Fluid driven energy generator

• US 7,633,178 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2008
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wayne Embree
• Original Assignee: Wayne Embree
• Inventors: Embree, Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): GONZALEZ, JULIO CESAR
• Application Number:
  US12/315,146
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 290/43, 290/44, 290/54, 290/55, 415/4.1, 415/4.5, 415/4.2, 415/2.1, 604/97, 604/96, 416/1, 416/132.B, 416/119, 416/117
• US Class Current: 290/55
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 17/062 with rotation axis substantially at right angle to flow direction
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 3/068 mechanically controlled by the rotor structure
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2210/16 Air or water being indistinctly used as working fluid, i.e. the machine can work equally with air or water without any modification
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/04 Control effected upon non-electric prime mover and dependent upon electric output value of the generator
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/74 Wind turbines with rotation axis perpendicular to the wind direction

Abstract

The present invention may be used for converting fluid flow into an alternate energy form. A generally cylindrical enclosure may have a side wall with a plurality of slots longitudinally formed therein and with two opposed ends. Two drive members of a shaft may be spaced apart, positioned longitudinally on a centerline, and rotatably attached each to one of the two opposed ends. Each of the two drive members at an interior end may have an orthogonal member attached and a paddle shaft may be attached at a leverage end of the orthogonal members. Multiple paddles may be circumferentially spaced and radially attached at a first edge to rotate on the paddle shaft with an outer edge disposed to allow extension and retraction through one of the slots.

Claims

1. An apparatus for converting fluid flow into an alternate energy form comprising:

a generally cylindrical enclosure that has a side wall with a plurality of slots longitudinally formed therein and with two opposed ends;

two drive members of a shaft are spaced apart, positioned longitudinally on a centerline of said enclosure, and rotatably attached each to one of said two opposed ends;

each of said two drive members at an interior end has an orthogonal member attached with each of said orthogonal members approximately parallel;

a paddle shaft is attached at each end to each of said orthogonal members at a leverage end; and

a plurality of paddles circumferentially spaced and radially attached at a first edge to rotate on said paddle shaft with an outer edge disposed to allow extension and retraction through one of said slots.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said enclosure has a polygonal cross-sectional wall.

3. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said enclosure has a circular cross-sectional wall.

4. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said plurality of slots are parallel to said centerline.

5. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein a thrust shaft having a plurality of thrust rollers is attached at each end to each of said opposed ends interior to said enclosure adjacent to each of said plurality of slots.

6. The apparatus as in claim 5 wherein a bracket arm is attached to said thrust shaft disposed to position a roller adjacent one of said paddles on a side opposite said thrust shaft.

7. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said plurality of paddles is attached to said paddle shaft with at least two paddle projecting elements on said first edge of each of said plurality of paddles attached to at least two paddle bearing sleeves rotatably disposed on said paddle shaft.

8. The apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said paddle bearing sleeves are disposed serially on said paddle shaft and said at least two paddle projecting elements for each of said paddles are disposed for attachment to said paddle bearing sleeves to avoid interference between adjacent paddles.

9. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said paddle shaft is rotatably attached to said orthogonal members and said plurality of paddles are attached at said first edge to said paddle shaft.

10. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein an electric generator is coupled with said enclosure.