Fluid reaction surfaces (i.e. – impellers) – Oscillatory reaction motion – Compound motion
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-22
2001-04-17
Lopez, F. Daniel (Department: 3745)
Fluid reaction surfaces (i.e., impellers)
Oscillatory reaction motion
Compound motion
C416S084000, C415S003100, C415S004100, C415S007000, C415S906000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217284
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to a mechanism for converting energy of one form to another more useable form. More particularly, the invention relates to an oscillating fluid flow motor that converts energy contained in a channel of flowing fluid to mechanical energy.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Numerous mechanisms have been designed and built for converting the energy of moving masses, such as air or water, to mechanical energy. Commonly known mechanisms for converting the energy of moving water to mechanical energy are water wheels, paddles, and turbines. Generally speaking, mechanisms for converting the energy of a moving fluid to mechanical power have tended throughout their evolution to become both more complicated and more costly to manufacture. Modern axial flow turbine systems typically require the construction of dams or diversions and penstocks to support even low-head power production. The present invention was developed in an effort to provide a low cost in-stream system for utilizing the energy in a fluid stream, particularly a small slow moving stream, as a pumping station or a small scale electrical generator such as might be used effectively in remote or undeveloped areas around the world.
In the early 1900s, John Roeh patented an Automatic Current Motor, U.S. Pat. Nos. 705,967 and 804,676, that extracted energy from a stream flow using a vane attached to a tiller. As the water flows past the vane, the vane automatically sweeps back and forth across the stream under the bidirectional control of a cross cabling system. A connecting rod transmits the energy in the oscillating tiller to some type of receiving machine to produce useful work. Mr. Roeh's system, while presenting a potentially workable small scale in-stream generating or pumping station, is disadvantageous because it requires a fairly complex mechanical linkage to achieve the bidirectional control necessary to make the vane sweep automatically back and forth across the stream.
The present invention improves upon the oscillating fluid flow motor disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,889,664. The improvements result from further testing and study of the motor's basic design.
SUMMARY
The present invention is directed to an oscillating fluid flow motor and a fluid flow power system that converts the energy in the flowing fluid to mechanical energy through a vane that automatically sweeps back and forth across the flow. In one embodiment of the oscillating fluid flow motor, the motor includes (1) a support structure, (2) an elongated swing arm pivotably and rotatably mounted to the support structure, (3) a vane having a concave face, (4) an elastic link operatively coupled in tension between the swing arm and a support, and (5) a direction control mechanism operatively coupled to the swing arm. The vane is connected to the swing arm so that, upon rotation of the swing arm about its longitudinal axis, the orientation of the concave face of the vane changes relative to the flow of a fluid confronting the face. The direction control mechanism is operative to selectively re-orient the face of the vane at each of two points that define the ends of the bi-directional stroke of the swing arm.
In one embodiment of the invented fluid flow power system, the system includes (1) a channel, (2) fluid flowing through the channel, (3) an elongated swing arm pivotably mounted in or over the channel, (4) a vane connected to the swing arm, the vane having a concave face confronting the flowing fluid, (5) a direction control mechanism coupled to the vane, and (5) a receiving machine operatively coupled to the swing arm. The direction control mechanism is operative to selectively re-orient the vane in the flowing fluid by rotating the swing arm about its longitudinal axis at each of two points which define the ends of the bi-directional stroke of the swing arm.
In another embodiment of the invention, a method for converting the energy of a flowing fluid to mechanical energy includes providing a vane having a concave face connected to a swing arm, directing the face of the vane into the flowing fluid, causing the vane to traverse the flowing fluid in a reciprocating motion by selectively rotating the swing arm about its longitudinal axis to re-orient the vane in the flowing fluid at each of two points which define the ends of a bidirectional stroke of the swing arm.
REFERENCES:
patent: 705967 (1902-07-01), Roeh
patent: 802228 (1905-10-01), Morton
patent: 804676 (1905-11-01), Roeh
patent: 830973 (1906-09-01), DeCamp
patent: 905320 (1908-12-01), Isham
patent: 1263865 (1918-04-01), Dale
patent: 4753574 (1988-06-01), Hess
patent: 4872805 (1989-10-01), Horiuchi et al.
patent: 5899664 (1999-05-01), Lawrence
Lopez F. Daniel
Nguyen Ninh
Ormiston & McKinney PLLC
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