Energy Conversion Device
First Claim
1. An energy conversion device comprising:
- a mounting system for mounting the device in a fluid;
an axle fixed to the mounting system;
a hollow shell having axial symmetry about a longitudinal axis and having an exterior, a front end, and a back end, the shell substantially rounded from the front end, expanding radially along the longitudinal axis up to a maximum diameter, and tapering radially along the longitudinal axis from the maximum diameter to the back end, the maximum diameter occurring at a longitudinal location less than half the distance from the front end to the back end; and
a plurality of blades on the exterior of the hollow shell;
each blade extending from the front end of the hollow shell to the back end of the hollow shell, spiraling longitudinally along the exterior of the hollow shell, and rising from the exterior of the hollow shell at the front end to a maximum height above the exterior of the hollow shell and lowering to the exterior of the hollow shell at the back end, each blade having a concave wall, the concave wall being concave with respect to the front end in the longitudinal direction and concave in the radially outward direction, and each blade having a convex wall, the convex wall being convex with respect to the front end in the longitudinal direction and convex in the radially outward direction;
wherein the hollow shell rotates about the axle.
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Abstract
An energy conversion device is disclosed. Some embodiments include a mounting system for mounting the device in a fluid, an axle fixed to the mounting system, a hollow shell that rotates about the axle having axial symmetry about a longitudinal axis. The hollow shell may be substantially rounded at the front, expanding to a maximum diameter less than half the distance from the front end to the back end, and tapering radially along the longitudinal axis to the back end. The energy device may further comprise a plurality of blades on the exterior of the hollow shell, each blade extending from the front end of the hollow shell to the back end, rising to a maximum height, and having concave and convex walls. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An energy conversion device comprising:
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a mounting system for mounting the device in a fluid; an axle fixed to the mounting system; a hollow shell having axial symmetry about a longitudinal axis and having an exterior, a front end, and a back end, the shell substantially rounded from the front end, expanding radially along the longitudinal axis up to a maximum diameter, and tapering radially along the longitudinal axis from the maximum diameter to the back end, the maximum diameter occurring at a longitudinal location less than half the distance from the front end to the back end; and a plurality of blades on the exterior of the hollow shell;
each blade extending from the front end of the hollow shell to the back end of the hollow shell, spiraling longitudinally along the exterior of the hollow shell, and rising from the exterior of the hollow shell at the front end to a maximum height above the exterior of the hollow shell and lowering to the exterior of the hollow shell at the back end, each blade having a concave wall, the concave wall being concave with respect to the front end in the longitudinal direction and concave in the radially outward direction, and each blade having a convex wall, the convex wall being convex with respect to the front end in the longitudinal direction and convex in the radially outward direction;wherein the hollow shell rotates about the axle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An energy conversion device comprising:
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a mounting system for mounting the device in a fluid; an axle fixed to the mounting system; a hollow shell having axial symmetry about a longitudinal axis and having an exterior, a front end, and a back end, the shell substantially rounded from the front end, expanding radially along the longitudinal axis up to a maximum diameter, and tapering radially along the longitudinal axis from the maximum diameter to the back end, the maximum diameter occurring at a longitudinal location less than half the distance from the front end to the back end; and a plurality of blades on the exterior of the hollow shell;
each blade extending from the front end of the hollow shell to the back end of the hollow shell, spiraling longitudinally along the exterior of the hollow shell, and rising from the exterior of the hollow shell at the front end to a maximum height above the exterior of the hollow shell and lowering to the exterior of the hollow shell at the back end, each blade having a concave wall, the concave wall being concave with respect to the front end in the longitudinal direction and concave in the radially outward direction, and each blade having a convex wall, the convex wall being convex with respect to the front end in the longitudinal direction and convex in the radially outward direction;an interior space of the hollow shell; a rotor housed in the interior space of the hollow shell, the rotor fixed to the hollow shell; and a stator housed in the interior space of the hollow shell, the stator fixed to the axle; wherein the hollow shell rotates about the axle. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A turbine comprising:
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a mounting system for mounting the turbine in a fluid; an axle fixed to the mounting system; a hollow shell having axial symmetry about a longitudinal axis and having an exterior, a front end, and a back end, the shell substantially rounded from the front end, expanding radially along the longitudinal axis up to a maximum diameter, and tapering radially along the longitudinal axis from the maximum diameter to the back end, the maximum diameter occurring at a longitudinal location less than half the distance from the front end to the back end; and a plurality of blades on the exterior of the hollow shell;
each blade extending from the front end of the hollow shell to the back end of the hollow shell, spiraling longitudinally along the exterior of the hollow shell, and rising from the exterior of the hollow shell at the front end to a maximum height above the exterior of the hollow shell and lowering to the exterior of the hollow shell at the back end, each blade having a concave wall, the concave wall being concave with respect to the front end in the longitudinal direction and concave in the radially outward direction, and each blade having a convex wall, the convex wall being convex with respect to the front end in the longitudinal direction and convex in the radially outward direction; andone or more bearing assemblies fixed to the hollow shell for allowing the hollow shell to rotate about the axle. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification