US3236203A

US3236203A - Watercraft propulsion device

Info

Publication number: US3236203A
Application number: US388828A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clive H Bramson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-08-11
Filing date: 1964-08-11
Publication date: 1966-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 1983-02-22

Description

Filed Aug. ll, 1964 I 8 VIIIIIIIIIIII '2P lllinlulll" j\ y 24 f `84 F|G 8 INVENTOR Clive H Bromson United States Patent 3,236,203 WATERCRAFT PROPULSION DEVICE Clive H. Bramson, 1 Bay St., Oyster Bay, N.Y. Filed Aug. 11, 1964, Ser. No. 388,828 12 Claims. (Cl. 11S- 19) This invention relates generally to watercraft propulsion devices and more particularly to novel means for motivating such watercraft wherein the propulsion mechanism essentially comprises at least one cup-like member, the density thereof being smaller than the density of water to thus render said member buoyant of character.

Briefly stated, the present invention is concerned with causing the motivation of a watercraft by means of a cuplike member preferably formed of material which will float upon the surface of a body of water, notwithstanding the complete containment of water within the waterreceiving opening Within the member. That is, the cuplike member is constructed of material as aforedescribed, preferably, e.g., expanded polystyrene although any other suitable material may be utilized. Further, said member may, although less advantageously, be formed of doublejacketted construction whereby an air pocket is contained between the inner and outer jacket to cause said member to oat upon water. Even further, the instant invention contemplates the utilization of a member having a water-receiving cavity therewithin, where said member, although formed essentially of non-buoyant material, will oat because of the securement thereto of a buoyant body.

Specically, the import of the present invention resides in connecting the cup-like member to a watercraft, the cavity or opening of the member being arranged to face in the direction opposite to the direction in which the watercraft is to be propelled. Upon forced submergence of the member beneath the water in which the watercraft is located, the cavity or opening will ll with water. When the member, which is buoyant, floats to the surface, the water within the cavity will be discharged as the cavity emerges above the surface of the water, whereupon said member and watercraft will be propelled in a direction opposite to the direction of discharge.

Inasmuch as the member is buoyant, the application of force is necessary to accomplish submergence thereof, said force being mechanically imparted or imparted directly by the user of the watercraft to which the propulsion device is connected.

Although not preferable, the utilization of a nonbuoyant cup-like member is also contemplated. Where so employed, the member is connected to the watercraft with the cavity thereof facing rearwardly of the desired direction of movement, as aforementioned, and the member allowed to sink, the cavity then being automatically lled with water. Upon being manually or mechanically raised above the surface of the Water, the water within the cavity will be discharged to thus impart motion to the watercraft during the discharge period.

Accordingly, and consonant with the foregoing, the general object of the instant invention resides in the provision of a device capable of driving a Watercraft in a desired direction, the movement being derived by reason of the discharge of water from a buoyant member during the ascension of the member above the surface of the body of water.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a watercraft propulsion device which can be movably or ixedly connected to the watercraft and submerged either manually or by mechanical means.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a watercraft propulsion device which can be operatively connected at the stern, bow, centrally of or beneath the hull of the watercraft.

3,236,203 Patented Feb. 22, 1966 lCC Another object of the instant invention is to provide a device of the foregoing character which can be formed in various configurations and which can be utilized singularly or a plurality thereof can be connected to the watercraft.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a propulsion device which can propel a watercraft surfacedly or subsurfacedly of a body of water, the buoyant cup-like propulsion member being adapted to oat to the surface notwithstanding the position of the watercraft.

Another general object of the present invention is to provide a device of the described character which Will be simple in structure, economical of manufacture and highly effective in use.

Other objects and advantages of the instant Watercraft propulsion device will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice of the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the structures defined and pointed out in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate several embodiments of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a simplified form of a watercraft having four buoyant cup-like members connected thereto in various ways;

FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 illustrate end views of the hull of a simplified watercraft showing pairs of buoyant cuplike members connected thereto at opposite ends of a single rigid centrally pivotable arm, a pair of individually pivotable arms and a single arm rigidly attached to the watercraft, respectively;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of a watercraft having mechanical means provided thereon whereby the buoyant cup-like member may be submerged by means of a lever arm which may be manually or otherwise actuated;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the construction according to FIGURE 5 wherein the rotational attribute of the cup-like member and depressing means is illustrated;

FIGURE 7 illustrates elevational side and end crosssectional views, respectively, of a conventionally shaped cup having a water-receiving cavity therein and constructed of low density material, namely expanded polystyrene; and

FIGURE 8 is a cup-like 4member having V-shaped forward and bottom external walls and a water-receiving cavity therewithin.

It will be understood that the foregoing accompanying illustrations are merely exemplary and are for purposes of explanation but are not intended to encompass the myriad of cup designs and methods of attachment thereof to a watercraft.

Referring now in detail to the preferred embodiment, FIGURE 1 shows a Watercraft designated generally by numeral 1, a pair of cup-like members 2 and 4 being connected to the stern thereof and a pair of cup-like members 6 and 8 connected to the bfow as shown.

A's aforedescribed, the cup-like members illustrated herein are of buoyant character, i.e., they are capable of displacing a volume of water weighing more than the weight of the members themselves. Otherwise stated, the cup-like members t-o be buoyed by water are formed of material having a density smaller than the density of water.

The cup-like members herein preferably utilized are formed of expanded polystyrene although expanded polyurethane or other like extremely low density materials may be advantageously utilized.

3 With reference to FIGURE 7 of the drawings, a conventional cup or bucket member 10 is shown, said member having inside walls 12, back wall 14 and opening 16,

. said opening, side and fback walls forming a cavity 18, said cavity being also referred to herein `as a water-receivingor Water-retaining-cavity or portion. In use or as connected to the watercraft, the opening 16 is arranged to face in the direction opposite to the direction of movement of the cup-like member when water is discharging therefrom. Because of the extremely buoyant character of the cup, it will float upon the surface of a body of water with the major volume of the cavity above said surface or otherwise stated it will float with only its lower wall 20 resting on the water. Thus, when the cup is forced beneath the surface whereat water will fill the cavity 18, it will float to the surface when released, and as the cavity emerges through the surface, the water contained therein will begin to egress therefrom and in so doing will act upon the body of water to propel the cup in the direction opposite to the direction of such action upon the body of water.

FIGURE 8 illustrates a cup design which, by virtue of its V-shaped forward end 22 and V-shaped bottom wall 24, will be more readily submergible and will offer les reisstance when moving through the water in the direction of arrow 26.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the cup-like members may be mounted as a pair whereby by reason of rigid arm 28 which is pivoted to hull 30 at 32, one cup, e.g., 34 will be submerged below the surface 36 of the body of water 38, while cup 40 Will be raised therefrom. Cup 34, by dint of its buoyant property will rise to the surface and discharge the water within its cavity 42 to thus propel the hull 30 in the direction opposite to the direction of the discharge. Rigid arm 28 is similar to arm 44 shown pivoted to the bow in FIGURE 1 and the operation of cups 6 and 8 correspond to the described action of

cups

34 and 40.

FIGURE 3 is illustrative of the connecting arrangement shown with respect to the stern of watercraft 1 in FIGURE l. Arm 46 which is independently pivotable is shown forced downwardly in broken line designation, cup 48 being submerged beneath -surface 36. Upon floating upwardly and substantially above the surface, water 50 contained within cavity 52 o-f cup 48, is discharged to thus propel the hull 30. Pivoted arm 54 is similarly operable.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 4,

cups

56 and 58 and hull 30 by reason of the rigid attachment of arm 59 to said hull, will be concurrently submersible upon application of downward force 6i). When permitted to float to the surface 36, the discharge of the Water from

openings

62 and 64 will occasion a propulsion force to the watercraft as aforedescribed.

FIGURES and 6 illustrate means whereby a manual or other suitable cup-submerging force may be indirectly applied to cup 66 by a lever 68. That is, an upward force 70 imparted to said lever which is pivoted at 72 upon support upright 74, will effectuate `a downward force 76 to shaft 78, the latter being connected at its lower end 80 to cup-like member 82. Shaft 78 is maintained vertically by sleeve 84, whereby subsequent to submersion, cup 82 will float vertically t-o the surface 36 to thereby propel hull 30 in accordance with the foregoing, i.e., in the direction of arrow 86, the direction generally opposite to the direction of water discharge designated by arrow 88 in FIGURE 6.

As further illustrated in FIGURE 6, vertical shaft 74 may be rotated to thus rotate the entire assembly, including lever 68, sleeve 84 and horizontal arm 85 to which it is secured, cup-like member 66 being similarly rotated thereby changing the facing direction of opening 90 of the cavity within said cup, the direction of discharge of water from the opening being thereby changeable to thus afford directional guidance. of the hull 30.

It will be appreciated that cup-like member 66 will not rotate laterally by virtue of the rectangular cross- `section of vertical shaft 78 and the similarly rectangular cross-section of sleeve 84.

Thus, described, it will be undestood that the buoyant cup member may be positioned with respect to the watercraft as described or may be interposed between the oats of a catamaran watercraft or may be formed integrally of the hull itself, the placement thereof being a matter of choice available to `one skilled in the art.

Although embodiments of the watercraft propulsion device have been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various other changes may be made in the forms, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth as disclosed and dened in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A propulsion device for propelling a float member upon the surface of a body of water, said device comprising a cup-like member the density of which is less than the density of Water, said cup-like member being movably connected to said float member, and means for submerging said cup-like member beneath the surface of the water while said float member remains surfacedly of the water, the buoyancy of the cup-like member will cause the latter to rise to the surface of the water upon removal of anysubmerging force applied by said submerging means, whereby said float member will be propelled upon discharge of water from said cup-like member.

2. A propulsion device for propelling a float memberl upon the surface of a body of water, said device comprising a water-buoyant-member having a water-receivingrecess therewithin, said water-buoyant-member being movably connected to said float-member, and means for causing the submersion of said waterbuoyant-men1ber beneath the water, the buoyancy of the Water-buoyant member will cause the latter to rise to the surface of the water upon removal of any submerging force applied by said submersion means, whereby said float member will be propelled upon discharge of water from said waterreceiving-recess.

3. A propulsion device for propelling a watercraft within a body of water, said device comprising a waterbuoyant-member, said water-buoyant-member being movably connected to said watercraft, the major volume of said water-buoyant-member being substantially above the surface of the water when in the normally buoyed position, said water buoyant member being at least partially submersible beneath the water whereby water will lenter said member, the Water which entered the member being discharged from the latter when the buoyancy of said member causes it to return to the normally buoyed position.

4. A propulsion device for propelling a watercraft i112 a body of water, said device comprising a floatation mem-Y ber having a water-receiving-cavity therewithin, said floatation member being connected to said Watercraft, means for momentarily and at least partially submerging said floatation member beneath the waterline of said watercraft whereby water will enter said water-receivingcavity thereof, whereby subsequent to submersion of said fioatation member the buoyancy of the latter will cause the member to be buoyed to the surface of the Water whereupon the water within the water-receiving-cavity will egress therefrom to thus propel said watercraft in the direction opposite to the direction of movement of the Water egressing from said cavity.

5. A watercraft having an auxiliary buoyant member connected thereto, said buoyant member having a waterretaining-recess therein, said recess being adapted to receive water when said member is submerged in a body of water and to discharge-water as tlm buoyancy of, the

member causes said recess to be buoyed above the surface of the body of water, whereby said watercraft will be caused to move in a direction opposite to the direction of flow of the water being discharged from said member.

6. A watercraft having a buoyant member included integrally thereof, said buoyant member having a waterretaining-portion therein, said portion being defined by back and side walls, and a discharge opening, said portion being adapted to receive water upon submergence of said member beneath the surface of a body of water and being adapted to discharge the received water as the buoyancy of said member causes it to be buoyed to the surface of the body of water, whereby said buoyant member will be motivated in a direction opposite to the direction of flow of the water being discharged from said portion.

7. A propulsion device for watercraft comprising a plurality of water-buoyant-members, each member having at least one water-receiving-cavity therein, said members being adapted for submersion beneath the water supporting the watercraft, said members being connected to said Watercraft whereby the openings of said cavities face rearwardly of said watercraft, the cavity of each member at least partially receiving Water therein when submerged, the buoyancy of said members causing the latter to rise above the surface of the water when the members are released, whereby water discharging from said cavity will propel said watercraft.

8. A propulsion device for watercraft comprising a plurality of water-buoyant-members, each member having at least one water-receiving-cavity therein, said members being connected to said watercraft, said members being selectively submergible beneath the surface of the water supporting the Watercraft, the cavity of each member being adapted to receive water therein when at least partially submerged, the buoyancy of said members causing the latter to float above the surface of the water when the members are released, whereby Water discharging from said cavity will move said watercraft.

9. A propulsion device for watercraft comprising at least one water-buoyant-member, said member having at least one cavity therein, said at least one water-buoyantmember being connected to said watercraft whereby water will at least partially fill said at least one cavity upon submergence of said member and as the buoyancy of the member causes the latter to float to the surface, the water which filled the at least one cavity will discharge therefrom to thus propel the watercraft in a direction opposite to the ow 0f the discharging water.

10. A propulsion device for propelling a watercraft, said device comprising a Water-buoyant-member having a water-receiving-cavity therein, said device being connectible to a watercraft whereby the opening to said cavity faces in a direction generally opposite to the desired direction of movement of the watercraft, whereby the buoyancy of said device is capable of maintaining the major volume of said cavity above the surface of the water upon which the watercraft is floating, whereby said device may be at least partially submerged by an externally applied force to enable water to enter said cavity, whereby the buoyancy of said device will cause the latter to float to the surface of the water upon removal of said applied force to cause the water in the cavity to be discharged to thereby propel the watercraft.

11. A propulsion device for propelling a watercraft, said device comprising a water-buoyant-member having a water-receiving-cavity therein, said device having connecting means attached exteriorly thereof, said connecting means being adapted for pivotal attachment to a watercraft, whereby the buoyancy of said device is capable of maintaining the major volume of said cavity above the surface of the water upon which the watercraft is oating, whereby said device may be at least partially submerged by an externally applied force to cause water to enter said cavity, whereby the buoyancy of said device will cause the latter to float to the surface of the water upon removal of said applied force to cause discharge of water from the cavity to thereby propel the watercraft.

12. A propulsion device for attachment to a watercraft comprising a water-buoyant-member having inside walls, a back wall and an opening forming a cavity within said member, said member being attached to said watercraft whereby only a lower wall thereof rests upon the water when said member is in the normally floating position and the major volume of said cavity is above the surface of the water, said member being at least partially submersible beneath the surface upon the application of force thereagainst whereby upon submergence, water will enter said cavity and whereupon release of said force said member will return to the normally floating position and in the course of said return will discharge water contained within the cavity to thus propel the Watercraft.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1919 Nase 11S-19 X 4/1961 Birdsall 11S-21

Claims

1. A PROPULSION DEVICE FOR PROPELLING A FLOAT MEMBER UPON THE SURFACE OF A BODY OF WATER, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A CUP-LIKE MEMBER THE DENSITY OF WHICH IS LESS THAN THE DENSITY OF WATER, SAID CUP-LIKE MEMBER BEING MOVABLY CONNECTED TO SAID FLOAT MEMBER, AND MEANS FOR SUBMERGING SAID CUP-LIKE MEMBER BENEATH THE SURFACE OF THE WATER WHILE THE FLOAT MEMBER REMAINS SURFACEDLY OF THE WATER, THE BUOYANCY OF THE CUP-LIKE MEMBER WILL CAUSE THE LATTER TO RISE TO THE SURFACE OF THE WATER UPON REMOVAL OF ANY SUBMERGING FORCE APPLIED BY SAID SUBMERGING MEANS, WHEREBY SAID FLOAT MEMBER WILL BE PROPELLED UPON DISCHARGE OF WATER FROM SAID CUP-LIKE MEMBER.