TIDAL POWER GENERATOR

• US 20110012357A1
• Filed: 08/19/2009
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: LAI, JIN-SHI
• Granted Patent: US 8,269,364 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/53
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/26 using tide energy
• 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

Abstract

The tidal power generator includes a hollow container, an impeller designed for unidirectional rotation, an electric generator fixed in the container, and a chargeable power source. A first opening and an opposite second opening are defined in the container. The impeller is positioned at the second opening and configured for unidirectionally rotating pushed by air flow. The electric generator includes a stator and a rotor extending from the stator. The rotor is fixedly connected to the impeller. The rotor rotates with rotation of the impeller so that the stator outputs electrical energy. The power source is configured for storing the output electrical energy.

Claims

1. A tidal power generator comprising:

a hollow container defining a first opening and an opposite second opening;

an impeller designed for unidirectional rotation, the impeller being positioned at the second opening and configured for unidirectionally rotating pushed by air flow;

an electric generator fixed in the container and comprising a stator and a rotor extending from the stator, the rotor fixedly connected to the impeller, the rotor rotating with rotation of the impeller so that the stator outputting electrical energy; and

a chargeable power source configured for storing the output electrical energy.

2. The tidal power generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the impeller comprises a cylinder body, a shaft extending through the body, and a plurality of blades radially extending from the body;

the shaft comprises a first end and an opposite second end at two opposite sides of the cylinder body;

the container comprises a supporting portion, a fixing hole is defined in the supporting portion corresponding to the shaft;

the tidal power generator further comprises a sleeve fixed to the container at the second opening;

a receiving cavity shaped to the electric generator and a through hole corresponding to the fixing hole are defined in the sleeve, the through hole is communicated with the receiving cavity;

the electric generator is accommodated in the receiving cavity, the impeller is interposed between the sleeve and the supporting portion, the first end extends and inserts through the fixing hole, the second end extends and inserts through the through hole to be connected to the electric generator.

3. The tidal power generator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second end comprises a cylindrical portion and a semi-cylindrical portion extending from the cylindrical portion;

a connecting hole is defined in the center of the rotor corresponding to the semi-cylindrical portion;

the cylindrical portion extends and inserts through the through hole, and the semi-cylindrical portion is engaged in the connecting hole so that the impeller is connected to the electric generator.

4. The tidal power generator as claimed in claim 2, wherein a plurality of evenly distributed cutouts are defined in the sidewall of the container adjacent to the second opening;

the sleeve comprises a circular sidewall, a receiving portion positioned in the center of the inner of the circular sidewall, and a plurality of connecting portions connecting the receiving portion to the circular sidewall;

the connecting portions are engaged in the cutouts respectively and the circular sidewall encircles the outer wall of the container so that the sleeve is fixed to the container.

5. The tidal power generator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the supporting portion is a spoke-like structure.

6. The tidal power generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power source is a storage battery.

7. The tidal power generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tidal power generator further comprises a floating barrel, the floating barrel floats on the sea outside the container;

the power source is received in the floating barrel, the power source is electrically and mechanically connected to the electric generator, the floating barrel is connected to the container through the power source.

8. The tidal power generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power source is supported on the supporting portion.