| EP2072392A2 | 2009-06-24 | |||
| US20030175120A1 | 2003-09-18 | |||
| FR2223573A1 | 1974-10-25 | |||
| FR2633894A1 | 1990-01-12 |
| CLAIMS. Claim 1. The inventive concept: wherein; movement or operation of an object, machine, or device, in it's working environment, causes, at least some of the said environment to be absorbed, .or to be transported, or to be drawn, or to pass, through an outer surface of said object, machine, or device into and through said object, machine, or device, and to be egressed or expelled towards, at, or through a distant, extreme or trailing edge or surface, whereby; the benefit or purpose is to achieve a more efficient or beneficial, displacement, movement, operation or performance of the object, machine, or device. Claim 2. A propeller of the inventive concept, as claimed in claim 1, wherein; rotational displacement or operation of said propeller, in it's working environment, causes at least some of the said environment to be absorbed, or to be transported, or to be drawn, or to pass, through a surface of said propeller, into and through said propeller, and to be egressed or expelled towards, at, or through a distant, extreme or trailing edge or surface. Claim 3. A propeller of the invention, as claimed in claim 2, having any number of a blade, wherein; said blade has an integral association with any number of a cavity, said cavity being disposed between the forward and the aft faces of said blade and egressing said blade at or towards a trailing edge and/or the forward face of said blade, and wherein; said blade, further, has an integral association with any number of an aperture, such aperture being disposed upon a face of said blade and penetrating said face as to give access to, connect with, or terminate in, said cavity, whereby; a rotational displacement or movement of said propeller causes at least some of the environment, in which said propeller is given to operate, to be absorbed, to be transported, to be drawn, or to pass, from said face, through said apertures, into and through said cavity, and to he expelled from said cavity towards or at a trailing or drag edge or surface and/or the forward lower pressure face of said blade. Claim 4. A propeller as claimed in claim 3, wherein said cavity is disposed upon a face of said blade rather than between forward and aft faces of said blade. Claim 5. A propeller as claimed in claim 3 and/or 4, wherein said cavity, starting from a point which is nearer the leading edge of said blade and which, radially, is closer to the centrally located axis of rotation, radiates outwardly, scribing an arc like path, to a point that, radially, is further from said centrally located axis of rotation and then exits said blade towards a trailing edge and/or the forward face of said blade. Claim 6. A propeller as claimed in claim 3 and/or 4, wherein said cavity, starting from a point which is nearer the leading edge of said blade and which, radially, is closer to the centrally located axis of rotation, radiates outwardly, scribing a direct path, to a point that, radially, is further from said centrally located axis of rotation and then exits said blade towards a trailing edge and/or the forward face of said blade. Claim 7. A propeller as claimed in claims 3 to 6, wherein a larger said cavity accommodates any number of a partition fin, or wall like structure, which divide said larger cavity into a plurality of smaller cavities or passageways, and wherein, said partition, fin, or wall like structure radiate outwardly, generally in unison or in concert with said larger cavity. Claim 8. A propeller as claimed in claims 3 to 7, wherein said cavity, in multitude, can, of themselves, in an appropriate configuration, form said blade to which, "Mutatis Mutandis", the characteristics of this invention can be applied. Claitn9. A propeller as claimed in claims 3 to 8, wherein said aperture is of a tube like structure which penetrates said face and connects with or terminates in said cavity. Claim 10. A propeller as claimed claims 3 to 9, wherein said blade of the invention may have a thicker cross section nearer the one edge (e.g. leading edge) of said blade and transitioning to a thinner cross section towards another edge (e.g. the trailing edge) of said blade. Claim 11. A propeller as claimed in claims 3 to 10, wherein only some of the blades have all or some of the characteristics of preceding claims. Claim 12. A propeller as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein any or all known propeller technologies are combined yrith, coupled to. or used in tandem with, the present invention. Claim 13. A propeller substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings and specifications. |
"Turbo Thrust Propeller"
The following statement is a full description and detailed specification of a preferred embodiment of the Invention and the preferred method of constructing it known to me. TECHNICAL FIELD.
THE FOCUS of this invention is directed to;
(a) the efficient movement of objects, machines, or devices, through their respective environments; and
(b) the propulsion tools or methods used to propel said objects, machines, or
devices, through such environments; and,
(c) the transference of such environments from one place to another.
In theoretical terms the premise of the invention is that;
"if at least some, if not all, of the pressurised environment formed immediately in front of an advancing object can be absorbed, or transported, or drawn, into the object, transported through the object and then expelled from said object at a remote drag area of the object, then the forward movement of the said object through its' environment, will be greatly improved."
THE INVENTION.
This invention therefore, is the concept of, or the act of, transporting at least some of the environment, in which an object, machine, or device is given to operate, from an external zone, which generally is of higher pressure, and which, generally, is immediately adjacent an outer leading surface of the object, machine, or device, into the object, machine; or device, through the object, machine, or device and then expelling said transported environment from said object, machine, or device at an extreme, distant, trailing or drag zone of the object, machine, or device, the benefit of which is the higher, efficient propulsion or operation of the object, machine, or device. PREFERRED APPLICATION.
A preferred application and embodiment of the invention is directed to tools of propulsion, specifically propellers, such as are attached to marine craft or to air craft for the purpose of propelling such craft through the environment in which they operate.
The specifics of this invention relate directly to the efficiency and therefore the performance of such propellers for it has long been known that propeller designs, and more specifically blade designs, are not generally renowned for their efficiency characteristics, which is why there have been numerous attempts to improve their design and therefore their efficiency. It will be from the perspective of a marine propeller of the invention that the following description and specification is drafted.
However, it must be emphasised that the scope of the invention is not limited to only that application and embodiment.
LEAD-UP.
It is known, to those skilled in the art, that the pressure build-up at, adjacent or abutting the bow of an advancing or propelled marine craft, severely impedes the forward, fluent movement of the craft and therefore the efficiency and therefore the economical operation of such craft.
It is known, to those skilled in the art, that a propeller blade has a leading edge and a trailing edge, has two opposed surfaces and that rotation of the propeller produces on the one side or surface of a propeller blade (normally and hereinafter referred to as the "aft side"), a higher pressure pocket in the environment immediately to the aft of the blade; this high pressure pocket effectively covering, being applied to, or acting upon the entire "aft side" surface area of the blade. On the obverse side of the blade (normally and hereinafter referred to as the "forward side"), there is produced a lower pressure pocket in the environment immediately forward of the said blade. However, this pocket of low pressure is not applied to the entire "forward side" surface area of the blade.
The reason for this is that the leading surface of the blade is travelling and rotating into what might be described as a pressure environment and so it is reasonable to deduce that most of the lower pressure occurring on the "forward side" of a blade will be concentrated and therefore having effect, towards the trailing portion of the blade (this may be referred to as the "effective zone"), whilst towards the leading edge of the blade (this may be referred to as the "ineffective zone"), because the propeller is rotating and travelling into a pressure environment, there will be no significant lowering of pressure. Thus, it can be reasoned, that a significant portion of the blade, that at or nearer the leading edge, is not
contributing to the efficiency of the propeller, the lower pressure being applied to and having positive effect to only the trailing portion of the blade.
Since it is the overall pressure differential between those pressures acting on the "aft" and the "forward" surfaces of the propeller blade that gives propellers their efficiency or propulsion, it stands to reason therefore, that the greater the pressure differential, the greater the efficiency or "lift" of the blade. It also stands to reason that, if the "effective zone" of lower pressure could be increased to include that portion of the blade at or nearer the leading edge of the blade, where there is no significant lowering of the pressure and therefore no "lift", then the overall efficiency of the blade and therefore the propeller, as a whole, will be greatly increased. In other words, if the pressure in said "ineffective zone" could be lowered by even small amounts, then propeller efficiency will be increased.
