Submersible waterwheel with hinged rotor blades and spring-loaded water seals

• US 8,152,441 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2008
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ray F. Hofmann
• Original Assignee: Ray F. Hofmann
• Inventors: Hofmann, Ray
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): KNOPP, ANDREW COLEMAN
• Application Number:
  US12/114,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20080279687A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,439 Days
• Field of Search: 415/4.1, 415/4.2, 415/4.4, 415/7, 415/8, 415/121.2, 415/126, 415/173.1, 415/173.2, 415/173.3, 415/174.2, 415/906, 415/174.1, 416/43, 416/54, 416/84, 416/85, 416/87, 416/111, 416/224, 416/247.R
• US Class Current: 415/4.1
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 17/065 the flow engaging parts having a cyclic movement relative to the rotor during its rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2210/18 Air and water being simultaneously used as working fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/932 which is a catamaran-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/97 on a submerged structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/30 Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 415/906 having specific features for water current

Abstract

A reengineered undershot waterwheel adapted to capture unutilized hydrokinetic energy is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the blades, partitions, and shafts of the waterwheel are composed of engineered plastics and composites for improved operation and longevity. In other embodiments, the waterwheel may be fixed, floating, partially or fully submerged, mounted vertically or horizontally, and will operate in deep and shallow flowing water sources.

Claims

1. A waterwheel apparatus, comprising:

a rotor assembly, comprising an inboard rotor shaft, a pair of circular partitions separated by the inboard rotor shaft, a pair of outboard rotor shafts, and

a plurality of hinged rotor blades radially oriented between the pair of circular partitions and coupled to the pair of partitions with hinge pins engaged with water-lubricated bearings in the hinged rotor blades, wherein the perimeter of each rotor blade comprises a groove configured to hold a spring-loaded water seal assembly and a plurality of through slots, the spring-loaded water seal assembly comprising;

a water seal disposed within the groove, the water seal having a plurality of through holes essentially perpendicular to the radial orientation of the rotor blade;

a plurality of compressed springs arrayed between an inner surface of the water seal and a bottom surface of the groove; and

a plurality of keepers installed through the plurality of slots and the plurality of through holes, wherein the water seal is captured in the groove and forced outward from the groove.

2. The waterwheel apparatus of claim 1, wherein the partitions and rotor blades are fabricated from reinforced plastic additionally strengthened through internal and external isogrid stiffening technology.

3. The waterwheel apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotor shaft is fabricated from a wound plastic filament.

4. The waterwheel apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hinged clamshell cover subtending approximately 180 degrees of the rotor assembly.

5. The waterwheel apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wind turbine coupled with the rotor assembly.

6. The waterwheel apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a horizontal thrust shoe subtending an arc of rotation of the rotor assembly and having vertical support members configured to support the rotor assembly, wherein the water seal in each hinged rotor blade maintains contact with the horizontal thrust shoe through the arc of rotation when the rotor assembly is driven by water flow.

7. The waterwheel apparatus of claim 6, further comprising wear shields mounted between the partitions and ends of the hinged rotor blades, wherein water seals in the ends of the hinged rotor blades are sealed against the wear shields, the partitions further comprising a plurality of dampening stops to limit a range of motion of the hinged rotor blades during rotation of the rotor assembly.

8. The waterwheel apparatus of claim 7, wherein the horizontal thrust shoe is fabricated from aggregate and reinforced concrete.

9. The waterwheel apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of vertical water flow straightening vanes embedded in the horizontal thrust shoe.

10. The waterwheel apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a venturi-type inlet duct coupled to the vertical support members, the venturi-type inlet duct configured to direct and concentrate water flow against the hinged rotor blades of the rotor assembly.

11. The waterwheel apparatus of claim 10, further comprising an elongated inlet duct coupled with the venturi-type inlet duct, the elongated inlet duct comprising:

a filtering/cleaning rake assembly; and

a pressurized water backwash system.

12. The waterwheel apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a lifting frame assembly coupled with the vertical support members with jackscrews, the lifting frame assembly comprising:

housings with rotor shaft bearings configured to support the pair of outboard rotor shafts; and

equipment trays configured to support electrical and mechanical equipment driven by the rotor assembly, wherein the lifting frame assembly is configured to raise and lower the rotor assembly to maximize torque on the rotor assembly.

13. The waterwheel apparatus of claim 6, further comprising air dams on the outboard sides of the vertical support members to provide water seals between the waterwheel apparatus and sidewalls of a water causeway.

14. The waterwheel apparatus of claim 6, further comprising cantilevered rotor assemblies on the outboard rotor shafts to generate energy from water flow in a water causeway having sloping sidewalls.

15. The waterwheel apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a pair of pontoons coupled to the vertical support members, the pontoons configured to selectively float and submerge the waterwheel assembly.

16. The waterwheel apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a remote controlled maneuvering and parking rudder assembly attached to a pontoon and configured to maneuver the waterwheel apparatus in and out of a water flow.

17. The waterwheel apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a drop-leg yoke coupled with the vertical support members, the drop-leg yoke comprising a surge suppressor spring assembly and a tether cable, wherein the surge suppressor spring assembly is configured to moderate movement of the waterwheel apparatus in the presence of water surges, and wherein the tether cable comprises one or more of a power cable, an air hose, buoyancy chambers and communication cables.

18. The waterwheel apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a tether cable cleaning apparatus configured to crawl up and down the tether cable and to remove debris and marine growth from the tether cable.

19. The waterwheel apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotor assembly is mounted vertically to one of a fixed, floating and submerged object.

20. The waterwheel apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a vertical thrust shoe subtending an arc of rotation of the rotor assembly, wherein the water seal in each hinged rotor blade maintains contact with the vertical thrust shoe through the arc of rotation when the rotor assembly is driven by water flow.

21. The waterwheel apparatus of claim 20, wherein the fixed object comprises a cylindrical pier having a circumference, the waterwheel apparatus further comprising:

a first rack and pinion coupling between the rotor assembly and the cylindrical pier configured to rotate the rotor assembly around the circumference of the cylindrical pier; and

a second rack and pinion coupling between the rotor assembly and the cylindrical pier configured to raise and lower the rotor assembly.