Abstract: Presented is a fluid propulsor for propelling a vehicle that incorporates a Coanda Effect Inducer (CEI), more commonly called an inlet fluid inducer in this application, in its inlet to induce fluids passing by the vehicle to turn uniformly toward a powered fluid energizing device such as a rotor of the propulsor. This concept enhances the efficiency of the rotor and the overall efficiency of the propulsor. The rotor is preferably at least primarily enclosed in a housing and the rotor may operate either fully submerged in liquid or in a partially liquid and partially gaseous environment. The CEI and the powered fluid energizing device are, in the preferred embodiment, installed in an inlet housing of the propulsor. Fluid flow directing devices may be incorporated to separate liquid from gas flowing to the rotor in some instances.

Abstract: Presented is an improved concept for deriving power from flowing fluid currents in the form of a radial outflow turbine that drives a generator. Fluid normally enters the turbine rotor axially and exits radially through power generating elements. Such power generating elements may be airfoil or more blunt shaped where, in the latter instance, rotor rotational power is generated by trailing edge vortex forces acting on the power generating elements. The instant invention turbogenerator may be utilized in either gas or liquid and examples of both are given. Drive fluids are normally derived from the earth's natural occurring fluid currents.

Abstract: Presented is a way to reduce the wave drag of high speed ships by ingesting wave energy into water propulsors disposed at the bow and/or on the sides of the main hull of the ship. A forward secondary bow disposed at a lower portion of the main bow of the ship is an optimum location to have bow water propulsor water inlets. Performance of the water propulsors can be enhanced by using Coanda effect water energizers at the inlets to the water propulsors. Water propulsor discharge is preferably into an air layer on the underside of the ship's main hull.

Abstract: This invention defines a low cost easily installed aerostabilizer, more commonly called a wing or spoiler, for vehicles that rises from a more horizontal than vertical orientation that it maintains at constant or accelerating speeds to a more vertical than horizontal orientation during braking of the vehicle. Power for change to the more vertical orientation is provided from either vacuum or pressure applied to a pneumatic powering device. Low cost is maintained by use of vacuum from the vehicle's engine and/or from gas pressure from the vehicle's spare tire with other sources for either vacuum or gas pressure optional. Direction of pneumatic forces is made by braking valves that preferably derive their power from the vehicle's brake system.

Abstract: Presented is a physically and environmentally attractive fluid energy powered rotor driven power generation system that very efficiently extracts energy from both wind and water currents and that offers easy low cost manufacture, transportation, and installation due to its modular pre-fabricated design concepts. It achieves its high efficiencies by redirecting incoming fluids forward to add positive rotational energy to a side of the rotor what would otherwise have an anti-rotational drag force component.

Abstract: Presented is a physically and environmentally attractive fluid energy powered rotor driven power generation system that very efficiently extracts energy from both wind and water currents and that offers easy low cost manufacture, transportation, and installation due to its modular pre-fabricated design concepts. It achieves its high efficiencies by redirecting incoming fluids forward to add positive rotational energy to a side of the rotor what would otherwise have anti-rotational drag.

Abstract: Presented is a physically and environmentally attractive fluid energy powered rotor driven power generation system that is attached to an anchored waterborne device such as a boat hull such that the power generation device is automatically directed so that its water inlet is facing oncoming water currents. In its optimum configuration, it achieves high efficiencies by redirecting incoming fluids forward to add positive rotational energy to a side of the rotor what would otherwise have an anti-rotational drag force component. The power generation system is, in its preferred arrangement, rotatable so that it may be removed from the water for cleaning or during transport of the waterborne device. A remotely controlled buoy system may be incorporated to raise or lower the anchoring line.

Abstract: Presented is a beachable high speed marine vehicle with air cushioned hull(s) capable of transporting heavy loads at very high speeds to beachheads and then departing the beachhead under its own power. The artificially pressurized air cushions allow the bow of the vehicle to be raised to the water surface at all speeds including when stationary. The design of the forward end of the air cushion recesses allows both high speed breaking of water from the hull at that point and backing off of the beachheads in spite of sand, rocks, and the like being inside the air cushion forward end. An optional upward raising secondary bow is also described. Monohull, multi-hulled such as catamaran, and outrigger hull versions of the same conceptual invention are disclosed with all derived from the same basic concepts regarding loading and unloading of cargo, beaching abilities, air cushion performance, and other features.

Abstract: Presented is a water propulsion system for ships that enhances the efficiency of both the water propulsor(s) and the ship itself. This is accomplished by location of water inlet(s) for the water propulsor(s) to take advantage of water flow characteristics around a secondary bow of the ship and also proximal a stern of the ship. A primary object is to reduce the energy of the bow and/or stern waves of the ship and hence reduce the ship's wave making resistance. A secondary object is to reduce the frictional resistance of the ship. The water propulsors are preferably electrically driven with built in stator field windings and armatured rotors. A bow oriented water propulsor(s) would preferably have its discharge into a gas cavity in the underside of the ship. Both bow oriented and stern oriented water propulsor(s) would optimally have steering and/or reversing mechanisms.

Abstract: Presented in an advanced amphibious marine vehicle that incorporates retractable land drives for operation over beaches or other hard surfaces. In the preferred embodiment, the land drives retract into hull recesses when the vehicle is waterborne so as not to add water resistance when waterborne. Power for water propulsion as well as land drive is normally supplied from the same propulsor motor(s) for simplicity. Land drives may incorporate tracks, tires, or other land contact mechanisms.

Abstract: Presented in an advanced high speed air cushioned marine vehicle that incorporates retractable land drives for operation over beaches or other hard surfaces. The land drives retract into air cushion hull recesses when the vehicle is waterborne so as not to add water resistance at high waterborne speeds. Power for water propulsion as well as land drive is normally supplied from the same propulsor motor(s) for simplicity. Land drives may incorporate tracks, tires, or other land contact mechanisms.

Abstract: Presented is an improved Surface Effect Ship (SES) that offers the high efficiencies of the pressurized air cushion supported generic flexible bow and stern seal SES but without the generic SES's shortcomings that are due largely to its 80 percent total hull width flexible bow and stern seals. This is accomplished in the instant invention by use of forward extending rigid bow members positioned both sides of a pressurized hull supporting gas cushion where the width of the sidehulls make up a majority of the width of the instant invention improved surface effect ship with the remainder, less than 35 percent of vessel width normally, made up by a gas cushion forward seal member disposed between the bow members. Gas cushions may extend forward into undersides of the sidehull bow members to further reduce wetted area resistance. Longitudinally oriented fluid fences may be incorporated to at least partially separate portions of the gas cushion and thereby dampen pressure perturbations in the gas cushion(s).

Abstract: Presented is an advanced Surface Effect Ship (SES) that offers the high efficiencies of the pressurized air cushion supported generic flexible bow and stern seal SES but without the generic SES's shortcomings that are due largely to its generally about 80 percent total hull width flexible bow and stem seals. Advantages are accomplished by the instant invention by use of forward extending rigid bow members positioned both sides of a pressurized hull supporting gas cushion such that the width of the sidehulls, preferably, make up a majority of the width of the instant invention advanced surface effect ship with the remainder, normally less than 35 percent of vessel width, made up by a gas cushion forward moveable seal member disposed between the bow members. Gas cushions may extend forward into undersides of the sidehull bow members to further reduce wetted area resistance.

Abstract: Presented is a lifting body ship that has a blower pressurized air layer disposed in the underside of its lifting body such that the air layer reduces wetted area friction and hence the propulsive power required is greatly reduced. Further, a water propulsor is supplied that takes in water through transversely oriented water inlets in the top of the lifting body to thereby reduce turbulence and its associated drag that would normally occur over the top of the lifting body.

