FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an energy converting apparatus. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention relates to an energy converting apparatus for extracting kinetic and/or potential energy from flowing fluid and converting it into mechanical energy. The energy converting apparatus is further able to convert the mechanical energy into electricity.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Energy converting apparatuses are well known and widely used for converting one form of energy into a different form of energy. One well-known apparatus is a water turbine which extracts energy from flowing water into mechanical energy. Generally, the turbine is connected to a generator which further converts the mechanical energy into electricity. With the ever-growing shortage of natural resources, there is a continuous need of finding alternative ways of harnessing energy to generate electricity.

Disadvantages of known apparatuses of the aforementioned kind include that they are generally expensive, bulky and heavy in design. Most of them also require long timeframes for installing and commissioning the associated equipment. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an energy converting apparatus that seeks to, at least partially, overcome the above problems and/or that will be a useful alternative to known energy converting apparatuses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, there is provided an energy converting apparatus comprising:

a housing having an inlet and an outlet for allowing fluid to enter and pass through the housing; and

a deflecting configuration protruding from an inner surface of the housing towards its centre,

the housing being rotatably supported so that under the influence of fluid passing through the housing and acting against the deflecting configuration, the housing is caused to rotate.

According to an example embodiment of the invention, the deflecting configuration may be an elongate deflecting configuration that extends substantially between the inlet and outlet of the housing.

At least a portion of the elongate deflecting configuration may have its inner free side formed in a lip formation that is curved so to project towards the inlet of the apparatus. The deflecting configuration may be a continuous elongate blade.

The deflecting configuration may be shaped such to be in the form of a helix. According to an example embodiment of the invention, the apparatus may include a plurality of deflecting configurations which are circumferentially spaced about the inner surface of the housing and which are similar to the deflecting configuration.

The housing may be rotatably supported at opposing ends thereof. The housing may be rotatably supported by at least two bearings.

According to at least some embodiments of the invention, there is provided for at least part of the inner surface of the housing to taper towards the centre of the housing, more particularly towards the outlet.

The housing may be a sleeve.

The fluid may be at least one of water, air, oil, and the like. According to an example embodiment of the invention, the apparatus may further include a generator for generating electricity as a result of the rotation of the housing. The generator may extend at least partially around the housing. The generator may include at least one magnet secured to the housing and an armature or conductor material spaced from the magnet and secured to an outer casing, wherein as a result of the rotating housing and magnet, relative movement of the armature and the magnetic field created by the magnet causes an electric current to flow through the armature to generate electricity.

Alternatively, the generator may include an armature or conductor material secured to the housing and at least one magnet spaced from the armature and secured to an outer casing, wherein as a result of the rotating housing and armature, relative movement of the armature and the magnetic field created by the magnet causes an electric current to flow through the armature to generate electricity.

The magnet may be either an electromagnet or a permanent magnet. The outer casing may be in the form of a tube.

According to an example embodiment of the invention, the apparatus may further include external drive means connected to the casing for rotating it in a direction opposite to that of the rotating housing.

The drive means may be propelled by an energy source which is independent from that causing the housing to rotate.

The energy source may be a renewable energy such as sunlight, wind, water, geothermal heat and the like. The drive means may include an energy collecting device, an energy storing device and a motor to rotate the casing.

These and other features of the invention are described in more detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are described below, by way of non-limiting examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an energy converting apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic section side view along line ΙΙ-ΙΓ in figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a similar view to that shown in figure 2 of an energy converting apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 is a similar view to that shown in figure 2 of an energy converting apparatus according to a third embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 5 is a schematic lay-out of an electricity generating arrangement incorporating the electricity converting apparatus of figure 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings, in which like numerals refer to like features, an energy converting apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention is general indicated by reference numeral 10 in figures 1 and 2, an energy converting apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention is general indicated by reference numeral 10A in figure 3, and an energy converting apparatus in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention is general indicated by reference numeral 10B in figures 4 and 5.

Referring to figure 2, the energy converting apparatus 10 comprises a housing 12 in the form of a sleeve and a plurality of deflecting arrangements 14 which protrude from an inner surface 16 of the housing 12. In the example embodiment shown, there are two deflecting arrangements 14 which are similar and circumferentially spaced about the inner surface of the housing 12. It should be appreciated that any number of deflecting arrangements 14 could be used.

The housing 12 has an inlet 1 8 and an outlet 20 for allowing fluid 22, for example water, to pass through the housing 12. The housing 12 is rotatably supported by means of a pair of bearings 24 located at opposing ends thereof so that, in use, under the influence of the fluid 22 passing through the housing 12 and acting against the deflecting arrangements 14, the housing 1 2 is caused to rotate.

Each deflecting arrangement 14 comprises a helix-shaped elongate blade or rib that extends substantially between the inlet 18 and outlet 20 of the housing 12. As shown, at least part of each deflecting arrangement 14 is tilted relative to an axis of rotation A of the housing 12, in the present example being its longitudinal axis, which allows the housing 12 to rotate when the fluid 22 acts on the deflecting arrangements 14. The pitch of the deflecting arrangement could be adjusted according to the needs of a particular application.

