Patent ID: 6250978
Filing Date: 2001-06-26
Classification: B63H

Abstract:
A turbine-driven waterjet drive engine comprising:a) a water conduit elongated upon a center axis and having a rearwardly directed exhaust portal centered upon said axis, a middle portion of larger diameter than the diameter of said exhaust portal and symmetrically configured with respect to said axis, and a forward extremity having a water intake portal,b) a hollow axially symmetrical chamber centrally positioned within said middle portion and defining therewith an annular interstitial zone, said chamber having a streamlined forward portion and convergently tapered rear portion having an axially centered exit port,c) an axially centered shaft which enters said water conduit at said forward extremity, extends through said forward chamber portion, and terminates in a distal extremity, said shaft being journaled with respect to said water conduit and forward chamber portion for rotation about said axis,d) a centrifugally balanced propulsion assembly associated with the distal extremity of said shaft and comprised of: 1) a hub, 2) a plurality of support members emergent from said hub in a radial direction with respect to said shaft and terminating in outermost extremities, and 3) a circular array of propulsion blades associated with said outermost extremities within said interstitial zone and pitched so as to drive water rearwardly with rotation of said shaft, ande) a plurality of steam injector nozzles disposed within said forward chamber portion and directed toward said exit port.