Fluid-based propulsive motor

Abstract

A motor for providing thrust to a vehicle moving in a fluid medium. The motor includes a first conduit having an interior and a fluid egress portion at a first end of the first conduit, a second conduit coupled to the first conduit, the second conduit being fluidly coupled to a source of pressurized fluid and to the interior of the first conduit, and a third conduit at least partially disposed within the first conduit at a second end of the first conduit and fluidly coupled to the fluid medium.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A motor for providing thrust to a vehicle moving in a fluid medium, the motor comprising:
 a first conduit having an interior and a fluid egress portion at a first end of the first conduit;   a second conduit coupled to the first conduit, the second conduit being fluidly coupled to a source of pressurized fluid and to the interior of the first conduit; and   a third conduit at least partially disposed within the first conduit at a second end of the first conduit and fluidly coupled to the fluid medium.   
     
     
         2 . The motor of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first, second and third conduits is tubular. 
     
     
         3 . The motor of  claim 1 , wherein the first conduit has a cross-sectional area, a portion of the third conduit disposed within the first conduit has a cross-sectional area, and the cross-sectional area of the portion of the third conduit disposed within the first conduit is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the first conduit. 
     
     
         4 . The motor of  claim 1 , wherein the first conduit has a cross-sectional area, the third conduit comprises a nozzle portion external to the first conduit and having a cross-sectional area, and the cross-sectional area of the nozzle is at least as large as the cross-sectional area of the first conduit. 
     
     
         5 . The motor of  claim 1 , wherein the second conduit is not directly coupled to the third conduit. 
     
     
         6 . A vehicle configured to move in a fluid medium, the vehicle comprising:
 a source of pressurized fluid;   a first conduit having an interior and a fluid egress portion at a first end of the first conduit;   a second conduit coupled to the first conduit, the second conduit being fluidly coupled to the source of pressurized fluid and to the interior of the first conduit; and   a third conduit at least partially disposed within the first conduit at a second end of the first conduit and fluidly coupled to the fluid medium.   
     
     
         7 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the source of pressurized fluid comprises an impeller. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first, second and third conduits is tubular. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the first conduit has a cross-sectional area, a portion of the third conduit disposed within the first conduit has a cross-sectional area, and the cross-sectional area of the portion of the third conduit disposed within the first conduit is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the first conduit. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the first conduit has a cross-sectional area, the third conduit comprises a nozzle portion external to the first conduit and having a cross-sectional area, and the cross-sectional area of the nozzle is at least as large as the cross-sectional area of the first conduit. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the second conduit is not directly coupled to the third conduit.