Hydroelectric power generation device for operation with water flow of sanitary piping

• US 10,443,561 B1
• Filed: 05/15/2018
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shun-Ming Yang
• Original Assignee: Shun-Ming Yang
• Inventors: Yang, Shun-Ming
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tulsidas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mikailoff, S.
• Application Number:
  US15/980,696
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 290 43, 290 52, 290 54
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/00 Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus if the apparatus aspects are predominant, see the relevant subclasses for such apparatus, e.g. H02K7/18; Power stations or aggregates incorporating only machines or engines of positive-displacement type F03C; hydraulic engineering aspects E02B; combinations with wind energy converters F03D9/008
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 3/128 Mounting, demounting
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/20 within closed fluid conduits, e.g. pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/602 with energy recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/42 Storage of energy
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/0094 Structural association with other electrical or electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/10 with arrangements for protection from ingress, e.g. water or fingers
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/1732 radially supporting the rotary shaft at both ends of the rotor H02K5/1737 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/085 radially supporting the rotary shaft at only one end of the rotor H02K7/086, H02K7/09 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1823 structurally associated with turbines or similar engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/50 Hydropower in dwellings

Abstract

A hydroelectric power generation device is structure to utilize water flowing to generate electrical power that could be supplied to a bathroom installation and is generally made up of a functional main body, a battery assembly, and a power generation module. The functional main body has two opposite sides each including a mounting end formed thereon. The functional main body forms therein a receiving chamber. The power generation module includes a stator and a rotor. The rotor is coupled, in a manner of being rotatable, to an axle, which is coupled to a vane wheel. Water flowing into the device drives the vane wheel and the rotor to rotate simultaneously so that magnetic interaction between the rotor and the stator generates electrical power that is supplied to a sensor controlling supply of water flow. A sleeve is fit over the axle for correcting and stably supporting the axle in rotation.

Claims

1. A hydroelectric power generation device, comprising:

a functional main body, which comprises a hollow casing structure, the functional main body having two opposite sides, each of the two opposite sides being provided with a mounting end that is formed with a through hole extending therethrough and is adapted to connect to a water conduit, the functional main body being formed with a hollow receiving chamber extending downward from a top thereof;

a plurality of assembling sections, which are formed in the receiving chamber;

a power generation module, which is arranged in the receiving chamber of the functional main body and is retained in position by the plurality of assembling sections, the power generation module comprising;

a stator,

a rotor, arranged in an interior of the stator, such that the rotor and the stator are rotatable relative to each other to induce a magnetic effect,

an axle assembly comprising an axle, the axle having a first end coupled to the rotor and fit, in sequence, through a bearing and a sleeve retained in the receiving chamber, so that the sleeve keeps a central portion of the axle in position, and

a vane wheel, which is mounted to a second end of the axle, the second end of the axle being opposite to the first end of the axle, wherein the first end of the axle is coupled to the rotor in such a way that the vane wheel corresponds, in position, to the through holes of the mounting ends; and

a battery assembly, which is electrically connected to the power generation module, the battery assembly comprising a storage unit, such that electrical power generated by the power generation module is stored in the storage unit;

wherein a water flow passing through the water conduits is conducted through the receiving chamber such that the water flow drives the vane wheel of the power generation module to rotate and thus generate the electrical power; and

wherein the first end of the axle is coupled to the rotor to form an upper support point of the axle;

the second end of the axle is supported by a part of the functional main body at a location opposite to the rotor so as to form a lower support point of the axle; and

the central portion of the axle that is spaced from the first end and the second end of the axle and is supported by the sleeve via the bearing to form a third support point of the axle, so that a three-point supporting arrangement is provided for supporting the axle at three different locations.

2. The hydroelectric power generation device according to claim 1, wherein the second end of the axle to which the vane wheel is mounted is provided with a coupling section, which receives a cap mounted thereto for position fixation after the vane wheel is fit over the axle.

3. The hydroelectric power generation device according to claim 1, wherein the vane wheel comprises a vortex element coupled thereto for regulation of water flow.

4. The hydroelectric power generation device according to claim 1, wherein the functional main body is formed with a threaded hole extending from a bottom thereof toward the receiving chamber, the threaded hole being combinable with a closure member, so that after the vane wheel is fit over the axle and is fastened in position by a cap, the closure member is secured under the cap to close the receiving chamber.

5. The hydroelectric power generation device according to claim 1, wherein a vortex element is provided in at least one of the through holes of the mounting ends.

6. The hydroelectric power generation device according to claim 1, wherein a correction compartment is formed in the assembling sections of the receiving chamber and the sleeve is arranged in the correction compartment for positional correction of the axle during rotation thereof.

7. The hydroelectric power generation device according to claim 1, wherein the battery assembly is connectable to a sensor of a bathroom installation for supplying electrical power to the sensor.

8. The hydroelectric power generation device according to claim 1, wherein the functional main body is formed of a plastic material.

9. The hydroelectric power generation device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting ends are provided with an externally-threaded section for connection with the water conduit.