WO2010094940A2 - Diver-propulsion units - Google Patents
Diver-propulsion units Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2010094940A2 WO2010094940A2 PCT/GB2010/000317 GB2010000317W WO2010094940A2 WO 2010094940 A2 WO2010094940 A2 WO 2010094940A2 GB 2010000317 W GB2010000317 W GB 2010000317W WO 2010094940 A2 WO2010094940 A2 WO 2010094940A2
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- diver
- propulsion unit
- drive
- casing
- unit according
- Prior art date
Links
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 18
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims description 12
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims description 12
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 12
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000009182 swimming Effects 0.000 abstract description 4
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 abstract description 3
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000007373 indentation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000013021 overheating Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000006424 Flood reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- HBBGRARXTFLTSG-UHFFFAOYSA-N Lithium ion Chemical compound [Li+] HBBGRARXTFLTSG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001746 injection moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910001416 lithium ion Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002991 molded plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B35/00—Swimming framework with driving mechanisms operated by the swimmer or by a motor
- A63B35/08—Swimming framework with driving mechanisms operated by the swimmer or by a motor with propeller propulsion
- A63B35/12—Swimming framework with driving mechanisms operated by the swimmer or by a motor with propeller propulsion operated by a motor
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
- B63C11/00—Equipment for dwelling or working underwater; Means for searching for underwater objects
- B63C11/46—Divers' sleds or like craft, i.e. craft on which man in diving-suit rides
Definitions
- This invention relates to diver-propulsion units.
- the invention is concerned especially with diver-propulsion units which are for use by divers principally when swimming underwater, and which are of the kind to be held by the diver or for attachment to them.
- a diver- propulsion unit comprising a propeller for providing propulsion thrust of the unit, mounting means defining a cylindrical duct, means mounting the propeller for rotation coaxially within the cylindrical duct, a motor mounted on the mounting means externally of the duct, and coupling means for coupling the motor to the propeller to drive rotation of the propeller.
- the mounting means may have a forward part for intake of water, and a rear part defining the duct.
- the forward part may extend to the duct for defining a path into the duct for the intake- water.
- This intake-water path may be of reducing cross-sectional area towards the duct for increasing the inflow velocity of water to the propeller.
- the coupling means of the diver-propulsion unit of the invention may include drive means that extends radially with respect to the rotational axis of the propeller for coupling the motor drivingly to the propeller.
- the drive means may comprise a belt-drive, a chain-drive or a shaft-drive.
- the diver-propulsion unit may have an external casing that encloses the mounting means and the motor.
- This external casing may comprise a front-casing for defining a water inlet to the diver-propulsion unit, and a rear-casing for defining a water outlet from the unit.
- Figure 1 is a perspective view from the front of the diver- propulsion unit according to the invention.
- Figures 2 to 6 are, respectively, a front elevation, a side elevation, a plan view from above, a plan view from below, and a rear elevation of the diver-propulsion unit of Figure 1;
- Figures 7 and 8 are sectional elevations on the lines VII-VII and VIII-VIII respectively of Figures 2 and 3 ;
- Figure 9 is a front elevation of the diver-propulsion unit of Figure 1 with its front-casing and main seal part removed;
- Figure 10 is a sectional elevation of the diver-propulsion unit of Figure 1, the section being taken on the line X-X of Figure 4;
- Figure 11 is a front perspective view of a nozzle-mount that provides a core structural element of the diver-propulsion unit of Figure 1;
- Figures 12 to 14 are, respectively, a front elevation, a sectional side elevation, and a plan from below of the nozzle- mount of Figure 11, the section of Figure 13 being taken on the line XIII-XIII of Figure 12.
- the diver-propulsion unit 1 is for use by a scuba or other diver principally when swimming underwater, for the purpose of achieving increased progress and manoeuvrability.
- the diver-propulsion unit 1 is of a compact, short-cylindrical or ring form having front- and rear- casings 2 and 3 respectively that are of moulded plastics (for example, acrilonitrile-butadiene-styrene, otherwise known as 1ABS') -
- the front-casing 2 has a peripheral rim 4 that is supported by radial ribs 5 which extend from a radial cover-shell 6.
- the cover-shell 6 is integral with the rim 4 at the bottom of the unit where there is a downward bulge 7 in the rim 4 that closes onto a motor-housing 8 of the rear-casing 3.
