Rotary kinetic fluid motors or pumps – With means for controlling casing or flow guiding means in... – Having specific features for water current
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-19
2001-07-31
Ryznic, John E. (Department: 3745)
Rotary kinetic fluid motors or pumps
With means for controlling casing or flow guiding means in...
Having specific features for water current
C415S214100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267551
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a modular hydraulic turbine. By “modular” turbine, there is meant a turbine made of a small number of components that are cast or molded, and can easily be assembled and/or interchanged whenever required.
The invention also relates to the combination of such a modular hydraulic turbine with an electric generator.
b) Brief Description of the Prior Art
Large hydraulic turbines for use to convert the energy of water flowing from a reservoir into electric and/or mechanical energy, are well known and extensively used worldwidely, especially in large dams.
Hydraulic turbines of smaller size for use in small dams, water falls and rivers, are also known. As non-restrictive examples of such “smaller” turbines, reference can be made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,258,271 of 1981 to Walter J. CHAPPELL et al and U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,945 of 1991 to Normand LÉVESQUE. However, these turbines are expensive since they are complicated to build, and/or not very efficient energetically.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first object of the present invention is to provide an hydraulic turbine which is modular in structure and made of a small number of components that are easy to assemble, wear-resistant, durable and of very friendly maintenance.
Another object of the invention is to provide a modular hydraulic turbine which is very simple in structure and easy to assemble and install with conventional bolts, screws and anchoring pieces, thereby making it convenient for use by non-specialized work-force.
A further object of the invention is to provide a modular hydraulic turbine of the above mentioned type, which, thanks to the particular shape and positioning of its blades, needs only a water-stream downward slope of 20 to 40 meters to be efficient and to generate up to 1200 kW/hour.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a modular hydraulic turbine of the above mentioned type which, thanks to its structure, does not need for external lubrification for its moving components and is almost free of any cavitation problem.
In accordance with the invention, these objects are achieved with a modular hydraulic turbine comprising:
a cylindrical inlet unit through which water may enter, the inlet unit being made of one piece and having a longitudinal axis, a central cone-shaped hub provided with a central rearwardly opening cavity aligned with the longitudinal axis, and a plurality of incurved blades projecting radially at a same first angle all around the hub; and
a tubular outlet unit made of one piece, the outlet unit having a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion being cylindrical in shape and having a longitudinal axis coaxial with the axis of the cylindrical inlet unit, the rear portion extending at an angle relative to the front portion.
Means are provided for rigidly connecting the inlet and outlet units to form a bent tubular water tight housing through which water may flow.
The turbine also comprises a shaft coaxial with the longitudinal axis. This shaft has a front end portion extending at least partially and rotatably into the central cavity of the hub, a central portion extending within the front portion of the outlet unit, and a rear end portion engaging the rear portion of the outlet unit and extending outside the housing.
A casing coaxial with the longitudinal axis is rigidly connected to the outlet unit outside of the same. This casing comprises sealing means for providing a watertight joint at a spot where the shaft extends outside the housing, and mounting means for rotatably supporting the rear end of said shaft.
A hollow rotor is rigidly connected to the shaft. The rotor is mounted proximate the hub and comprises a central core and a plurality of incurved blades projecting radially outwardly at a same second angle all around the core, the second angle being in a direction opposite to the first angle of the blades of the hub. As can be understood, the rotor causes the shaft to rotate when water flows inside the housing.
Preferably, the hollow rotor is cone-shaped and define together with the hub an ovoid-shaped member and the ovoid-shaped member comprises lubrification means for lubricating the front end portion of the shaft extending into the central cavity of the hub. Advantageously, the lubrication means comprises:
an axial hole extending from the rearwardly opening cavity of the hub up to a front exterior surface thereof; and
spacing means connected to the rearwardly opening cavity for providing a gap between the hub and the rotor.
The axial hole, the rearwardly opening cavity and spacing means altogether provide a path wherein water may flow, thereby lubricating and cooling the front end portion of the shaft.
Preferably also, the inlet unit, the outlet unit, the shaft, the rotor and/or the casing are made of a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, plastic materials and aluminum.
As it can be understood, the rear end portion of the shaft of the turbine is devised to be connected to a power generator, especially an electric generator, to produce energy upon rotation of the shafts. Depending on its size and the strength of the water stream, from 10 to 1200 kW/hour can easily be generated.
The invention and its numerous advantages will be better understood upon reading the following non-restrictive description of a preferred embodiment of it, made with reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4123666 (1978-10-01), Miller
patent: 4258271 (1981-03-01), Chappell et al.
patent: 4475334 (1984-10-01), Kuwabara
patent: 4531888 (1985-07-01), Buchelt
patent: 5040945 (1991-08-01), Levesque
patent: 5490768 (1996-02-01), Veronesi et al.
patent: 59-211765 (1994-11-01), None
patent: 7-103125 (1995-04-01), None
Collard & Roe P.C.
NRJO Inc.
Ryznic John E.
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