Abstract: Presented is an efficient propulsion system for boats that operates, with the boat going forward at high speeds, with its fluid accelerating rotor operating on an air and water mixture. The rotor is disposed, as seen in vertical transverse planes of the boat, at least in its majority to sides of hulls of the boat. The lower periphery of the rotor is proximal a keel of the boat when the boat is moving forward at high speed thereby insuring a shallow draft situation. When the boat is going in reverse, the rotor is supplied only with water so that it can act to pressurize the water in its discharge. The pressurized water from the rotor discharge is then reversed by one or more reversing buckets. An inlet flow adjusting system, inlet flow directing vanes, and air fences are options. This efficient new propulsion system for boats may be applied to all manner of boats including monohulls and multi-hulls.

Abstract: Presented is a retractable substantially full passenger cab height cover for vehicle rear portions that renders the vehicle's rear portion open to transport cargo when the full cab height cover is retracted and covered at a full, or nearly so, passenger cab height when the full cab height cover is extended. It has application to all manner of vehicles such as pickup trucks or sport utility vehicles (SUV's) and may be designed in and sold as original factory equipment or sold as an aftermarket product. It is possible, by use of a fold down first tailgate disposed between the passenger cab and the rear portion of the vehicle and fold down rear passenger seat elements to have a very lengthy distance, from a second tailgate at the rear of the vehicle to just behind the driver's seat, for extra passenger seating, storage of cargo, carrying of small boats, or the like. A further refinement includes a multi-system sealing system disposed between elements of the retractable cargo bed cover.

Abstract: The instant invention presents enhancements to waterjet propulsors used for propelling marine vehicles including a way to bleed off aerated boundary layer water from the inlet of the waterjet propulsor, air fences to further help in preventing aerated boundary layer water from entering the inlet of the waterjet propulsor, and a way to preclude water from entering the waterjet's water inlet when the waterjet is not operating and the marine vehicle is moving forward at high speed.

Abstract: Presented is a vehicle aerostabilizer(s) that is at least partially actuated by momentum forces generated on a weight when the vehicle is decelerating as when the brakes are applied. Movement of the weight translates forces to the vehicle aerostabilizer that cause the aerostabilizer to rotate to a more vertical position thereby adding aerodynamic drag forces to help slow the vehicle. Several options to doing this are offered including two or more aerostabilizers that may or may not rotate in concert. Much is dependent upon having an aerodynamically and weight balanced aerostabilizer(s) and limits on such balance are described. Damping systems to provide smooth operation and movement of the weight(s) and the aerostabilizers are also offered.

Abstract: Presented is an improved Surface Effect Ship (SES) that offers the high efficiencies of the pressurized air cushion supported generic flexible bow and stern seal SES but without the generic SES's shortcomings that are due largely to its 80 percent total hull width flexible bow and stern seals. This is accomplished in the instant invention by use of forward extending rigid bow members positioned both sides of a pressurized hull supporting gas cushion where the width of the sidehulls make up a majority of the width of the instant invention improved surface effect ship with the remainder, less than 35 percent of vessel width normally, made up by a gas cushion forward seal member disposed between the bow members. Gas cushions may extend forward into undersides of the sidehull bow members to further reduce wetted area resistance. Longitudinally oriented fluid fences may be incorporated to at least partially separate portions of the gas cushion and thereby dampen pressure perturbations in the gas cushion(s).

Abstract: Presented is an enhanced Surface Effect Ship (SES) that offers the high efficiencies of the pressurized air cushion supported generic flexible bow and stern seal SES but without the generic SES's shortcomings that are due largely to its 80 percent total hull width flexible bow and stem seals. This is accomplished in the instant invention by use of forward extending rigid bow members positioned both sides of a pressurized hull supporting gas cushion where the width of the sidehulls make up a majority of the width of the instant invention enhanced surface effect ship with the remainder, less than 35 percent of vessel width normally, made up by a moveable seal member disposed between the bow members. Gas cushions may extend forward into undersides of the bow members to further reduce wetted area resistance. Longitudinally oriented fluid fences may be incorporated to at least partially separate portions of the gas cushion and thereby dampen pressure perturbations in the gas cushion(s).