APPARATUS _. FOR DERIVING ENERGY FROM FLUIDS IN FLOW.

This invention relates to apparatus for deriving er-rgy from fluids in flow, and more especially from fluids in natural flow, i.e. air in the case of winds and water in the case of seas and rivers.

In accordance with th_ present invention, apparatus for the purpose aforesaid comprises a circumferential series of vanes fixedly mounted individually on a circumferential series of equi-spaced outer spindles mounted on to be freely rotatable relative to upper and lower series of equi-spaced radial arms fast with a central spindle Vto rotate in unison therewith through 360 on each rotation of the vanes and the respective outer spindles through 180°, the 2:1 ratio being deter- mined by timing mechanism comprising sprocket wheels concentrically mounted fast on individual outer shafts and linked, for transmission of drive, with sprocket wheel means concentric with and fast on a sleeve in turn concentric with and freely rotatable relative to said central spindle.

Preferably means is provided linked with the sleeve to turn the latter automatically about its axis to a position appropriate for best attitudinal presentation

« of the vanes to the direction of fluid flow. Also, in accordance with the present invention, apparatus for the purpose aforesaid comprises a central spindle which' is to be driven and which is supported in upper and lower support means to be freely rotatable about its axis, spaced upper and lower series of circumferentially equi-spaced and attitudinally-similar like arms radiating from and fast with said central spindle, a circumferential series of outer spindles each supported ^' on, to be freely rotatable about its axis relative to, a respective radial arm of said lower .

series, passing with similar rotational freedom through the at itudinally-similar radial arm of said upper series, and terminating short' of said upper support means, vanes mounted axially symmetrically one fast on each outer spindle between and with clearance from the radial arms associated therewith of said upper and lower series, a sleeve about and concentrically surrounding said central spindle above and with clearance from said upper series of radial arms and rotatable relative to said central spindle, sprocket wheel means fast on and concentric with said sleeve, means coupling said sprocket wheel means with sprocket wheels individual to and fast on and con¬ centric with said outer spindles for transmission to the latter from said sprocket wheel means and hence from said sleeve of axial rotation, and means res¬ ponsive to wind direction to turn said sleeve about its axis and hence, through said sprocket wheel means, said coupling means, said sprocket wheels and said outer spindles to turn said vanes about their axes so that the attitudes thereof are most appropriate to the wind direction. ;

Embodiments of the _^ invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of apparatus according to the invention for deriving energy from winds;

Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view illustrating trans- mission of rotation from central sprocket wheel means to sprocketwheels individually centred on and fast with spindles of a circumferential series of outer spindles each of which carries a vane intermediate its length?

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Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and illustrat¬ ing a modification;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, showing means responsive to wind direction to turn the vanes about their axes such that tr.e vanes attitudesare most appropriat'- to wind direction;

Fig. 5 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 4, but with parts omitted or broken away for clarity of illustration; Fig. 6 is an elevational sectional representation of apparatus according to the invention for deriving energy from flowing water;

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 6; and Figs. 8 and 9 are elevations mutually at right angles illustrating a modification concerning the sprocketsmounted on the outer sp-indles. , _t

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, appar¬ atus for deriving energy from winds comprises a central vertical spindle 10 supported in lower and upper support means 11 and 12 to be freely rotatable about its axis. ; The lower support mean's 11 is a horizontal beam 13 having therethrough a circular opening co-axial with and of greater diameter than the spindle 10 extending therethrough and sup¬ ported therein by an annular bearing 14. The upper support means 12 includes a horizontal beam 15 hav¬ ing therethrough a circular opening co-axial with the spindle 10 and of much greater diameter than the opening in the lower beam 13, extending snugly through and secured within the latter opening is a collar 16 having at its upper end an external annular flange 17. Extending with peripheral clear¬ ance through the collar 16 and supported therefrom by upper and lower annular bearings 18 and 19 is an

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upright sleeve 20 peripherally spaced about the spindle 10 with a cylindrical bearing bush 21 between the sleeve 20 and the spindle 10.

Successively spaced above the flange 17 are annular flanges 118 and 119, the former being sup¬ ported from the sleeve 20 by an annular bearing 120 and the latter being fast with the sleeve 20. Annular thrust bearings 121 and 122 interspace the flanges 17 and 118 and the flanges 118 and 119, respectively. The central spindle 10 has a reduced diameter upper end presenting ^an \annular shoulder 123 seating a collar 124 directly above which i-s a second and smaller ^s collar 125 and finally a lock nut 126 to receive which the outer end portion of said upper end is threaded as indicated at 127. An annular bearing arrangement 128 is interposed" between the collar 124 and the annular flange 119 which has a seat to receive the bearing arrangement. .

Fast with the central vertical spindle 10 and radiating therefrom are arms 25 and 26 respectively of upper and lower series of equi-spaced and attitudinally-similar like arms. Each spindle- of a circumferential series of outer vertical spindles 27 to 30 (see Fig. 2) is supported through an annular bearing 31 on a respective radial arm 26 of said lower series and is freely ^' rotatable about its axis. Each of the outer vertical spindles 27 to 30 passes with similar rotational freedom through the attitudinally- similar radial arms25 of said upper series, annular bearings 32 being provided where the spindles 27 to 30 pass through the arms 25. The spindles 27 to 30 terminate short of the upper horizontal beam 15. Vanes 35 to 38 are mounted axially symmetrically one fast on each of the outer spindles 27 to 30, res- ^* pectively, and with clearance from the radial arms

25 and 26 associated therewith.

While four vanes 35 to 38 are rovided in the Figs. 1 and 2 embodiment of the invention, it will be manifest that there may be three or five or more vanes in a circumferential series. Irrespective, however of the number of vanes, they all rotate through 180° with the spir.dles on which they are fast when the arms 25 and 26 on which they are mounted rotate through 360 , at which time of course, the central spindle 10 with which the arms 25 and 26 are fast, also rotates through 360°.

Figs. 2 and ^' 3 show the attitudes of the vanes 35 to 3 relative to one another and to the wind direction W, such relative attitudes being dictated by the setting of transmission mechanism to be described hereinafter. Assuming the direction of rotation of the arms 25,

26 and the central spindle 10- to be counter-clockwise in Figs. 2 and 3, the vane 37 is face on to the wind direction W,. and rotates regularly counter-clockwise with its spindle 29, moving through 45 successively to and between each of the positions occupied in Figs. 2 and 3 by the vanes 3S ^; , 35 and 36 until it returns to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 by which time it will have rotated through 180°. The other three vanes 38, 35 and 36 behave in the same manner, each moving regularly counter-clockwise through 45° while the arms 25, 26 on which they are mounted move counter¬ clockwise through 90°.

The 2:1 reduction can be achieved by timing belt sprocket wheels and belts as in Figs. 2 and 3, the belts and sprocket wheels forming part of the afore¬ mentioned transmission mechanism. In Figs. 1 and 2 each of the outer spindles 27 to 30 centres fast thereon, at some spacing above the respective upper

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arm, a spocket wheel 40, 41, 42, or 43 at the same horizontal level as one of four sprocket wheels 44 to 47 centred about and fast with the sleeve 20. The sprocket wheels 44 to 47 ^' have half the number of

5 sprockets as'the sprocket wheels 40 to 43. Each pair of sprocket wheels on the same horizontal level have entrained therearound a driving belt or chain 50, 51, 52 or 53.

In Fig. 3, there is only one centre sprocket wheel

¹⁰ 55 fast with the sleeve 20 and one driving belt or chain 56 to the sprocket wheel 42 which, in this case, is a double sprocket wheel with two sets of sprockets. Another driving belt 57 is engaged with the same number of sprockets on each of the sprocket wheels 40 to 43.

- ^"■ 5 The centre sprocket wheel 55 or wheels 44 to 47 is or are fixed to sleeve 20 which in turn is fixed to a tail fin unit 60 (to be referred to hereinafter) and rotates in relation to wind-change of direction. The rotation of the sleeve 20 could be transmitted to the

20 outer spindles.27 to 30 by gearing, either gear wheels in line or compound or bevel pinions.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate means responsive to wind deviation to turn .the outer spindles 27 to 30 and hence the vanes 35 to 38 so that the attitudes of

25 the vanes are best suited to the wind direction. The wind- responsive means comprises a tail fin unit 60 which is mounted for swivellin movement about a horizontal axis at 61 at the upper end of a vertical rod 62 at the lower end of which are small vertically-spaced and

30 parallel radially-inwardly extending horizontal plates 63 and 64 mounting slide shoes 65 and 66 respectively slightly spaced from the upper and lower surfaces 67 and 68 of a horizontal circular support rail 69 concentric with the sleeve 20 and above the

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horizontal- beam 15 of the upper support means 12. When the tail fin unit 60 is at rest, the upper slide shoe 65 rests on the upper surface 67 of the rail 69. The vertical rod 62 is stayed relative to the sleeve 20 by an arm 70 extending radially from the sleeve and secured at its outer end to the rod. The arm is bifurcated at its inner end and the branches 71, 72 of the bifurcation flank a bushed collar 73 about the sleeve 20 and are pinned to said collar by pins 74, 75 axially aligned diametrically of the collar with the common axis normal to the axis of the arm 70.

The tail fin unit 60 comprises two parallel and closely-spaced similar, vertical plates 80 and 81 symmetrical about a vertical plane radial of the sleeve 20, the plates 80 and 81 having rounded vertices 82 at their inner ends and being braced together thereat by two small parallel spacing members 83 and 84. Projecting laterally from the nose end 85 of the unit 60, i.e. the end with the rounded vertices 82 and the spacing members 83 and 84, is a pin 86 which is fast with the plates 80 ^' and 81 and extends centrally intermediate the members 83 and 84.

Pivotably connected to the projecting end of the pin 86 is one end of a connecting rod 87 the other end of which is pivotably connected at 88 to an annular flange 89 on ^' the sleeve 20 above and spaced from the bushed collar 73, the pivot connection 88 being directly above the pin 74. The upper edges of the plates 80 and 81 slope downwardly and outwardly from the nose end 85 of the unit 60 and the lower edges of the plates 80 and 81 diverge from the upper edges thereof in the outward

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direction. The outer ends of the plates 80 and 81 are angled away from one another ' to provide fins 90 and 91, respectively.

A plate 92 of substantially equilateral triangular shape is secured symmetrically of and in a plane normal to the upper edges of the plates 80 and -81, with the truncated end 93 of the plate 92 adjacent the nose end 85 of the unit 60 and the base 94 thereof flush with the outer ends of the fins 90 and 91. The plate 92 is extended outwardly by a rectangular tail fin 95 of.the full length of the base 94 and angled downwardly and outwardly from the latter.

When the velocity of a wind exceeds a predeter¬ mined speed, the tail fin unit 60 is tilted about the horizontal axis 61 downwards at the nose end 85, and the connecting rod 87 turns the sleeve 20 anti¬ clockwise in Figs. 4 and 5 according with the anti¬ clockwise rotation of the central spindle 10 as hereinbefore "described with particualr reference to Figs. 2 and 3. The tilting action is brought about by the wind striking the. tail fin 95 and swinging the unit upwards at the ^" tail end. The fins 90 and 91 assist in accurate positioning of the unit 60 in relation to the wind. Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, which, illustrate apparatus in accordance with the invention especially adapted for marine use, the drive is taken from the central spindle 10 via a pulley 100 adjacent the upper end of the spindle. The horizontal support beam 15 extends diametrically across a cylindrical through cavity central ofa buoyancy chamber 101 which is externally rectangular both in plan and underneath plan views.

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The cavity surrounding wall 102 is at right angles to both the upper and lower walls 103 and 104, respectively, of the chamber 101. ' The lower wall 104 is shorter than the upper wall 103 and is disposed symmetrically of the latter, whereby the fore &nd aft ends 106 and 107, respectively, of the chamber 101 slope inwardly in the downward direction. The level of the beam 15 is at about two-thirds the depth of the cavity. Two diametrically-opposed pillars 108 and 109 of equal length depend from adjacent, and centrally of the fore and aft ends of the lower wall 104 of the chamber 101, and the lower horizontal beam 13 extends between the lower ends of the pillars. In the event that the apparatus is used in an ebb and flow current, the annular flange 89 on the sleeve 20 is in the form of a pulley wheel about which is wound an intermediate length of a cable 110 the ends of which are connected to fore and aft tilting rudders 111 and 112, respectively. The attitudes of the rudders 111 and 112 when the water flow is in the direction F is shown in Fig. 6. In the event that the apparatus of Figs. 6 and 7 is used in flow conditions only the rudders 111 and 112 and cable 110 are not required and sprocket wheels 44 to 47 of Figs. 1 and 2 or sprocket wheel 55 of Fig. 3 would be fast with the sleeve 20, as before.

Referring now to ^' Figs. 8 and 9 illustrating a modification to inhibit downward slippage of the turning belts or chains between the sprocket wheels on the outer spindles and the sprocket wheel means on the sleeve such slippage being a possibility when the sprocket wheels are mounted horizontally, the arms 25 of the upper series of arms fast with the

centr∑. _^ vertical spindle 10 are given a slight lead over the arms 26 of the lower series, and, as a result, the vanes 35 to 38 will have a leading tilt at the top of the vane thereby angling the sprocket wheels 40 to 43 on the vane-carrying outer spindles 27 to 30.

In a modification, different tailfins may be used, for example as shown in Fig 10. In this instance when the wind velocity exceeds a determined speed the special tail fin "H" Fig. 4 and 5 lifts hindging at point "I". The arc of lift is limited by the cross member at top of guide bars 96.

When tail fin lifts the tie rod "J" rotates flange 89 in relation to flange 73 and thereby "feathers" the vanes ABC and D Fig. 1. Tail fin arm N Fig (4 & 5) is connected to a "Free to rotate" bushed flange 73 Fig (4) which is mounted on sleeve 20 Fig (4). The tail fin has two angled vertical plates 90 and 91 Fig (5) to assist in a more accurate positioning in relation to wind and also a tail plate 95 Fig 4 and 5 to assist in lift of tail fin.

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