DIVER PROPULSION DEVICE

Abstract

Diver propulsion devices and methods of propelling the devices and divers upon and beneath the sea are presented. A diver propulsion device is comprised of a wing buoyant in water, an electric motor propulsion system, a leash interconnecting the wing and diver, which leash may integrate control circuitry of the motor, photovoltaics atop the wing, and, batteries, each electrically connecting the motors, fins attaching the wing provide hydrofoil flight stabilization, and foot constraints attaching a deck of the wing. The wing is a hydrofoil, and the diver stands and lies upon the deck of the wing, and, during hydrofoil flight, the diver is substantially above the sea and the wing is seaborne. In hydrofoil flight, the device may be motor propelled, or, by the diver heaving and pitching the device, or, by both methods simultaneously. Undersea, the device tows the diver by motor power energized photovoltaically, and, or, by battery.

Claims

1. A diver propulsion device having a deck upon which a diver may stand, the diver propulsion device comprised of: A) a wing buoyant in water, the wing having a wing-span, and a wing-chord transverse the wing-span, and a wing-thickness comprised of a wing upper surface and an opposing wing lower surface spaced apart from the wing upper surface, and a leading edge of the wing comprised of a surface of radius connecting the wing upper surface and the wing lower surface, and, the deck of the wing is center-of-span the wing-span and the deck extends from the leading edge of the wing to a trailing edge of the wing and the deck is integral the top surface of the wing, and, the wing-span is dimensionally at least twice the wing-chord dimensionally, and, B) at least one motor propulsion unit attaching the wing, and the at least one motor propulsion unit attaching the wing is oriented such that a longitudinal axis of the at least one motor propulsion unit is parallel a chordal direction of the wing.

2. The diver propulsion device of claim 1 further comprised of a leash interconnecting the wing and the diver.

3. The diver propulsion device of claim 2 further comprised in that the leash interconnecting the wing and the diver integrates a control circuit of the at least one motor propulsion unit, and the control circuit controls the at least one motor propulsion unit.

4. The diver propulsion device of claim 1 further comprised of at least one fin attaching the wing, and the at least one fin attaching the wing is oriented such that a longitudinal axis of the fin is parallel a chordal direction of the wing.

5. The diver propulsion device of claim 3 further comprised as a solar energy collector attaching the top surface of the wing and the solar energy collector electrically connects to the motor propulsion unit, and the solar energy collector electrically connects to the control circuit of the diver propulsion device, and the control circuit of the diver propulsion device is an electric control circuit, and the motor propulsion unit of the diver propulsion device is an electric motor propulsion unit.

6. The diver propulsion device of claim 1 further comprised in that the wing is substantially flat upon the top surface of the wing and the wing is substantially flat upon the bottom surface of the wing.

7. The diver propulsion device of claim 1 further comprised in that the wing is convex upon the top surface of the wing, and the wing is substantially flat upon the bottom surface of the wing.

8. The diver propulsion device of claim 3 further comprised in that the leash interconnecting the wing and the diver is a releasable leash and the releasable leash attaches a wrist of the diver.

9. The diver propulsion device of claim 5 further comprised as an electric control-knob, and the electric control-knob electrically connects to the electric control circuit of the at least one electric motor propulsion unit.

10. A method of propelling a diver propulsion device in the sea, by a diver situated upon a deck of a wing of the diver propulsion device, the diver propulsion device also having an electric motor propulsor, the method of propelling the diver propulsion device in the sea comprising the diver making a selection from the list of the following: A) heaving and pitching the diver propulsion device, by the diver, B) electric motor propulsion of the diver propulsion device, and, C) electric motor propulsion of the diver propulsion device, simultaneously with heaving and pitching of the diver propulsion device, by the diver.

11. The diver propulsion device of claim 4 wherein the at least one fin attaching the wing of the diver propulsion device is further comprised of a selection from the list of: two fins, three fins, four fins, and more than four fins.

12. The diver propulsion device of claim 1 further comprised in that the at least one motor propulsion unit is further comprised of a selection from the list of: two motor propulsion units, three motor propulsion units, four motor propulsion units, and more than four motor propulsion units.

13. A diver propulsion device comprised of: A) a hydrofoil-wing, and the hydrofoil-wing is of a material having a density less than the density of water, B) at least one electric motor propulsor, and the at least one electric motor propulsor attaches a lower surface of the hydrofoil-wing, C) a leash interconnecting the hydrofoil-wing and a diver, and D) at least two fins, the at least two fins attaching the hydrofoil-wing common to the lower surface of the hydrofoil-wing.

14. The diver propulsion device of claim 13 further comprised in that the leash integrates an electric control circuit of the at least one electric motor propulsor, and the electric control circuit of the at least one electric motor propulsor electrically connects to the at least one electric motor propulsor.

15. The diver propulsion device of claim 13 further comprised in that the at least one electric motor propulsor are two electric motor propulsors, and the two electric motor propulsors are spaced-apart laterally, from a center-of-wing-span portion of the hydrofoil wing.

16. The diver propulsion device of claim 13 further comprised in that the at least two fins are spaced-apart laterally, from a center-of-wing-span portion of the hydrofoil-wing.

17. The diver propulsion device of claim 13 further comprised in that the leash of the diver propulsion device integrates an electric control circuit of the at least one electric motor propulsor, and the electric control circuit of the at least one electric motor propulsor comprises a first radio transceiver, and the at least one electric motor propulsor further comprises a second radio transceiver, and the first and second radio transceivers are in radio communication.

18. The diver propulsion device of claim 13 further comprised as a solar energy collector, the solar energy collector attaching a top surface of the hydrofoil-wing, and the solar energy collector electrically connects to the at least one electric motor propulsor of the diver propulsion device.

19. The diver propulsion device of claim 17 further comprised in that the first transceiver comprises an antenna and the antenna integrates each fin of the at least two fins of the diver propulsion device, and a case of the at least one electric motor propulsor further comprises an antenna.

20. The diver propulsion device of claim 13 further comprised in that the at least one electric motor propulsor is comprised of a selection from the list of: three electric motor propulsors, four electric motor propulsors, and more than four electric motor propulsors.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0092] The diver propulsion devices of this disclosure should in no way be thought to consist solely of the elements, apparatuses, devices, and methods depicted and described herein, but, that indeed, the invention is unlimited in the many and varied derivations which will naturally occur to one of normal skill in the art and having familiarity with these many teachings. Indeed, the claims and the spirit of the claims best serve to inform and define the boundaries of innovation, the legally protected aspects of this invention. Following are brief descriptions of the invention figures, drawings, and schematics which should not be considered limiting, but rather instructional and illuminating of this invention.

[0093] FIG. 1A: Perspective view of DPD 100, looking down and forward, the diver atop the wing deck.

[0094] FIG. 1B: Side view of DPD 100, the diver atop the wing deck.

[0095] FIG. 1C: Side view of DPD 100, the diver atop the wing deck and propelling the DPD via heave-and-pitch of the device.

[0096] FIG. 2A: Side view of DPD 100, the diver atop the wing deck and pitching the leading edge of the wing down into the sea and preparing to dive under the sea surface.

[0097] FIG. 2B: Side view of DPD 100, the diver atop the wing deck and stretching out preparing to lie upon the deck of the wing and using hand pressure to maintain proper diving pitch to dive under the surface of the sea.

[0098] FIG. 2C: Side view of DPD 100, the diver lying upon the wing deck and diving below the surface of the sea.

[0099] FIG. 2D: Side view of DPD 100, the diver lying upon the wing deck and continuing to dive beneath the surface of the sea.

[0100] FIG. 2E: Top view looking down upon DPD 100, the diver lying upon the wing deck, and in position to be towed by the device whether upon the sea surface or beneath the surface of the sea.

[0101] FIG. 2F: Bottom view looking up upon DPD 100, the diver lying upon the wing deck, and in position to be towed by the device whether upon the surface of the sea or beneath the surface of the sea.

[0102] FIG. 3A: Perspective view of DPD 100 looking down and forward.

[0103] FIG. 3B: Perspective view of DPD 100 looking up and forward.

[0104] FIG. 3C: Top view looking down on DPD 100.

[0105] FIG. 3D: Rear view looking forward on DPD 100.

[0106] FIG. 4A: Detail view of DPD 100 illustrating the attachment of the motor 20 onto the fin 40, and the fin 40 onto the wing 10; screws common to the fin and motor are removable.

[0107] FIG. 5A: Exploded schematic view of DPD 100, showing the electric connectivity of solar array 60-1 and the electric motor propulsion unit 20.

[0108] FIG. 5B: Detail section cut view of DPD 100 showing wing 10 and wing 10 recess, the recess receiving solar array 60 which is adhesively bonded into the recess.

[0109] FIG. 5C: Detail section cut view DPD 100 showing wing 10 and thin film solar array 70, thin film solar array adhesively bonded to the top of wing 10.

[0110] FIG. 5D: Exploded isometric schematic view of DPD 100 showing antenna 39 mounted fin 40 and in closest possible proximity to electric motor propulsion unit 20. The closest proximity of antennae to the motors ensures the best radio reception and thereby positive control of the motors. Water is notoriously disruptive of radio signals and so the closer the antenna to the receiver, the better the reception and the better the control of the propulsors.

[0111] FIG. 6A: Perspective view looking down and forward upon DPD 100, the diver lying upon the wing deck and operating beneath the surface of the sea.

[0112] FIG. 7A: View of flow chart of available operations in day or night; sea surface or sub-sea surface operation; propulsion methods of motor propulsion and heave-and-pitch propulsion; power sourcing of battery, photovoltaic, and human power.

[0113] FIG. 8A: Perspective view looking down and forward upon DPD 100, at the surface of the sea, the diver standing upon wing deck foot constraint 50, propulsion motors 20-1, 20-2, 20-3, and 20-4 under wing 10, leash 30, strap 31, control knob 33, fins 40-1 and 40-2 under wing 10, and solar energy collecting arrays 60-1 and 60-2 atop wing 10.

[0114] Now follows detail descriptions of the drawing figures.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0115] The following descriptions explain the noted drawing figures in detail.

[0116] Turning first to FIG. 1A, DPD 100 is shown comprised as wing 10, electric motor propulsion units 20-1 and 20-2, leash 30, releasable strap 31, control knob 33, stabilizing fins 40-1 and 40-2, frictional foot constraint 50, solar collector arrays 60-1 and 60-2, the diver standing atop the wing deck and operating the device at and slightly below the sea surface.

[0117] Turning now to FIG. 1B, in this side view DPD 100, is shown comprised as wing 10, electric motor propulsor unit 20, leash 30, releasable strap 31, control knob 33, stabilizing fin 40 and deck frictional foot constraint 50, the diver upon the deck of the wing and at the sea surface.

[0118] Turning now to FIG. 1C, in this side view of DPD 100 the device is shown as wing 10, electric motor propulsion unit 20, leash 30, releasable strap 31, control knob 33, stabilizing fin 40 and foot constraining frictional device 50, the diver atop the wing 10 and heaving and pitching the device to propel forward thru the sea; the diver first down-pitching then up-pitching the device.

[0119] Turning now to FIG. 2A, in this side view of DPD 100, the device is shown comprised of wing 10, propulsor 20, leash 30, releasable strap 31, control knob 33, stabilizing fin 40, frictional foot constraint 50 atop the deck of the wing 10; the diver pitching down and preparing to dive beneath the surface of the sea.

[0120] Turning now to FIG. 2B, in this side view of DPD 100, the device is shown comprised of wing 10, electric motor propulsion unit 20, leash 30, releasable strap 31, control knob 33, stabilizing fin 40, and frictional foot constraining device 50, the diver stretching outward and placing hand pressure upon the leading edge of the wing 10 so to enter into a dive beneath the surface of the sea.

[0121] Turning now to FIG. 2C, the side view shows DPD 100 comprised of wing 10, propulsion motor 20, leash 30, releasable strap 31, control knob 33, stabilizing fin 40, frictional foot constraining device 50 atop the wing and the diver atop the deck of the wing and proceeding to dive down beneath the surface of the sea.

[0122] Turning now to FIG. 2D, the side view shows DPD 100 comprised of wing 10, propulsion motor 20, leash 30, releasable strap 31, control knob 33, stabilizing fin 40, and frictional foot constraining device 50, the diver atop the wing 10 and diving below the surface of the sea.

[0123] Turning now to FIG. 2E, the top view looking down upon DPD 100 shows it comprised as wing 10, the propulsion motors are obscured by the wing 10, leash 30, releasable strap 31, control knob 33, frictional foot constraining device 50 atop the wing, solar collector arrays 60-1 and 60-2 atop the wing, the diver lying atop the deck of the wing.

[0124] Turning now to FIG. 2F, the bottom view looking up upon the DPD 100 shows it comprised as wing 10, propulsion motors 20-1, 20-2, 20-3, leash 30 et-al obscured by the wing 10, stabilizing fins 40-1 and 40-2, antenna lead wires 37-1 and 37-2, and antennae 39-1 and 39-2, in close proximity to the propulsion motors 20-1, 20-2, 20-3, the diver lying upon the deck of wing 10.

[0125] Turning now to FIG. 3A, the perspective view looking forward and down upon DPD 100, the DPD is shown comprised as wing 10, electric propulsion motors 20-1, 20-2, leash 30, releasable strap 31, control knob 33, stabilizing fins 40-1 and 40-2, wing-deck frictional foot-constraining device 50, solar-collector arrays 60-1 and 60-2.

[0126] Turning now to FIG. 3B, the perspective view looking up and forward upon DPD 100, the device is shown to be comprised of wing 10, propulsion motors 20-1 and 20-2, leash 30 and its components obscured by wing 10, stabilizing fins 40-1 and 40-2, antenna lead wires 37-1 and 37-2, and antennae 39-1 and 39-2, in close proximity to the propulsion motors 20-1 and 20-2. Screws attaching thru the fins 40-1 and 40-2 fixedly attach the motors 20-1 and 20-2 and are removable.

[0127] Turning now to FIG. 3C, the top view looking down upon DPD 100 shows it to be comprised of wing 10, propulsion motors 20-1, 20-2, are obscured by wing 10, leash 30, releasable strap 31, and control-knob 33, frictional foot constraining device 50 atop the top surface of wing 10, and solar collector arrays 60-1 and 60-2 atop the wing 10.

[0128] Turning now to FIG. 3D, the view looking forward at the rear of DPD 100, the device is shown to be comprised as wing 10, motor propulsors 20-1 and 20-2, leash 30, releasable strap 31, control knob 33, stabilizing fins 40-1 and 40-2, foot tractional device 50 atop the wing at a center of wing-span portion of the wing 10, solar collector arrays 60-1 and 60-2 atop wing 10 at outboard portions of wing 10, and screws common to fins 40-1 and 40-2 and propulsion motors 20-1 and 20-2.

[0129] Turning now to FIG. 4A, the detail view shows DPD 100 comprised as wing 10, propulsion motor 20, stabilizing fin 40 and attachment screws common between the motor 20 and the fin 40.

[0130] Turning now to FIG. 5A, the exploded schematic view of DPD 100 shows the electric connectivity of the components of the DPD as wing 10 with attaching solar collector array 60-1, insulated wires from solar array 60-1 thru leash 30 thru releasable strap 31, and to control knob 33, and the insulated electric-wire further connecting to electric motor propulsor 20, fin 40, and foot tractional device 50.

[0131] Turning now to FIG. 5B, showing attachment of solar collector array 60 recessed and bonded adhesively into recess of wing 10 to comprise DPD 100.

[0132] Turning now to FIG. 5C, showing attachment of solar collector array 70 onto the top surface of wing 10, and the adhesive bond-line attaching the solar collector array 70 to the wing 10 to comprise DPD 100.

[0133] Turning now to FIG. 5D, the exploded schematic view of DPD 100 shows the electric and radio connectivity of the motor 20 and antenna 39 residing upon stabilizing fin 40, and antenna lead wire connecting antenna 39 and to control knob 33 of leash 30.

