ENDLESS BELT ENERGY CONVERTER

The present invention relates to a turbine device for the conversion of the kinetic energy of a flowing fluid into mechanical or electrical energy for user consumption.

In particular, the invention relates to a turbine device for recovering renewable energy from water currents in bodies of water such as rivers, canals, tidal lagoons and oceans.

Patent literature describes a variety of turbine devices for the conversion of kinetic energy available in water currents. Utilizing this energy in a cost-effective way with little environmental impact have been the key challenges.

The object of the present invention is to make use of the kinetic energy of water currents in a cost effective way while keeping the environmental impact to a minimum.

Summary of the invention

The instant invention is more fully described hereunder, it being understood however, that the invention is capable of extended application and is not confined to the precise disclosure. Changes and modifications may be made that do not alter the essence of the invention, nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the eventual claims.

The above objects of utilizing the renewable energy of flowing water in a sustainable manner that has low capital cost, high power output, shallow water application, economical installation and low environmental influence are achieved in this invention.

The turbine device is an improvement on the prior art in the field of the invention.

A key aspect of the invention is that it applies direct inflow linear action which allows the blades of the turbine device to remain in the vertical plane absorbing the full power of the water flow for the entire length of the device.

Embodiments of the turbine device are dependent on factors such as the hydro morphological features of water bodies, the velocity of water flow and customer specification.

The turbine device without limitation may be manufactured using material such as stainless steel, aluminium, canvas, rubber and composites of rubber and metal or any other suitable material. Embodiments of the turbine device may have, but not limited to, a floating and anchor mechanism that allow it to operate on the surface of the water body or a ballast and anchor mechanism that permits it to the sit on the bed of the body of water or controls that permit it to operate at predetermined depths.

Embodiments of the turbine device have a plurality of hinged blades whose structure is semi-circular with sides closed at an angle. The key aspect of the blade design is that the blades are able to capture water flow at the start of the blades power cycle as blades come into the top vertical section of the turbine unit.

The turbine device has a mechanism that allows for smaller turbines to be towed to different locations and for larger turbines to be repaired in situ via hydraulic or other suitable lifting mechanism or in the case of a unit in concrete foundation, float isolation may be achieved through control gates.

The main components of the turbine device are a mainframe which may incorporate floatation or ballast tanks, multiple shafts, multiple sprockets of driver gears or drums, power stroke blade locking device and power output shafts.

Drawings

Figure 1 illustrates a cross section side view of a hydro kinetic turbine of the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates an overhead view of figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates a lower cross section front view of figure 1;

Figure 4 illustrates a cross section side view of a variation of figure 1;

Figure 5 illustrates a cross section lower front view of a variation of figure 1;

Figure 6 illustrates a partial cross section of a variation of figure 1;

Detailed description of the present invention

Hydro Kinetic Turbine

The invention is now described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The present invention is subject to multiple variations, applications, alterations and modifications. The drawings shown and described herein do not limit or imply the final or finished version or versions of the present invention. Whilst the underwritten description of the invention enables reconstruction of the present invention the existence of variations, permutations and equivalents of the specific embodiments, methods and examples thereof are accepted. The descriptions and diagrams contained herein of the present invention therefore do not limit but rather enlarge the scope and spirit of the present invention.

The present invention is but not limited to a submersible or floating linear motion hydro kinetic turbine for producing energy from natural or other flows and currents of liquid bodies.

Referring to the present invention in more detail figures 1, 2 and 3 show a hydro kinetic turbine 10 supported on a water surface 30 by floatation and ballast tanks 36. The water surface 30 may be, but not limited to, a river, estuary or sea. Multiple bearings 34 incorporated in floatation and ballast tanks 36 support a plurality of lower shafts 18 upon which mount entry conveyor drive gear 24 and exit conveyor drive gear 26. A frame extends at an angle of 20 deg to 60 deg upwards and forwards from floatation and ballast tanks 36 to carry bearings 34 supporting shaft 18 which carries upper conveyor drive gear 22.

A plurality of blades 12 with a convex shape facing away from the current 28 and sides enclosed at an angle are connected to conveyors 20 by means of a plurality of hinged device 14. A locking device 16 is attached to conveyors 20 and to the blades 12. The conveyor 20 runs on upper conveyor drive gear 22, entry conveyor drive gear 24 and exit conveyor drive gear 26.

Materials used in the construction of the present invention shown in figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 may comprise, but not limited to: the floatation and ballast tank 36, shafts 18, upper conveyor drive gear 22, entry conveyor drive gear 24 and exit conveyor drive gear 26 and hinged device 14 may be constructed of stainless steel or composites and or other suitably rigid materials. The blades 12 may be stamped of aluminium or composites and or other suitably rigid materials. The conveyor 20 may be constructed of stainless steel roller chain, canvas, rubber or other suitably flexible, high tensile strength material. Bearings 34 may be roller or ball bearings, water lubricated wooden bearings or other suitable material.

