Abstract:
A hydrodynamic propulsion trolling motor includes (a) housing adapted to rotatably receive a conduit therein, wherein the conduit includes a first end and a second end; (b) an outlet connected to the first end of the conduit; (c) an inlet for receiving water; (d) a fluid pathway connecting the inlet to the housing; and (e) a pump connected to the fluid pathway and configured to pump the water through the outlet, and wherein a plurality of rotational positions of the conduit correspond to a respective plurality of directions of expulsion of the water from the outlet. The outlet includes a chamber for receiving the water and nozzles fluidly connected thereto, wherein the nozzles are adapted to expel the water therethrough. Speed and direction controls are implemented via manual and/or electronic components. A boat having the hydrodynamic propulsion trolling motor is also disclosed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/737,162, filed Nov. 16, 2005, and entitled “Prop-less Trolling Motor”, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a prop-less trolling motor for use with watercraft.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     Fishermen use boats with outboard, inboard or inboard/outboard engines with propellers as the primary means of boat propulsion. Fishermen also use trolling motors to quietly maneuver a boat in areas of a body of water where fish dwell. There are several prior art trolling motors that use a propeller for propulsion. For example, trolling motors with propeller propulsion are found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,458,004; U.S. Pat. No. 6,652,331; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,863,581. Prior art trolling motors with propeller propulsion pose several problems. One problem is that the cavitation caused by propeller rotation emits underwater noise that scares fish away. Another problem is that operating a propeller in shallow water can pull at vegetation, which tends to entangle the propeller. Once a propeller becomes entangled with vegetation, the trolling motor must be stopped and the propeller freed of the entangling vegetation. Another significant problem is that, when in use, the motor and corresponding electronics of prior art trolling motors are positioned below the water surface. Therefore, if a seal leaks or the motor housing becomes cracked, water damage is certain to occur to the underwater motor and electronics of the trolling motor.  
         [0006]     The prior art also teaches prop-less means for primary boat propulsion, such as the water jet propulsion system for yachts, trawlers and the like disclosed in U.S. patent application Publication No. 2002/0037675. In addition, the prior art teaches a compressed-air-powered prime mover device capable of providing impulse propulsion by water slug ejection for use with, among others, trolling boats disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,977. These prior art prop-less propulsion systems pose several problems. One problem is that jet propulsion systems are designed to operate with large, loud engines to provide a primary propulsion force for a boat. Another problem is that water slug ejections by impulse air cause cavitations. Both jet propulsion systems and water slug ejections by impulse air create loud underwater sounds that scare fish away, which is counterproductive to the primary purpose of a trolling motor for quietly positioning a boat close to where fish dwell in a body of water.  
         [0007]     Accordingly, there is a present need for a prop-less trolling motor with a pump on a boat that is capable of providing quiet, hydrodynamic propulsion for maneuvering a boat with reduced possibilities for entanglement of the trolling motor with underwater vegetation.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     A prop-less trolling motor with a pump is provided for a boat. The prop-less trolling motor is capable of providing quiet, hydrodynamic propulsion for maneuvering a boat with reduced possibilities for entanglement of the trolling motor with underwater vegetation.  
         [0009]     In a desirable embodiment, the prop-less trolling motor includes a fixed trolling motor housing with a rotatable tube having a handle attached to the upper portion of the rotatable tube. The rotatable tube is journaled within the fixed trolling motor housing, wherein the rotatable tube can rotate 360° along its longitudinal axis. A propulsion housing with nozzles is attached to the lower portion of the rotatable tube such that the propulsion housing can rotate 360° concurrently with the rotatable tube. A water flow system with a pump is provided with the prop-less trolling motor to pump water from water outside of the boat through conduits and the prop-less trolling motor to the nozzles of the propulsion housing. Water pumped out of the nozzles creates a hydrodynamic propulsion force sufficient enough to move a boat. A propulsion system is also provided with the prop-less trolling motor to control the direction and speed of the hydrodynamic propulsion force relative to the boat.  
         [0010]     More generally, the prop-less trolling motor of the present invention includes (a) a housing adapted to rotatably receive a conduit therein, wherein the conduit includes a first end and a second end; (b) an outlet connected to the first end of the conduit; (c) an inlet for receiving water; (d) a fluid pathway connecting the inlet to the housing; and (e) a pump connected to the fluid pathway and configured to pump the water through the outlet, wherein a plurality of rotational positions of the conduit correspond to a respective plurality of directions of expulsion of the water from the outlet.  
         [0011]     The conduit includes at least one or more openings for receiving the water therethrough. Each of the openings may be geometric shapes selected from the group comprising circles, triangles, squares, rectangles, octagons, and hexagons. One or more seals may be situated within the housing to prevent the water within the housing from flowing out of the housing between the housing and the conduit. The conduit may be adapted to rotate 360° within the housing or, alternatively, may have a constrained range of rotational motion. The inlet may include a filter. The outlet includes a chamber (e.g., fluid receiving chamber) for receiving the water and at least one nozzle fluidly connected thereto, wherein the at least one nozzle is adapted to expel the water therethrough.  
         [0012]     A handle may extend from the second end of the conduit. The handle may include a variable speed control, similar to that found on a motorcycle handle, electrically connected to the pump, wherein a plurality of rotational positions of the variable speed control correspond to respective speeds of the pump.  
         [0013]     A foot control or a remote control may be provided that are operative on the pump and are configured to output a signal representative of a speed thereof. A motor may be provided that is operative on the conduit for motorized rotation thereof. The remote control may be configured to output a signal representative of at least one of the plurality of rotational positions of the conduit. The remote control may be wired or wireless.  
         [0014]     The present invention also includes a boat having the aforementioned prop-less trolling motor. The boat includes a body having a waterline defined on a hull thereof. The housing may be secured to the hull, the inlet may be defined on the hull, the fluid pathway may be defined within the body of the boat, and the pump may be secured to the body. The boat may include a variable speed control electrically connected to the pump and configured to output a signal representative of a speed thereof. The boat may also include a motor configured to receive a signal representative of at least one of the plurality of rotational positions of the conduit.  
         [0015]     These and other advantages of the present invention will be understood from the description of the preferred embodiments, taken with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like elements throughout.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a prop-less trolling motor in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a cut-away view of a trolling motor of the prop-less trolling motor shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of a propulsion housing shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a propulsion control system for the prop-less trolling system shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a water flow system for the prop-less trolling motor shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 6   a  is a view of a thumb pad for use with a propulsion control system for the prop-less trolling motor shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 6   b  is a view of a joystick control for use with a propulsion control system for the prop-less trolling motor shown in  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is an elevational view of the prop-less trolling motor mounted on a boat. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]     The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures. It is to be understood that the specific system illustrated in the attached figures and described in the following specification is simply an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 7 , in a desirable embodiment, the present invention includes a prop-less trolling motor  10  for use as secondary propulsion for a boat  58 . The prop-less trolling motor  10  includes a fixed trolling motor housing  20  having a rotatable tube  24  with a plurality of perforations  26 . The rotatable tube  24  may be rotated along its longitudinal axis by a handle  30  to permit a full 360° directional control of a propulsion housing  46 , which is attached to the lower portion of the rotatable tube  24 . In addition, the prop-less trolling motor  10  also includes a water flow system having a pump  36  to draw water from a navigable water source external to a boat into an input conduit of the water flow system. The pump  36  is adapted to pump the water through an output conduit, through the fixed trolling motor housing  20  and the propulsion housing  46 , and out through one or more nozzles  52  of the propulsion housing  46  to create a hydrodynamic propulsion force. Furthermore, the prop-less trolling motor  10  may includes a propulsion control system having manual, mechanical, electric and/or wireless control to direct the nozzles  52  of the propulsion housing  46 . The propulsion control system may also control the speed of the water being pumped by the pump  36  through the water flow system. An exemplary flow F through the water flow system is depicted in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0026]     With reference to  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3  and  7 , the fixed trolling motor housing  20  of the prop-less trolling motor  10  may embody a cylindrical tube shape and may be adapted for mounting on, or being molded within, a hull of a boat  58 . The fixed trolling motor housing  20  has a passage  44 , which in an exemplary embodiment may be a circular-shaped hole. The fixed trolling motor housing  20  provides a cylindrical chamber  22  defined generally by the interior of the cylindrically-shaped fixed trolling motor housing  20 . Passage  44  provides communication through the fixed trolling motor housing  20  for the output conduit  42  shown in  FIG. 2  for fluid communication with the water flow system as further described in this application.  
         [0027]     With reference to  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3  and  7 , the rotatable tube  24  may embody a cylindrical-shaped tube. The rotatable cylindrical tube  24  has a plurality of perforations  26 . The perforations  26  may be of any suitable geometric shape including, but not limited to, circle, triangle, square, rectangle, octagon, and hexagon (shown in  FIG. 2 ). The rotatable cylindrical tube  24  has an external diameter that is smaller in comparison to the internal diameter of the fixed trolling motor housing  20 . Desirably, the rotatable tube  24  has a length that is longer in comparison to the length of the fixed trolling motor housing  20 , as particularly shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0028]     Desirably, the rotatable tube  24  is positioned substantially within the cylindrical chamber  22  of the fixed trolling motor housing  20  to create a tube-within-a-tube-type fit. However, it is to be understood that other mated or interactive fits may be utilized. In the desirable embodiment, an upper portion of the rotatable tube  24  extends beyond the upper end of the fixed trolling motor housing  20 , and a lower portion of the rotatable tube  24  extends beyond the lower end of the fixed trolling motor housing  20 . The rotatable tube  24  may be sealed with water-tight seals, such as those known to those skilled in the art, which are conducive to rotation. The seals are provided at the top of and the bottom of the fixed trolling motor housing  20  of the prop-less trolling motor  10 . The seals also serve the role of mounting the rotatable tube  24  in place relative to the fixed trolling motor housing  20 , so that the external surface of the rotatable tube  24  is equidistant from the internal surface of the fixed trolling motor housing  20 . The seals also keep the rotatable tube  24  from sliding out of the fixed trolling motor housing  20 . A handle  30  may be attached to the end of an upper portion of the rotatable tube  24 .  
         [0029]     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the plurality of perforations  26  provide communication through a portion of the rotatable tube  24 , which is positioned within the cylindrical chamber  22  of the fixed trolling motor housing  20 . The perforations  26  provide fluid communication from outside to inside the rotatable tube  24 . The perforations  26  are configured in a manner to maintain structural stability of the rotatable tube  24 , which is exposed to torque during rotation of the rotatable tube  24  and the propulsion housing  46  in operation of the prop-less trolling motor  10 . A watertight seal  25   a  is provided inside of the upper portion of the rotatable tube  24  above the perforations  26 . The watertight seal  25   a  prevents water from flowing out of the upper portion of the rotatable tube  24 . The lower end of the rotatable tube  24  opens through output opening  28 . Communication is provided through passage  44  into cylindrical chamber  22 , through the plurality of perforations  26 , into the interior of rotatable tube  24 , through output opening  28  and into the interior chamber  48  of propulsion housing  46 .  
         [0030]     The propulsion housing  46  is attached with a water-tight seal  25   b  to a lower part of the rotatable tube  24  that protrudes beyond the lower part of the fixed trolling motor housing  20 . A gap may be provided between the propulsion housing  46  and the fixed trolling motor housing  20 . The gap allows propulsion housing  46  to rotate without creating friction against the fixed trolling motor housing  20 .  
         [0031]     With reference to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the external configuration of the propulsion housing  46  may be designed to promote the flow of water around the propulsion housing  46  during operation of the prop-less trolling motor  10  without significant cavitation. The propulsion housing  46  provides an interior chamber  48  in communication with nozzles  52  provided within nozzle housing  50  connected to the propulsion housing  46 . The nozzles  52  are pointed in a manner to direct a flow of water in a direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rotatable tube  24 .  
         [0032]     With reference to  FIG. 7 , on a boat  58  with a prop-less trolling motor  10 , the water flow system is designed to draw water through a filtered inlet  32  and input conduit  34  from a body of water that the boat  58  is navigating and to pump the water through the system to the nozzles  52  of the propulsion housing  46  using the same pump  36 . The water flow system may be characterized structurally with a pre-pump configuration, a pump  36 , and a post-pump configuration detailed particularly in the water flow system schematic shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0033]     With reference to  FIGS. 1, 4  and  5 , the pre-pump configuration of the system includes a filtered intake  32  sealed to a portion of a boat  58  that is below the water surface during operation of the boat  58 . The filtered intake  32  may include a filter suitable to prevent intake of any large matter from the water source. An input conduit  34  is sealed to the filtered intake  32  and may be situated internal to the boat  58 . The input conduit  34  provides fluid communication from the filtered intake  32  to the pump  36 , as particularly shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0034]     The pump  36 , which is preferably also positioned inside of the boat  58 , may be operated via several power sources, such as an electric motor powered through pump power wires  40  by a 12 or 24 volt DC battery  38  or by the engine of the boat  58 . A suitable pump is known to one having ordinary skill in the art. The pump  36  is configured for variable water flow speeds. The pump  36  may be capable of reversing flow in order to flush the water flow system with water during or after operation in a waterway or during the process of winterizing a boat  58 .  
         [0035]     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the post-pump configuration of the system includes an output conduit  42 , the fixed trolling motor housing  20 , rotatable tube  24  and propulsion housing  46 . The output conduit  42  provides fluid communication between the pump  36  and the passage  44  of the fixed trolling motor housing  20 . The passage  44  of the fixed trolling motor housing  20  provides communication to the cylindrical chamber  22  of the fixed trolling motor housing  20  and the plurality of perforations  26  of the rotatable tube  24 . The perforations  26  provide communication from the cylindrical chamber  22  to the interior portion of the rotatable tube  24 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The interior portion of the rotatable tube  24  provides fluid communication through the output opening  28  to the interior chamber  48  of the propulsion housing  46  and, ultimately, to the nozzles  52  of the nozzle housing  50  of the propulsion housing  46 .  
