NOVEL DESIGNS AND ASSEMBLY METHODS FOR CONDUIT USED IN HARNESSING HYDROKINETIC ENERGY

• US 20120031518A1
• Filed: 08/03/2010
• Published: 02/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lucid Energy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lucid Energy Technologies, LLC, Northwest PIPE Company
• Inventors: Cosby, Mark Rydell, Schlabach, Roderic Alan, Smith, Gregory S.
• Application Number:
  US12/849,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20120031518A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 138/108
• 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: F05B 2220/20 within closed fluid conduits, e.g. pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/602 with energy recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/212 of the Darrieus type
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 45/00 Pipe units with cleaning aperture and closure therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/50 Hydropower in dwellings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A novel conduit design is disclosed. The conduit includes a cylindrical body having defined therein a first aperture and a second aperture, wherein the first aperture is designed to receive a shaft of a turbine and the second aperture is sufficiently large to facilitate ingress or egress of a probe through the second aperture, and wherein the second aperture is located a distance away from the first aperture such that when a turbine is disposed through the first aperture, an entry by a probe into the cylindrical body through the second aperture is not prevented by presence of the turbine.

Claims

1. A conduit comprising a cylindrical body having defined therein a first aperture and a second aperture, wherein said first aperture is designed to receive a shaft of a turbine and said second aperture is sufficiently large to facilitate ingress or egress of a probe through said second aperture, and wherein said second aperture is located a distance away from said first aperture such that when said shaft of said turbine is disposed through said first aperture, an entry by a probe into said cylindrical body through said second aperture is not prevented by presence of said turbine.

2. The conduit of claim 1, wherein said first aperture has a diameter that is between about 2 inches and about 6 inches.

3. The conduit of claim 2, wherein said first aperture has a diameter that is between about 2 inches and about 4 inches.

4. The conduit of claim 1, wherein said second aperture has a diameter that is between about 2 feet and about 3.5 feet.

5. The conduit of claim 4, wherein said second aperture has a diameter that is between about 2.5 feet and about 3.5 feet.

6. The conduit of claim 1, wherein said probe is a human, a motor-driven object or a remotely controlled object.

7. The conduit of claim 1, wherein said distance between said first aperture and said second aperture is between about 2 feet and about 60 feet.

8. The conduit of claim 7, wherein said distance is between about 4 feet and about 10 feet.

9. The conduit of claim 1, wherein said cylindrical body has a diameter that is between about 2.5 feet and about 10 feet.

10. The conduit of claim 1, further comprising a frame assembly that is mounted on said conduit and disposed above said first aperture, and said frame assembly is designed to secure a generator above said turbine when said turbine is disposed through said first aperture.

11. The conduit of claim 1, wherein said turbine is any one of spherical turbine, helical turbine, troposkein turbine, and circular-, square- or rectangular-shaped turbine.

12. The conduit of claim 1, further comprising a cover which covers said second aperture.

13. The conduit of claim 1, wherein said first aperture is located upstream from said second aperture.

14. The conduit of claim 1, wherein said first aperture is located downstream from said second aperture.

15. The conduit of claim 1, wherein said second aperture is defined by an outlet in a cylindrical body perpendicularly disposed on said conduit and protruding outward and said outlet is a flanged outlet.

16. The conduit of claim 15, further comprising a first block, a first seal, and a first bearing disposed near first aperture to secure said turbine at a first location that is adjacent said first aperture.

17. The conduit of claim 1, further comprising a third aperture disposed opposite to said first aperture such that said shaft of said turbine pass through both said first aperture and said third aperture.

18. The conduit of claim 17, further comprising a second seal, a second bearing and a second block to secure said turbine at a second location that is adjacent said third aperture.

19. The conduit of claim 1, further comprising a generator and a coupling, wherein said coupling serves as an interface between said shaft of said turbine and a shaft of said generator.

20. A method of assembling a conduit capable of generating power, said method comprising:

obtaining a cylindrical body having defined therein a first aperture and a second aperture;

introducing a turbine through said second aperture;

displacing said turbine inside said conduit towards said first aperture such that a central axis of said turbine, which is capable of receiving a shaft, aligns with said first aperture.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein in said obtaining, said second aperture is located a distance away from said first aperture such that an entry by a probe into said cylindrical body through said second aperture is not prevented by presence of said turbine.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising covering said second aperture with a cover.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said introducing includes disposing a turbine that is any one of spherical turbine, helical turbine, troposkein turbine, and circular-, square- or rectangular-shaped turbine.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising installing a frame assembly that is mounted on said conduit and disposed above said first aperture.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising securing a generator using said frame assembly above said turbine.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein said cylindrical body has defined therein a third aperture and said method further comprising:

passing said shaft of said turbine through said first aperture and said third aperture; and

securing said shaft of said turbine near said first and said third apertures to prevent substantial lateral displacement of said turbine.