Generating means

• US 4,272,685 A
• Filed: 12/20/1976
• Issued: 06/09/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James Toyama
• Original Assignee: James Toyama
• Inventors: Toyama, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Witkowski, Stanley J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Redman, John W.
• Application Number:
  US05/752,874
• Time in Patent Office: 1,632 Days
• Field of Search: 290/52, 415/91, 416/188, 416/189, 416/195
• US Class Current: 290/52
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/06 Stations or aggregates of water-storage type, e.g. comprising a turbine and a pumpturbines characterised by having means for functioning alternatively as pumps F03B3/10
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 3/04 with substantially axial flow throughout rotors, e.g. propeller turbines rotors per se F03B3/126
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/16 Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids

Abstract

A generating means as a form of utilizing water to generate electricity. There is a water dam which backs up a sizeable depth and water pressure, and a water outlet pipe near the bottom of the dam. A plurality of electric generating stations are positioned below the dam and utilize water flow through the outlet pipe to drive an electric generator at each station.

Claims

1. Apparatus for generating electricity by passing water in a pipe through a series of turbines in which the water traverses from a higher elevation to a lower elevation and in which the turbines include a water flow valve upstream of said turbine in the pipe to alter the flow rate in said pipe, said turbines comprising a housing having a conically tapering configuration truncated at the smaller extent and blades disposed on an inner surface of said housing such that said blades have a continuous, uninterrupted, spirally curved tapering configuration and terminate in the small end of said housing, said housing supported at its small end by bearings and at its large end by a packing ring which supports said housing and allows said housing to rotate, gear teeth disposed about the outer periphery of said housing at its large end, a generator having a toothed armature, and a chain connecting said gear teeth of said housing to said toothed armature so that rotation of said housing provides rotation of said armature thereby generating electricity.