초록 ▼

A foot-operated propulsion system for small watercraft, such as kayaks. The propulsion system includes a pedal assembly that controls motion of a fluke fin that is submerged beneath the waters surface. The pedal assembly is located in the bow of the watercraft and the paddler works the pedals with h

A foot-operated propulsion system for small watercraft, such as kayaks. The propulsion system includes a pedal assembly that controls motion of a fluke fin that is submerged beneath the waters surface. The pedal assembly is located in the bow of the watercraft and the paddler works the pedals with his feet. Operating the pedal assembly causes a force to be transmitted to a drive unit located in the stern of the craft, which then controls movement of linkages in the fluke assembly, to force the submerged fluke fin to swing upward and downward, emulating the motion of flukes on a whale, and thereby propelling the watercraft along the surface of the water.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A small watercraft propulsion system comprising: a pedal assembly that is operatable by a user;a drive unit that is powered by the pedal assembly;a fluke activation mechanism that is actuated by the drive unit;a fluke that is pivotably attached to the fluke activation mechanism;wherein operating

1. A small watercraft propulsion system comprising: a pedal assembly that is operatable by a user;a drive unit that is powered by the pedal assembly;a fluke activation mechanism that is actuated by the drive unit;a fluke that is pivotably attached to the fluke activation mechanism;wherein operating the pedal assembly transmits a force through the drive unit to the fluke activation mechanism that causes the fluke to move in an up and down manner; andwherein the fluke moves vertically a certain distance at a defined and constant angle relative to a horizontal plane and then flips when reversing direction to move in a defined and constant angle on the opposite side of the horizontal plane, thereby propelling the watercraft along the surface of the water. 2. The propulsion system of claim 1, wherein a lift mechanism is included to elevate and lower the fluke activation mechanism and the fluke. 3. The propulsion system of claim 1, wherein the drive unit includes a drive cable that is wrapped around a drum pulley and is coupled to a drive link and the drive link is coupled to the fluke activation mechanism, and wherein the pedal assembly includes a pedal force transmission means that exerts a pull on the drum pulley that causes the drum pulley to oscillate back and forth, thereby transmitting a force from the pedal assembly to the fluke activation mechanism. 4. The propulsion system of claim 3, wherein the drive unit includes a plurality of drive unit pulleys, a rear guide rail, and a rear drive carriage assembly that is slidably mounted on the rear guide rail, and wherein the drive cable is routed through the drive unit pulleys and clamped to the rear drive carriage assembly. 5. The propulsion system of claim 3, wherein the fluke activation mechanism includes vertical drive arms, main elevator arms, and fluke lift plates, and wherein the drive link is movably coupled to the upper ends of the vertical drive arms at a hinge point and the lower ends of the vertical drive arms and the upper ends of the main elevator arms are coupled to a lower horizontal shaft and wherein the lower ends of the main elevator arms are coupled to a pivot point on the fluke lift plate. 6. The propulsion system of claim 5, wherein the fluke activation mechanism includes a fluke stop link, wherein a mounting socket with a stop blade connects the fluke with the lift plate, and wherein the fluke stop link and the blade cooperate to limit the rotation of the fluke. 7. The propulsion system of claim 2, wherein the lift mechanism includes a lift cable that is routed through a series of lift cable pulleys that are mounted in the drive unit and is affixed to a rear lift carriage assembly, wherein a lift post is affixed to and extends outward from the rear lift carriage assembly where it is coupled to an extender arm that is coupled to one end of an extender arm that is coupled on the other end to a horizontal shaft, wherein the upper ends of lift arms are mounted to the same shaft as the extender arm and are connected to the main elevation arms by a lift link, and wherein exerting a force on the lift cable causes the cable to move forward or aft through the lift cable pulleys and push or pull the extender arm, thereby causing the lift arms to raise or lower the fluke activation mechanism. 8. The propulsion system of claim 1, wherein the pedal assembly includes a pair of pedal units that drives the pedal force transmission means which includes a chain and sprocket assembly, and wherein applying force to the pedal units drives the chain and sprocket assembly that is used to exert a pull on the drum pulley so that the pulley oscillates back and forth, thereby exerting a force on the drive cable. 9. The propulsion system of claim 8, wherein the chain and sprocket assembly includes two pedal sprockets attached to the pedal units, two pulley sprockets attached to either side of the drum pulley, and a two-chain set that converts the action of the two pedals to an oscillating pull on the drum pulley, wherein the first chain runs in a continuous loop from the top of the first pedal sprocket to the top of the first pulley sprocket, around the bottom of the pulley sprocket to the bottom of the pedal sprocket, and wherein the second chain loops in a crossed manner from the top of the second pedal sprocket to the bottom of the second pulley sprocket, around the top of the second pulley sprocket and through a modified link in the second chain to the bottom of the pedal sprocket.