TAPERED HELICAL AUGER TURBINE TO CONVERT HYDROKINETIC ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY

• US 20110254276A1
• Filed: 03/23/2011
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Winfield Scott Anderson Jr.
• Original Assignee: Winfield Scott Anderson Jr.
• Inventors: Anderson, Winfield Scott JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,282,352 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/54
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 17/061 with rotation axis substantially in flow direction
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/243 of the Archimedes screw type
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2250/25 helical
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2250/292 tapered
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/50 Hydropower in dwellings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/30 Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

A helical multi-piece auger that is rotatable by a moving fluid for the generation of energy is provided. The helical multi-piece auger may include several interior pieces and two tapered end-pieces mounted on a central shaft. The pieces may include an outer spiral flange perpendicular, in both directions, to a portion of helical auger. Each tapered end-piece may be tapered with respect to both the outer diameter of a helical auger portion, and the width of an outer spiral flange. Each tapered end-piece may have an outer edge that effectively merges with the central shaft of the multi-piece auger over a radial arc of between 90 and 180 degrees. The helical multi-piece auger may include wing-shaped nose cones that are axially offset with respect to each other and house hydraulic components. The helical multi-piece auger may be rotatable by the moving fluid to facilitate generation of energy.

Claims

1. A helical multi-piece auger rotatable by a moving fluid for the generation of energy comprising:

two helical blades mounted onto a central shaft, each helical blade comprising multiple pieces;

the multiple pieces including at least one constant section, the at least one constant section having a first piece of helical blade and a first outer spiral flange extending approximately perpendicularly, in both directions, from a first outer edge of the first piece of helical blade, the first outer flange having an approximately constant width and being configured to capture at least a percentage of an energy of the moving fluid;

the multiple pieces further including two tapered end-sections, each tapered end-section having a second piece of helical blade and a second outer spiral flange extending approximately perpendicularly, in both directions, from a second outer edge of the second piece of helical blade, the second outer spiral flange having a tapered width that is tapered moving from a vicinity of the at least one constant section toward the central shaft such that the second outer spiral flange only partially covers a length of the second outer edge, the second piece of helical blade having a tapered diameter such that the second outer edge tapers inward toward the central shaft until the second outer edge engages an opposite side of the central shaft from where the tapering inward of the second outer edge commenced; and

a first and a second nose cone mounted on a left and a right end of the central shaft, respectively, the first and second nose cones both being configured to have a winged-shape body, the first and second nose cones being orientated such that a first longitudinal axis of the first nose cone is axially offset from a second longitudinal axis of the second nose cone, wherein the helical multi-piece auger is rotatable by the moving fluid to facilitate generation of energy from the rotation of the helical multi-piece auger.

2. The helical multi-piece auger of claim 1, wherein the first piece of helical blade of the at least one constant section has a first radial arc extending between approximately 45 degrees and approximately 180 degrees circumferentially around the central shaft.

3. The helical multi-piece auger of claim 2, wherein the first piece of helical blade of the at least one constant section has a first radial arc extending approximately 90 degrees circumferentially around the central shaft.

4. The helical multi-piece auger of claim 2, wherein the second piece of helical blade of each tapered end-section has a second radial arc extending between approximately 90 degrees and 180 degrees circumferentially around the central shaft

5. The helical multi-piece auger of claim 1, wherein the second piece of helical blade of each tapered end-section has a second radial arc extending approximately 135 degrees circumferentially around the central shaft.

6. The helical multi-piece auger of claim 1, wherein the helical multi-piece auger is interconnected with a hydraulic pump housed in at least one of the first and second nose cones such that the rotation of the helical multi-piece auger by the moving fluid pressurizes a hydraulic fluid.

7. The helical multi-piece auger of claim 1, wherein the first and second nose cones are adapted to maintain an orientation of the helical auger turbine parallel to a fluid flow direction, the first and second nose cone further being axially offset between approximately 15 degrees and approximately 45 degrees with respect to one another.

8. The helical multi-piece auger of claim 1, wherein the helical multi-piece auger comprises several constant sections such that the helical multi-piece auger has an overall helical blade that extends at least 360 degrees of arc around the central shaft.

9. The helical multi-piece auger of claim 1, wherein each tapered end-section has a second piece of helical blade that is gradually reduced in outward diameter so that each tapered end-section is tapered into the central shaft within approximately 180 degrees of rotation of the second piece of helical blade around the central shaft.

