Portable turbine systems

• US 8,129,855 B1
• Filed: 12/02/2008
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cameron Smith, Lucas Tong
• Original Assignee: Cameron Smith, Lucas Tong
• Inventors: Tong, Lucas, Smith, Cameron
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Dang
• Application Number:
  US12/315,456
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• Field of Search: 290/43, 290 53- 55
• US Class Current: 290/54
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 17/063 the flow engaging parts having no movement relative to the rotor during its rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/93 on a structure floating on a liquid surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy

Abstract

Novel apparatus and techniques for harnessing wind and/or moving-liquid energy using one or more portable turbine systems are disclosed. One embodiment includes a portable stream turbine system having a hub with many paddles, held by an axle in a housing. The system further includes a disk fixed to the hub and extended out of the housing to be also fixed to a gear structure, which is connected to a generator. The output of the generator can be connected to electronics to perform different functions. Another embodiment includes a number of portable turbine systems removably attached together to form an array. In one example, the number of portable turbine systems in an array can be adjustable, depending on needs. The different embodiments regarding a stream turbine system can further include a floatation mechanism to keep the different embodiments afloat or partially afloat in a fluid. The different embodiments regarding a stream turbine system or an array of stream turbine systems can also include a drifting prevention mechanism to prevent the embodiments from being drifted away, and to substantially maintain the orientation of the embodiments in a fluid.

Claims

1. A portable turbine system comprising:

a hub with a plurality of paddles;

a housing;

an axle holding the hub in the housing;

an input channel connected to the housing;

an output channel connected to the housing;

a gear structure, with a plurality of gears, with at least one gear fixed to at least a portion of the hub;

a generator connected to a last gear of the gear structure; and

a plurality of electrical components on a substrate electrically connected to an output of the generator;

wherein as a fluid enters the input channel and exits the output channel, the fluid turns the paddles, which turns the hub, and the gears to enable the generator to generate electricity, which is used by the electrical components to perform a function,

wherein the housing includes a side surface and a second surface,

wherein the plurality of gears of the gear structure extend towards an end of the side surface, with the last gear extended towards the end of the side surface being connected to the generator,

wherein the substrate is coupled to the second surface, and

wherein the generator extends towards the housing and the generator'"'"'s outputs are configured to be connected to the plurality of electrical components on the substrate.

2. A portable turbine system as recited in claim 1,

wherein the portable turbine system further includes a wireless transceiver, which is configured to wirelessly transmit information relating to the function to another device.

3. A portable turbine system as recited in claim 1, wherein the second surface is a top surface of the housing.

4. A portable turbine system as recited in claim 1, wherein the function is related to measuring a speed of flow of the fluid, when the system is being used in the fluid.

5. A portable turbine system as recited in claim 4, wherein the portable turbine system further includes a wireless transceiver, which is configured to wirelessly transmit information relating to the speed of flow of the fluid to another device.

6. A portable turbine system as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable turbine system further includes a floatation mechanism to configure to keep the system partially afloat on the fluid, with at least a portion of the input channel configured to be in the fluid, when the system is being used in the fluid.

7. A portable turbine system as recited in claim 6, wherein the floatation mechanism includes a gaseous balloon.

8. A portable turbine system as recited in claim 6, wherein the floatation mechanism includes a platform that is configured to float in the fluid, when the system is being used in the fluid.

9. A portable turbine system as recited in claim 8,

wherein at least a portion of the turbine system is below the platform, and

wherein the input channel is configured not to be blocked by the platform.

10. A portable turbine system as recited in claim 1, wherein the turbine system further includes a drifting prevention mechanism to prevent the turbine system from being drifted away when the turbine system is being used in the fluid, and to substantially maintain the orientation of the turbine system, which enhances the fluid flow into the input channel of the turbine system.

11. An array of portable turbine systems comprising:

a first portable turbine system including

a first input channel to allow a fluid to enter the first system;

a first output channel to allow the fluid to exit the first system; and

a first connecting mechanism;

a second portable turbine system including

a second input channel to allow the fluid to enter the second system;

a second output channel to allow the fluid to exit the second system; and

a second primary and a second secondary connecting mechanism; and

a third portable turbine system including

a third input channel to allow the fluid to enter the third system;

a third output channel to allow the fluid to exit the third system; and

a third connecting mechanism,

wherein the first connecting mechanism is removably attached to the second primary connecting mechanism, and the second secondary connecting mechanism is removably attached to the third connecting mechanism to form the array of portable turbine systems.

12. An array of portable turbine systems as recited in claim 11,

wherein the array further comprises one or more portable turbine systems, and

wherein the plurality of portable turbine systems in the array are removably connected together.

13. An array of portable turbine systems as recited in claim 11, wherein the array further comprises a floatation mechanism to keep the array partially afloat on the fluid, with at least a portion of the input channels in the fluid, when the array is being used in the fluid.

14. An array of portable turbine systems as recited in claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the floatation mechanism is at one of the connecting mechanisms.

15. An array of portable turbine systems as recited in claim 11 further comprising a drifting prevention mechanism to prevent the array from being drifted away when the array is being used in the fluid, and to substantially maintain the orientation of the array, which enhances the fluid flow into the input channels of the turbine systems of the array.

16. An array of portable turbine systems as recited in claim 15, wherein the drifting prevention mechanism depends on connecting the array to at least a stationary object on land.

17. An array of portable turbine systems as recited in claim 15, wherein the drifting prevention mechanism depends on anchoring the array to at least a substantially stationary location in the fluid.

18. An array of portable turbine systems as recited in claim 15, wherein the drifting prevention mechanism depends on connecting the array to at least a floating object, which is made substantially stationary.

19. An array of portable turbine systems as recited in claim 18, wherein the portable turbine systems further include a wireless transceiver, which is configured to wirelessly transmit information relating to a function performed by the systems to another device.

20. An array of portable turbine systems comprising:

a first portable turbine system including a first connecting mechanism; and

a second portable turbine system including a second connecting mechanism,

wherein the first connecting mechanism is removably attached to the second connecting mechanism,

wherein the array of portable turbine systems further comprises a plurality of portable turbine systems, and

wherein the plurality of portable turbine systems with the first and the second portable turbine systems are configured into at least two rows of portable turbine systems connected together, with one row being in front of the other row.