Abstract: The present bow thruster for water vessels comprises a submersible axial flow pumping unit mounted on the outside of the vessel at the bow to be raised to an inoperative position out of the water or lowered to an operative position in the water with its water-flow axis perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline of the vessel. The pumping unit is reversible, and it includes a hydraulic motor and a pump impeller inside an annular housing provided with gate valves at its opposite ends. The gate valve at the discharge end restricts the flow there to increase the thrust produced by the pump. A directional control and a fluid pressure source for the hydraulic motor in the submersible pumping unit are on board the vessel.

Abstract: A steerable propeller arrangement in a watercraft wherein the propeller is mounted in the forward one-half of the hull of the watercraft. The steerable propeller projects downwardly from the bottom portion of the hull and is pivotal about 360.degree.. The propeller is mounted in a downwardly opening cylindrical well in the bottom of the hull and is housed in an inner cylindrical member which is spaced radially inwardly from an outer cylindrical wall defining the well in the hull. The steerable propeller arrangement can be removed from the hull by raising the inner cylindrical member and propeller upwardly into the interior of the watercraft. Thrust blocks are provided between the two cylindrical members to absorb thrust applied by the drivable propeller arrangement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a navigational system and in particular, provides for the use of one or more vessels as shunters for maneuvering larger vessels in restricted waterways, each shunter comprising a body portion, a pair of clamping arms with each arm being pivotably connected at one end thereof to the body of the shunter with the opposed end of each arm being adapted to engage the hull of the vessel to be maneuvered to thereby exert a lateral force on the hull. Preferably, hydraulic jet thrusters are employed for powering the shunters and the shunter and the vessel to be maneuvered are inter-connected by mooring lines.

Abstract: A propulsion unit for a vessel of the type having a compartment watertightly sealed from the remainder of the vessel. The propulsion unit includes a cylindrical housing vertically supported within the compartment. A pump having a drive shaft is supported within the housing, the drive shaft extending into the housing coaxial therewith. A deflector is rotatably supported at the outlet of the housing about an axis coaxial with the axis of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A boat includes a longitudinal water channel along the bottom thereof. A motor driven propeller in the channel circulates water from a forward inlet end thereof to a rear outlet end thereof to advance the boat through the water. Passages are provided which communicate with the channel and which are adapted to discharge water through front and rear openings on the port and starboard sides. Gates are provided for opening these passages. A gate actuating mechanism is provided for opening the front port and rear starboard passages to rotate the boat in one direction about its own vertical axis. Another gate actuating mechanism is provided for opening the front starboard and rear port passages to rotate the boat in the opposite direction about its own vertical axis. Upon being opened, each set of gates serves to block travel of water to the outlet of the channel, and thereby divert all water through the passages.

Abstract: A two-stage axial flow steering and propulsion device has impellers operable by a right-angle reversible drive mounted on a watercraft, and a housing surrounds the blades of the impellers. The housing is mounted for rotation in opposite directions about an axis intersecting with and perpendicular to the blades' rotational axis. The device is therefore capable of a wide range of watercraft steering and propulsion maneuvers. A shroud structure in the form of a venturi-type ring surrounds each of the impellers thereby defining three separate pressure regions of positive pressure ahead of one of the impellers which pulls the fluid when rotating in one direction, a negative pressure between the impellers and a negative pressure behind the other impeller which pushes the fluid when rotating in such one direction.

Abstract: A control system is provided for water-jet propulsion systems for watercraft which provides for lateral maneuvering of the craft, as in docking operations. Water-jet propulsion systems, such as are used on hydrofoil craft, have two normally-parallel jets directed rearwardly of the craft, with individual means for reversing each jet. The angular direction of the jets is controlled by deflectors for use in steering the craft. In accordance with the invention, lateral movement of the craft is effected by moving the jets oppositely into divergent angular positions and simultaneously reversing the direction of one of the jets. This results in a lateral component of movement with a controllable rate and direction of yaw determined by the angles of the jets.