- the propulsion unit 1 is to be held with both hands by the diver, and to facilitate this, hand-grips 9 are mounted diametrically opposite one another on the rear-casing 3.
- the hand-grips 9 are inclined upwardly at 45 degrees towards the front of the unit 1 so as to enable the swimming diver to hold the unit underwater with both hands forward and just below him/her keeping drag to a minimum and allowing exhaust of water from the unit 1 to be unobstructed by the diver's body.
- Water is drawn into the front of the unit 1 through the gaps between the ribs 5 and is forced rearwardly out through gaps between ribs 10 of the rear-casing 3 to provide propulsion. Turning from forward propulsion is achieved simply by using the hands on the grips 9 to turn the unit 1 to the required extent in the desired direction, and ascent or descent can be achieved likewise by inclining the unit 1 up or down.
- the front- and rear-casings 2 and 3 are clamped within the propulsion unit 1 to a substantially- cylindrical nozzle-mount 11 (for example, of ABS) with a circumferential flange 12 of the mount 11 sandwiched between them.
- the nozzle-mount 11, which is shown more clearly in Figures 9 to 14, has a "top-hat” form with the flange 12 extending outwardly from the periphery of a cylindrical rim 13 that is reduced in diameter rearwardly within the propulsion unit 1 down to a cylindrical duct-portion 14 of near-constant internal diameter (a draft angle of one degree is involved for injection- moulding purposes) .
- a propeller 15 for providing the propulsion thrust of the unit 1 is mounted on an axial drive-shaft 16 for close rotation within the duct-portion 14.
- the shaft 16 is journalled at its rear-end 17 in a central socket 18 of the rear- casing 3 and at its forward-end within a central hub 19 of the casing 3.
- Input-drive to the shaft 16 is provided via epicyclic- gearing 20 that is housed within the hub 19.
- An input shaft 21 to the gearing 20 is driven from an electric motor 22 mounted in the housing 8 of the rear-casing 3 at the periphery of the propulsion unit 1.
- Drive from the motor 22 is transmitted from an output shaft 23 of epicyclic gearing 24 mounted with the motor 22, to the input shaft 21 of the epicyclic gearing 20 via a belt 25 (of V V- or multiple 'V -section, or toothed) .
- the belt 25 runs between two pulleys 26 mounted respectively on the output shaft 23 and the input shaft 21.
- the shafts 21 and 23 are journalled in respective sockets 27 and 28 of the front-casing 2, and the belt 25 and its pulleys 26 are housed within a radial channel-shell 29 of the nozzle-mount 11 that is closed by the cover-shell 6 when the front- and rear- casings 2 and 3 are clamped together onto the flange 12 of the nozzle-mount 11.
- the forward-part of the nozzle-mount 11 is configured internally for streamline or venturi-style intake-flow to the propeller 15 in the duct-portion 14. This is achieved by means of fairing 30 (see Figures 1 and 8) of the front-casing 2 that projects into the cylindrical rim 13 of the nozzle-mount 11.
- the fairing 30 establishes an intake-water flow path of reducing cross-sectional area into the duct-portion 14 so as to provide for increase in the inflow velocity of water to the propeller 15.
- the electric motor 22 is powered for driving the propeller 15 from re-chargeable batteries (preferably lithium-ion batteries) housed in streamlined and watertight projections or pods 31 spaced from one another round the external periphery of the rear- casing 3 of the propulsion unit 1.
- a motor-energizing circuit that in addition to including battery-control circuitry (not shown) incorporates a plug-in-socket link.
- This link comprises a socket 32 mounted in the rear-casing 3 to open rearwardly of the unit 1, and a plug 33 that is secured by a strap 34 to the casing 3 adjacent the socket 32.
- the motor- energizing circuit remains open, but even with the plug 33 engaged in the socket 31, the circuit is not closed to energize the motor 22 until two switches 35 associated with the two hand- grips 9 respectively, are both actuated concurrently in gripping the hand-grips 9.
- the propeller 15 is not driven by the motor 22 unless the plug 33 is in engagement with the socket 32 and the diver has hold of both hand-grips 9 with both switches 35 actuated.
- Re-charging of the batteries is carried out by plugging a power source into the socket 32.
- the plug (not shown) used in this case links through the socket 32 into a charging circuit that includes the battery-control circuitry but by-passes the motor 22 and the switches 35.
- the socket 32 may be re-located to a position elsewhere in the rear-casing 3; for example to a location under the right-hand handle 9.
- the operating voltage of the motor 22 is, for example, 18 volts, and the unit 1 includes provision for ensuring that it is cooled sufficiently to avoid over-heating.
- the pods 30 projecting from the casing 3 add to the internal and external surface-areas of the unit 1 to give an added cooling effect of the water-flow, and this is supplemented by further increase in the surface-areas resulting from indentations 36 elsewhere round the rear-casing 3 (see Figures 3 and 5) .
- the latter further increase in surface areas may be achieved by providing projections from the casing 3 instead of the indentations 36 in it.
- the front and rear-casings 2 and 3 are sealed water-tightly to the nozzle-mount 11 with pairs of sealing rings 37 and 38 (see Figures 7 and 8) located within respective pairs of circumferential grooves 39 and 40 (see Figures 11, 13 and 14) of the rim 13 and duct-portion 14.
- pairs of sealing rings 37 and 38 see Figures 7 and 8 located within respective pairs of circumferential grooves 39 and 40 (see Figures 11, 13 and 14) of the rim 13 and duct-portion 14.
- a belt-drive is used in the present example, this could be replaced, for example, by a chain-drive, or by a shaft-drive involving a transmission shaft running within the closed radial shell 29. Coupling in this latter case from the output shaft 23 to the transmission shaft, and from the transmission shaft to the input shaft 21, might be by bevel gearing.
- the diver-propulsion unit 1 described has significant advantages over previous proposals.
- the general layout of the unit with the motor and its batteries located peripherally enables a very compact construction with low drag and largely unobstructed in-flow to the propeller, to be realized.
- the motor peripherally it is readily possible to avoid over-heating, using external water-flow over the unit 1 to provide the cooling required without adding unnecessary bulk to the unit.
- the distribution of the batteries peripherally of the unit avoids the necessity for a large battery pod.
- a belt-drive (or a chain-drive) has the advantage of simplicity of drive-transmission, and the location of the belt (or chain) within the radial shell of the rear-casing provides for easy maintenance in that access to it can be gained simply by removing the front-casing, and with it the cover-shell, without breaking the main water-tight sealing within the unit of the rear-casing with the nozzle-mount.
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
- Toys (AREA)
- Battery Mounting, Suspending (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU2010215245A AU2010215245A1 (en) | 2009-02-23 | 2010-02-23 | Diver-propulsion units |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GBGB0902974.5A GB0902974D0 (en) | 2009-02-23 | 2009-02-23 | Diver-propulsion units |
GB0902974.5 | 2009-02-23 | ||
GB0919076A GB2467994B (en) | 2009-02-23 | 2009-10-30 | Diver-propulsion units |
GB0919076.0 | 2009-10-30 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2010094940A2 true WO2010094940A2 (en) | 2010-08-26 |
WO2010094940A3 WO2010094940A3 (en) | 2010-12-09 |
Family
ID=40565519
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/GB2010/000317 WO2010094940A2 (en) | 2009-02-23 | 2010-02-23 | Diver-propulsion units |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20100212571A1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2010215245A1 (en) |
GB (2) | GB0902974D0 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2010094940A2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8514188B2 (en) * | 2009-12-30 | 2013-08-20 | Microsoft Corporation | Hand posture mode constraints on touch input |
US10201155B2 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2019-02-12 | Troller Pro, Inc. | Mechanized trolling device |
EP2946997B1 (en) * | 2014-05-21 | 2018-02-21 | Suex S.r.l. | Coupling provisions for diver propulsion vehicle |
CN109178246B (en) * | 2018-08-30 | 2023-08-18 | 广州拓浪智能应急科技有限公司 | Intelligent self-adaptive mechanism for propeller position |
US10603550B1 (en) * | 2018-12-21 | 2020-03-31 | Charles Fultz | Handheld propulsion unit for use by a user in and under water |
USD915268S1 (en) | 2019-12-04 | 2021-04-06 | Charles Fultz | Handheld propulsion unit for use by a user in and under water |
Family Cites Families (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1703836A (en) * | 1927-05-20 | 1929-02-26 | Samuel M Carlisle | Barge-handling device |
US3492966A (en) * | 1967-12-26 | 1970-02-03 | Brunswick Corp | Outboard drive unit for watercraft |
FR1564945A (en) * | 1968-03-15 | 1969-04-25 | ||
JPS4871597U (en) * | 1971-12-13 | 1973-09-08 | ||
FR2575435A1 (en) * | 1985-01-03 | 1986-07-04 | Bernieu Georges | Sub-marine propulsion unit for moving a diver and/or a parcel |
JPH0678075B2 (en) * | 1988-02-02 | 1994-10-05 | 株式会社アポロスポーツ | Underwater scooter |
US4992066A (en) * | 1989-07-28 | 1991-02-12 | Watson Robert K | Marine motor transmission |
US5303666A (en) * | 1992-10-09 | 1994-04-19 | Mode Industries, Inc. | Submersible marine vessel |
US5435763A (en) * | 1994-08-01 | 1995-07-25 | Pignata; Richard | Outboard power unit having an internal propeller assembly for a boat |
US5785563A (en) * | 1997-01-13 | 1998-07-28 | Peaslee; Thomas Mark | SCUBall |
US6848385B2 (en) * | 2002-10-25 | 2005-02-01 | Pat Y. Mah | Underwater motive device |
US7096815B2 (en) * | 2004-04-09 | 2006-08-29 | Honda Motor Co., Ltd. | Underwater scooter |
CN101282874B (en) * | 2005-07-05 | 2010-12-08 | 船用推进技术公司 | Multiple nozzle venturi system for watercraft |
-
2009
- 2009-02-23 GB GBGB0902974.5A patent/GB0902974D0/en not_active Ceased
- 2009-10-30 GB GB0919076A patent/GB2467994B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2009-10-30 US US12/609,623 patent/US20100212571A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2010
- 2010-02-23 WO PCT/GB2010/000317 patent/WO2010094940A2/en active Application Filing
- 2010-02-23 AU AU2010215245A patent/AU2010215245A1/en not_active Abandoned
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
None |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB0902974D0 (en) | 2009-04-08 |
AU2010215245A1 (en) | 2011-10-20 |
WO2010094940A3 (en) | 2010-12-09 |
GB2467994A (en) | 2010-08-25 |
GB2467994B (en) | 2011-08-03 |
US20100212571A1 (en) | 2010-08-26 |
GB0919076D0 (en) | 2009-12-16 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US20100212571A1 (en) | Diver-propulsion units | |
US3329118A (en) | Battery operated propulsion unit for swimmers | |
ES2909423T3 (en) | Propulsion module and surfing device having said module | |
RU2369519C2 (en) | Electric motor boat with cooling by outboard water | |
KR102446309B1 (en) | Swimming and diving aids | |
US6890224B2 (en) | Electric jet ski | |
WO2011083170A1 (en) | Swimmer-propulsion units | |
KR101608714B1 (en) | Driving part and impeller onebody type waterjet electric propulsion unit | |
CN109665071A (en) | A kind of river garbage pick-up boat | |
TWM507391U (en) | Electrical forward-moving assistant apparatus | |
CN111906371A (en) | Underwater cable cutting device | |
WO2020067888A1 (en) | Underwater propulsion means which is attachable to the human body | |
CN109178277B (en) | Propeller for power life-saving device | |
CZ2019639A3 (en) | Kayak with additional drive | |
CN109733566A (en) | A kind of underwater boost motor | |
US3323481A (en) | Swimming appliances | |
KR20170095428A (en) | Underwater propulsion apparatus | |
CN211032973U (en) | Underwater booster | |
CN201211414Y (en) | Portable swim thruster | |
KR20120111238A (en) | Underwater scooter | |
CN210503130U (en) | Underwater propeller for diving | |
CN212172469U (en) | Underwater booster | |
CN211196565U (en) | Wearable dive advancing device | |
GB2403461A (en) | A waterborne craft | |
RU2767556C1 (en) | Device for diver movement under water (versions) |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
121 | Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application |
Ref document number: 10710379 Country of ref document: EP Kind code of ref document: A2 |
|
NENP | Non-entry into the national phase |
Ref country code: DE |
|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 2010215245 Country of ref document: AU |
|
ENP | Entry into the national phase |
Ref document number: 2010215245 Country of ref document: AU Date of ref document: 20100223 Kind code of ref document: A |
|
122 | Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase |
Ref document number: 10710379 Country of ref document: EP Kind code of ref document: A2 |