Fluid reaction surfaces (i.e. – impellers) – Sustained ancillary movement of rotary working member – Responsive to gravity or working fluid force
Patent
1985-05-10
1987-07-14
Powell, Jr., Everette A.
Fluid reaction surfaces (i.e., impellers)
Sustained ancillary movement of rotary working member
Responsive to gravity or working fluid force
416140, F03D 300
Patent
active
046799850
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL AREA AND BACKGROUND
The invention relates to an energy converter comprised of each of said vanes being comprised of which lies in parallel relationship with the rotor shaft, and the main vane plane, and mechanism.
The energy-converting mechanism is for example an electricity-generating mechanism, particularly an alternator or generator.
The energy converter receives energy through the rotor thereof, from a flow and conveys said energy through the rotor shaft to the energy-converting mechanism comprised for example of an alternator or generator.
In the known energy-convertors of this kind, said blade is comprised of a single leaf. Said known energy-convertors cannot always pick-up enough power from the flow, especially when said flow has a limited speed.
An object of the invention lies in providing an energy-converter of the above-defined type which picks-up enough power from the flow even when said flow has a limited speed.
Another object of the invention is to provide an energy-converter of said kind for which the ratio between that energy which is conveyed to the converting mechanism on the one hand, and the energy available in the flow on the other hand, is higher than in the energy-convertors according to the prior art.
THE INVENTION
For this purpose, said blade of each vane is comprised of at least two leaves which hinge relative to one another about a small axis which lies in parallel relationship with the rotor shaft and means are provided which as said leaves lie in extension of one another and the blade engages the stop, make impossible the further mutual hinging movement of the leaves in the direction which brings the axis about which the leaves hinge relative to one another, past that plane which is defined by the stop and the hinge axis of the blade relative to the holder.
Although other arrangements are not excluded, the energy converter according to the invention is however preferably so arranged as to have the rotor thereof lying completely under water, the rotor shaft at least substantially horizontal and at right angle to the flow direction, and the blades that lie above the rotor shaft being pressed by the flow against the stop thereof.
In a particular embodiment of the invention, the means are comprised of at least one stop on a leaf which the adjacent leaf meets.
In an efficient embodiment of the invention, the blade of each vane is comprised of three leaves, a middle one of which is hingedly connected to both adjacent leaves.
The leaves are preferably also provided with means which limit the mutual hinging movement thereof in the opposite direction to the above-defined direction.
In another embodiment of the invention, each vane comprises a plurality of blades which each hinge relative to a holder and are comprised of at least two leaves.
The efficiency of the energy converter according to the invention is advantageously influenced when the main vane planes of at least a number of adjacent differently axially-arranged vanes form an angle.
The vanes are then preferably arranged by pairs both vanes of which have the same axial position and a common main vane plane, but lie on different sides of the rotor shaft.
Usefully the rotor shaft then bears two symmetrically-located series of vane pairs and each series is comprised of n vane pairs the adjacent pairs of which form angles of 180.degree.
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Other features and advantages of the invention will stand out from the following description of an energy converter according to the invention; this description is only given by way of example and does not limit the invention; the reference numerals pertain to the accompanying drawings.
THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of an energy converter according to the invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic front view of the energy converter as shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 shows again, on a larger scale and with more details, part of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 shows a cross-section along line IV--IV in FIG. 3.
In the various figures, the same reference numerals pertain to the same elements.
EXAM
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