GB2476715A

GB2476715A - A floating waterwheel

Info

Publication number: GB2476715A
Application number: GB1021625A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Francis Dennis Herbison
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-12-29
Filing date: 2010-12-16
Publication date: 2011-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 2030-12-16
Also published as: GB201021625D0; GB0922637D0; GB2476715B

Abstract

A floating waterwheel which has a gearing system 16 which drives a shaft 18 in a single direction regardless of the direction of the tidal flow. The waterwheel 8 is located in a flow channel between two floats or pontoons which are joined by an underwater splicing 2 which raises the water to create the maximum force on the waterwheel blades. The whole structure is enclosed in a whether proof housing 12 and is fixed to piles 7 located in the sea or riverbed by sleeves which allow the device to rise and fall with the tides. There are doors 4 to shut off the water flow through the channel between the floats, a rubber strip curtain 6 to dampen large or rough waves from impacting on the waterwheel blades and a mesh 5 is also fitted across the flow channel to prevent large fish or mammals reaching the waterwheel paddles. Preferably the gearing system comprises a ratchet system with lock or slip collars.

Description

The gearing mechanism for tidal locations would incorporate a gear which ensures the drive of turbines is the right direction to produce energy regardless of which way tide is flowing; the automatic switch over occurs as the tide turns.

Drawings pages 1-8 illustrates the system and main components, not to scale and for illustration only, designs may change.

Fig 1-1 is pontoons.

Fig 1-2 is large elliptical or oval jointing slicing of pontoons, which also act to lift flow of water to increase impetus.

Fig 1-3 indicates other pontoon joining splices.

Fig 1-4 indicates transit and maintenance doors, which can be closed to stop wheel turning, not intended to be watertight just to stop flow through channel between pontoons.

Fig 1-5 indicates a rope, or plastic coated wire or steel mesh, mammal mesh, to keep out seals, porpoises, as well as humans.

Fig 1-6 is a heavy duty rubber strip curtain, may be more than one, which would act as a damper to heavy swell and rogue waves.

Fig 1-7 indicates piles driven into sea/river bed, which guides the whole structure up and down with tides, and keeps on location.

Fig 1-8 indicates waterwheel structure.

Fig 1-9 indicates chain drive, though could be a large gear drive, instead.

Fig 1-10 indicates the chains, though could be a large gear.

Fig 1-11 indicates central drive shaft of waterwheel structure.

Fig 1-12 indicates the housing structure which covers everything, and is built onto and into both pontoon floats, spanning central channel.

Fig 1-13 indicates position of main drive gear.

Fig 1-14 indicates main drive gear shaft which is driven by chain or gear 10.

Fig 1-15 indicates the position of the middle gear on main drive shaft which drives, Fig 1-16 the tidal alternating gear which ensures correct directional drive to turbines.

Fig 1-17 indicates gear driven by 16 to gears on shafts directly into turbines.

Fig 1-18 indicates position of split shaft which drives turbines gears.

Fig 1-19 indicates water level.

Drawings page 2-8 Fig 2 illustrates end on view of fig 1 and also includes 20 pile sleeve fixing attachment and 21 pile sleeve seating point Shows also though not in detail and not all, 22 turbines and 23 lock or slip mechanism on split shaft not seen as parallel to 14, in this drawing, more detail shown later on drawing page 4-8.

Drawing page 3-8 Fig 3-8 indicates side of waterwheel a cut through view on central waterwheel shaft 11.

Fig 3-24 indicates cuthrough view of integrated structure to carry chain drive or drives, 25, indicates chain link pick up cog.' Although all figures on this page illustrate chain drive mechanisms, it is possible all could be omitted in favour of a large gear drive, though this would be built onto the central waterwheel shaft 11 inside housing and above pontoon rather than integrated to waterwheel and above water flow channel.

Fig 4-9 indicates chain drive channel with cogs 25 which pick up and drive chain links, 9 may incorporate one or more rows of chain drives in channel if a chain drive is the chosen option 11 is central wheel shaft Fig 5-10 is an illustration of chain links to show part of chain, which may consist of single, double or even treble link make up if deemed necessary.

Drawing page 4-8 Fig 6 illustrates how drives to turbines interact, the main drive shaft 14 is driven by larger chain or gear drive via central waterwheel shaft 11, gears 13 at either end of shaft 14 drive gears 32 fixed to split shaft 18 which is a shaft made up of in this case five sections, this in turn drives nearest sectionto it, which contains gear 17 which turns drive gear 28 to turn turbine shaft 29 and generate energy via turbines 22,each section of split shaft 18 is either locked on to next section by 23 a splicing which locks to next section on the turn of the tide or slips with the next turn of the tide.

Fig 6-18 is a shaft in five sections, when tide turns gear 15 takes over from gear 13 which are non in slip mode locks on via gears 27 on shaft 31 to gears 16 on shaft 31 to drive gears 32 on central section of shaft 18 which locks into lock on or slip splicing 23 at each end to drive three sections in total of split shaft 18, to drive gears 17 which drives gears 28 attached to turbine drive shafts 29.

In essence when tide drive one way gears 13 and gear 15 all turn the same way, but if 15 is in lock mode then the drive from gears 13 run in slip mode, when tide turns this reverses 15 runs in slip mode and gears 13 run in lock mode, this all operates automatically on turn of tide, via alternative gearing mechanism and interactions of lock slip splicing 23 with split section shaft 18.

Fig 6 shows basic illustration of 23 in more detail 23 is lock or slip splicing collar, 30 is a notch to locate sprung latch 37 when in slip mode; in lock mode 37 springs out to latch into a groove located in corresponding section of split shaft 18 to create generating drive to turbines.

Fig 6 shows more detailed view of 26 also this is a fan with angled blades 36 to drive cool air at 23 when it is in slip mode, to reduce heat and friction. 33 is a simple shaft drive indicator which sends signal to a shore base, it registers the movement of shaft 14, it is a simple dynamo powered by wheel 34 which would be in contact with shaft 14 to provide signalling power, 35 is a basic arid antenna, if movement of shaft 14 does not register ashore it may mean it has stopped operating for one reason or another and a maintenance team can be despatched to sort out any possible problem.

Drawing 5-8 Fig 7 illustrates how tidal tethering system would come together piles hammered into river/seabed 7 would have a sleeve 39 which raises up and down with tide when slid over it, initially it would be hung in place from pile cap 43 with straps fixed between 42 on sleeve to 44 on cap 43 when structure is towed between the four corresponding piles by tugs fore and aft at the right tidal height sleeves would be fixed to floating waterwheel structural housing by plates 40 on sleeve and plate 20 fixed on housingvia bolts 45 nuts 46 and nut locking split pin 47. When all plates are fixed with a couple of fixings stips would be released and removed, the whole structure now in place and allowed to rise up and down on rise and fall of tide. An earth 38 may be fixed between pile and sleeve and sleeve and housing structure. To ensure the sleeve does not snag on pile for ease of movement the sleeve would incorporate a dished circumference at top and botton of similar shape to bell this is indicated by 41. When structure is free all remaining bolts can be fixed. If the structure needs to have a major repair or overhaul the system can easily be reversed then towed to yard and sleeves left in place to be re attached on its return.

Drawings page 6-8 Fig 8 illustrates how a none tidal but substantial river could utilise a floating waterwheel the wheel would use a chain drive in this instance as only one drive would be possible piers 48 on either side of river would house turbines and structure to support swing arms 51 which would hang from heavy gauge bars 50 fixed to floats 1, either side of water flow channel spliced together by elliptical or oval water lifting joining section 2 other splicing may be used, the fixing to floats of tethering arms is 52 the wheel support structure is shown 49, this swing system allows the whole structure to move on the water as it rises in times of heavy rain or flood, doors 4 would be included in design for times when the flood water is too fierce for wheel and it has to be shut down also for maintenance shutdowns doors would also act to keep out heavy flotsam and debris during flooding by diverting this under structure, which acts like a swing boat does and by doing so keeps wheel and chain drive in the same position in relation to drive to turbines 14 and central shaft 11 so regardless of position of structure these shafts stay at the same distance apart.

Drawing page 6-8 Fig 9 illustrates movement of structure, and relative distance of chain drive 9 to turbine drive 14, which stays the same.

Fig 10 is end view showing top of arms 51 fixed to cross bar 50 and attachment to bottom of arms 51 to 52, large fixings cleat.

Drawing page 7-8 Fig 11 shows basic illustration of heavy duty rubber curtain 6, in strips, fixed at top with metal plates and fixtures 54 to hinge bar 53.

Fig 12 illustrates transportation and maintenance shutdown doors 4, with lifting lugs 55, rollers 56, door roller channels 57, and heavy duty rubber butting contact. This is a basic design which may alter to possibly hydraulic driven system.

Drawing page 8-8 Fig 13 illustrates other possible drive, directly from waterwheel shaft 11, a large gear instead of chain, made up in section 61, and bolted together with bolts 62, with large cogs or splines 60, made separately in sections and bolted on by 63, bolts. A wheel large enough could not be made in one piece, and transported; would also be more economical to sectionalise wheel and facing splines to make up large gear, the smaller connecting gear made the same to be fixed to shaft 14, may be several driven by large gear, one shown numbered sections and bolts as large gear, 5, mammal netting not elaborated or drawn as would simply be a suitably sized plastic coated wire mesh, or nylon or polypropylene rope mesh.

Claims

CLAIMS1 An eco-energy production system that is a floating tidal driven waterwheel with a tidal flow change automatically instigating a gearing system which allows the turbines to be driven in the same rotational direction to produce eco-energy regardless of the directional flow of the tide, a structure built on large floats with a water flow channel between floats, which are joined together by elliptical or oval splicing which raises, lifts water at optimum point in channel to create maximum impetus to drive waterwheel built on structure, other jointing splices would be included, the whole structure would be enclosed in a weatherproof housing to which plates are fixed, to pick up and attach to sleeves on piles in sea or riverbed, when on location and fixed the whole structure would rise and lower with incoming and outgoing tides, doors that can shut off water flow through channel between floats to stop water flow driving waterwheel when in transportation to siteor for maintenance reasons would be included; as well as a rubber strip curtain to dampen large or rough waves impacting on waterwheel blades, a mammal mesh also fixed to stop anything other than possibly small fish getting as far as waterwheel, both fixed across water flow channel, the central drive from the waterwheel could be by chain or large gear to associated gears to turbine drive, system can be adapted for non-tidal use using a single one way chain drive, Appropriate earthing and maritime lighting to be incorporated too.
2 An eco-energy production system that is a floating tidal driven waterwheel, according to claim 1 that has an automatic turn of tide instigated gearing system that allows the turbines to be driven in the same rotational direction regardless of which way the tide is flowing, this is achieved by the interaction of gears to turbine drive shaft which is a shaft in sections, with lock or slip collars which allows locked on sections of shaft to drive turbines while the other or others slip, and turn in opposite direction to drive, when the tide turns this alternates to allow correct drive rotation to turbines.
3 An eco-energy production system that is a floating tidal driven waterwheel, according to claim 1 the waterwheel is built onto a large structural steel framework across and into two large support floats or pontoons, through which is a flow channel for water to pass to drive waterwheel, all that is needed for this system is built into or onto the structure, the flow channel has splicings which fix floats together above and below water level and pass through and into floats one of these would be a large elliptical or oval splicing.
4 An eco-energy production system that is a floating tidal driven waterwheel according to claim 1 and 3 which has a large elliptical or oval splicing, this joining of float sections would be centrally placed underwater to raise or lift flow of tidal water to maximise the impetus of the water as it pushes blades or paddles to drive waterwheel. to gain the optimum amount of energy form tidal flow, although the shape of this may alter if other is deemed more affective.
An eco-energy production system that is a floating tidal driven waterwheel according to claim 1 that is fixed on location in tidal area, by piles anchored in sea or riverbed on which sleeves with dished end to stop them snagging on piles are placed over, initially hanging in place off removable, reusable caps sat into top of piles, when all piles and sleeves are in place the whole waterwheel floating structure would be tced between pile; a minimum of fouz; and when tide lifts to match level of sleeves they are securely fixed to structural housing fixing plates which correspond with design of sleeve fixing plates all this can be reversed to return structure to dock.
6 An eco-energy production system that is a floating tidal driven waterwheel according to claim 1 that has doors which stop the flow of water through channel and stop waterwheel turning for transportation to location or dock and for maintenance shutdowns and extreme weather where damage may be incurred, these doors located towards either end of water flow channel are not meant to be watertight just to stop flow when needed, a full water flow channel may aid stability driving transportation to location.
7 An eco-energy production system that is a floating tidal driven waterwheel, according to claim 1 that incorporates a heavy duty rubber strip curtain or curtains which hang into water off hinged fixings across water flow channel, these are located closer to ends of channel than doors, and are there to damp down, reduce, choppy or heavy swell and rogue waves before they enter to contact with waterwheel paddles.
8 An eco-energy production system that is a floating tidal driven waterwheel, according to claim 1 which has a central drive from the waterwheel which can be a chain drive which is driven from an integrated and structurally supporting drive channel with drive pickup cogs or splines which picks up chain links to drive a main drive shaft and associated integrated gears to turbines.
9 An eco-energy production system that is a floating tidal driven waterwheel, according to claim 1 and any preceding claims, which has a central drive from the waterwheel, which can be a large gear drive, this may be more advantageous in salt water as this would be built onto central waterwheel shaft inside the housing and away from direct contact with salt water, built with sectional pieces and other surface cogs or splines bolted to gear wheel in sections also, this large gear would drive main drive, to drive associated and integrated gears to turbine drive.
An eco-energy production system that is a floating tidal driven waterwheel, according to claim 1 and any proceeding claims would have a mammal mesh incorporated this would be located between rubber strip curtain and shut down, transportation doors, across the water flow channel and extending to just underneath centralised large shaped water raising splicing, this is added to stop large fish and any mammals getting as far as the waterwheel paddle and perhaps getting harmed or killed, mesh made of plastic coated wire or nylon, or polypropylene rope.
11 An eco-energy production system that is a floating tidal driven waterwheel, according to claim 1 and any preceding claims can where possible be adapted for use in non-tidal locations if the river is deep enough, in such a case the tethering system would be swing arms which keep the central drive and main drive the correct distance apart in relation to each other to drive chain which would have to be the only drive option in this case because of movement and varying depth at different times, the system would incorporate everything as tidal model apart from tethering system and alternated geared mechanism as only one direct drive would be possible, the swing arms would be suspended from large housing for turbine piers either side of river, the mesh would also be included to keep out others and other mammals as well as rubber curtain to divert floating debris, under floating structure.
12 An eco-energy production system that is a floating tidal driven waterwheel, according to claim 1 and any preceding claims will have an earthing system from pile to floating structure or in a non-tidal case from floating structure to pier.
13 An eco-energy production system that is a floating tidal driven waterwheel, according to claim 1 and any preceding claims would have an appropriate lighting up system according to maritime requirements.