Patent ID: 6032460
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: B63H,F02G,F42B

Abstract:
A vehicle for self-propelled travel through a body of water, comprising:a hull;a propulsive element for engaging the water in the body of water to propel the vehicle through the body of water;an engine, comprising:a combustion chamber for receiving a fuel and combusting the fuel to form an energized gas; andat least one responsive element for drawing energy from expansion of the energized gas and coupled to the propulsive element to drive the propulsive element;a fuel storage container for storing the fuel prior to combustion of such fuel;a fuel flow path extending from the container upstream to the combustion chamber downstream;a pump system for pumping the fuel from the container;a port for drawing water from the body of water through the hull in at least a first mode of operation; anda water flow path extending from the port upstream to the combustion chamber downstream in at least the first mode of operation and wherein in the first mode of operation the fuel flow path and the water flow path converge at a junction upstream of the combustion chamber and form a combined flow path for carrying a mixture of the monopropellant fuel and the water drawn through the port.