Wind or water operated power plant

Claim 1

A fluid operated power generating system comprising a plurality of vertically arrayed power producing units adapted to be positioned in a flow of fluid, each of the units having a vertical axis and including end wall means configurated to cause fluid to flow therealong in a rectilinear path and comprisng bores coaxial with the aixs, each unit defining a through passage therethrough leading from a lateral inlet for the fluid to the lateral outlet for the fluid between the end wall means, the through passage defining a constricted zone positioned centrally between the inlet and outlet and having an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the unit; the constricted zone causing the velocity of the fluid passing through the passage to increase and the pressure of the fluid to drop in the constricted zone, convex inner wall portions converging towards said zone to define the passage and the constricted zone, pairs of vertical radial walls extending between the inner wall portions, pairs of diametrically aligned radial walls defining the through passage therebetween, the radial walls extending from the inlet and outlet, respectively, to the constricted central zone, the passage tapering inwardly from the inlet and outlet towards said zone, the zone being in communication with one of the bores, the bore with which the zone is in communication being in communication with the conduit means, each unit being mounted for rotation about the vertical axis thereof, means mounted in the other bore and responsive to the prevailing fluid flow direction for rotating the unit above the vertical axis in said direction whereby a respective one of the pairs of diametrically aligned radial walls defines an operative through passage for the fluid flow, the units being arrayed coaxially, a chamber at the bottom of the arrayed units, and a rotary device having a hub and blades mounted in the chamber, and conduit means placing the constricted zone of each unit in communication with the chamber whereby the pressure differential in the zone rotates the device.