10. The helical multi-piece auger of claim 1, wherein the second outer spiral flange is tapered from a vicinity of the at least one constant section moving toward the central shaft such that the second outer spiral flange covers between approximately 30 percent and approximately 60 percent of the length of the second outer edge.

11. A helical multi-piece auger rotatable by a moving fluid for the generation of energy comprising:

two helical blades mounted onto a central shaft, each helical blade comprising multiple pieces;

the multiple pieces including at least one constant section, the at least one constant section having a first piece of helical blade and a first outer spiral flange extending approximately perpendicularly, in both directions, from a first outer edge of the first piece of helical blade;

the multiple pieces further including two tapered end-sections, each tapered end-section having a second piece of helical blade and a second outer spiral flange extending approximately perpendicularly, in both directions, from a second outer edge of the second piece of helical blade, the second outer spiral flange having a tapered width that is tapered moving from a vicinity of the at least one constant section toward the central shaft such that the second outer spiral flange only partially covers a length of the second outer edge; and

a first and a second nose cone mounted on a left and a right end of the central shaft, respectively, the first and second nose cones both being configured to have a winged-shape body, the first and second nose cones being orientated such that a first longitudinal axis of the first nose cone is axially offset from a second longitudinal axis of the second nose cone, wherein the helical multi-piece auger is rotatable by the moving fluid to facilitate generation of energy from the rotation of the helical multi-piece auger.

12. The helical multi-piece auger of claim 11, wherein the first piece of helical blade of the at least one constant section has a first radial arc extending approximately 90 degrees circumferentially around the central shaft, and the second piece of helical blade of each tapered end-section has a second radial arc extending between approximately 90 degrees and 180 degrees circumferentially around the central shaft

13. The helical multi-piece auger of claim 11, wherein the second piece of helical blade of each tapered end-section has a second radial arc extending approximately 135 degrees circumferentially around the central shaft.

14. The helical multi-piece auger of claim 11, wherein the helical multi-piece auger is interconnected with a generator such that the rotation of the helical multi-piece auger by the moving fluid generates energy.

15. The helical multi-piece auger of claim 11, wherein the first and second nose cones are adapted to maintain an orientation of the helical auger turbine parallel to a fluid flow direction, the first and second nose cones being axially offset between approximately 15 degrees and approximately 45 degrees with respect to each.

16. The helical multi-piece auger of claim 11, wherein the helical multi-piece auger comprises several constant sections such that the helical multi-piece auger has an overall helical blade that extends at least 360 degrees of arc around of the central shaft.

17. The helical multi-piece auger of claim 11, wherein the second piece of helical blade of each tapered end-section is gradually reduced in outward diameter so that each tapered end-section is tapered into the central shaft within approximately 180 degrees of rotation around the central shaft.

18. The helical multi-piece auger of claim 11, wherein the second outer flange is tapered from a vicinity of the at least one constant section moving toward the central shaft such that the second outer flange covers between approximately 30 percent and approximately 60 percent of the length of the second outer edge.

19. A helical multi-piece auger rotatable by a moving fluid for the generation of energy comprising:

two helical blades mounted onto a central shaft, each helical blade comprising multiple pieces;

the multiple pieces including at least one constant section, the at least one constant section having a first piece of helical blade and a first outer spiral flange extending approximately perpendicularly, in both directions, from a first outer edge of the first piece of helical blade, the first outer spiral flange having an approximately constant width and being configured to capture at least a percentage of an energy of the moving fluid;

the multiple pieces further including two tapered end-sections, each tapered end-section having a second piece of helical blade and a second outer spiral flange extending approximately perpendicularly, in both directions, from a second outer edge of the second piece of helical blade;

the second outer spiral flange having a tapered width that is tapered moving from a vicinity of the at least one constant section toward the central shaft such that the second outer spiral flange only partially covers a length of the second outer edge; and

the second piece of helical blade having a tapered diameter such that the second outer edge tapers inward from a vicinity of the at least one constant section moving toward the central shaft until the second outer edge engages an opposite side of the central shaft from where the tapering inward of the second outer edge commenced,

wherein the helical multi-piece auger is rotatable by the moving fluid to facilitate generation of energy from the rotation of the helical multi-piece auger.

20. The helical multi-piece auger of claim 19, further comprising a first nose cone assembly and a second nose cone assembly mounted on a left and a right end of the central shaft, respectively, the first and second nose cone assemblies both housing a hydraulic pump configured to pressurize a hydraulic fluid when the moving fluid rotates the helical multi-piece auger during operation.