Asymmetric propulsion and maneuvering system

• US 9,873,499 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2015
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
• Original Assignee: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
• Inventors: Austin, Thomas, Purcell, Michael, Jaffre, Frederic, Kaeli, Jeffrey, Allen, Ben, Littlefield, Robin
• Primary Examiner(s): Swinehart, Edwin
• Application Number:
  US14/762,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20170015398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 1/14 Propellers pitch changing B63H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 1/26 Blades
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/42 Steering or dynamic anchoring by propulsive elements by jets B63H25/46; Steering or dynamic anchoring by propellers used therefor only; Steering or dynamic anchoring by rudders carrying propellers

Abstract

An asymmetric propulsion mechanism capable of providing both axial thrust as well as lateral maneuverability from a single axis of rotation is described. The mechanism may be used on aquatic vehicles to minimize cost and maximize reliability and endurance. The mechanism comprises one or more propeller blades disposed asymmetrically around a rotating hub under the guidance of a control system including a motor capable of driving the propeller at various radial speeds throughout the course of a single revolution.

Claims

1. A marine propulsion system comprising:

a. a motor;

b. a motor driven propeller having a central hub with an axis of rotation with at least one thrusting surface which revolves around the axis of rotation; and

,

c. a controlling mechanism in communication with the motor;

wherein the controlling mechanism is capable of regulating the motor speed to produce differential velocity within a single revolution of the propeller across sequential rotations and generate a turning moment.

2. The propulsion system of claim 1, wherein said at least one thrusting surface is disposed asymmetrically around the central hub.

3. The propulsion system of claim 1, wherein at least two thrusting surfaces are disposed asymmetrically around the central hub.

4. The propulsion system of claim 1, wherein the propeller is an asymmetric propeller, and the asymmetric thrust is generated from the rotation of the propeller.

5. The propulsion system of claim 1, wherein the asymmetric thrust arises from means selected from a group consisting of asymmetric positioning of one or more thrusting surfaces around the central hub, a variance in blade shape, a variance in blade orientation, a variance in sweep angle, an uneven number of thrusting surfaces, and a combination thereof.

6. The propulsion system of claim 1, wherein each said at least one thrusting surface comprises a blade selected from the group consisting of spoons, grooves, projections, slabs, curved plates, and flat plates.

7. The propulsion system of claim 6, further comprising at least one thrusting surface with a blade sweep angle less than 90 degrees.

8. The propulsion system of claim 7, further comprising at least one thrusting surface with a blade sweep angle that is between 1 and 30 degrees.

9. The propulsion system of claim 1, wherein the controlling mechanism is in communication with a sensor which is capable of determining the location of at least one thrusting surface in rotation.

10. The propulsion system of claim 1, wherein the controlling mechanism comprises a blade localizing means to localize the position of at least one thrusting surface.

11. The propulsion system of claim 10, wherein the controlling mechanism further comprises a means to determine the radial velocity required at said position, and a means to vary the rotational velocity of the motor within a single revolution and between successive revolutions.

12. The propulsion system of claim 1, wherein the propulsion system is disposed on an aquatic vehicle.

13. The propulsion system of claim 12, wherein one or more asymmetric propulsion systems is disposed on the aquatic vehicle in a location selected the group consisting of from the back end of the vehicle, the front end of the vehicle, a side portion of the vehicle, the top of the vehicle, the bottom of the vehicle, and one or more combinations thereof.

14. A propulsion system comprising:

a. A motor;

b. A motor driven propeller capable of rotation about an axis comprising one or more thrusting surfaces disposed asymmetrically around the axis; and

,

c. A controlling mechanism in communication with said motor;

wherein said controlling mechanism is capable of producing a reproducible pattern of differential velocity within a single revolution of the propeller across sequential rotations to generate a desired thrusting force.

15. The propulsion system of claim 14, wherein the controlling mechanism is capable of producing a pattern of varying rotational velocity of the propeller within a single revolution and between successive revolutions.

16. The propulsion system of claim 14, further comprising a blade localizing means which is capable of determining the location of at least a portion of the propeller during a rotation, wherein the blade localizing means is in communication with the controlling mechanism.

17. The propulsion system of claim 14, wherein each thrusting surface comprises a blade selected from the group consisting of spoons, grooves, projections, slabs, curved plates or flat plates.

18. The propulsion system of claim 14, further comprising at least one thrusting surface with a blade sweep angle less than 90 degrees.

19. The propulsion system of claim 18, further comprising at least one thrusting surface with a blade sweep angle between 1 and 30 degrees.

20. The propulsion system of claim 14, wherein the propulsion system is disposed on an aquatic vehicle.

21. The propulsion system of claim 20, wherein one or more asymmetric propulsion systems is disposed on the aquatic vehicle in a location selected the group consisting of from the back end of the vehicle, the front end of the vehicle, a side portion of the vehicle, the top of the vehicle, the bottom of the vehicle, and one or more combinations thereof.

22. A method for maneuvering the direction of an aquatic vehicle comprising:

a. providing an asymmetric propulsion system with one or more thrusting surfaces capable of asymmetric thrust by reproducibly causing within a single revolution velocity differential and between successive revolutions repeating said velocity differential; and

b. engaging a controlling mechanism of said asymmetrical propulsion system, thereby generating asymmetric thrust.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the asymmetric thrust is generated at least in part within a single revolution and between successive revolutions.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the asymmetrical thrust is used to turn said aquatic vehicle.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the asymmetric thrust is generated by the regulating the motor speed to vary rotational velocity of the propeller one or more times per revolution and over successive revolutions.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the asymmetric thrust is generated by variance in blade geometry of one or more thrusting surfaces disposed on the central hub.