Patent ID: 8585451
Filing Date: 2013-11-19
Classification: B63G,B63H,F42B

Abstract:
1. A propulsor system for an underwater vehicle having a hull, the system comprising: a plurality of circumferential shrouds; said plurality of circumferential shrouds having a fore-circumferential shroud and an aft-circumferential shroud; said fore-circumferential shroud forming a fore-circumferential shroud gap between the fore-circumferential shroud and the hull; said aft-circumferential shroud forming an aft-circumferential shroud gap between the aft-circumferential shroud and the hull; fore-propulsor blades within the fore-circumferential shroud gap between the fore-circumferential shroud and the hull; said fore-propulsor blades forming a fore-propulsor blade set; aft-propulsor blades within the aft-circumferential shroud gap between the aft-circumferential shroud and the hull; said aft-propulsor blades forming an aft-propulsor blade set; aft-back control vanes located behind the aft-propulsor blades wherein the position of the aft-back-control vanes may be individually adjusted to direct the flow of water from the aft-propulsor blade set and control horizontal and vertical steering of the underwater vehicle; fore-back-control vanes located behind the fore-propulsor blades and wherein the position of the fore-back-control vanes may be individually adjusted to direct the flow of water from the fore-propulsor blade set and control horizontal and vertical steering of the underwater vehicle; aft-front-control vanes located in front of the aft-propulsor blades and wherein the position of the aft-front-control vanes may be individually adjusted to direct the flow of water from the aft-propulsor blade set when the underwater vehicle is reversing and said aft-front-control vanes are set within the aft-circumferential shroud gap; and fore-front-control vanes located in front of the fore-propulsor blades and wherein the position of the fore-front-control vanes may be individually adjusted to direct the flow of water from the fore-propulsor blade set when the underwater vehicle is reversing and said fore-front-control vanes are set within the fore-circumferential shroud gap, wherein said fore-propulsor blades and said aft-propulsor blades rotate in opposite directions when the underwater vehicle is moved in forward or reverse and in the same direction to move water in opposing directions to enable maneuvering of the underwater vehicle while hovering.