IMPULSIVE MARINE THRUSTER AND POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT PUMP

Abstract

A marine thruster includes a cylinder with a front opening and a rear opening; radial baffles positioned within an interior of the cylinder to separate the interior into equally divided water chambers; pistons positioned within a corresponding one of the equally divided water chambers; and an inner-ring rotary valve engaged with the cylinder to allow for side intake of water and the separation of each of the equally divided water chambers into a dry section and a wet section by pistons; the pistons engage with a power source, the power source providing axial reciprocating motion; and the pistons push water through the equally divided water chambers.

Claims

1. A marine thruster, comprising: a cylinder body with a front opening and a rear opening; one or more radial baffles positioned within an interior of the cylinder body and configured to separate the interior into a plurality of equally divided water chambers; wherein said radial baffles penetrate to a front end of said cylinder body and extend out of a rear end of said cylinder body; a plurality of pistons, each of the plurality of pistons positioned within a corresponding one of the equally divided water chambers; an inner-ring rotary valve engaged with the cylinder and configured to allow for side intake of water and the separation of each of the equally divided water chambers into a dry section and a wet section by each of the plurality of pistons; and a nozzle secured on the cylinder body; wherein the plurality of pistons are configured to engage with a power source, the power source providing axial reciprocating motion; and wherein the plurality of pistons push water through the plurality of equally divided water chambers.

2. The marine thruster of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of pistons comprises: a ball-screw attached to a piston head.

3. The marine thruster of claim 1, wherein the inner-ring rotary valve comprises: one or more blockages; and one or more openings; wherein the one or more blockages block one or more of the plurality of equally divided water chambers and the one or more openings open one or more of the plurality of equally divided water chambers to discharge water.

4. The marine thruster of claim 1, wherein the inner-ring rotary valve comprises: one or more side openings to open into one or more of the plurality of equally divided water chambers.

5. The marine thruster of claim 1, further comprising: a grid shell configured to engage around an outer surface of the inner-ring rotary valve and configured to connect to the cylinder and a nozzle by one or more screws.

6. The marine thruster of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pistons comprises: a first set of pistons; and a second set of pistons; wherein the first set of pistons and second set of pistons are in alternate positioning within the plurality of equally divided water chambers.

7. The marine thruster of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of equally divided water chambers are fan-shaped columns.

8. A pump, comprising: a cylinder with a front opening and a rear opening; one or more radial baffles positioned within an interior of the cylinder and configured to separate the interior into a plurality of equally divided water chambers; a plurality of pistons, each of the plurality of pistons positioned within a corresponding one of the equally divided water chambers; an inner ring rotary valve engaged with the cylinder and configured to allow for side intake of water and the separation of each of the equally divided water chambers into a dry section and a wet section by each of the plurality of pistons; and a flange shaped nozzle engaged with the cylinder; wherein the plurality of pistons are configured to engage with a power source, the power source providing axial reciprocating motion; and wherein the plurality of pistons push water through the plurality of equally divided water chambers.

9. The pump of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of pistons comprises: a ball-screw attached to a piston head.

10. The pump of claim 8, wherein the inner ring rotary valve comprises: one or more blockages; and one or more openings; wherein the one or more blockages block one or more of the plurality of equally divided water chambers and the one or more openings open one or more of the plurality of equally divided water chambers to discharge water.

11. The pump of claim 8, wherein the inner ring rotary valve comprises: one or more side openings to open into one or more of the plurality of equally divided water chambers.

12. The pump of claim 8, further comprising: a grid shell configured to engage around an outer surface of the inner ring rotary valve and configured to connect to the cylinder and a nozzle by one or more screws.

13. The pump of claim 8, wherein the plurality of pistons comprises: a first set of pistons; and a second set of pistons; wherein the first set of pistons and second set of pistons are in alternate positioning within the plurality of equally divided water chambers.

14. The pump of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of equally divided water chambers are fan shaped columns.

15. The pump of claim 8, further comprising: a donut inlet device having a donut shell configured to envelop an exterior of the inner ring rotary valve; and an inlet tube attached to a water source an integral with the donut inlet.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The novel features believed characteristic of the embodiments of the present application are set forth in the appended claims. However, the embodiments themselves, as well as a preferred mode of use, and further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0020] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a marine thruster apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present application;

[0021] FIG. 2 is an assembled view of the marine thruster apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0022] FIG. 3 is a front view of an inner ring rotary valve of FIG. 1;

[0023] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the inner ring rotary valve of FIG. 1;

[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the inner ring rotary valve from the front;

[0025] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the inner ring rotary valve from the rear;

[0026] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a marine vessel having the marine thruster apparatus of FIG. 1 attached thereto;

[0027] FIG. 8 is a side view of a PD pump in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present application;

[0028] FIG. 9 is the pump of FIG. 8 engaged with a donut-inlet; and

[0029] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the donut inlet of FIG. 9.

[0030] While the system and method of use of the present application is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present application as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0031] Illustrative embodiments of the system and method of use of the present application are provided below. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions will be made to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

[0032] The system and method of use will be understood, both as to its structure and operation, from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description. Several embodiments of the system are presented herein. It should be understood that various components, parts, and features of the different embodiments may be combined together and/or interchanged with one another, all of which are within the scope of the present application, even though not all variations and particular embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should also be understood that the mixing and matching of features, elements, and/or functions between various embodiments is expressly contemplated herein so that one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that the features, elements, and/or functions of one embodiment may be incorporated into another embodiment as appropriate, unless described otherwise.

[0033] The preferred embodiment herein described is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is chosen and described to explain the principles of the invention and its application and practical use to enable others skilled in the art to follow its teachings.

[0034] The embodiment of the present invention is shown through FIGS. 1 to 7 as a marine vessel thruster. The marine vessel thruster includes a cylinder body 5 penetrated being open from both the front and rear, two sets of impulsive water jet mechanisms 8a, 8b, an inner-ring rotary valve 3 and a nozzle 2. As shown in FIG. 2, in the circular cross-section of the cylinder body 5, the cylinder body 5 is divided into multiple water chambers by radial baffles 9, which penetrate to the front end of the cylinder body 5 and extend out of the rear end of the cylinder body 5; in the present embodiment, the cross-section of cylinder body 5 is divided into six equal parts, resulting in six water chambers in fan-shape columns. The front part of the cylinder body 5 is connected with and open to the interior of the ship, and the rear part of the cylinder body with the radial baffles 9 extended out is inserted into the ring shell of an inner-ring rotary valve 3 and a nozzle 2 joins the rear part of said valve.

[0035] In FIGS. 3-6, an arrangement of openings and blockages of the inner-ring rotary valve are shown. In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of valve axial openings 31 extending into the inner-ring rotary valve 3 are align with the fan-shape water chambers made by the radial babbles 9 and as the pistons 7 in said water chambers are making discharge strokes, water is ejected through the nozzle exit to generate thrust and advance the marine vessel. In order to for a stable water jet at the nozzle exit, the number of equal divisions in a general cylinder body 5 for water chambers should not be less than four. As shown, each piston 6 includes a ball-screw attached to a head and each piston is configured to engage with one of the plurality of equally divided water chambers.

[0036] In this embodiment, each set 8a and 8b of impulsive water jet mechanisms includes three ball-screw piston units placed aligned with the axis of the cylinder body 5. Said ball-screw piston group is formed by connecting the ball-screw 7 to the dry face of the piston 6; and the other face of the piston 6 is wet as said piston settles in the water chamber; the front part of the ball-screw 7 is connected with a motor (not shown in the figure). A motor gear system drives the ball-screws and make piston do reciprocating movements. In this embodiment, the two sets ball-screw piston units that form two sets of impulsive water jet mechanisms are alternately arranged in the six water chambers in the cylinder body 5.

[0037] The inner-ring rotary valve 3 is placed and riding on the extended radial baffles 9 in the rear part of the cylinder body 5. Referring to FIG. 3 to FIG. 6, in the front part of the inner-ring rotary valve, there are three valve side openings 34 equally distributed along the circumference of the cylindrical wall. With respect to each opening on the cylindrical wall, the axial direction inside the valve are made impermeable by three valve axial blockages 32. On the other hand, with respect to the impermeable part of the cylindrical wall or valve side blockages 33, the axial direction inside the valve is made open or valve axial openings 31 for the discharging water to pass through.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 2, this embodiment further includes a grid shell 4 for flow conditioning. Said grid shell 4 is sleeved on the outside of the inner ring rotary valve 3 and is fixed in between of said cylinder body and said nozzle with screws or the like. The grids on said grid shell are laid on the valve side openings 34. The grids help stabilizing the intake flow and also prevent large debris from entering the interior of said water chambers.

[0039] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, this embodiment also includes a nozzle 2, and the nozzle 2 is disposed outside of the rear part of the inner-ring rotary valve 3.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 5, the so-called Side-Intake of water uses the three valve side openings 34 to intake water into the water chambers of the cylinder body, 5. The principle feature of the Side-Intake concept is to separate the water chambers to be a dry and a wet compartment by the pistons at any moment as they move. The dry compartments are open to the inside of a marine vessel or the power system of a pump. Because of the existence of the dry compartment, the pistons confront air instead of water during their recovering cycles, which expect to save energy.

[0041] In operation, the inner-ring rotary valve 3 driven by a servo motor rotates 60 degree a time rendering the three valve side openings, 34 open the side inlets of one set of the three water chambers, while the three valve side blockages, 33 close the side inlets of the other set of the three water chambers. After the valve actuated, one set of three pistons associated to the side inlets fully opened does the recovering cycle for water intake meanwhile the other set of three pistons associated to the side inlets fully closed does the stroke to discharge water out of the nozzle for thrust generation. After this half cycle finishes, the valve actuates again and the two sets of pistons switch their stroke mode, i.e., one from intake to discharge and the other from discharge to intake, and continue their strokes until finish. That completes one cycle and after that the process repeats. In general, the two sets of pistons work in a half cycle or 180 degree phase difference and the inner-ring rotary valve rotates 60 degree in each actuation.

[0042] In FIG. 7, an embodiment of a water vessel 11 is shown having two marine thrusters attached thereon.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, another embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein a positive displacement pump 12 of great capacity, which includes the above-mentioned cylinder body 5, two sets of impulsive water jet mechanisms 8a and 8b, and an inner-ring rotary valve, 3. The embodiment is fixed on an installation foundation, and the nozzle exit 13 is reshaped to be a flange as shown in FIG. 9. The flange is then connected to a conducting pipe (not shown in the figure) to where water shall be pumped to. Its structure and working principle is similar to the embodiment used as a marine vessel thruster.

[0044] In one embodiment a donut-inlet device 14 envelops in watertight fashion the valve side openings 34 and is fixed on the outer casing of the cylinder body, 5 and the nozzle, 2 with screws. Further, said donut-inlet is composed of a donut shell 15 and an inlet tube 16 that leads to water source.

[0045] This embodiment has a self-priming capability as long as the inlet tube, 10 reaches is the water source to be pumped. Water will be pumped out by a repeated operation of the aforementioned two sets of the impulsive water jet mechanisms.

[0046] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, and the structures provided in the embodiments do not constitute limitations to the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make adjustments according to requirements, within the scope of the appended claims. Various changes or modifications are made within the scope of protection.

[0047] The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the embodiments may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified, and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the application. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the description. Although the present embodiments are shown above, they are not limited to just these embodiments, but are amenable to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.