         [0036]     Drawing from a source of water, the pump  36  of the water flow system pulls water through the filtered intake  32 , through the input conduit  34 , and into the pump  36 . The pump  36 , further pumps water through the output conduit  42 , through the passage  44  and into the cylindrical chamber  22  of the fixed trolling motor housing  20 . The pump  36  also pumps the water inside the cylindrical chamber  22  of the fixed trolling motor housing  20  through the plurality of perforations  26  of the rotatable tube  24  into the interior portion of the rotatable tube  24  and out of the output opening  28  into the interior chamber  48  of the propulsion housing  46 . The water is further pumped through the interior chamber  48  of the propulsion housing  46  and out of the nozzles  52 . The hydrodynamic force of the water flowing out of the nozzles  52  provides a source of secondary propulsion for a boat  58  with a primary propulsion mechanism  60 .  
         [0037]     With reference to the schematic shown in  FIG. 4 , the propulsion control system of the prop-less trolling motor  10  is designed to rotate the propulsion housing  46  and rotatable tube  24  of the prop-less trolling motor  10  360° around the longitudinal axis of the rotatable tube  24  of the propulsion control system. The propulsion control system of the prop-less trolling motor  10  may be based upon manual, mechanical, electronic, and wireless control mechanisms. The propulsion control system of the prop-less trolling motor  10  may be manually controlled by pushing against the handle  30  of the rotatable tube  24  to rotate the propulsion housing  46  to direct the nozzles  52  in an appropriate direction. An electric-powered motor  62  having a gear arrangement, may be attached to the fixed trolling motor housing  20 , with the gear designed to drive a mechanism, such as a toothed belt  64  or another gear that is circumferentially configured around the rotatable tube  24 . The motor  62  is capable of rotating the rotatable tube  24  along its longitudinal axis in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The rotation of the gear by the motor  62  drives a toothed belt or another gear associated with the rotatable tube  24  to rotate the attached propulsion housing  46 . It is to be understood that other suitable mechanisms may be employed to rotate the rotatable tube  24 .  
         [0038]     The motor  62  may be controlled with a propulsion housing directional control wire C connected to a thumb pad control  54  having a strap  55 , or a propulsion housing directional control wire E connected to a joystick control  56 . Alternatively, the motor  62  may be controlled by the thumb pad control  54  or joystick control  56  through wireless technology. In an alternate embodiment, the prop-less trolling motor  10  may be controlled via an existing, albeit modified, control panel  66  of a boat. For example, in addition to having controls responsible for operating the motor  62 , a variable speed control  68  may be implemented on the control panel  66  to be operative on the pump  36 .  
         [0039]     With reference to  FIGS. 4, 6   a  and  6   b , the propulsion control system of the prop-less trolling motor  10  controls the power source that powers the speed of the pump  36 . The power source may be an electric motor powered through a pump power wire  40  by battery  38  or the engine of the boat  58 , for example. The speed control may be operated manually with the handle  30  of the rotatable tube  24 . The handle  30  may be designed to rotate, such that an electric signal is sent through the pump control wire A to the power source of a pump  36  to increase or decrease the pump speed. The joystick control  56  may also send an electronic signal to the power source of a pump  36  through a pump control wire D to increase or decrease the pump speed. The thumb pad control  54  may also send an electronic signal to the power source of a pump  36  through a pump control wire B to increase or decrease pump speed. Alternatively, the thumb pad control  54  and the joystick control  56  may utilize wireless technology to control the speed of the pump  36 . It is to be understood that other speed control devices may also be used.  
         [0040]     With reference to  FIG. 7 , the prop-less trolling motor  10  may be incorporated into a boat  58  during manufacture thereof, or may be retrofitted to an existing boat  58 . In either case, the fixed trolling motor housing  20  of the prop-less trolling motor  10  is mounted to, or secured (e.g., welded) within, the hull of a boat  58 . A significant portion of the prop-less trolling motor  10  is designed to be on-board a boat  58 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . The input conduit  34 , pump  36 , and output conduit  42  of the water flow system are either on-board the boat  58  or above the water surface of the navigable water. A portion of the fixed trolling motor housing  20 , rotatable tube  24  and handle  30  may also be above the water surface of the navigable water. All components of the propulsion control system may either be on board the boat  58  or above the water surface of the navigable water. The filtered intake  32  and the propulsion housing  46  and part of the fixed trolling motor housing  20  and rotatable tube  24  are intended to come into contact with a navigable body of water and are therefore below the surface of the water. The components of the prop-less trolling motor  10  and ancillary parts, such as those of the pump  36  and the motor  62 , may be constructed of any suitable material. Desirably, parts exposed to a marine environment may be constructed of stainless steel, plastic, fiberglass, or other suitable marine-worthy material. In addition or alternative to the use of marine-worthy materials, the components of the present invention may be sufficiently shielded from the elements, for example, such as by being sealed within the hull of the boat or some other protective body.  
         [0041]     The invention has been described with reference to the desirable embodiments. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.