Patent ID: 7836678

Claim:
A propulsion system for use in a liquid or gas fluid comprising: a vertically oriented, central axially-extending funnel-shaped conduit having a fluid inlet defined by a continuous, circular fluid inlet edge located about a wide edge of said funnel-shaped conduit, and a fluid outlet defined by a continuous, circular fluid outlet edge located about a narrow edge of said funnel-shaped conduit, said funnel shaped wall forming a substantially open interior passageway sized to allow the conveyance of said liquid or gas fluid; wherein an inlet diameter of said fluid inlet is larger than an outlet diameter said fluid outlet, wherein inlet diameter is at least twice said outlet diameter, wherein height of said funnel-shaped conduit is at least equal to three fourths of said outlet diameter; a flow generator rotationally mounted about said central axis of said funnel-shaped conduit and operational to convey said liquid or gas fluid in a direction from said fluid inlet edge toward said fluid outlet edge; an airfoil-shaped wing having a leading edge and a trailing edge, said airfoil-shaped wing is circumferentially connected to said continuous, circular fluid inlet edge, said airfoil-shaped wing defining a cord extending between any point of said leading edge and a respective point of said trailing edge, wherein said cord extends outwardly radially from said forward edge and a plurality of said cords form a plane being substantially perpendicular to said central axis; at least one flow generator support configured to secure said flow generator to said funnel-shaped conduit; and a power source for powering said flow generator, wherein said generated fluid conveyance of said liquid or gas fluid creates lift, whereby said inlet airflow creates a pressure gradient between an upper surface of said airfoil-shaped wing and a lower surface of said airfoil-shaped wing generating a lifting force.