Patent ID: 8651903

Claim:
A hydro-propulsion apparatus operably coupled to a watercraft comprising: at least one fluid chamber, said at least one fluid chamber having at least one wall, a top and a bottom forming an interior volume, said at least one fluid chamber having an aft opening; at least one inlet valve, said at least one inlet valve operable to allow water to flow into said interior volume of said at least one fluid chamber, said at least one inlet valve configured to substantially inhibit water disposed within said interior volume from flowing outward through said inlet valve; at least one propulsion member, said at least one propulsion member movably mounted within said interior volume of said at least one fluid chamber, said at least one propulsion member having a first end and a second end, said at least one propulsion member operable to laterally oscillate within said interior volume so as to displace water therefrom via said aft opening; a shaft, said shaft having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion of said shaft being operably coupled to said first end of said at least one propulsion member, said shaft being at least partially rotatable; a plurality of vanes, said vanes being mounted proximate said aft opening, said vanes operable to substantially inhibit water turbulence as water flows outward via said aft opening; a leverage apparatus, said leverage apparatus being connected to said second portion of said shaft, said leverage apparatus being disposed within the watercraft, said leverage apparatus operable to at least partially rotate said shaft so as to laterally oscillate said at least one propulsion member; and wherein the discharge of water from said aft opening of said at least one fluid chamber is operable to propel the watercraft.