Ships – Towing or pushing – Submerged object
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-13
2003-01-21
Swinehart, Ed (Department: 3617)
Ships
Towing or pushing
Submerged object
C290S054000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06508191
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to power generating apparatus and more specifically to portable aqua power generating apparatus particularly for sailboats.
The aqua turbo generator of the present invention is a cylindrical device with two major parts: a turbine and a generator. The turbine is located in the frontal portion of the device and is connected to the generator in the rear of the device through a set of gears. A conical shaped filter pointed forward is located in the front of the turbine to prevent clogging of the device. The size of the filter opening is smaller than the spacing between the turbine blades so that any particular matter that passes through the filter can freely pass through the turbine and out the aqua turbo. At the junction between the conical filter and the main body of the unit, the water is deflected into the filter by a special deflector thus forcing the water to pass through the turbine. The turbine is located immediately behind the conical filter. The size of the turbine and the generator depend on the electrical requirements and use. The turbine is connected to the generator through a set of gears and a brake.
The gears and the brake are controlled from the boat deck. The generator, gears and the brake are housed in a leak proof enclosure to prevent the entrance of water.
The electricity produced by the generator is transmitted through the electric lines, enclosed in seawater resistant plastic, to the boat deck. Employing the appropriate voltage regulator and transformers, the electricity is distributed to electronic instruments, appliances, and other devices according to the need.
In addition, it is also used to recharge the batteries. Ball joints are used to facilitate the rotation of the turbine and the generator. The passageway of the water through the system is designed to allow for easy and smooth water flow through the system. The device of the present invention can be permanently attached to a boat or portable installation is recommended.
The portable unit can be easily pulled out of the water for cleaning and occasional maintenance. Portable installation is preferred to a permanent one because it is important that the device be continuously submerged, making service of the device difficult on a stationary installation. The portable unit can be removed easily for cleaning and servicing, With a portable installation, the depth of submergence can be controlled, while the permanent installation the depth is fixed and cannot be varied.
To operate the device, it is lowered in the water behind a boat sufficiently deep so that it is continuously submerged. As the boat moves, the water enters the unit in the front portion of the device through a conical filter, passes through the turbine and begins to rotate it. The turbine rotation is transmitted through a set of gears to the generator. The transmission increases multi-fold the speed of rotation of the generator thus producing ample amounts of electric power. After passing through the turbine, water flows around the generator housing and out the back of the unit. The flow of water also acts as a coolant maintaining the generator temperature at a constant level and preventing overheating.
The invention could also be used as a means of generating primary electricity to meet the needs of one family or several households located close to rivers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other power generating apparatus designed to generate aqua power. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 4,048,947 issued to Sicard on Sep. 20, 1977.
Another patent was issued to Coffer on Oct. 11, 1977 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,053,253. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,425 was issued to Treat on Feb. 27, 1979 and still yet another was issued on Mar. 13, 1984 to Vary as U.S. Pat. No. 4,436,480.
Another patent was issued to Quintal on Aug. 28, 1984 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,468,606. Another patent was issued to Wiggs on Feb. 16, 1988 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,195. Another patent was issued to Hesh on Sep. 19, 1989 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,868,408. Another patent was issued to Bynum et al. on Jul. 1, 1997 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,644,170. Another patent was issued to Tether on Jan. 26, 1999 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,228. Another patent was issued to Szpur on Sep. 7, 1999 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,909. Another patent was issued to Bergstein on Sep. 7, 1999 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,947,678. Another patent was issued to Woodbridge et al. on Feb. 1, 2000 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,020,653.
Furthermore, an underwater generator is disclosed on the Internet site www.jademountain.com.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,048,947
Inventor: Charles Sicard
Issued: Sep. 20, 1977
A rotary device driven by a moving fluid, such as water or air, for generating a rotary movement comprises a cylindrical or frusto-conical rotor having a vertical axis, the rotor having a plurality of identical blades distributed around the periphery of the rotor, each blade having a symmetrical aerodynamic profile and being mounted so as to freely rotate about a substantially vertical axis parallel to its leading edge. The device may be used to power a screw driven boat, a wheeled vehicle or other machinery.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,053,253
Inventor: Carl Coffer
Issued: Oct. 11, 1977
A power generating apparatus, the construction and size of which may vary from a relatively small domestic version for individual homes to a larger commercial version for power stations, comprises a device to be anchored in and driven by a substantially horizontally flowing water stream and includes a body having an endless chain horizontally mounted on sprocket wheels fixed on spaced, vertical, rotatable shafts, the chain being continuously driven by water flow driving a plurality of paddles attached thereto and arranged to be pivotable between a vertical position to be propelled downstream by water flow through a chute and a substantially horizontal position for low-drag movement upstream back to the chute inlet, track and roller support means for the paddle assemblies and a drag bar for raising and lowering the paddles from vertical to horizontal and back then to vertical position.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,425
Inventor: Russell Treat
Issued: Feb. 27, 1979
Apparatus for generating electrical energy useful for powering of the electrical apparatuses associated with the operations of a vehicle, boat, residence, or other structure, including a bank of batteries associated with one of said structures and provided for furnishing the electrical energy necessary for its operations, an electrical energy producing solar panel operatively disposed with the structure for creating electrical energy for recharging of its bank of batteries, and, an impeller driven alternator, the impeller being rotated through the efforts of air passing thereby, providing also for selectively recharging of the bank of batteries of one of the identified structures. In the preferred instance, the structure comprises an electric powered vehicle, incorporating front and rear wheels, with a variable speed direct current electrical motor associated with the said wheels, gearing interconnected between the motor and the wheels, with the solar panel or alternator charged batteries conducting the electrical energy to the motor to attain its revolving and the consequent rotation of the vehicle wheels for inducing movement.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,436,480
Inventor: Philip Vary
Issued: Mar. 13, 1984
A hydro-turbine device includes a frame mounted in a channel through which water flows, the frame mounting a horizontal shaft carrying a turbine wheel having spaced end plates between which extend a plurality of arcuate vanes. A cover is mounted over the rear of the turbine wheel, and carries an extension on the front thereof that has an arcuate scoop mounted on its under side. The arcuate scoop is arranged to capture water flowing toward the turbine wheel and direct it centrally against the concave rear faces of the vanes, so as to effect maximum energy removal from the water. The cover is positioned and arranged to enhance aspirator action for efficient
Kroll Michael I.
Swinehart Ed
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