invention idea

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Thudpucker

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How about a transmission that uses water instead of oil?

I was thinking of a small 5hp B&S driving a shaft that circulated water inside an enclosed resivour.

To make the turning shaft pump water past the Rotor blades, use a Diverter plate.
One set of holes facing the pump would let the water circulate back into the resivour unimpeded. That would be neutral.

Turn the plate another Click and the water from the pump blades is diverted to the Rotor blades to do some work.

Divert the water in a different direction for Reverse.

I'm not the sharpest pencil in the box. If I think of something, there's usually something like this out in the field, let me know about it.
 
Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. There is a lot of friction with in a marine reverse/reduction gear. It might work in very limited applications where load/torque was low or non-existent, like a RC model.
 
It would work. But by the time you add the necessary additives, just like oil, it would be as expensive and as toxic to the environment as the oils used.

If you used water, even seawater, without recycling, which would have merit, the cost of materials of construction such as super stainless steel would make the project prohibitively expensive.

Good thinking none the less.
 
The oil Transmissions are expensive and work very well too. Think how spoiled we are now, because of all the Wives of the WWII vets who wanted Automatic Shift cars.
I was watching: "How it's made" on TV and the idea popped into my head.
I thought it might be cheaper to make and even if you had to, you could dump a quart of oil into the resivour.

Nobody's ever heard of such a thing eh?
 
I'm sure it could be made to work on a small scale, especially if you made a lot of the parts out of reinforced plastic such as Delrin or Marelon. It won't corrode and may last longer than metal. Cooling would be easy to deal with by running a "raw water" system instead of recirculating. Might be able to build one out of a couple old water pumps.
 
Had to do a little thimking on it. Water is a much better displacer of heat but a poorer lubricant and may promote galling. (just not sure) You'd have ta add rust inhibitors and lubricants and the heat exchanger would be a good idea. In the end, might end up more expensive than oil.

Bleach is a real good lubricant...just not sure about the foaming.
 
Water generally IS a lousy lubricant, but with the right bearing material it works pretty well (thinking of the rubber Cutless bearing a lot of us have on our prop shafts), Also with the appropriate seals you can run the bearings without them getting wet (thinking of most engine water pumps). In a recirculating system, many common detergents are REALLY slippery and might work as a lubricant, but you'll need non-corroding materials.

So yes I believe it's doable, just depends on how much you're willing to spend on research.
 
Common Detergent's, Bleach, Rust inhibitor....all good ideas.
I have in mind one thrust plate with fins.
A diverter plate,which has three positions; Fwd, Neutral, Reverse.

My idea wont be any stronger than a Water pump. A series of Pistons might be better?
 
Ya need some kind of gearing to reverse rotation. Bronze against SS gears will prevent the galling of same metals. You would not believe how hard and tuff the 'new' bronze alloys are.

Doesn't sound like a cheap way to replace present trannies. How about some sketches.:)
 
Stick with the pump (aka turbine). Pistons will just complicate everything.

A pump is what you make it and "strength" depends on the power input...
 
I tried drawing my idea on MS Paint tonite. Finally got so fed up with failure I took a nap.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Thudpucker

I tried drawing my idea on MS Paint tonite. Finally got so fed up with failure I took a nap.

Click to expand...


Naps are good. I do some of my best thinking when I'm asleep!
 
You're only talking about a 5 hp Briggs and probably a not-very-big boat. I think it would be simpler to use an off-the-shelf centrifugal clutch for "neutral" and not worry about reverse.

Or use an alternator to drive a trolling motor or two.

Or use a jet pump, and just deflect the jet for reverse.

I think the clutch would be the most efficient.
 
LOL, Willie I wasn't thinking of actually making one of these 'things' although you guys came up with a Bevy of good alternates.

Things pop into my mind and I wonder why they have not been done yet.

With Water as a fluid a person could use the Wet plate clutches for a larger HP and load equivalent.

I came up with a swiveling Nozzle set up for reverse. The nozzles would all swivel to the left to drive the turbine fwd.
Swivel to the Right to drive the Turbine Rev.
Swivel to center, the nozzles would be pointing out from center, the water would be going out into the resivour, for Neutral!

Sombody will come up with a better way. Mine has about six moving parts in the Nozzle/plates/linkage.
I believe my idea could be made right here in my barn! Cheap is good!
 
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