Equally critical to the efficiency of propellers is the time that this pressure differential can be maintained, for it is a rule of nature that where there is an imbalance, nature will act immediately to return to balance. In the case of propellers, the instance there is created a lower pressure on the one side of a blade, higher pressure fluid from the immediate surrounding environment rushes into that lower pressure area, thus neutralising or at least limiting the efficiency of the propeller.
Good reasoning therefore, would suggest that it would be a distinct advantage if, at the moment and at the point where the surrounding environment first rushes into the newly created lower pressure area adjacent the leading portion of the "forward side" of the propeller blade, such inflowing environment could, literally, be taken away as it rushes towards and onto the said blade. If this were possible, then it would definitely maintain or even lower, even further, the pressure in the "ineffective zone" adjacent the leading portion of the said blade, and in so doing effectively enlarging the "effective zone" of the blade to effectively lower pressure to the entire forward surface of the blade, the result being, therefore, a marked increase in the efficiency of propellers.
This invention deals with these very problems by effectively enlarging the "effective zone" to include the "ineffective zone", by literally removing or transferring the environment as it flows into and onto the "ineffective zone", and by that action effectively lowering the pressure in the said "ineffective zone" of the blade.
Simihrly, in the case of "bow wave pressure" associated with marine craft, it is reasonable to surmise that the removal of at least some of the water from the pressurised "bow wave", would reduce the pressure within the "bow wave" which would therefore, increase the overall efficiency and therefore economic characteristics of marine craft.
PRIOR ART.
Although extensive searches have been carried out, there appears not to be any prior publications that could deny the right of this invention to transition through to the granting of Letters Patent. The concept and application is truly novel.
BRIEF SUMMARISATION OF THE INVENTION.
The preferred embodiment of the invention is conceived of the amalgamation of present day propeller technologies and the forces available through the application of centrifugal physics, in such fashion as produces much higher performance levels (in the order of20% - — 25%) when compared to conventional present day propeller technologies and is principally, to do with the relationship between the blades and apertures, cavity, tube like, or tunnel like structures that are associated with said blades and each other, and/or partitions that are associated with said cavity.
THE ΙΝΥΕΝΉΟΝ BRIEF.
It must be emphasised that the following invention brief and detailed speci ication is that for a preferred application and embodiment of the invention and is not to be taken as limiting the scope, application or embodiment of the invention to the following parameters, as other applications and embodiments of the invention and therefore constructions of the invention are, indeed, possible. Definitions and Interpretations:
The following definitions appl to this entire document
1. Hub— is understood to mean and encompass, the central construction of a propeller, the central axis of which is concentric with the axis of rotation of the propeller, and to which the blades are attached, or attachable, and in which, concentric with the rotational axis, there is provided a means for attaching to a source of power such as internal combustion engines, electric motors, and the like.
2. Blade— is understood to mean and encompass, appendages of random,
geometric or symmetric configuration, which attach to, or are attachable to, the hub of a propeller via integral casting, via physical attachment, or via mechanical attachment, and wherein the major axis, (the X—X axis), of respective appendages are arranged in a polar array about the rotational axis, and wherein another axis, (the Y— Y axis), is arranged so as to be neither parallel with, nor perpendicular to, the axis of rotation, but suitably arranged to best advantage, somewhere in between.
3. Cavity— is understood to mean and encompass any cavity, void, passageway, pocket, tube like, cave like, or tunnel like structure, of random, geometric or symmetric configuration, which penetrates from an outer surface into a solid body and which has at least one open end, normally referred to as "mouth", which can be of random, geometric or symmetric shape, such "mouth " being in direct contact with the surrounding atmospheric, gaseous, fluid like, or aquatic type environment such that said environment is free to flow into and fill the parameters of the cavity.
4. Aperture— is understood to mean and encompass a hole, slit, gap, crack, or tube like structure, of random, geometric or symmetric configuration, which passes from a surface into or through a body.
5. Partition— is understood to mean and encompass a fin, partition, or wall like structure, rising upwards or downwards and/or sideways from a base point. This brief and the following detailed specification assumes the presence of any appropriate, commonly available, means for attachment (e.g. tapered shafts, splines, key-ways etc.,) to a source of turning power, such as internal combustion engines or electric motors.
Likewise the final application of a propeller of the invention will dictate the appropriate dimensions of the propeller including the size and shape of the blades, and therefore the material to be used in the construction of the said propeller. However, it is known by those skilled in the art that the more commonly used materials will include such materials as copper, brass, bronze, stainless steel, aluminium, plastics and composites such as carbon fibre, keylar and glass reinforced plastic (G.R.P.). are envisaged.
In the broadest of terms the most elemental requirement of this brief is that;
"operation of any chosen application and/or embodiment of the invention, should cause at least some of the environment, in which the invention is given to operate, to be absorbed, or to be transported, or to be drawn or to pass through an external surface of said
embodiment, into and through and to be expelled from, said embodiment, in order to make the embodiment operate more efficiently".
In a more poignant, more precisely defined embodiment or construction, that, specifically, of a propeller, the invention should satisfy the following parameters.
Centred about a centrally located axis of rotation, there should be provided; a hub, to which there should be attached or attachable, any number of a blade of any size, shape or configuration. Said blade should have a leading edge and a trailing edge and should have at least two sides or faces, the one referred to as the aft or higher pressure side, the other, the obverse or forward side, being referred to as the lower pressure side. The faces of said blade, preferably, should be essentially parallel, one with the other. However, blade thickness may vary and be provided with a thicker cross section to one part of the blade, transitioning to a thinner cross section at another remote part of the said blade. In the construction of said blade, preferably disposed between the aft and the forward faces of said blade, there should be provided any number of a cavity, which can be of random, geometric or symmetric configuration, and which, in essence, should radiate outwardly from a point which is nearer the leading edge of said blade, and which, radially, is nearer the centrally located axis of rotation, to a point which, radially, is further from the centrally located axis of rotation and which is towards the trailing edge of said blade, said cavity having free, and preferably unrestricted, egress from said blade at or towards the trailing edge or surface of said blade. Within a larger said cavity, if appropriate, there may be provided any number of a partition, fin, or wall like structure. Preferably, said partition, fin, or wall like structure should radiate in unison or in concert with said cavity. To the obverse or forward side of said blade and positioned appropriately towards the leading edge of said blade, there should be disposed any number of an aperture, of random, geometric or symmetric configuration, such aperture having access to, connecting with, or terminating in said cavity.
The completed construction should be free to rotate about a centrally located axis of rotation.
Other technologies such as a perimeter shroud and the like can of course be added to this brief, if desired, because the application of this present invention to said other propeller technologies will radically improve the performance of said other propeller technologies.
DETAILED SPECIFICAmNS.
Referring firstly to the drawings attached hereto, which depict only the preferred application and embodiment, of many, of the invention, it is noted that;
FIG 1 depicts a three Haded arrangement of a propeller constructed in accordance with the invention, (as viewed from the rear or aft side of the propeller).
FIG 2 shows a preferred arrangement of the partitions that are disposed within the internal cavity of respective blades, (as viewed from the rear or aft side of the propeller).
FIG 3 depicts a correlation which may occur between the partitions within the cavity and the apertures set in the forward facing face of the blades, (as viewed from the rear or aft side of a propeller). FIG 4 is a view of a propeller constructed in accordance with the invention, but with the aft or rear face of the propeller removed, (for illustration purposes only),(as viewed from the rear or aft side of a propeller).
FIG 5 depicts a three blades arrangement of a propeller and a preferred deployment of the apertures constructed in accordance with the invention, (as viewed from the forward side of the propeller).
FIGS 6 and 7 are essentially the same as figs 2 and 3, but as viewed from the obverse or forward side of the propeller.
FIG 8 is the view of a propeller constructed in accordance with the invention, but with the obverse or forward face of the blade, which supports'said apertures, removed (for illustration purposes only), (as viewed from the obverse or forward side of the propeller .
FIG 9 is a cross sectional profile of a typical propeller blade constructed in accordance with the invention.
FIG 10 is a cross sectional profile of an alternative propeller blade constructed in accordance with the invention, showing a thicker cross section (A-A) nearer the leading edge of the blade and transitioning to a thinner cross section (B-B) towards the trailing edge of the blade.
FIG 11 is a plan view of an alternative propeller constructed in accordance with the invention, wherein multiple tube like cavities, of themselves, are arranged in a side by side formation, fixedly attached to each other to form the blades of the propeller.
In the drawings there is shown a central hub (3), which is free to rotate about a centrally located axis of rotation (5).
Attached to this central hub (3) and radiating outwardly therefrom, there is provided any number of a blade (4) (in this case three), wherein the major axis, the X -X axis, of respective blades are arranged in a polar array about the centrally located axis of rotation (5), and wherein another axis of each blade (4), the Y - Y axis, being arranged so as to be neither parallel with, nor vertical to, the centrally located axis of rotation (5) of the hub (3), but suitably arranged to best advantage, somewhere in between. Each of the said blades (4) has at least two sides or faces, the one referred to as the aft or higher pressure side (20), the other or obverse side being referred to as the forward or lower pressure side (21).
Within the structure of each of the said blades (4) and preferably disposed between the aft (20) and the forward (21) faces of each blade (4), there is provided a cavity (7), in which there is provided any number of a partition (8) (in this case three), each of which radiate outwardly from a point (A) which radially, is nearer the centrally located axis of rotation (5), to a point (B) which radially, is further from the centrally located axis of rotation (5) and towards a trailing edge (2) of said blades (4).
To the obverse or forward face (21) of each of the said blades (4) and positioned
appropriately towards the leading edge (1) of each of the blades (4), there is disposed any number of an aperture (6) (in this case multiple), each of which, free flowingly, penetrates from the surface of, and through the obverse face (21) of said blades (4) at (I) as will give access to, connect with, or terminate in a respective internal cavity (7).
The arrangement is such that a rotational displacement of the said propeller, causes the blades (4) and therefore said cavity and therefore said partitions (8) within said cavity (7), to rotate and in so doing, causes the fluid, rushing towards and onto the forward face (21) of the blades (4), to be transported from said forward face (21), at (I), through said apertures (6), through said cavity (7) and to be expelled from said cavity at or near the trailing edge (2), at (E), of said blades (4) of the propeller and in so doing, effectively lowering the pressure in the "ineffective zone" of said blade.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a skeletal type structure (such as depicted in Fig. 2 and Fig. 6 of the drawings) may be constructed, to each side of which a firm, yet pliable and appropriately reliable, membrane sheet is applied, thus forming a blade with the said aft (higher pressure side) and said forward (lower pressure side) faces and thereby allowing the other characteristics of the preferred construction to be applied in their respective, manner.
ft In yet another embodiment of the present invention (as depicted in the drawings by Fig 11), said cavity, in multitude, may, of themselves, be formed in such manner as will, not only fulfil the requirements that categories them as being a blade, but also having all the characteristics of this invention, namely the provision of said surface apertures in relationship with said internal cavities, partitions and so on.
In still another construction of the present invention, in contrast to conventional propeller blade construction, said propeller blade may be formed in such manner as to have a thicker cross section portion (A-A, Fig 10) nearer the leading edge, transitioning to a thinner cross section (B-B, Fig 10) nearer the trailing edge of said blade.