Prime-mover dynamo plants – Fluid-current motors – Wind
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-11
2004-05-11
Mullins, Burton S. (Department: 2834)
Prime-mover dynamo plants
Fluid-current motors
Wind
C290S053000, C290S054000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06734576
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to electrical energy generation from wind or water.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
The present state of the art involves converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, using rotors with wind driven propeller-like blades or fans and by the use of water turbines. The National Engineering University and the Catholic University of Peru, have sponsored recent courses on wind and marine generator construction, and it is known that a series of large towers have been constructed in the USA, based on that technology, to generate electrical energy by the same system.
The latest in the world is a tower constructed in Germany, 100 m. high, with a single propeller blade 50 m in diameter, having very high generating capacity and very expensive, the construction details of which are not known.
In the hydraulic sector, references can be found a century ago, to Heron of Alexandria, who invented a steam engine, following Leonardo Da Vinci and many others seeking to take advantage of the resources of the live force of water for power. The requirements of the industrial revolution for more energy, enabled Claude Bourdin in 1824, to create the first hydraulic turbine, consisting of a machine providing a mechanism rotating at great speed, turned by the force of water beating against its blades or vanes.
Shortly afterwards, the Englishmnan, James B. Francis, created the centripetal turbine, giving a greater power yield and being the most widely used in our time, to which were added, the Pelton wheel type turbine with very concave vanes and all the developments made to these systems, which do however, require monumental costs for construction of suitable dams.
In the marine sector, the use of turbines combined with dams are known, to take advantage of the force of tides, dams able to control the flow and reflux of water and the use of reversible transmission turbines, that could convert both the ingress and discharge of water with the same efficiency. Various small domestic models have been developed in recent years, in Peru.
None of the aforementioned cases uses an oscillatory self-regulating blade, which, if it existed, from evidence of its high electricity generating capacity and low initial cost, would be the object of spectacular industrial development.
Precedents for the direct use of the force of the wind, can be found in its use on sailing ships, which were first impelled by this means over five thousand five hundred years ago, continuing until Leonardo da Vinci; who was hoping to create flying machines, using the force of the wind, a technology that was being evolved after sailing ships which eliminated the use of oars.
The sailing ship, made it possible for wind to drive heavy vessels, enabling Europeans to discover new continents and colonize large parts of the planet. This state of the art remained frozen at this time in history, because nothing more than mechanical energy was required. When electricity was invented, thoughts turned to producing it and techniques were developed to generate electrical energy by other means, but the correct response to the challenge of the wind was not found by using it to turn large panels to obtain effective rotary movement. The discovery of new physical and technical resources such as the power of steam and then the internal combustion engine, nuclear energy and other inventions, relegated eolic and marine energy, which could provide a powerful impulse to the electrical development of humanity, to second place.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention consists of a machine which captures natural aquatic or wind energy, being clean, renewable, inexhaustible and non contaminating, transforming it into mechanical energy, and then, electrical energy, by means of conventional transformers or dynamos.
The invention is characterized by presenting a large surface for impact by natural energy, wind and water, in a way different from existing systems of vanes or turbine.
The system consists of a fixed static structure, metallic or of reinforced concrete, containing or serving to support a rotary structure, formed by joining four or more flat panels, having a split surface divided into sections, which can be programmed to open or close between stops, welded to a rotary shaft.
The rotary shaft installed in the center of the fixed structure, will turn in one direction only regardless of the direction of the impulse force of water or wind, and will produce constant rotary movement, that will be converted into electrical energy through existing conventional generators.
The essence of the invention, is based on the variable, split sections of the panel surface, which, initially are closed, presenting a flat surface totally facing the natural energy source of its impulsive force. Second, they open allowing the energy medium to flow past at the moment the panel turns against the direction of the natural energy source, by means of oscillating, flat, rectangular vanes in the form of a “Z”, which turn on a lateral shaft, installed one after the other, until covering the whole area of the panel. Vanes with oscillatory movement, controlled by stops which limit their rotation to a maximum of 90°, and are regulated or aligned by adjusting bars or cables, operating in the following way:
The vanes, overlapped and aligned, by means of an initial alignment stop, parallel to the axis of the panel frame; will present a totally closed panel with a continuous surface as if it were not split. If this position is considered as the initial or closed movement, the panel will be facing the water or wind direction, with a large contact or resistance area, thus changing the direction of the water or wind vector, because with a minimum of four panels in the system, there will always be one in the closed position, or facing the direction of the wind or water vector, absorbing its energy without any need of adapting itself to the direction of the natural element as is the case of models with existing vanes or turbines.
In the following quarter revolution, the same panel that was facing the water or wind force in the closed position, will be aligned with its direction, with the vanes aligned with the axis of the panel, permitting the free passage of the natural force without offering any resistance.
In the third quarter revolution, the vanes will turn to ninety degrees to the axis of the panel by the effect of a final turning stop and will be located in a position perpendicular to the axis of the panel frame, aligned with the direction of movement of the water or wind, presenting as a total area of resistance, only the sum of the thicknesses of their two faces, designed as elements to resist flexion of the vane.
In the last quarter revolution, by the effect of the final oscillation stop, the vanes will be maintained in the open or position perpendicular to the axis of the panel, giving as a maximum turning resistance of the panel, only the width of one vane, with the vanes ready to move to the initial zero position, closing the whole surface area of the panel and being turned successively on a rotary impulse, as with the pistons of an internal combustion engine, to generate a unidirectional rotary movement, firm and independent of the direction of the water or wind.
The oscillatory movement of the vanes will be controlled or aligned by steel or nylon cables, or of other material, which, installed at the end of the vanes will synchronize their movements, avoiding the lag in the initial oscillatory movement because of worn bearings or other factors.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN WIND AND MARINE MODELS
FORM AND POSITION
In the wind model, the rotary shaft is installed in a vertical position. The fixed structure consists of external columns, which may be of steel or concrete. The structure serves as support for the bearings of the rotary shaft.
In the marine model, the rotary shaft is horizontal and the fixed structure supporting the vanes has two forms:
One.—The support structure is floating and has two vertical rails for sliding the fixed structure, including the ro
Cuevas Pedro J.
Ladas & Parry
Mullins Burton S.
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