US3922012A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power generator
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-02-28
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Granted: 1975-11-25
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Expires: 1994-02-28
Abstract
Abstract The invention is concerned with a submersible power generator for converting the energy of deep ocean currents, tidal flows, river channel currents and the like to more usable forms of power such as electricity. The generator comprises a rotor having a plurality of horizontally radiating spokes mounted in common on a rotatable vertical shaft to drive the same. Each spoke has a hinged impeller blade which by its automatic positioning relative to its spoke maximizes the surface area of the blade acted on by the water current through a part of the rotor displacement and minimizes such surface area through other parts of the displacement, thereby producing the necessary asymmetrical force required to produce rotation. Torque is obtained from the water acting against each blade throughout more than 180* of its arcuate travel around the axis of the shaft as a result of a specialized orientation enforced on each blade by stop pieces engaged by the blade adjacent the end of its downstream power stroke. The immense structures required to extend the full depth of ocean channels are made possible by the feature of the blades being hollow and sized to create sufficient buoyancy to create a neutral floating body resulting in greatly reduced support structure requirements. The apparatus includes hollow pontoons for floatation and easy towing to an installation site followed by flooding of the pontoons and subsequent sinking of the apparatus into position on the ocean floor. The submerged pontoons have adjustable braces attached thereto so that the apparatus may be placed in a stable position on an uneven ocean bottom.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry Herz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:24
CPC Classifications
F; F03; F03B; F03B17/00; F03B17/06; F03B17/062; F03B17/065; F05; F05B; F05B2240/00; F05B2240/20; F05B2240/21; F05B2240/211; F05B2260/00; F05B2260/70; F05B2260/72; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/20; Y02E10/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
A submersible power generator comprising: a. rotatable shaft; b. plurality of radially disposed spokes carried by said shaft so as to rotate therewith; c. plurality of impeller blades hingedly attached to said spokes for movement relative thereto and operable to intersect the water current and be impinged thereby and move therewith to impart torque to said shaft when disposed on one side thereof and to trail freely while moving generally against the water current on the other side of said shaft to develop relatively little resistance to water flow therepast and to impart relatively little torque to said shaft; and d. stop mechanism provided by each spoke for positioning the associated blade at an angle to the radial axis of said spoke, and said spoke providing an abutment for positioning the associated blade at an angle to the radial axis of said spoke, said stop mechanism and abutment effective to cause the blade to provide a current flow impingement surface after the spoke has moved into alignment with the axis of water flow, said blade movable between said stop mechanism and said spoke during the portion of said blade''s travel in a direction generally with the current, said stop mechanism developing a force aiding rotation of said shaft during the initial portion of said blade''s travel in a direction generally against the current.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
A submersible power generator comprising: a. rotatable shaft; b. plurality of radially disposed spokes carried by said shaft so as to rotate therewith; c. plurality of impeller blades hingedly attached to said spokes for movement relative thereto and operable to intersect the water current and be impinged thereby and move therewith to impart torque to said shaft when disposed on one side thereof and to trail freely while moving generally against the water current on the other side of said shaft to develop relatively little resistance to water flow therepast and to impart relatively little torque to said shaft; and d. stop mechanism provided by each spoke for positioning the associated blade at an angle to the radial axis of said spoke, and said spoke providing an abutment for positioning the associated blade at an angle to the radial axis of said spoke, said stop mechanism and abutment effective to cause the blade to provide a current flow impingement surface after the spoke has moved into alignment with the axis of water flow, said blade movable between said stop mechanism and said spoke during the portion of said blade''s travel in a direction generally with the current, said stop mechanism developing a force aiding rotation of said shaft during the initial portion of said blade''s travel in a direction generally against the current.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
The power generator of claim 1 in each of which said impeller blades is hingedly attached to its spoke adjacent the radial extremity thereof and said stop mechanism extends angularly outwardly therefrom; each of said blades bearing against its associated spoke while moving with the water current and upon reaching the end of its downstream travel pivots outwardly from the spoke and into abutment with said stop mechanisms, thereby causing the water current to act favorably against said blades during the initial portion of their upstream travel as aforesaid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The power generator of claim 2 in which said stop mechanisms extend outwardly at an angle of the order of 45*.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The power generator of claim 3 in which said impeller blades are weighed to increase the mass thereof; a substantial portion of said mass being concentrated away from the hinged edge of said blades to enhance the momentum transfer effected by the action of said blades in abutting said stop mechanisms adjacent the end of the downstream travel of said spokes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The power generator of claim 2 in which the weight-displacement ratio of each blade is selected to provide a generally neutral floating structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The power generator of claim 1 in which each of said shafts is equipped with a plurality of spokes and blades disposed in at least two vertically disposed tiers, the spokes of one tier being angularly offset from the spokes of an underlying tier.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The power generator of claim 1 in which both of said rotatable shafts are provided and a common foundation structure carrying the same; said blades and spokes of adjacent shafts being inversely disposed, thereby causing adjacent shafts to rotate in counteropposed directions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The power generator of claim 7 and further comprising hollow pontoon structure adapted to be flooded for sinking said power generator into position on an ocean floor and adapted to be evacuated to provide temporary flotation for said power generator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The power generator of claim 8 in which said foundation structure is equipped with vertically adjustable braces operable to level said foundation structure relative to said pontoon structure to accommodate nonhorizontal sections of ocean floor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The power generator of claim 9 in which said pontoon structure is equipped with anchor piles attached thereto and extending downwardly therefrom and being open at the bottom to enable suction to be applied to a subterranean surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The power generator of claim 10 in which each of said shafts is equipped with a plurality of spokes and blades dispoSed in at least two vertically disposed tiers, the spokes of one tier being angularly offset from the spokes of an underlying tier.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
The power generator of claim 11 and further having water storage vessels positioned above said tiers of spokes and blades and having also auxiliary power turbines; said tanks having pumping means for storage of water during periods of peak power production and said tanks serving to supply water under a head pressure for powering said auxiliary power turbines during periods of slack water current.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-24 | 1979-05-26 | 1979-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-24 | 1983-05-26 | 1983-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-24 | 1987-05-26 | 1987-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |