GENERATOR

• US 20110012356A1
• Filed: 02/20/2009
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Douglas Burnham
• Original Assignee: Douglas Burnham
• Inventors: Burnham, Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 8,618,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/52
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/14 Parts, details or accessories not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/148 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/024 intended to be recessed in a wall or like vertical structure, e.g. building facade
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/033 the surface being a wall or like vertical structure, e.g. building facade
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/028 rechargeable by using hydropower, e.g. using water powered turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/046 driven by hydropower, e.g. by water powered turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/401 for swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1823 structurally associated with turbines or similar engines

Abstract

A swimming pool water inlet generator operable to allow the generator to be attached to a swimming pool water inlet, a turbine assembly arranged and operable to generate electricity when water flows through the inlet and at least one electrically powered device operable to use the generated electricity in the operation thereof.

Claims

1. A swimming pool water inlet generator comprising attachment means operable to allow the generator to be attached to a swimming pool water inlet, a turbine assembly arranged and operable to generate electricity when water flows through the inlet and at least one electrically powered device operable to use the generated electricity in the operation thereof.

2. A swimming pool water inlet generator according to claim 1, wherein the attachment means is operable to allow the generator to attach to an insert of a swimming pool water inlet.

3. A swimming pool water inlet generator according to either of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the attachment means comprises a threaded region operable to threadedly engage with a threaded region of a swimming pool water inlet.

4. A swimming pool water inlet generator according to any preceding claim, wherein the generator further comprise locking means operable to allow the generator to be locked in position with respect to the swimming pool water inlet.

5. A swimming pool water inlet generator according to any preceding claim, wherein the turbine assembly comprises a rotor, which is arranged to rotate when water flows through the swimming pool water inlet.

6. A swimming pool water inlet generator according to claim 5, wherein the axis of rotation of the rotor is parallel with the direction of flow of the water through the swimming pool water inlet.

7. A swimming pool water inlet generator according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the rotor is generally conical, having an apex thereof extending into the swimming pool water inlet.

8. A swimming pool water inlet generator according to any preceding claim, wherein the turbine assembly comprises a braking system which is operable to allow the rotor to be locked in position and thus rotation thereof to be prevented.

9. A swimming pool water inlet generator according to any preceding claim, wherein the generator comprises diverting means operable to selectively divert water into or away from the rotor of the turbine assembly.

10. A swimming pool water inlet generator according to any preceding claim, wherein the turbine assembly comprises a static portion, upon which may be situated one or more stators.

11. A swimming pool water inlet generator according to claim 10, wherein the static portion further comprise one or more electronic components associated with the turbine assembly, such components being selected from one or more of:

batteries;

battery control units;

generator control units;

master control units etc.

12. A swimming pool water inlet generator according to either of claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the static portion is generally water tight.

13. A swimming pool water inlet generator according any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the at least one electrically powered device is fitted to the static portion of the turbine assembly.

14. A swimming pool water inlet generator according to any preceding claim, wherein the electrically powered device is selected from one or more of the following:

a light source;

an ionizer;

a water heating element;

a water cooling element.

15. A swimming pool water inlet generator according to claim 14, wherein the electrically powered device comprises a light source, such as an LED or an array of LEDs.

16. A swimming pool water inlet generator according to any preceding claim, which comprises one or more status indicators.

17. A swimming pool water inlet generator according to any preceding claim, which comprises a cover portion that may be transparent, translucent or opaque.

18. A swimming pool water inlet generator according to any preceding claim, which comprises signal detecting means operable to detect a signal from a remote control device.

19. A swimming pool water inlet generator according to any preceding claim, which comprises light detection means operable to detect levels of light at or around the generator.

20. A swimming pool water inlet generator according to claim 19, wherein the light detection means is arranged to cause the operation of one or more of the electronically powered devices depending on the detected light levels.

21. A swimming pool water inlet generator according to any preceding claim, which comprises switching means operable to switch the or each electrically powered device between an on and off position.

22. A swimming pool water inlet generator according to claim 21, wherein the switching means comprises a timer that allows the or each (separately or together) electrically powered devices to be switched on or off at a predetermined time.

23. A submergible swimming pool light which is attachable to a swimming pool water inlet, the light comprising an integral electricity generator to power the said light.

24. A swimming pool water inlet generator assembly, the assembly comprising a swimming pool water inlet having attached thereto a swimming pool water inlet generator comprising attachment means operable to allow the generator to be attached to a swimming pool water inlet, a turbine assembly arranged and operable to generate electricity when water flows through the inlet and at least one electrically powered device operable to use the generated electricity in the operation thereof.

25. A method of generation, the method comprising arranging a swimming pool water inlet generator about a swimming pool water inlet such that water passing through the said inlet is caused to enter a turbine assembly of the swimming pool water inlet generator causing the generation of electricity, which electricity may be used to power at least one electrically powered device of the swimming pool water inlet generator.

26. A method of attaching a swimming pool water inlet generator to a swimming pool water inlet, the method comprising using attachment means of the swimming pool water inlet generator to attach the generator to the swimming pool water inlet, and arranging a turbine assembly of the generator relative to the swimming pool water inlet such that water passing through the inlet enters the turbine assembly.

27. A swimming pool water inlet generator substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying figures.

28. A swimming pool water inlet generator assembly substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying figures.

29. A method of generation substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying figures.

30. A method of attaching a swimming pool water inlet generator to a swimming pool water inlet as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying figures.