Abstract: An improved bow thruster including a diverter valve with an inlet connected to a water pump, a pair of outlets extending to either side of the boat, a valve mechanism for accurately controlling the amount of thrust obtained from both outlets, and a deflector positioned at each outlet. Each deflector is movable between a first position wherein it allows sideward water discharge to thrust the bow to the side, and a second position wherein it directs water rearwardly to move the boat in a forward direction, or if required, to a third position to move the boat rearwardly.

Abstract: A circular saucer boat which is adapted to be driven by means of a plurality of water jets through prepositioned pipes leading to openings directed radially in four perpendicular directions. The boat comprises a circular framework which is covered by a thin skin which seals the exposed surface of the boat. A circular opening at the top provides space for occupants. An engine and hydraulic pump are provided for generating a flow of sea water which is discharged from the pump through one or more of four pipes leading to the four openings. There are valves in each of the four lines which can be controlled individually or in combination. Speed control can be by the throttle of the engine, or by control of valves which open the pipes to a greater or lesser flow of water.

Abstract: Apparatus for mounting and dismounting a submerged propeller unit to and from the hull of a floating body from the outside thereof comprises a flange in the hull surrounding an opening therein and having passages therein, a flange on the propeller unit having fastening means corresponding to the passages in the hull flange, a drive coupling member on the propeller unit adapted to extend through the hull opening when the propeller unit flange is secured to the hull flange, guides on the propeller unit for guiding the coupling member into the hull opening and for positioning the propeller unit flange with its fastening threaded bores in registry with the passages in the hull flange as the propeller unit is raised to assembled position with its flange against the hull fange, a removable watertight chamber formed in the hull and communicating with the opening therein, cables extending through watertight ways in the hull and adapted to be secured detachably to the propeller unit to raise the same to bring the prop

Abstract: A boat stabilizer system comprising a pair of nozzles attached permanently or temporarily to a boat to extend beneath the boat adjacent the front and rear so that a pressurized stream of water can be directed through the nozzles in a desired dirction to stabilize the boat against wind and current to prevent drifting.

Abstract: A lateral thrust control unit for watercrafts having a pair of tunnels which are directed transversely to the longitudinal axis thereof. Each of the tunnels extend from one side of the watercraft to the oppositely positioned side of the watercraft and have at least one drivable propeller therein. At least one pressure-compensating channel is provided near the tunnels and connects at least one of the zones of differing pressure fields created on the sidewalls of the watercraft as the watercraft moves simultaneously longitudinally and laterally to the pressure field of different potential to equalize the pressure differential therebetween and to reduce the resistance to the lateral movement. The pressure-compensating channels do not have any propulsion devices therein.

Abstract: A dynamic positioning system for a sea-going vessel containing an ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) system utilizes the thrust produced by the sea water effluents resulting from the energy conversion process to position the vessel against wind and ocean current forces. In one preferred embodiment applicable to both cylindrical surface and spar buoy types of vessels, both the warm water and cold water discharges are collected in a common annular plenum and then discharged through nozzles spaced angularly around the periphery of the plenum. Each nozzle is rotatable through a 90.degree. arc in a vertical plane to alter the direction of the discharge water jet and thereby to alter the horizontal component of the thrust or the driving force acting upon the vessel. The nozzles may be selected as to location and angular orientation to attain the net resultant force vector necessary to provide station-keeping or propulsion to the vessel under most any combination of wind and ocean current conditions.

Abstract: A water craft has a hull with a cavity communicating with a sea opening below water level. A conduit formation in the hull has one end opening on a side of the hull directly adjacent the sea opening and below water level and is connected through the interior of the hull and has an opposite end which opens into the cavity at a spaced location from the sea opening.

Abstract: In a bow steering unit for vessels including an axial flow pump having its suction and discharge nozzles intersecting with the hull of the vessel for selectively moving water in opposite directions to maneuver and steer the vessel in corresponding opposite directions, a device is provided for priming the blades of the pump with water during a light draft condition to the vessel and/or during travel of the vessel at a predetermined speed resulting in an under-priming of the blades.

Abstract: A novel method of removing material from the bed of a pond, lake or like body of water utilizing a floating hull having a bow and stern by drawing water from the body of water at a point closely adjacent the hull, forming the drawn water into a plurality of generally parallel pressurized streams inclined to the horizontal directed rearwardly from the stern, releasing the pressurized streams in the body of water at points substantially removed and generally equidistant from the hull and adjacent the material thereby creating a material-water admixture and simultaneously propelling the hull in a forward bow leading direction, withdrawing the material-water admixture from the body of water, and additionally forming the drawn water into two additional pressurized streams which are selectively released in the body of water at points sidewise removed from the hull adjacent the bow and below the water surface for steering the hull during its forward stern-leading motion.

Abstract: A hydraulic motor or pump constituted by an inner and outer helical gear pair. The outer member of the pair is secured to one of the sections of at least one water swivel, and the inner member is connected to the other section by cooperating elements associated with at least one end of the inner member and the other section, which prevent relative rotation while permitting relative gyration of the inner member with respect to said outer member. The stationary section of the swivel serves as a mounting for the device. One or more gears, sprockets, pulleys or propellers may be secured to the rotating member of the pair, if it is the outer member which rotates, or to the rotating section of the swivel. By driving the rotating member, fluid may be pumped through the device, the direction of flow depending on the direction of rotation.

Abstract: A water propulsion device for boats having a plurality of housings bolted together so as to be partially submerged in water requiring no lift and a minimum of drag to the water passing horizontally therethrough. A shoulder on each side of the housing prevents water from flowing over the housing. A vertical wall in the housing divides the water into two jet streams whose reactive forces are imparted to the boat, each of which water jet impinges on an arcuate deflector plate to effect the steering of the boat. The steering mechanism consists of a slide bar whose position determines the forward and rearward movement of the boat while a cam plate and turn arm cooperate to determine the turning moments of the boat.

Abstract: A motor driven pump, located substantially at the center of mass of a boat and its fixed contents, is provided with a series of selectively effective, aligned openings for taking in water from a selected direction and discharging it in the same direction, so that the boat can be shifted at will forward, backward, sidewise or obliquely without substantially affecting the orientation of the keel of the boat. Provision is made for the utilization of the same pump (1) for pumping out and discharging bilge water; (2) for utilizing water from the body of water in which the boat floats to fight fires; and (3) for turning the boat through simultaneous utilization of disaligned intake and discharge passages. Provision is further made for the optional use of an auxiliary boat driving motor in the stern of the boat with slide member for smoothly covering and streamlining the auxiliary motor operating space when such motor is withdrawn therefrom.

Abstract: This invention relates to mechanically-actuated ahead-and-astern propulsion of marine vessels by means of a reversible hydraulic-jet ejector structure composed in part of oppositely-directed ejector stagings disposed centrally within a longitudinal open-channel conduit formed into the hull of the vessel. The reversible ejector structure may be alternately actuated by members of an oppositely-directed pair of remotely-driven pump-jet rotor nacelles submerged within the open-channel conduit, and disposed to supply high-velocity motive fluid to their respective secondary-nozzle pair members of the oppositely-directed ejector stagings. The pump-jet rotor nacelles may be remotely driven by right-angle drive shafts housed within supporting structural struts, and actuated by machinery internal to the vessel. The rotor assembly of each pump-jet nacelle may include variable-pitch blading whose operating adjustment may regulate the quantity and velocity of motive fluid supplied to its respective ejector staging.

Abstract: A marine vessel is propelled by pumping water from a water intake line through a horizontal nozzle into a first generally horizontal submerged passageway containing a venturi section and extending from an internal chamber surrounding the nozzle to a submerged outlet in the hull of the vessel and admitting supplemental water into the chamber through a second generally horizontal submerged passageway extending into the chamber from a submerged inlet in the hull of the vessel and through a generally vertical passageway extending into the chamber beneath the nozzle from a bottom inlet in the hull of the vessel.