US4191893A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Natural turbulence electrical power generator
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
•
Filing: 1978-03-03
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Granted: 1980-03-04
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Expires: 1998-03-03
Abstract
Abstract An energy conversion apparatus is disclosed in which a stator, fixed relative to a watertight housing, is coupled to a rotor by a helical spring which suspends the rotor from the housing. Natural turbulence of a fluid, such as water or air, causes acceleration of the housing, and hence, acceleration of the stator. Inertia of the rotor, coupled to the stator through the helical spring and the housing, causes relative motion, both longitudinal and rotational, between the stator and the rotor, the rotational motion between the rotor, and the stator being used to generate electrical current.
Inventors
- 👤 David C. Grana
- 👤 Richard T. Wilem
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:39
CPC Classifications
F; F03; F03B; F03B13/00; F03B13/12; F03B13/14; F03B13/16; F03B13/20; F05; F05B; F05B2250/00; F05B2250/40; F05B2250/44; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
Apparatus for converting the natural turbulence of a fluid, such as water or air, into electrical energy comprising: a housing mounted such that it is set in motion by said natural turbulence of a fluid; a stator means mounted in said housing and fixed relative to said housing; a rotor means; means for mounting said rotor means in said housing such that the movement of the rotor means is unrestrained longitudinally and rotationally relative to said stator means and such that movement of the rotor means is restrained laterally relative to the stator means with the lateral distance between the rotor means and stator means remaining essentially constant; a single helical spring with one end of the helical spring attached to said housing and the other end of the helical spring attached to the center of one end of said rotor means and suspending said rotor means whereby the turbulence of said fluid causes a force to be applied parallel to the longitudinal axis of the helical spring resulting in longitudinal and rotational motion of said rotor means relative to said stator means; and means included with said stator means and said rotor means for converting said rotational motion into electrical energy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
202 words
Apparatus for converting the natural turbulence of a fluid, such as water or air, into electrical energy comprising: a housing mounted such that it is set in motion by said natural turbulence of a fluid; a stator means mounted in said housing and fixed relative to said housing; a rotor means; means for mounting said rotor means in said housing such that the movement of the rotor means is unrestrained longitudinally and rotationally relative to said stator means and such that movement of the rotor means is restrained laterally relative to the stator means with the lateral distance between the rotor means and stator means remaining essentially constant; a single helical spring with one end of the helical spring attached to said housing and the other end of the helical spring attached to the center of one end of said rotor means and suspending said rotor means whereby the turbulence of said fluid causes a force to be applied parallel to the longitudinal axis of the helical spring resulting in longitudinal and rotational motion of said rotor means relative to said stator means; and means included with said stator means and said rotor means for converting said rotational motion into electrical energy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said stator means is a permanent magnet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said rotor means is an armature.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said stator means is an armature.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said rotor means is a permanent magnet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said rotor means has a bar means normal to the longitudinal axis of the rotor means with weights which can be adjusted to various distances from the rotor means longitudinal axis to vary the rotation rate of the rotor means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3526793A
Cited
US3696251A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-03-04 | 1983-09-03 | 1984-03-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-03-04 | 1987-09-03 | 1988-03-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-03-04 | 1991-09-03 | 1992-03-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |