Auxiliary propulsion and guidance system for boats

Abstract

Implementations of a boat propulsion and guidance system are provided. In some implementations, the boat propulsion and guidance system comprises one or more conduits and propulsion devices. In some implementations, the boat propulsion and guidance system may further comprise one or more valve devices. In some implementations, the boat propulsion and guidance system may further comprise a controller. In some implementations, a method of using the boat propulsion and guidance system comprises installing the boat propulsion and guidance system to a boat and operating the boat propulsion and guidance system to move (e.g., steer, maneuver, and/or otherwise propel) the boat in one or more directions. In some implementations, the method may further comprise operating the boat propulsion and guidance system to dynamically anchor the boat to remain in a desired position in the water.

1 . A boat propulsion and guidance system comprising:
 a first conduit having a first opening positioned adjacent to a front side and a left side and a second opening positioned adjacent to a back side and a right side such that the first conduit extends diagonally;   a second conduit having a first opening positioned adjacent to the front side and the right side and a second opening positioned adjacent to the back side and the left side such that the second conduit extends diagonally across the first conduit;   a first propulsion device connected to the first conduit and configured to cause a flow of propulsion through the first conduit; and   a second propulsion device connected to the second conduit and configured to cause a flow of propulsion through the second conduit.   
     
     
         2 . The boat propulsion and guidance system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first valve connected to the first conduit adjacent to the first opening of the first conduit and configured to at least partly open up and close off the first conduit; 
 a second valve connected to the second conduit adjacent to the first opening of the second conduit and configured to at least partly open up and close off the second conduit; 
 a third valve connected to the first conduit adjacent to the second opening of the first conduit and configured to at least partly open up and close off the first conduit; and 
 a fourth valve connected to the second conduit adjacent to the second opening of the second conduit and configured to at least partly open up and close off the second conduit. 
 
     
     
         3 . The boat propulsion and guidance system of  claim 2  wherein the first conduit and the second conduit are interconnected at the crossing between the conduits such that propulsion can flow between the first conduit and the second conduit. 
     
     
         4 . The boat propulsion and guidance system of  claim 3  wherein:
 the first propulsion device is positioned adjacent to the first valve such that the first valve can close off the first conduit between the first opening of the first conduit and the first propulsion device; 
 the second propulsion device is positioned adjacent to the second valve such that the second valve can close off the second conduit between the first opening of the second conduit and the second propulsion device; 
 the boat propulsion and guidance system further comprises a third propulsion device connected to the first conduit and configured to cause a flow of propulsion through the first conduit, wherein the third propulsion device is positioned adjacent to the third valve such that the third valve can close off the first conduit between the second opening of the first conduit and the third propulsion device; and 
 the boat propulsion and guidance system further comprises a fourth propulsion device connected to the second conduit and configured to cause a flow of propulsion through the second conduit, wherein the fourth propulsion device is positioned adjacent to the fourth valve such that the fourth valve can close off the second conduit between the second opening of the second conduit and the fourth propulsion device. 
 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The boat propulsion and guidance system of  claim 4  further comprising a controller configured to control the flow of propulsion through the first and second conduits by operating the first, second, third, and fourth propulsion devices and the first, second, third, and fourth valves such that the boat propulsion and guidance system can propel a boat in a desired direction. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The boat propulsion and guidance system of  claim 6  wherein the controller is further configured to control the flow of propulsion through the first and second conduits such that the boat propulsion and guidance system can propel and thereby dynamically anchor the boat such that boat remains at a desired location. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method of using the boat propulsion and guidance system of  claim 1  comprising attaching the boat propulsion and guidance system in an inboard position within the hull of a boat such that front, back, left, and right sides of the boat propulsion and guidance system face toward the front, back, left, and right sides of the boat respectively and the first and second openings of the first and second conduits respectively extend through the hull such that propulsion can flow through the openings and propel the boat in a desired direction. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising controlling a flow of propulsion through the first and second conduits by operating the first and second propulsion devices such that the boat is propelled in a desired direction. 
     
     
         12 . A method of using the boat propulsion and guidance system of  claim 4  comprising attaching the boat propulsion and guidance system in an inboard position within the hull of a boat such that front, back, left, and right sides of the boat propulsion and guidance system face toward the front, back, left, and right sides of the boat respectively and the first and second openings of the first and second conduits respectively extend through the hull such that propulsion can flow through the openings and propel the boat in a desired direction. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising controlling a flow of propulsion through the first and second conduits by operating the first, second, third, and fourth propulsion devices and the first, second, third, and fourth valves such that the boat is propelled in a desired direction. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising closing off the first and second conduits by operating the first, second, third, and fourth valves such that growth and fouling in the conduits by biological material is prevented when the boat propulsion and guidance system is not in use to propel the boat. 
     
     
         15 . A boat propulsion and guidance system comprising:
 a conduit having:
 a first section extending diagonally from a first opening positioned adjacent to a front side and a left side to a first interconnection positioned between the left side and a right side; 
 a second section extending diagonally to the first interconnection from a second opening positioned adjacent to the front side and the right side; 
 a third section extending diagonally from a third opening positioned adjacent to a back side and the left side to a second interconnection positioned between the left side and the right side; 
 a fourth section extending diagonally to the second interconnection from a fourth opening positioned adjacent to the back side and the right side; 
 a fifth section extending between the first interconnection and the second interconnection, wherein the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth sections are interconnected such that propulsion can flow between the sections; 
 a first valve device connected to the first section and the second section and configured to at least partly open up and close off the first section and the second section; 
 a second valve device connected to the third section and the fourth section and configured to at least partly open up and close off the third section and the fourth section; and 
 a propulsion device connected to the fifth section and configured to cause a flow of propulsion through the conduit, wherein the propulsion device is positioned between the first and second valve devices such that the valve devices can close off the propulsion device within the conduit. 
   
     
     
         16 . The boat propulsion and guidance system of  claim 15  wherein:
 the first valve device comprises a first differential valve positioned adjacent to the first interconnection; 
 the second valve device comprises a second differential valve positioned adjacent to the second interconnection; and 
 the boat propulsion and guidance system further comprises an actuator connected to and configured to control the operation of the first differential valve and the second differential valve. 
 
     
     
         17 . The boat propulsion and guidance system of  claim 15  wherein:
 the first valve device comprises:
 a first valve connected to the first section adjacent to the first opening of the conduit and configured to at least partly open up and close off the first section; and 
 a second valve connected to the second section adjacent to the second opening of the conduit and configured to at least partly open up and close off the second section; and 
 
 the second valve device comprises:
 a third valve connected to the third section adjacent to the third opening of the conduit and configured to at least partly open up and close off the third section; and 
 a fourth valve connected to the fourth section adjacent to the fourth opening of the conduit and configured to at least partly open up and close off the fourth section. 
 
 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The boat propulsion and guidance system of  claim 15  further comprising a controller configured to control the flow of propulsion through the conduit by operating the propulsion device and the first and second valve devices such that the boat propulsion and guidance system can propel a boat in a desired direction. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The boat propulsion and guidance system of  claim 19  wherein the controller is further configured to control the flow of propulsion through the conduit such that the boat propulsion and guidance system can propel and thereby dynamically anchor the boat such that boat remains at a desired location. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method of using the boat propulsion and guidance system of  claim 15  comprising attaching the boat propulsion and guidance system in an inboard position within the hull of a boat such that front, back, left, and right sides of the boat propulsion and guidance system face toward the front, back, left, and right sides of the boat respectively and the first, second, third, and fourth openings of the conduit extend through the hull such that propulsion can flow through the openings and propel the boat in a desired direction. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising controlling a flow of propulsion through the conduit by operating the propulsion device and the first and second valve devices such that the boat is propelled in a desired direction. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising closing off the conduit by operating the first and second valve devices such that growth and fouling in the conduit by biological material is prevented when the boat propulsion and guidance system is not in use to propel the boat. 
     
     
         26 . The boat propulsion and guidance system of  claim 1  further comprising a boat wherein the first conduit, the second conduit, the first propulsion device, or the second propulsion device is attached to the hull of the boat.