Disposable Net Projectile for Water Jet Propulsion Interruption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for stopping personal water crafts (PWCs) are either lethal or cause significant damage, and existing non-lethal methods like nets are cumbersome and expensive, with a need for a safer, more efficient way to temporarily disable PWCs without harming operators or vessels.
Innovation Solution
A biodegradable, malleable device with a negatively buoyant head section and positively buoyant tentacle-like tail sections designed to be launched and ingested by the PWC's propulsion system, using granular material for weight and water-soluble foam for buoyancy, with hydrophilic tail sections that absorb water and stick to the propulsion system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If firearms or artillery are used to stop PWCs, then the operator can be stopped or disabled, but lethal injury or irreparable damage to the PWC may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable net projectiles that are inexpensive to manufacture and replace. These nets are designed to be used once and then discarded, eliminating the need for expensive, complex recovery systems while still achieving the goal of stopping the PWC without lethal force
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential function of stopping a PWC from complex systems (firearms, large net launchers) and implements it through a simple, standalone net projectile that can be launched by smaller vessels, removing unnecessary complexity and cost
2Reliability
If large nets are used to trap and restrain PWCs, then the PWC can be physically restrained, but the launcher becomes physically unmanageable on smaller water vessels and very expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The net system is segmented into small, individual projectile units that can be easily launched from smaller vessels. Each projectile is a self-contained net that can be independently deployed, breaking down the complex large-net system into manageable, affordable components
Solution Approach 2:
The net projectiles are designed as inexpensive, disposable units that eliminate the need for costly, complex recovery systems. The low cost allows smaller vessels to afford the technology while maintaining effectiveness
3Reliability
If nets are deployed to stop PWCs, then the PWC can be restrained, but the net can get entangled with the PWC's impeller causing irreparable vessel damage
Solution Approach 1:
The net projectiles are designed as disposable items that are easily replaced. If a net becomes entangled in the impeller, it can be quickly removed and replaced without causing permanent damage to the vessel or requiring expensive repairs
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to discard the net projectile after use rather than attempting complex recovery. This simplifies the system and eliminates the risk of damaged recovery equipment causing further harm to the PWC
4Object-affected harmful factors
If deployed nets are recovered from the water to prevent entanglement, then safety is improved, but significant time, equipment, and expense are required
Solution Approach 1:
The net projectiles are designed as disposable items that remain in the water after use. Their low cost and small size mean they pose minimal risk to marine life and other vessels, eliminating the need for time-consuming and expensive recovery operations
Solution Approach 2:
The recovery function is extracted from the system entirely. Instead of requiring complex recovery equipment and procedures, the system simply discards the used net projectiles, which are designed to be harmless when left in the water
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively and reversibly stops PWCs without causing damage or injury, allowing for safe and efficient operation resumption, with minimal environmental impact and no need for extensive recovery processes.
Implementation Method 1
Dense, weighted material can be comprised of granular material such as sand or other environmentally suitable material that provides a dense weight to the head section. This dense material provides enough mass to launch the system over long distances.
Implementation Method 2
A positively buoyant material, such as water-soluble foam, may be used to ensure that the net buoyancy of the head section is only slightly negative.
Implementation Method 3
the tail sections are made of a hydrophilic material that absorbs water, becomes tacky, and sticks to portions of the PWC's propulsion system
Implementation Method 4
the tail sections are made of a hydrophilic material that absorbs water, becomes tacky, and sticks to portions of the PWC's propulsion system
Implementation Method 5
the device can be designed so that it absorbs water, or that the positively buoyant materials degrade faster than the negatively buoyant materials so that the device becomes more negatively buoyant over time
Implementation Method 6
the device can be designed so that it absorbs water, or that the positively buoyant materials degrade faster than the negatively buoyant materials so that the device becomes more negatively buoyant over time
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed invention is a device for non-lethally stopping or slowing any water jet propelled craft, such as a common personal watercraft (PWC), by disrupting the water suction and thereby reducing the generated thrust. Most PWCs have an inboard engine that is coupled to a water jet pump which uses an impeller to generate thrust. This invention is ingested by the PWC intake to either clog the intake gate (or screen) or fill critical volume in any portion of the jet pump (such as the intake, impeller, stator, or pressure nozzle). In any case, water flow through the jet drive is significantly reduced which reduces the vessel's thrust. PWCs depend on adequate water flow through the jet pump to generate the thrust required for propulsion and steerage, and to provide engine cooling. Since this invention is designed to interrupt water flow, the result is reduced speed, steerage, and/or engine overheating.