IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0323105
(2002-12-18)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Hassan, Ahmed A.
- Domzalski, David B.
- JanakiRam, Ram D.
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출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
1 인용 특허 :
7 |
초록
▼
A method and apparatus is disclosed for producing propulsion underwater with minimal acoustical emission. In basic concept, the method comprises the expulsion and sucking of liquid into and out of a liquid port of a watercraft in a manner generating compression and expansion waves adjacent the liqui
A method and apparatus is disclosed for producing propulsion underwater with minimal acoustical emission. In basic concept, the method comprises the expulsion and sucking of liquid into and out of a liquid port of a watercraft in a manner generating compression and expansion waves adjacent the liquid port. Such expansion and compression waves generate a positive net thrust on the watercraft in a direction opposite that of their expulsion. A reciprocating member and an actuator are also disclosed for generating the forces and energy necessary to create the expansion and compression waves.
대표청구항
▼
1. A method comprising:providing a watercraft, the watercraft comprising a liquid chamber, a voice coil actuator, and at least one liquid port, the liquid chamber having an internal volume, the liquid port allowing communication of liquid between the liquid chamber and a liquid environment external
1. A method comprising:providing a watercraft, the watercraft comprising a liquid chamber, a voice coil actuator, and at least one liquid port, the liquid chamber having an internal volume, the liquid port allowing communication of liquid between the liquid chamber and a liquid environment external to the watercraft; using the voice coil actuator to repetitively increase and decrease the internal volume of the liquid chamber in a manner such that liquid is expelled from the liquid port into the liquid environment; and propelling the watercraft within the liquid environment via the expulsion of liquid from the liquid port. 2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the liquid chamber constitutes a first liquid chamber and the liquid port constitutes a first liquid port, the step of providing the watercraft further comprising providing the watercraft with a second liquid chamber and at least one second liquid port, the second liquid port allowing communication of liquid between the second liquid chamber and the liquid environment, the method further comprising repetitively increasing and decreasing the internal volume of the second liquid chamber in a manner such that liquid is expelled from the second liquid port into the liquid environment, the method yet further comprising steering the watercraft within the liquid environment by controlling the increasing and decreasing of the internal volume of the first liquid chamber relative to the increasing and decreasing of the internal volume of the second liquid chamber.3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of providing the watercraft further comprises providing the watercraft with a reciprocated member that partially bounds the internal volume of the liquid chamber, the step of repetitively increasing and decreasing the internal volume of the liquid chamber being performed by moving the reciprocating member in a linearly reciprocating manner relative to other portions of the liquid chamber that also partially bound the internal volume of the liquid chamber via the voice coil actuator.4. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of preventing communication of liquid between the liquid chamber and the liquid environment by any means other than communication through the one liquid port during the step of propelling the watercraft within the liquid environment.5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein a total amount of liquid passes out of the liquid port and into the liquid environment during the step of propelling the watercraft within the liquid environment and wherein a total amount of liquid passes into the liquid port from the liquid environment during the step of propelling the watercraft within the liquid environment, the total amount of liquid that passes out of the liquid port being equal to the total amount of liquid that passes into the liquid port.6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of using the voice coil actuator to repetitively increase and decrease the internal volume of the liquid chamber occurs in a manner such that repetitiveness occurs with a frequency below one-hundred hertz.7. A method comprising:providing a watercraft, the watercraft comprising a main body, a voice coil actuator, and a reciprocating member; providing a water environment extemal to the watercraft, the water environment being in liquid communication with the reciprocating member of the watercraft; and propelling the watercraft through the water via alternating compression and expansion waves created by moving the reciprocating member in a linearly reciprocating manner relative to the main body of the watercraft via the voice coil actuator. 8. A method in accordance with claim 7 wherein the step of providing the watercraft further comprises provided the watercraft such that the watercraft has a liquid chamber that is partially bound by the reciprocating member, the step of propelling the watercraft through the water comprising moving the reciprocating member relative to the liquid chamber via the voice coil actuator.9. A method in accordance with claim 7 wherein the reciprocating member is a first reciprocating member, the step of providing the watercraft further comprising providing the watercraft having a second reciprocating member in liquid communication with the water environment, the step of propelling the watercraft through the water further comprising propelling the watercraft through the water via alternating compression and expansion waves created by moving the second reciprocating member in a linearly reciprocating manner relative to the main body of the watercraft, the method further comprising steering the watercraft by adjusting the compression and expansion waves created by the first reciprocating member relative to the compression and expansion waves created by the second reciprocating member.10. A method in accordance with claim 7 wherein the step of propelling the watercraft through the water via alternating compression and expansion occurs in a manner such that the compression and expansion waves have a frequency below one-hundred hertz.11. A method in accordance with claim 7 wherein the step of providing the watercraft further comprises provided the watercraft such that the watercraft has a liquid port, the liquid communication between the water environment and the reciprocating member occurring solely through the liquid port.12. A watercraft comprising:a main body; a liquid chamber, the liquid chamber containing liquid; a voice coil actuator; a reciprocating member, the reciprocating member being in communication with the liquid within the liquid chamber and being operatively connected to the main body in a manner such that the reciprocating member is linearly movable between first and second positions in a reciprocating manner relative to the main body, the voice coil actuator being operatively connected to the main body and to the reciprocating member in a manner to forcibly move the reciprocating member between the first and second positions; and a liquid passageway that creates a liquid connection between the liquid in the liquid chamber and an environment external to the main body. 13. A watercraft in accordance with claim 12 wherein the liquid chamber constitutes a first liquid chamber, the reciprocating member constitutes a first reciprocating member, the voice coil actuator constitutes a first voice coil actuator, and the liquid passageway constitutes a first liquid passageway, the watercraft further comprising a second liquid chamber, a second reciprocating member, a second voice coil actuator, and a second liquid port, the second liquid chamber containing liquid, the second reciprocating member being in communication with the liquid within the second liquid chamber and being operatively connected to the main body in a manner such that the second reciprocating member is linearly movable between first and second positions in a reciprocating manner relative to the main body, the second voice coil actuator being operatively connected to the main body and to the second reciprocating member in a manner to forcibly move the second reciprocating member between the first and second positions of the second reciprocating member, the second liquid passageway creating a liquid connection between the liquid in the second liquid chamber and the environment external to the main body.14. A watercraft in accordance with claim 13 further comprising first and second liquid ports, the first liquid port separating the first liquid passageway from the environment external to the watercraft, the second liquid port separating the second liquid passageway from the environment external to the watercraft, each of the first and second liquid ports being fixed in orientation relative to the main body of the watercraft.15. A watercraft in accordance with claim 12 wherein the liquid passageway is the sole liquid connection between the liquid in the liquid chamber and the environment external to the main body.16. A watercraft in accordance with claim 12 wherein the reciprocating member partially bounds the liquid chamber.17. A method comprising:providing a watercraft, the watercraft comprising first and second liquid chambers, first and second reciprocated members, and first and second liquid ports, each of the first and second liquid chambers having an internal volume, the first liquid port allowing communication of liquid between the first liquid chamber and a liquid environment external to the watercraft, the second liquid port allowing communication of liquid between the second liquid chamber and the liquid environment, the first reciprocated member partially bounding the internal volume of the first liquid chamber, the second reciprocated member partially bounding the internal volume of the second liquid chamber; repetitively increasing and decreasing the internal volume of the first liquid chamber in a manner such that liquid is expelled from the first liquid port into the liquid environment by moving the first reciprocating member in a linearly reciprocating manner relative to other portions of the first liquid chamber that also partially bound the internal volume of the first liquid chamber, the linear reciprocation of the first reciprocating member having a stroke; repetitively increasing and decreasing the internal volume of the second liquid chamber in a manner such that liquid is expelled from the second liquid port into the liquid environment by moving the second reciprocating member in a linearly reciprocating manner relative to other portions of the second liquid chamber that also partially bound the internal volume of the second liquid chamber, the linear reciprocation of the second reciprocating member having a stroke; propelling the watercraft within the liquid environment via the expulsion of liquid from the first and second liquid ports; and steering the watercraft within the liquid environment at least partially by causing the stroke of the linear reciprocation of the first reciprocating member to be different from the stroke of the linear reciprocation of the second reciprocating member throughout a given period of time. 18. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein the step of repetitively increasing and decreasing the internal volume of the first liquid chamber occurs in a manner such that the linear reciprocation of the first reciprocating member has a frequency and the step of repetitively increasing and decreasing the internal volume of the second liquid chamber occurs in a manner such that the linear reciprocation of the second reciprocating member has a frequency, and wherein the step of steering the watercraft within the liquid environment occurs at least partially by causing the frequency of the linear reciprocation of the first reciprocating member to be different from the frequency of the linear reciprocation of the second reciprocating member.
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