Underwater propulsion method and apparatus
First Claim
1. An underwater propulsion apparatus, which applies an electric field and a magnetic field in substantially perpendicular directions so as to generate an electromagnetic field, comprising:
- magnetic field generating means for generating the magnetic field;
gas electrode means for generating the electric field, which includes an anode having an anode member for hydrogen depolarization and an anode compartment supplied with moist hydrogen gas, and a cathode having a cathode member for oxygen depolarization and a cathode compartment supplied with moist oxygen gas; and
ion exchange means disposed on at least one of a contact portion of the anode with water and a contact portion of the cathode with water;
wherein said apparatus applies electric current across the electrodes so as to generate the electromagnetic field when supplying the moist hydrogen and the moist oxygen to said anode compartment and said cathode compartment, respectively.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The underwater propulsion apparatus, which is mounted on a ship, has the anode and cathode electrodes including an anode compartment and cathode compartment whose electrode materials are separated from seawater in a central duct by the ion exchange membranes so that they are protected from poisoning by seawater. In the method utilizing the apparatus, the anode compartment and cathode compartment are supplied with moist hydrogen and moist oxygen, respectively, so as to substantially suppress the evolution of gas in the duct, which lowers the thrusting force.
13 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An underwater propulsion apparatus, which applies an electric field and a magnetic field in substantially perpendicular directions so as to generate an electromagnetic field, comprising:
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magnetic field generating means for generating the magnetic field; gas electrode means for generating the electric field, which includes an anode having an anode member for hydrogen depolarization and an anode compartment supplied with moist hydrogen gas, and a cathode having a cathode member for oxygen depolarization and a cathode compartment supplied with moist oxygen gas; and ion exchange means disposed on at least one of a contact portion of the anode with water and a contact portion of the cathode with water; wherein said apparatus applies electric current across the electrodes so as to generate the electromagnetic field when supplying the moist hydrogen and the moist oxygen to said anode compartment and said cathode compartment, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of propelling a ship, comprising the steps of:
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generating a magnetic field around an open volume of water; and generating an electric field, substantially perpendicular to said magnetic field, around said open volume of water, without causing gas to evolve, by using gas electrodes disposed on opposite sides of said open volume of water; and disposing at least one ion exchange membrane between at least one of said electrodes and said water. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification