초록 ▼

A system and apparatus are disclosed for improving safety and hydro-flow thrust from a hydro-drive device. The apparatus may include a shroud having a first opening for the ingress of water, and a second opening for the egress of water, and a vane extending inward from an interior surface of the shr

A system and apparatus are disclosed for improving safety and hydro-flow thrust from a hydro-drive device. The apparatus may include a shroud having a first opening for the ingress of water, and a second opening for the egress of water, and a vane extending inward from an interior surface of the shroud. The vane is configured to direct water to form a vortex that exits the shroud. The vane may include a fixed, planar region and a moveable, curved region attached to an interior surface of the shroud. Alternatively, the vane may be attached to a surface of a paddle configured to adjust the diameter of the second opening. The system may include a motor, a hydro-drive device coupled to the motor, the shroud, and the vane.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for directing fluid from a hydro-drive device, the apparatus comprising: a shroud having a first opening for the ingess of water, and a second opening for the egress of water; a vane extending inward from an interior surface of the shroud and angled in a directio

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for directing fluid from a hydro-drive device, the apparatus comprising: a shroud having a first opening for the ingess of water, and a second opening for the egress of water; a vane extending inward from an interior surface of the shroud and angled in a direction selected to direct water into a vortex as the water exits the shroud; a connector mechanism configured to connect the shroud to the hydro-drive device; and wherein the vane is formed of a material having a tension configured to allow the curvature of the vane to change in response to an increased thrust of the hydro-drive device and to return to an original configuration upon a decreased thrust. 2. A system for directing fluid from a hydro-drive device, the system comprising: a motor; a hydro-drive device coupled to the motor; a shroud having a first opening for the ingress of water, and a second opening for the egress of water; a vane extending inward from an interior surface of the shroud and angled in a direction selected to direct water into a vortex as the water exits the shroud; a connector mechanism configured to connect the shroud to the hydro-drive device; and wherein the vane is formed of a material having a tension configured to allow the curvature of the vane to change in response to an increased thrust of the hydro-device device and to return to an original configuration upon a decreased thrust. 3. An apparatus for directing fluid from a hydro-drive device, the apparatus comprising: a shroud having a first opening for the ingress of water, and a second opening for the egress of water; a vane extending inward from an interior surface of the shroud and angled in a direction selected to direct water into a vortex as the water exits the shroud; the vane comprising a planar region directly attached to an interior surface of the shroud and a curved region configured to change curvature in response to increasing or decreasing thrust from the hydro-drive device; and a connector mechanism configured to connect the shroud to the hydro-drive device. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the vane is formed of a material having a tension configured to allow the curvature of the vane to change in response an to increased thrust of the hydro-drive device and to return to an original configuration upon a decreased thrust. 5. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of vanes extending toward the interior of the shroud, each vane configured to direct water to form a vortex that exits the shroud. 6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the connector mechanism comprises a mounting plate coupled to an outside surface of the shroud, the mounting plate configured to couple the shroud to a vehicle. 7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the shroud is configured to at least partially circumferentially enclose the hydro-drive device. 8. An apparatus for directing fluid from a hydro-drive device, the apparatus comprising: a shroud having a first opening for the ingress of water, and a second opening for the egress of water; a vane extending inward from an interior surface of the shroud and angled in a direction selected to direct water into a vortex as the water exits the shroud; and a spring tension bar having a first end coupled to the interior surface and a second end removably coupled to a paddle. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the paddle is configured to adjust the diameter of the second opening in response to thrust from the hydro-drive device. 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the vane is directly connected to a surface of the paddle. 11. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of vanes extending toward the interior of the shroud, each vane configured to direct water to form a vortex that exits the shroud. 12. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a mounting plate coupled to an outside surface of the shroud, the mounting plate configured to couple the shroud to a vehicle. 13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the shroud is configured to at least partially enclose the hydro-drive device.