[0134] Turning now to FIG. 6A, the perspective view looking down upon and forward with respect to DPD 100 shows the device to be comprised of wing 10, propulsion motors 20-1 and 20-2, leash 30, releasable strap 31, control know 33, stabilizing fins 40-1 and 40-2, frictional foot constraining device 50 upon top of wing 10 proximate a center-of-wing-span portion of wing 10, and solar collector arrays 60-1 and 60-2 atop the wing and outboard of the wing 10 center-of-span portion, the diver operating the diver propulsion device below the sea surface.

[0135] Turning now to FIG. 7A, the flow chart shows operational choices available the user of the device of this disclosure as: day and night operations, surface day operations, sub-sea day operations, surface night operations, sub-sea night operations, motor propelling or and heave and pitch propulsion during day surface operations, motor propulsion during day sub-sea operation, motor and or heave and pitch propulsion during night surface operation, motor propulsion during night sub-sea operation, battery and or photovoltaic and or human powered powering during surface day operations, battery and or photovoltaic powering of the motors during day sub-sea operation, battery and or human power during night surface operations, and finally battery powering of the motors during night sub-sea operation.

[0136] Turning lastly to FIG. 8A, the perspective view looking down and forward shows the DPD 100 comprised as wing 10, propulsion motors 20-1, 20-2, 20-3, and 20-4, leash 30, releasable strap 31, control knob 33, stabilizing fins 40-1 and 40-2, wing deck foot tractional constraint device 50 underfoot the diver and atop the wing 10, solar energy collector arrays 60-1 and 60-2, the diver operating DPD 100 just under the sea surface and hand-adjusting the power outputs of the propulsion motors 20-1, 20-2, 20-3, and 20-4, the diver being substantially above the sea surface with only the diver's lower leg portions wetted by the sea.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

[0137] The Diver Propulsion Device (DPD) of this invention disclosure combines in one device both hydrofoil-flying of a diver at the sea-surface and towing of the diver below the sea-surface. The DPD is most simply embodied as a wing buoyant in water and an electric motor propulsion unit attaching the wing. The wing is in span-wise dimension roughly equal to the head-height of the diver but may be substantially greater and also may be substantially less than head height the diver, and the wing is in chordal dimension roughly equal the shoulder-width of the diver but again, may be much more or less than shoulder width the diver, and wing thicknesses vary from as little as a fine feather edge at the trailing edge of the wing, to as much as 9 inches thick and more, especially at the wing deck, where the diver stands. The wing may be flat both atop the wing and on the bottom surface of the wing. The wing may also be convex on the wing top surface as opposed to flat, and again with the bottom surface of the wing flat. The electric motor propulsor, in the case where there is only one propulsor, attaches the wing mid-span the wing and is oriented chordwise, which is to say from leading edge to trailing edge, and the DPD in use propels water aft-ward to propel device and diver forward both in hydrofoil flight upon the surface of the sea, and, also when towing the diver, beneath the surface of the sea. In other preferred embodiments of the invention, the DPD is comprised of hydrofoil-wing, a plurality of electric motor propulsors, a leash interconnecting wing and diver, and the leash may integrate control circuitry of the electric motor propulsors, stabilizing fins oriented chordwise from wing leading edge toward wing trailing edge, batteries integral the electric motor propulsor cases, and solar energy collecting arrays atop the wing but outside of the diver deck. The diver may stand and may also lie upon the deck of the wing of the DPD. The diver may propel the DPD by heaving and pitching the DPD at the surface of the sea and may also use electric power via the electric motor propulsion units to hydrofoil-fly. When diving beneath the surface of the sea, the DPD tows the diver via electric motor power. Whether hydrofoil-flying the diver upon the sea, or towing the diver undersea, the electric power energizing the motors of the DPD is supplied by battery and, also by the photovoltaic solar energy collecting arrays atop the wing. Many derivatives of this invention will occur to those of some skill in the art, therefore, the following claims should be given the broadest, most expansive interpretation.