Combination trim tab and propulsion unit

1 . An apparatus, comprising at least one trim tab assembly, each comprising:

a mounting base configured to be mounted to a stern of a marine vessel;

a trim tab comprising a nozzle;

a pivot joint configured to raise and lower the trim tab relative to the mounting base;

an axial flow pump configured to direct a medium flow through the nozzle;

a base section connected at a mount end to the mounting base via the pivot joint;

a nozzle section comprising the nozzle; and

a rotary joint between the base section and the nozzle section.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rotary joint is configured to rotate the nozzle section at least 90 degrees from a neutral position to face one lateral side and at least 90 degrees from the neutral position to face another lateral side.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the rotary joint is configured to rotate the nozzle section 360 degrees.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first actuator configured to raise and lower the trim tab by pivoting the trim tab about the pivot joint; and

a second actuator configured to rotate the nozzle section via the rotary joint.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein the axial flow pump is disposed on a dorsal side of the trim tab;

wherein the trim tab further comprises an array of nozzles comprising the nozzle; and

wherein from the dorsal side to a ventral side of the trim tab nozzles of the array of nozzles are angled away from the pivot joint.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the axial flow pump comprises a ducted fan.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the trim tab comprises a duct of the ducted fan.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the axial flow pump comprises a bidirectional axial flow pump.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pivot joint is configured to rotate the trim tab down at least to a vertical position.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein the at least one trim tab assembly comprises a port trim tab assembly and a starboard trim tab assembly;

wherein each axial flow pump comprises a respective bidirectional flow pump; and

wherein the apparatus is configured to permit independent control of a direction of rotation of the respective bidirectional flow pumps.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , the apparatus further comprising:

a port manual direction control configured to provide independent manual control of the direction of rotation of a port axial flow pump; and

a starboard manual direction control that is configured to provide independent manual control of the direction of rotation of a starboard axial flow pump.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 ,

wherein the port manual direction control is further configured to provide independent manual control of a speed of the port axial flow pump; and

wherein the starboard manual direction control is further configured to provide independent manual control of a speed of the starboard axial flow pump.

13 . The apparatus of claim 10 , the apparatus further comprising an integrated manual control configured to independently control the respective directions of rotation of the respective bidirectional flow pumps.

14 . An apparatus, comprising:

a mounting base configured to be mounted to a stern of a marine vessel;

a trim tab comprising an array of nozzles therethrough;

a pivot joint between the mounting base and the trim tab and configured to raise and lower the trim tab; and

an axial flow pump disposed on a dorsal side of the trim tab and configured to direct a medium flow through the array of nozzles;

wherein from the dorsal side to a ventral side of the trim tab nozzles of the array of nozzles are angled away from the pivot joint.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the pivot joint is configured to rotate the trim tab down at least to a vertical position.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the pivot joint is configured to rotate the trim tab down and past the vertical position.

17 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the pivot joint is configured to rotate the trim tab down and past the vertical position until the nozzles are oriented horizontally.

18 . The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a rotary joint configured to rotate at least a portion of the trim tab about a discrete axis of rotation.

19 . The apparatus of claim 18 ,

wherein the trim tab comprises a nozzle section that comprises the array of nozzles; and

wherein the rotary joint is secured to and configured to rotate the nozzle section.

20 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the rotary joint is configured to rotate the nozzle section at least 90 degrees from a neutral position to face one lateral side and at least 90 degrees from the neutral position to face another lateral side.

21 . The apparatus of claim 14 ,

wherein the axial flow pump comprises a ducted fan; and

wherein the trim tab comprises a duct of the ducted fan.

22 . An apparatus, comprising at least one trim tab assembly, each comprising:

a mounting base configured to be mounted to a stern of a marine vessel;

a trim tab comprising a nozzle;

a pivot joint configured to raise and lower the trim tab relative to the mounting base;

an axial flow pump configured to direct a medium flow through the nozzle;

wherein the at least one trim tab assembly comprises a port trim tab assembly and a starboard trim tab assembly;

wherein each axial flow pump comprises a respective bidirectional flow pump; and

wherein the apparatus is configured to permit independent control of a direction of rotation of the respective bidirectional flow pumps;

the apparatus further comprising a port manual direction control configured to provide independent manual control of the direction of rotation of a port axial flow pump and a starboard manual direction control that is configured to provide independent manual control of the direction of rotation of a starboard axial flow pump.

23 . An apparatus, comprising at least one trim tab assembly, each comprising:

a mounting base configured to be mounted to a stern of a marine vessel;

a trim tab comprising a nozzle;

a pivot joint configured to raise and lower the trim tab relative to the mounting base;

an axial flow pump configured to direct a medium flow through the nozzle;

wherein the at least one trim tab assembly comprises a port trim tab assembly and a starboard trim tab assembly;

wherein each axial flow pump comprises a respective bidirectional flow pump; and wherein the apparatus is configured to permit independent control of a direction of rotation of the respective bidirectional flow pumps;

the apparatus further comprising an integrated manual control configured to independently control the respective directions of rotation of the respective bidirectional flow pumps.