Frank W Peterson DeceasedGerald, TX

5476401, Dec 19, 1995

Sep 30, 1994

8/314301

Frank B. Peterson - McLean VA
Charles M. Dai - Potomac MD
John F. McMahon - Rockville MD

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

B63H 11103

440 42

The invention is directed to an improved water jet propulsion system for a marine vehicle. The water jet propulsion system of the present invention incorporates an unconventional and compact design including a short, steep, hydrodynamically designed inlet duct adapted for mounting to the surface of the vehicle hull and extending internally thereof, a water jet pump having an inlet end attached to the outlet end of the inlet duct, a motor for rotating the pump impeller, a drive shaft located completely outside of the flow path connecting the motor with the pump impeller, a flow passage for discharging accelerated flow received from the pump in a generally rearward direction, and a steering and reversing mechanism pivotably mounted about a substantially vertical axis to the aft portion of the vehicle hull for redirect accelerated flow received from the outlet nozzle so as to provide maneuvering capability to the vehicle.

5445105, Aug 29, 1995

Sep 30, 1994

8/313617

Benjamin Y.-H. Chen - Potomac, both of MD
Carol L. Tseng - Potomac MD
Frank B. Peterson - McLean VA

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

B63G 808

114338

A torque balanced propulsor unit for a submersible vehicle of the type having a bow, a stern, a longitudinally extending central section axisymmetric about a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and including therein a maximum diameter of the vehicle, and a tapered aft section axisymmetric about the longitudinal axis is provided. The torque balanced propulsor unit includes a rotor for providing a forward thrust to the vehicle. The rotor includes a central axisymmetric hub and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart impeller blades extending radially from the central hub. The rotor is rotationally mounted to the tapered aft section of the vehicle. The rotor has a first torque associated therewith. The torque balanced propulsor unit further includes a stator for producing a second torque on the vehicle. The stator is secured to the vehicle at a location aft of the rotor.

6276293, Aug 21, 2001

Aug 4, 1999

9/368183

Young T. Shen - Potomac MD
Frank B. Peterson - McLean VA

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

B63B 2700

114271

A skidplate projecting into a body of water from a marine craft hull has a symmetric wedge formation extending from the leading edge to differently profiled surfaces on opposite sides of the skidplate producing lift and side force during travel. No side force is however produced during straight line travel by virtue of ventilated cavity enclosure of the profiled surfaces on both sides between cavity establishing streamlines extending through the water from the symmetric wedge formation.

6171159, Jan 9, 2001

Sep 7, 1999

9/391604

Young T. Shen - Potomac MD
Frank B. Peterson - McLean VA
Scott Gowing - North Potomac MD

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

B63H 11117

440 43

The inventive apparatus exercises control of the water flow which is discharged from a marine waterjet propulsor. Typical inventive embodiments comprise plural horizontal and plural vertical blade-like structures which together describe an open-ended, box-like rectilinear configuration characterized by at least two adjacent channels. Every vertical blade-like structure includes, at its aft end, a "steering" flap which is pivotable about a vertical axis. Some inventive embodiments advance marine craft reversing by implementing one or more bucket-like devices behind the inventive apparatus. According to many inventive embodiments, every vertical blade-like structure (other than the two laterally extreme vertical blade-like structures) has a steering flap attributed with lengthwise severability (as if severed by a vertical plane) into two sub-flaps, each sub-flap itself being pivotable about the same vertical axis; in cooperation therewith, the marine craft is reversed by implementing plural "backing" flaps (included in the bottom-side horizontal blade-like structure or structures) which are each pivotable about a horizontal axis. The inventively coordinated movements and dispositions of the flaps, sub-flaps and/or bucket-like devices effect steerable and/or reversible maneuverability of the marine craft. Utilization of the present invention is especially efficacious in the context of waterjet propulsion systems wherein the water flow is discharged underwater; underwater-discharge marine waterjet propulsion, practically unknown but theoretically recognized for its potential benefits, is rendered a real and viable option by the present invention.

5028210, Jul 2, 1991

Jan 5, 1990

7/461586

Frank B. Peterson - McLean VA
William E. Schneider - Annapolis MD
Christopher N. Sears - Shady Side MD
Darrel J. Brydebell - Arnold MD
Mark W. Smith - Gaithersburg MD

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

B63H 2117

416164

An improved integral marine propulsion unit is disclosed that can generate a thrust vector in any of three degrees of motion. The unit utilizes both collective and cyclic propeller blade pitch angle variation to generate these thrust. This unit obviates the need for control surfaces and rudders for motion control of a marine vessel. Additionally, this unit provides flexibility in external propulsor arrangements on a marine hull. The unit integrates the swash plate mechanism and actuators within the central bore of a ring type prime mover.