to the fluid line I9, Fig. 1, the fluid line I9 being disposed well above the open lower end of impeller I0. By the above construction, as the motor or prime mover f8 rotates, the impeller III will be correspondingly rotated in its bearings II and I2.

As shown more particularly in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 5a, impeller I consists of a conical shaft I00. which is preferably but not necessarily solid, the same having at its larger end a threaded stud I0b for the purpose hereinafter explained. Around the conical shaft I0a is a conical casing I0c having substantially the same angular taper. Between shaft I0 and casing We are a plurality of fixed vanes I0cZ, six being shown but a greater or lesser number may be used, said vanes being either flat or slightly concave or convex, and being disposed substantially radially of the shaft Illa of the impeller, the inner edges of the vanes fitting in slots or grooves We in shaft I0a, while the outer edge of each vane I0d beyond the larger end of casing We is provided with a radial lug I0f (Fig. a) adapted to fit in a slot I0g in a ring 20 conforming with the inner and outer diameters of the larger end of easing I0c, said ring 20 being welded or otherwise secured to the larger end of the casing. By this construction the vanes I0d and shaft I0a are rigidly secured within the impeller casing I00 so as to rotate as a unit. If desired, the outer edges of the vanes I0d may be further secured to the casing I 00 by spot welding or the like at spaced intervals extending to the smaller end of the impeller I0.

As shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5a, the ends of the vanes I0d project slightly beyond the outer face of ring 20, preferably about inch more or less, so as to contact a circular spray head plate 2I which seats squarely upon the larger end of conical shaft I0a, the head having a central hole receiving the threaded stud I01) and being secured to shaft I0a by a nut 22 (Fig. 4) or the like, thereby leaving a continuous spray-ejection slot X (Fig. 4) between the inner face of the head plate 2| and the outer face of ring 20, the external diameter of the plate 2| being the same as that of ring 20; and as before mentioned the adjacent ends of the vanes I0d terminating at the inner face of head 2| and thus extending across the width of the annular spray-ejection slot X.

The above construction forms a rigid structure which is rotatable as a unit, and preferably the external face of casing We at the larger end is provided with a cylindrical boss I0h forming a bearing surface for the anti-friction bearing I2, Fig. 1. The smaller and of casing I 00 preferably terminates in a cylindrical portion I07, Fig. 4, which has an internal beveled bearing surface I 070, for the purpose hereinafter described. Referring to Fig. 1, when the impeller I0 is rapidly rotated by prime mover I8, as the smaller end of the impeller dips down below the oil, water or other fluid within the unit, the fiuid within the smaller end is rotated within the impeller and the centrifugal action forces the air upwardly through the impeller where it is discharged through the annular spray ejection slot X which is disposed slightly above the plate 1. and as the air is thus centrifugally ejected from the impeller, the fluid is caused by atmospheric pressure within the unit to rise up through the impeller and to be itself ejected centrifugally in the form of a disk-like sheet or film across the plate I, it being understood that the film of fluid is slightly spaced from plate I so as to form a vacuum between the plate and the fluid film. Due to the fact that the diameter of the impeller increases in size towards the slot X, the centrifugal force increases from the smaller end towards the larger end of the impeller so that when the fluid is ejected through slot X the same will have a high velocity forming a thin solid sheet across the face of plate I, the fluid impinging upon the deflecting flange 5 of the opening 4 in top 3 of the unit, the impinging action preventing the air above plate I from contacting therewith at the periphery of plate 'I, the air being thrown off by and with the film of fluid and passing between the periphery of plate I and the deflecting flange 5 into the interior of the unit, thereby building up the pressure within the unit above atmospheric pressure, but which pressure if sufficient may escape to the atmosphere by passing through air vents 3' in top of the unit.

