Device and system for propelling a passenger

Abstract

A propulsion device includes a platform which provides support for a passenger. The platform comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, and cooperates with means for collecting and distributing a pressurized fluid to a primary nozzle expelling the fluid from a fluid outlet in a fluid expulsion direction. The means are supplied with pressurized fluid by a fluid supply conduit. The primary nozzle is oriented substantially from the bow to the stern of the platform. The fluid expulsion direction of the primary nozzle is located in a median plane of the platform. The fluid expulsion direction of the primary nozzle describes defines an angle comprised between −10° and +45° with a longitudinal axis of the platform contained in the median plane. The means for collecting and distributing a fluid cooperate with the platform by an embedding link.

1 . A propulsion device, including a platform which provides support for a passenger, said platform comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, and cooperating with means for collecting and distributing a pressurized fluid to a primary nozzle expelling said fluid from a fluid outlet in a fluid expulsion direction, said means being supplied with pressurized fluid by a fluid supply conduit, wherein:
 the primary nozzle is oriented substantially from the bow to the stern of the platform;   the fluid expulsion direction of the primary nozzle is located in a median plane of the platform;   the fluid expulsion direction of the primary nozzle defines an angle comprised between −10° and +45° with a longitudinal axis of the platform contained in said median plane; and   the means for collecting and distributing a fluid cooperate with the platform by an embedding link.   
     
     
         2 . The propulsion device according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for collecting and distributing a fluid are configured to cooperate with the fluid supply conduit using a pivot link at the proximal part of said conduit. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the platform includes at least two parts consisting of a single and same entity. 
     
     
         4 . The propulsion device according to  claim 1 , wherein the primary nozzle cooperates with the upper surface of the platform, the fluid expulsion direction of said nozzle and the longitudinal axis, said fluid expulsion and longitudinal axis directions being comprised in the median plane of the platform and being substantially parallel to the median plane of the platform. 
     
     
         5 . The propulsion device according to  claim 1 , including means for adjusting the distance between the primary nozzle and the bow of the platform along the longitudinal axis of said platform. 
     
     
         6 . The propulsion device according to  claim 1 , including two co-planar secondary nozzles cooperating with the lower face of the platform in a plane secant to a longitudinal plane of the platform along a transverse axis of the platform, the normal of said longitudinal plane and the normal of said plane secant to the longitudinal plane defining an angle comprised between 0° and 90°. 
     
     
         7 . The propulsion device according to  claim 6 , wherein fluid expulsion directions of the secondary nozzles define an angle R comprised between 60° and 120° relative to one another. 
     
     
         8 . The propulsion device according to  claim 6 , wherein the primary nozzle and the two secondary nozzles constitute a single and same entity in the form of a composite fluid outlet. 
     
     
         9 . The propulsion device according to  claim 6 , including means for independently closing off the fluid outlets of each secondary nozzle. 
     
     
         10 . The propulsion device according to  claim 9 , wherein the closing off means are controlled electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically. 
     
     
         11 . The propulsion device according to  claim 1 , including means for adjusting the angle defined by the fluid expulsion direction of the primary nozzle and the longitudinal axis contained in the median plane containing said fluid expulsion direction. 
     
     
         12 . The propulsion device according to  claim 11 , wherein the adjusting means are controlled electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically. 
     
     
         13 . The propulsion device according to  claim 11 , wherein the adjusting means comprise a directional fluid outlet. 
     
     
         14 . The propulsion device according to  claim 13 , wherein the directional fluid outlet is configured to be oriented along the median plane, said median plane containing the fluid expulsion direction. 
     
     
         15 . The propulsion device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the means for collecting and distributing the pressurized fluid and the primary nozzle include an oblong section. 
     
     
         16 . The propulsion device according to  claim 15 , wherein the means for collecting and distributing the fluid include a connecting elbow. 
     
     
         17 . The propulsion device according to  claim 15 , wherein the fluid outlet of the primary nozzle is coupled to a directional flap. 
     
     
         18 . The propulsion device according to  claim 17 , wherein the directional flap is articulated along the median plane of the platform. 
     
     
         19 . The propulsion device according to  claim 1 , including at least two primary nozzles whereof the respective fluid expulsion directions are substantially parallel to one another. 
     
     
         20 . The propulsion device according to  claim 19 , wherein the means for collecting and distributing a fluid are arranged to distribute the fluid to the different primary nozzles. 
     
     
         21 . The propulsion device according to  claim 1 , including a fairing cooperating with the platform. 
     
     
         22 . The propulsion device according to  claim 1 , including means for maintaining a passenger on the platform. 
     
     
         23 . The propulsion device according to  claim 22 , wherein the means for maintaining a passenger include gripping means. 
     
     
         24 . The propulsion device according to  claim 22 , wherein the means for maintaining a passenger include bearing means. 
     
     
         25 . A propulsion system, including a remote compression station, and a propulsion device according to  claim 1  cooperating with the remote compression station, said station supplying pressurized fluid to said propulsion device. 
     
     
         26 . The propulsion system according to  claim 25 , including a supply conduit connected to the propulsion device and to the remote compression station so that the remote compression station delivers the pressurized fluid to said propulsion device via said supply conduit. 
     
     
         27 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the remote compression station comprises a motorized water vehicle including a hull, and propulsion means compressing, by turbining, a fluid ingested from an inlet and expelling said fluid thus pressurized from a fluid outlet at the rear of said motorized water vehicle.