FLUID PROPULSION SYSTEM FOR ACCELERATING AND DIRECTIONALLY CONTROLLING A FLUID

摘要

The invention relates to a system for accelerating and directionally controlling a fluid by using a continuous dynamic surface, being applicable to conventional propulsion systems. According to the invention, the propulsion system for accelerating and directionally controlling a fluid has a continuous dynamic surface (40) for circulating through a fluid from an entrainment region (44) where the fluid is introduced to the dynamic surface (40) towards a thrust region (46) where the fluid is discharged from the dynamic surface (40). The dynamic surface (40) accelerates the fluid proximate to the surface so as to produce a layer of accelerated fluid from the entrainment region (44) through the thrust region (46). An engine is operatively connected to the dynamic surface (40) for driving the dynamic surface (40). A separator plate (60) is positioned next to the dynamic surface (40). The separator plate (60) is provided with a guiding edge (62) for separating the layer of accelerated fluid from the dynamic surface (40), and with a substantially flat thrust face (64) adjacent to the guiding edge (62) for directing the accelerated fluid in a desired direction. The separator plate (60) is positionable in such a manner with respect to the dynamic surface (40) that the edge (62) should be generally placed in the close proximity of the dynamic surface (40), while the thrust face (64) is substantially tangential to the dynamic surface (40) along at least a portion of the thrust region (46).