The unit, when the impeller I0 is rotating as above described, sets up a differential in air pressure immediately above the plate I and immediately under plate I (and in fact under the bottom I of the unit) of substantial magnitude, and the more impervious the radiating film or spray of fluid medium is, over plate I, the greater will be the air-pressure differential. Thus, in operation, the air between the fluid film emitted from annular slot X centrifugally by the impeller I0 and plate I, will be greatly rarefied, because the air above the fluid film will be diverted radially therewith due to the centrifugal force and velocity of the fluid assisted by the conical dome 23 (Fig. l) which is attached to the head plate 2| in any desired manner and rotates therewith. Atmospheric pressure at sea-level is 14.7 lbs. per square inch, or 2116.8 lbs. per square foot; and thus if the area of plate 1 were 20 square feet and all of the air immediately above the plate I were removed, the resulting atmospheric force tending to move the unit into the zone of rarefied air would be 42,336 lbs. or approximately 21 tons. Since however it is impossible to secure a perfect vacuum above plate I by the device, the actual resulting air force is proportional to the degree to which the air between the fluid film and plate I is actually rarefied, and since by the device this degree may be considerable the air lift or thrust on the device would also be of considerable magnitude. Actual tests have been made in which the resultant air thrust has reached a force equal to 720 lbs. per square foot, which as compared with the amount of power or energy required to operate the motor I8 to rotate the impeller, results in an exceedingly high efiiciency.

My novel device is capable of many specific applications, particularly as a propelling means for vehicles, ships, airplanes and other moving, hoisting or lifting devices. Figs. 6 and '7 show several applications to a speed boat, the device being slightly modified but operating on the same general principle.

In Fig. 6 the conventional boat 24 may be of any desired type, the same being merely illustrative of the invention. Extending from the bow of the boat is a casing 25 disposed on a substantially horizontal axis, above the water-line on the axis of the ship, the same being fixedly 5 mounted :thereon. In :this "modification seawater, instead of a more expensive fluid is utilized because same is easily obtainable, although'some- .what inferior in efiiciency to oil owing to its lower viscosity.

In this modification (Figs. 6 and 7) the pro-- jection 25 is indicated as having at its outer end a disk-like plate'tt corresponding with the plate 7 of Fig. 1. Within. casing 25 behind plate 26 is a block or support 21 carrying a bearing casting 28 in which is journaled the impeller I0 substantially identical in form as that shown in Figs. 3, 4,5 and 5a with the exception that the same is shown as formed with belt grooves Him or the like adapted to receive a belt or belts 29 running over the grooves mm and over a correspondingly grooved pulley 3!) on a drive shaft 3| journaled in bearings 32 dispcsed'within casing 25, shaft 3! being driven byan internal combustion motor 33 or other prime mover. Instead of using belt grooves Him, 3%! and belt 29, any other desired means may be used for rotating the impeller such as gearing, chain sprockets, or the like, in order to impart the requisite rotation.

In this modification, the annular spray ejection slot X is disposed slightly in advance of plate 26, and the impeller it carries the conical head 23 as in Fig. l. The sea-water, used as a filmforming medium is scooped up through a pipe 34 which is open to the sea below the water-line W (Fig. '7) the pipe passing upwardly and forwardly and terminating in axial alignment with the smaller end my (Fig. 4) of theimpeller l0, said pipe being stationary and having a correspondingly beveled end Ma (Fig. 4) whereby sea-water the impeller i8, and this assisted .by the partial vacuum initially set up in the rotating impeller ill will permit the atmospheric pressure on the surface of the water at the water-line and raise the water upwardly through pipe 34- to the impeller, from whence it is emitted from the annular r spray ejection slot X in the form of a solid film over the plate 25 in the manner before-mentioned in connection with the modification shown in Figs. 3. and 2, the radiating film thereby rarefying the air immediately in front of .plate 26 and the differential in air-pressure causing the boat as a whole to move into or towards the area of air rarefaction with a force proportional to the degree of air rarefaction.

Instead of using pipe 34 which takes in seawater at the how of the boat in the manner shown in Fig. 7, the pipe may extend to a point approximately the center of the ship or any other point, as shown by dotted lines 3! in Fig. 6, the pipe 31 scooping up water thereinto at a point where the scoop end thereof will always necessarily be submerged. Pipe 31 may be provided with a valve (not shown), the pipe leading to the impeller H in the same manner as pipe 34.

In order to prevent air from entering between the film of water and the face of plate 26, at the periphery of casing 25 an annular deflecting ring 3t is provided having its rear end disposed slightly rearwardly of the plate 26 and having its front end disposed slightly in advance of the plate 26 adjacentits periphery, so that the film of water Will strike the inner surface of deflector ringISG and will pass rearwardlyiin close contact with the periphery of plate =26 to provide an efiective seal to preventatmospheric air from entering between the film of water and the front face of plate 26. radiating film of water, striking the ring 26, will be deflected rearwardly thus providing an increased component of force which serves to assistin moving the boat forwardly.

Since the casing 255 is fixed on the boat, it is possible that in heavy seas the bow of the boat may often be submerged, and therefore as a further modification the device may be'disposed at the stern of the boat, as also shown in Fig. '6, the same in such location being housed in-a casing 38 which is swiveled as at 39 upon a base it secured to the after-deck or to any other place which would normally be disposed above the water even in high seas. By swivelling the casing 33 the boat may be propelled in any direction according to the horizontal angularity of the casing with respect to the axis of the boat; and the boat if provided with my devices disposed at both the bow and stern of the boat may be readily docked or maneuvered, particularly in close places; or when the casing 38 is aligned with the casing 25 both devices will assist in propelling the boat forwardly. Moreover, the rear device 33, being swiveled, may in fact be used as a rudder in that it may be used to throw the stern of the boat from side to side while the boat is moving or standing still, thus facilitating docking as well as steering.

Figs. 6 and '7 merely show one specific application of the device. Obviously my invention is not limited to use on ships, but may be used on automobiles, trucks, elevators, hoists, or any other devices where lifting, pushing, or thrusting forces are required; and therefore, I do not limit my invention to the exact forms shown in the drawings, for obviously changes may be made therein within the scope of the claims.

Iclaim:

l. A device for creating air-pressure differentials, comprising a casing having an outer plate; a centrifugal fluid impeller of smaller diameter than the plate rotatably mounted centrally of said plate emitting an unbroken disk-like sheet or film of fluid extending parallel with and across and slightly spaced from the said plate; fluid deflecting means to prevent atmospheric air from entering between the plate and film; means for supplying fluid to said impeller; and means for rotating said impeller.

2. In a device as set forth in claim 1, said fluid supply means comprising a valved supply pipe discharging into the impeller and having a slipjoint connection therewith.

3. In a device as set forth in claim 1, said impeller comprising a conical shaft; radially disposed vanes carried by said shaft; a correspondingly shaped conical housing surrounding said shaft and connected with said vanes; the larger end of the housing extending slightly through an axial opening in the plate and terminatirig adjacent the outer face thereof; and a disk-shaped head mounted on the larger end of the shaft and having its periphery conforming with the external diameter of the larger end of the housing and spaced therefrom and forming with said end of the housing an annular filmemitting slot; and the vanes extending across the slot and terminating at the inner face of the At the same timethe head, whereby the centrifugal force exerted on the fluid within the impeller will be increased as the fluid passes therethrough from the smaller to the larger end.

4. A device for creating air-pressure diiTerentials comprising a casing having a circular end member; a centrifugal fluid impeller of smaller diameter than the plate rotatably mounted coaxially of said plate emitting a disk-like sheet or film of fluid across and slightly spaced from the major portion of the area of the end member; means for preventing atmospheric air from entering between the end member and film from the periphery of said end member; means for supplying fluid to said impeller; and means for rotating said impeller.

5. In a device as set forth in claim 4, said impeller comprising a conical shaft, radially disposed vanes carried by said shaft; a corresponding shaped conical housing surrounding said shaft and connected with said vanes; the larger end of the housing extending slightly through an axial opening in the end member and terminating adjacent the outer face thereof; and a disk-shaped head mounted on the larger end of the shaft and having its periphery conforming with the external diameter of the larger end of the housing and spaced therefrom and forming with said end of the housing an annular film emitting slot; and the vanes extending across the slot and terminating at the inner face of the head, whereby the centrifugal force exerted on the fluid within the impeller will be increased as the fluid passes therethrough from the smaller to the larger end.

6. In a device as set forth in claim 4, said fluid supply means comprising a valved supply pipe discharging into the impeller and having a slipjoint connection therewith.

7. A device for moving self-propelled objects by setting up air-pressure differentials between certain faces thereof, comprising a casing adapted to be mounted on the object and having a circular front plate; a centrifugal fluid impeller of smaller diameter than the plate rotatably mounted coaxially of said plate emitting a film of fluid across and slightly spaced from the plate; means for preventing atmospheric air from entering between the plate and film at the periphery of said plate; means for supplying fluid to said impeller; and means for rotating said impeller.

8. In a device as set forth in claim 7, said casing swiveled upon said object to control the direction of movement thereof.

9. In a device as set forth in claim 7, said fluid supply means comprising a valved supply pipe discharging into the impeller and having a slipjoint connection therewith.

10. In a device as set forth in claim 7, said preventing means comprising an annular deflecting ring on the casing encompassing the plate and adapted to direct the film of fluid into close contact with the periphery of the plate.

11. In a device as set forth in claim 7, said impeller comprising a conical shaft, radially disposed vanes carried by said shaft; a correspondingly shaped conical housing surrounding said shaft and connected with said vanes; the larger end of the housing extending slightly through an axial opening in the plate and terminating adjacent the outer face thereof; and a disk-shaped head mounted on the larger end of the shaft and having its periphery conforming with the external diameter of the larger end of the housing and spaced therefrom and forming with said end of the housing an annular film-emitting slot; and

the vanes extending across the slot and terminating at the inner face of the head, whereby the centrifugal force exerted on the fluid within the impeller will be increased as the fluid passes therethrough from the smaller to the larger end.

12. In a device as set forth in claim 7, said impeller comprising a conical shaft, radially disposed vanes carried by said shaft; a correspondingly shaped conical housing surrounding said shaft and connected with said vanes; the larger end of the housing extending slightly through an axial opening in the plate and terminating adjacent the outer face thereof; and a disk-shaped head mounted on the larger end of the shaft and having its periphery conforming with the ex-- ternal diameter of the larger end of the housing and spaced therefrom and forming with said end of the housing an annular film-emitting slot; the vanes extending across the slot and terminating at the inner face of the head, whereby the centrifugal force exerted on the fluid within the impeller will be increased as the fluid passes therethrough from the smaller to the larger end; and said fluid supply means comprising a valved supply pipe discharging into the smaller end of the impeller and having a slip-joint connection therewith.

13. A centrifugal fluid impeller comprising a conical shaft, radially disposed vanes carried by said shaft; a correspondingly shaped conical housing surrounding said shaft and connected with said vanes; a disk-shaped head mounted on the larger end of the shaft and having its periphery conforming with the external diameter of the larger end of the housing and spaced therefrom and forming with said end of the housing an annular film-emitting slot; the vanes extending across the slot and terminating at the inner face of the head, whereby the centrifugal force excited on the flu d within the impeller will be increased as the fluid passes therethrough from the smaller to the larger end; means for suplying fluid into the smaller end of the impeller; and means for rotating the impeller.

14. In an impeller as set forth in claim 13, said vanes having radial tongues adjacent the larger end of the impeller; and a clamping ring having grooves receiving the said tongues and secured to said larger end of the housing and forming one wall of said slot.

JOHN H. DAVIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,041,232 Berry Oct. 15, 1912 1,103,188 Filippi July 14, 1914 1,299,161 Filippi Apr. 1, 1919 1,642,270 Slate Sept. 13, 1927 1,775,757 Gay Sept. 16, 1930 1,838,354 Bauer Dec. 29, 1931 2,021,510 Jones Nov. 19, 1935 2,108,652 Coanda Feb. 15, 1938 2,131,472 Coanda Sept. 27, 1938 2,340,427 Putt Feb. 1, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 272,897 Italy Mar. 25, 1930 489,293 Great Britain July 22, 1938 815,562 France July 16, 1937

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