FLUID DRIVEN VACUUM ENHANCED GENERATOR

• US 20030175109A1
• Filed: 06/05/2002
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Windtamer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Future Energy Solutions IP & Trademark Inc.
• Inventors: Brock, Gerald E., Greenwald, Howard J., Haltof, Garry P.
• Granted Patent: US 6,655,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 415/4.2
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 3/002 the axis being horizontal
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 3/02 having a plurality of rotors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 3/0463 with converging inlets, i.e. the shield intercepting an area greater than the effective rotor area
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/00 Details, components or accessories not provided for in groups F03D1/00 - F03D17/00
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/74 Wind turbines with rotation axis perpendicular to the wind direction

Abstract

A fluid-driven power generator having a turbine with several vanes, an exhaust chamber, a device for directing a first fluid towards the vanes of the turbine, a device for directing a second fluid through the generator housing assembly without contacting said turbine, a device for combining the first fluid and the second fluid in an exhaust chamber, and a device for creating a vacuum in the exhaust chamber.

Claims

1. A fluid-driven power generator comprised of a turbine comprised of a multiplicity of vanes, wherein said turbine is within a housing assembly, and wherein said housing assembly is comprised of an exhaust chamber, means for directing a first fluid towards said vanes of said turbine, means for directing a second fluid through said housing assembly without contacting said turbine, means for combining said first fluid and said second fluid in said exhaust chamber, and means for creating a vacuum in said exhaust chamber, wherein:

(a) said means for directing fluid towards said tangential portions of said turbine comprises a first interior sidewall, and a second interior sidewall connected to said first sidewall, and

(b) said means for directing fluid towards said tangential portions of said turbine is comprised of means for causing said fluid to flow around said turbine and, for at least about 120 degrees of said flow of said fluid around said turbine, for constricting said fluid and increasing its pressure.

2. The power generator as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for creating a vacuum in said exhaust chamber is comprised of a movable vacuum flap disposed in said exhaust chamber.

3. The power generator as recited in claim 2, wherein said housing is comprised of an air flow diverter.

4. The power generator as recited in claim 3, wherein said vacuum flap is pivotally connected to said air flow diverter.

5. The power generator as recited in claim 4, wherein said exhaust chamber is comprised of a constant area section and a varying area section.

6. The power generator as recited in claim 5, wherein the cross-sectional area of said constant area section varies by no more than about 10 percent.

7. The power generator as recited in claim 2, further comprising means for moving said vacuum flap.

8. The power generator as recited in claim 7, wherein said means for moving said vacuum flap is comprised of a sail.

9. The power generator as recited in claim 7, wherein said means for moving said vacuum flap is comprised of a controller.

10. The power generator as recited in claim 9, wherein said means for moving said vacuum flap is comprised of an actuator.

11. The power generator as recited in claim 10, wherein said means for moving said vacuum flap is comprised of an air motion sensor.

12. The power generator as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises a funnel connected to the front of said housing.

13. The power generator as recited in claim 12, wherein said funnel is comprised of a first wall and a second wall disposed vis-á

-vis each other at an angle of from about 30 to about 45 degrees.

14. The power generator as recited in claim 1, wherein said turbine is a counterrotating turbine.

15. The power generator as recited in claim 1, wherein said turbine is comprised of a turbine impeller assembly.

16. The power generator as recited in claim 1, wherein said power generator is comprised of means for varying the volume of air flowing out of said turbine impeller assembly.

17. The power generator as recited in claim 16, further comprising a first sail.

18. The power generator as recited in claim 17, further comprising a second sail.

19. The power generator as recited in claim 18, further comprising a first biasing means connected to said first sail and a second biasing means connected to said second sail.

20. The power generator as recited in claim 19, further comprising a first valve connected to said first biasing means and a second valve connected to said second biasing means.