The embodiment may be tethered by single or multiple tethers attached at one end to the floatation and ballast tank 36 and the opposing end to anchors. Anchors may be positioned on the water bed or embankments as desirable and within the geographic scope. Surface units of the present invention are tethered in such a way to allow the unit to rise and fall with the water surface 30. Submerged units may be tethered permanently at a predetermined depth but may be allowed to pivot on an axis 48 as described more fully hereunder. The nose 38 of the floatation and ballast tank 36 may be angled to direct further current 28 into the blades 12. Still referring to figures 1, 2 and 3 to describe the operation of the present invention the blades 12 traverse a looped circuit which could be described as 3 stages of linear motion around 3 axes, the axes being the upper conveyor drive gear 22, entry conveyor drive gear 24 and exit conveyor drive gear 26. The circuit commences as the conveyor 20 moves over upper conveyor drive gear 22 blades 12 fold over the upper conveyor drive gear 22 coming to vertical or near vertical alignment maintained by the locking device 16 and commence the power stroke in an approach to the water surface 30 with the conveyor 20 inclined at an angle to the water surface 30 between the upper conveyor drive gear 22 and the entry conveyor drive gear 24 allowing efficient entry to the water surface 30 and continuing to be pushed along by the current 28 in a linear motion towards the entry conveyor drive gear 24. On reaching the point of the entry conveyor drive gear the blades 12 are maintained in vertical alignment by the locking device 16 and become completely submerged below the water surface 30 being pushed by the full force of the current 28. The forces applied by the current 28 to the blades 12 now drive the blades in a horizontal plane towards the exit conveyor drive gear 26. The blades 12 are kept vertical against the forces of the current 28 by the locking device 16. Upon reaching the exit conveyor drive gear 26 the locking device 16 fully releases or releases tension applied to the blades 12 thus allowing the blades 12 to exit the current 28 efficiently and completing the power stroke. The blades 12 continue in a looped circuit around the exit conveyor drive gear 26. The blades 12 on reaching the upper point of the exit conveyor drive gear 26 lay flat and in an idle state on the conveyor 20 above the water surface 30. The conveyor 20 travels in a direction opposite to the current 28 pulling the blades 12 in an idle state the upper conveyor drive gear 22. On reaching the upper point of the upper conveyor drive gear 22 the blades 12 are said to have completed a full cycle of the looped circuit.

Power to rotate an electrical generator and or mechanical devices such as a water pump may be drawn from individual or a plurality of shafts 18 being driven rotationally by upper conveyor drive gear 22, entry conveyor drive gear 24 and exit conveyor drive gear 26.

A counter weight may be incorporated into the upper end of the blades 12 situated centrally between the hinged device 14. The counter weight enables smoother travel of the blades 12 over the upper conveyor drive gear 22 and exit conveyor drive gear 26. A shock absorber may in addition be incorporated into the lower end of the blades 12 to counter the effect of the gravitational forces on the blades 12 when traversing the axis of the upper conveyor drive gear 22.

As illustrated in figure 6 the locking device 16 may alternatively, but not limited to, comprise a fixed locking rail 52 running from a point below the upper conveyor drive gear 22, inclined to follow the plane of the conveyor 20 to below the entry conveyor drive gear 24 where after the locking rail 52 extends in a horizontal plane terminating at a point below the exit conveyor drive gear 26. A roller or castor wheel 54 is attached to a lower section of the blades 12 where the roller or castor wheel 54 runs along the length of the fixed locking rail 52 maintaining the blades 12 in the required plane during the power stroke.

In further detail referring to figures 4 and 5 these show an alternate version of the present invention where the hydro kinetic turbine of the present invention may be used for generation of power from tidal flows. The turbine 46 may be, but not limited to, submerged by means of ballast applied to the floatation and ballast tanks 36 to a predetermined level at which the floatation and ballast tank 36 may be attached via a plurality of arms 50 to a pivot 48 connected to a single axis 40 embedded in, but not limited to, the estuary, sea or ocean bed. The turbine 46 rotates through 180 degrees on the pivot 48 to allow the turbine 46 to maintain the correct position in the current of the tidal flow to produce power. The pivot 48 may be powered by, but not limited to, an electrical device actuated by electronic apparatus at the turn of the tide. Referring to figure 4 the turbine 46 may be enclosed in an air tank 42 which excludes the blades 12 from being in the water current from the exit conveyor drive gear 26 to the upper conveyor drive gear 22 causing the blades 12 to encounter little resistance when not in the power stroke.

The present invention may in addition be adapted to but not limited to produce energy from wave action, waste and irrigation pipes, canals and any other instances where there is movement of a liquid body.

The advantages of the present invention include, but are not limited to, shallow water application and ability to produce significant power in shallow water by means of linear movement with the current. It has multiple applications being canals, waterfall, stream, river, estuary, tidal and wave. It may be adapted for installation into waste, irrigation and other pipes. It is environmentally friendly producing energy from natural flow without requirement for dams, weir, barrages or other diversions. The present invention may be manufactured of recycled and or other environmentally friendly material. It presents zero or limited hazard to aquatic life moving within its immediate proximity. The movement of the blades in a linear plane and speed approximately equal to the natural current result in near zero turbulence or eddy currents. The device can be built and installed into the water site in a relatively short space of time. Given the present invention's low capital cost per energy unit and without need for other infrastructure allows for a profitable alternative green energy solution.