Marine propulsion system

Abstract

A marine propulsion system comprising: a fuel-filled tank; an air compressor that generates compressed air; an engine that receives fuel from the tank, wherein the air compressor is powered by the engine; and at least one hot gas generator that receives compressed air from the air compressor, the hot gas generator comprising: (a) a combustion chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the compressed gas injected into the combustion chamber at the inlet, the combustion chamber adapted to produce hot gas; (b) an injection nozzle that receives fuel from the tank, the injection nozzle positioned proximate to the inlet of the combustion chamber, the injection nozzle adapted to spray the fuel into the combustion chamber; and (c) an exhaust nozzle positioned at the outlet of the combustion chamber through which the hot gas produced in the combustion chamber is discharged from the hot gas generator.

1 . A marine propulsion system comprising:
 a tank adapted to hold fuel;   an air compressor capable of generating compressed air;   an engine in fluid communication with said tank so as to receive said fuel to operate said engine with, wherein said air compressor is powered by said engine; and   at least one hot gas generator in fluid communication with said air compressor so as to receive at least a portion of said compressed air, said hot gas generator comprising:   (a) a combustion chamber having an inlet and an outlet, said compressed gas injected into said combustion chamber at said inlet, said combustion chamber adapted to produce hot gas;   (b) at least one injection nozzle in fluid communication with said tank so as to receive said fuel, said injection nozzle positioned proximate to said inlet of said combustion chamber, said injection nozzle adapted to spray said fuel into said combustion chamber; and   (c) an exhaust nozzle positioned at said outlet of said combustion chamber through which said hot gas produced in said combustion chamber is discharged from said hot gas generator.   
     
     
         2 . The marine propulsion system according to  claim 1  wherein said exhaust nozzle has a convergent-divergent configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The marine propulsion system according to  claim 1  wherein said exhaust nozzle is adjustable. 
     
     
         4 . The marine propulsion system according to  claim 1  wherein said exhaust nozzle additionally comprises a deflector. 
     
     
         5 . The marine propulsion system according to  claim 1  wherein said compressed air is heated before entering said combustion chamber. 
     
     
         6 . A vehicle comprising the marine propulsion system according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . A vehicle comprising the marine propulsion system according to  claim 2 . 
     
     
         8 . A vehicle comprising the marine propulsion system according to  claim 3 . 
     
     
         9 . A vehicle comprising the marine propulsion system according to  claim 4 . 
     
     
         10 . A vehicle comprising the marine propulsion system according to  claim 5 .