WO2007109788A3 - Fluid propulsion device - Google Patents

Abstract

A propulsion system and pump having inner and outer chambers. The outer chamber is formed by a rigid outer shell and a pair of spaced apart end plate assemblies. The inner chamber is located concentrically within the outer chamber and between the spaced apart end plate assemblies. Each end plate assembly has a drive member. Each drive member has a plurality of arcuate openings extending radially and tangentially outwardly from the center. The outer chamber has at least one outer chamber intake valve located on the one end plate assembly and at least one outer chamber discharge valve located on the other end plate assembly. The inner chamber has at least one inner chamber intake valve located on one end plate assembly and at least one inner chamber exhaust valve located on the other end plate assembly. The inner chamber is formed from a plurality of elongated, overlapping, v-shaped plate members longitudinally aligned between the first and second end plate assemblies. Each v-shaped plate member having a base and two side portions extending angularly from the base, the side portions forming an obtuse angle therebetween. Each end of the end plate assembly is slidably connected to one end of the drive member. The system further includes a power source for rotating the drive members. In use, the drive members are rotated by the power source causing the v-shaped plate members to move radially outward. This results in the volume of said inner chamber expanding which causes fluid to flow into the inner chamber from the inner chamber intake valve. As volume in the inner chamber expands, volume in the outer chamber decreases and thus fluid flows out of the outer chamber from the outer chamber discharge valve. Similarly, when the drive members are rotated by the power source in the opposed direction, this causes the v-shaped plate members of the inner chamber to move radially inward. This results in the volume of the inner chamber decreasing thus causing fluid to flow out of the inner chamber through the inner chamber discharge valve. As volume in the inner chamber declines, volume in the outer chamber increases as fluid is drawn in through the outer chamber intake valve. The continuous flow of fluid through the inner and outer chambers creates a propulsion force for moving a vessel through a volume of fluid. Alternatively, the system may be used as a pump.