As can be seen from figure 2, inner free sides of a portion of the deflecting configurations 14 located towards the outlet 20 are formed into lip formations 26 that are curved so to project towards the inlet 18 of the apparatus 10. These lip formations 26 shape the deflecting arrangement 14, at least partially, into a trough where they are found. It can further be seen that part of the inner surface 16 taper towards the centre of the housing 12 and towards the outlet 20. A remainder of the inner surface 16 extend parallel to each other. The apparatus 10 further includes a generator 28 which is located around the housing 12 such that as a result of the rotating housing 12 caused by the flowing fluid 22, the generator 28 is able to generate electricity. The generator 28 consists of a plurality of magnets 30 which are circumferentially spaced about and fitted to the outside of the housing 12. The generator 28 further includes an armature or conductor material 32 which is spaced from the magnets 30 and attached to the inside of an outer casing 34 which is held in position by means of opposing end covers 36. The outer casing 34 is in the form of a tube which is positioned over the housing 12 and is co-axial with the housing 12. It should be appreciated that the magnets 30 could be either electromagnets or permanent magnets. In use, the apparatus 10 is fitted to a conduit 38 conveying the fluid 22. In one example embodiment of the invention the conduit 38 and apparatus 10 forms part of a hydroelectric scheme whereby the fluid 22 is water 22 which the conduit 38 receives, typically from a reservoir (not shown). The water 22 flows through the conduit 38 and the housing 12 by means of gravitational forces and causes the housing 12 (rotor) to rotate. The apparatus 10 thus converts the kinetic energy of the flowing water 22 into mechanical energy in the form of the rotating housing 12. As a result of the rotation, a rotating magnetic field is created, forcing an electric current to flow through the armature 32 which is attached to the outer casing 34 (stator) to generate electricity. The apparatus 10 thus further converts the mechanical energy in the rotating housing 12 into electrical energy.

Figure 3 shows an apparatus 10A according to a second embodiment of the invention. The apparatus 10A is similar to the apparatus 10 discussed above, save for the magnets 30 being located on the inside of the outer casing 34 (stator) and the armature 32 positioned on the outside of the housing 12 (rotor).

Figures 4 and 5 show an apparatus 10B according to a third embodiment of the invention. The apparatus 10B is similar to the apparatus 10 discussed above, save for the apparatus 10B being connectable to external drive means 40 for rotating the casing 34, typically, in a direction opposite to what the housing 12 would rotate under the influence of the fluid 22. The casing 34 is rotatably supported on the conduit 38 by means of a second set of bearings 24.1 . As shown in figure 5, the external drive means 40 includes a motor 42 which is connected to the casing 34 to drive it, an energy storing device or component 44 for providing power to the motor 42, and an energy collecting device 46 for collecting energy from an energy source and feeding it to the storing device 44. The energy storing device 44 is generally in the form of one or more batteries. In some embodiments of the invention, the motor 42 could receive its power directly from the collector 46, thus eliminating the use of the storing device 44.

The apparatus 10B would be especially useful in applications where a second separate (or more) energy source, typically renewable energy (sunlight, wind, water, geothermal heat, and the like) is also available. For such cases, the energy collecting device 46 could be in the form of either or more of a solar collector, wind turbine, water turbine, and the like. The apparatus 10B could thus provide one electricity output 48 from a plurality of different energy sources.

It should be understood that more than one of the apparatuses 10 could be used for a selected application, in which case the apparatuses 10 could be arranged so to operate in parallel or in series with each other, or any combination thereof. Generally, the volume and the energy in the fluid 22 depict the amount of apparatuses to be used and their layout. It will be appreciated that a secondary, or bypass, conduit (not shown) could be used in conjunction with the apparatus 10 and conduit 38, wherein should it, for example, be necessary for maintenance to be performed on the apparatus 10, the fluid 22 could easily be redirected to flow through the secondary conduit, thereby the flow of the fluid 22 is not interrupted. It is envisaged that invention discloses energy converting apparatuses 10, 10A and 10B which could be adapted for different applications from small to very large applications. Further, if the magnets 30 are fitted directly onto the housing 12, no bushes are required (as the case is with conventional apparatuses of this kind) for obtaining the electricity from the generator 28 as the armature 32 remains stationary, in use. The magnets 30 used could be selected to be significantly lighter than the armature 32, thus making it possible to reduce the size of the apparatuses 10, 10A and 10B by having the lighter magnets 30 rotating and the heavier armature 32 stationary.

It is further envisaged that the invention has doubtless applications which extend beyond that of only hydroelectric schemes. For example, the apparatuses 10, 10A and 10B could be connected to an irrigation system (not shown) from which some of the energy could, for example, be collected. The apparatus 10B could also assist in propelling water ejecting from such irrigation system. It should be appreciated that in the aforementioned applications the magnets and armature 30 and 32 would be omitted and the apparatus 10B would purely be used to enhance the velocity and/or pressure of the fluid it receives. The apparatuses 10, 10A and 10B could also be coupled to a fluid pump system (not shown), such as a swimming pool pump system, to recover a portion of the energy therefrom.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that this invention is not limited to the precise details as described herein and that many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the deflecting arrangements 14 do not have to shaped in a continuous elongate element, as illustrated, and could comprise a plurality of smaller deflectors which are staggered so to form an elongate deflecting formation. Further, instead of the apparatuses 10 and 10A including the generator 30 integral with it in the manner described herein, the apparatuses 10 and 10A could be adapted so that an external generator (not shown) could be connected to the housing 12 wherein, under the influence of the rotating housing 12, the external generator is caused to generate electricity. Also, the housing 12 could be the magnet.

It will further be appreciated that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purposes of explanation and is in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments only, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation.