Water vessel propulsion system

Abstract

A propulsion system for water vessels using an endless track system in which flexible material is attached to the inside edges of the track to reduce water friction or to reduce the thickness of the endless track. Further improvements include methods of forcing air beneath the tracks and methods of containing air beneath the tracks and methods of providing traction to the water vessel.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A propulsion system for a water vessel comprised of: 
 a deck body or non-rotatable structure attached to a rotatable track or two or more rotatable tracks in which no part of the non-rotatable structure makes direct contact with the water surface or waves in the transportation mode;    said rotatable track or tracks contact the water surface, in which rotation of the said rotatable track or tracks results in movement across the water surface;    said rotatable track or tracks are supported upon sprockets rotatably supported on shafts;    said rotatable track or tracks are curved inward on the outside edges so that the height of the outside edge of said rotatable track or tracks is high enough to prevent surface water or waves from getting on top of the interior part of the said rotatable track or tracks;    a conventional type of power source;    a conventional means of controlling operation of said rotatable tracks.    
     
     
         2 . A propulsion system for a water vessel comprised of: 
 a deck body or non-rotatable structure attached to a rotatable track or two or more rotatable tracks in which no part of the non-rotatable structure makes direct contact with the water surface or waves in the transportation mode;    said rotatable track or tracks contact the water surface, in which rotation of the said rotatable track or tracks results in movement across the water surface;    said rotatable track or tracks are supported upon sprockets rotatably supported on shafts;    flexible water-proof material attached to rigid material, with both materials attached to the inside edge or the side of said rotatable track or tracks so as to prevent surface water or waves going over top of the flexible water-proof material and to prevent surface water or waves from getting on top of the interior part of the said rotatable track or tracks;    a conventional type of power source;    a conventional means of controlling operation of said rotatable tracks.    
     
     
         3 . A propulsion system for a water vessel comprised of: 
 a deck body or non-rotatable structure attached to a rotatable track or two or more rotatable tracks in which no part of the non-rotatable structure makes direct contact with the water surface or waves in the transportation mode;    said rotatable track or tracks contact the water surface, in which rotation of the said rotatable track or tracks results in movement across the water surface;    said rotatable track or tracks are supported upon sprockets rotatably supported on shafts;    cubes or other beneficial shape of inflatable rubber raft-like material connected with air passages attached to the inside edge or the side of said rotatable track or tracks and inflated enough so as to prevent surface water or waves going over top of the inflatable rubber raft-like material and to prevent surface water or waves from getting on top of the interior part of the said rotatable track or tracks;    said cubes or other benificial shape of inflatable rubber raft-like material would be collapsible when in the curve of the rotational path of the said rotatable track or tracks    a conventional type of power source;    a conventional means of controlling operation of said rotatable tracks.    
     
     
         4 . The propulsion system for a water vessel of  claim 3 , wherein a rigid material inside the inflatable rubber raft-like material stucture is attached to the rotatable track or tracks to add support.  
     
     
         5 . The propulsion system for a water vessel of  claim 3 , wherein increased air pressure is introduced to the area where the rotatable track and water make contact, or to the area where the rotatable track and water would normally make contact without the presence of increased air pressure.  
     
     
         6 . The propulsion system for a water vessel of  claim 5 , wherein said increased air pressure is produced by the funnel effect of the shape of the water vessel.  
     
     
         7 . The propulsion system for a water vessel of  claim 3 , wherin air is contained beneath the said rotatable track or tracks due to the shape of the said rotatable track or tracks or due to the shape of the combination of said rotatable track or tracks and attachments to the said rotatable track or tracks.  
     
     
         8 . The propulsion system for a water vessel of  claim 3 , wherein flaps are mounted on said rotatable tracks such that the flaps can be extended or retracted, in the extended stage these flaps extend outward from the outer edge of the rotatable tracks, in the retracted stage these flaps are flush or nearly flush with the outer edge of said rotatable tracks.  
     
     
         9 . The propulsion system for a water vessel of  claim 8 , wherein said flaps are made up of inflatable and deflatable material, inflated flaps would be in the extended stage, deflated flaps would be in the retracted stage.  
     
     
         10 . The propulsion system for a water vessel of  claim 3 , wherein the surface area of the said rotatable tracks are suitable for both water and land transportation, thus making land travel possible for a water vessel with said propulsion system.