Abstract: A hydro turbine has a housing with a cylindrical chamber and opposed end walls with laterally spaced smaller rectangular inlets and laterally spaced larger rectangular outlets formed in upper and lower portions of the chamber side wall in horizontally opposed relation. Smaller rectangular inlet ducts adjoin the inlets, and larger rectangular outlet ducts adjoin the outlets. A cylindrical runner surrounding a power take-off shaft is rotatably enclosed in the chamber and has a central cylindrical hub divided into laterally spaced hub portions with a first and second plurality of circumferentially spaced peripheral blades extending angularly outward from each hub portion, the first plurality of blades being circumferentially offset from the second.

Abstract: A device, such as a boat hull and propulsion system, for effecting relative movement of a flowable substance, such as water. A channel having open upstream and downstream ends at least partially defines a flow path. The channel includes a fully laterally closed core section distal the upstream end with a fluid moving rotor rotatably mounted therein and a transition section extending forward from the upstream end of the core section. The channel configuration and rotor are adapted to permit a continual decrease in the transverse cross-sectional area of the flow path downstream along the transition section. If the device is a boat hull, the bow is configured to cause gas lubrication thereof by interaction with the water in motion. The transition sections of the channels may be open-bottomed, and ribs are provided to house drive shafts extending downwardly to the rotors.

Abstract: A thrust tube propulsion system for cargo vessels is disclosed. The propulsion system is incorporated beneath typical cargo vessel hulls by placing in the hull power equipment and by placing below the hull a plurality of longitudinally extending thrust tubes integrally affixed to the hull. Propellers are located within the thrust tubes at approximately the midpoint thereof to propel the vessel.