GB2555001A

GB2555001A - Waterwheel

Info

Publication number: GB2555001A
Application number: GB1715217.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Coyle Gerald
Original assignee: H2otricity Renewable Energy Ltd
Current assignee: H2otricity Renewable Energy Ltd
Priority date: 2016-09-21
Filing date: 2017-09-21
Publication date: 2018-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 2037-09-21
Also published as: GB2555001B; GB201715217D0; GB201616074D0

Abstract

A waterwheel assembly for a river or similar body of flowing water includes a waterwheel mounted on a support structure 20, and one or more buoyant members 37, 38 which support part of the weight of the waterwheel so that it can move up and down with any change to the river level. The support structure is secured on land by the river or body of water by means of one or more cantilevered beams. The waterwheel may have an axle secured between two vertical posts by means of slidable bearings that permit the waterwheel to move up and down. The waterwheel may drive a generator on land by a flexible or articulated shaft 63. A walkway 56 may be provided around the waterwheel for access. Lifting gear 59, 66, 67 may be provided to raise the waterwheel for maintenance or during unsuitable conditions.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Waterwheel

Abstract Title: Waterwheel with cantilevered support and floats for level adjustment (57) A waterwheel assembly for a river or similar body of flowing water includes a waterwheel mounted on a support structure 20, and one or more buoyant members 37, 38 which support part of the weight of the waterwheel so that it can move up and down with any change to the river level. The support structure is secured on land by the river or body of water by means of one or more cantilevered beams. The waterwheel may have an axle secured between two vertical posts by means of slidable bearings that permit the waterwheel to move up and down. The waterwheel may drive a generator on land by a flexible or articulated shaft 63. A walkway 56 may be provided around the waterwheel for access. Lifting gear 59, 66, 67 may be provided to raise the waterwheel for maintenance or during unsuitable conditions.

Formulae in the printed specification were reproduced from drawings submitted after the date of filing, in accordance with Rule 20(13) of the Patents Rules 1995

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Waterwheel

The present specification relates to a waterwheel particularly though not exclusively for use with a river.

Waterwheels have long been used to convert some of the kinetic energy of flowing water into mechanical power via a turning axie. Originally, this rotation of the axle would often be used to directly drive adjacent machinery, hut more recently w'aterwheels have also been used to generate electricity, and once installed, they do not produce any pollutants.

However, rivers and riverbanks are themselves sensitive habitats, and it is i5 important that the installation has minimal impact on the immediate environment, as well as providing a waterwheel that efficiently utilises the flowing water of the river.

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The present invention seeks to provide a folding structure that addresses these problems.

According to the present invention, there is provided a waterwheel assembly according to the independent claims.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, of which

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the waterwheel;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the waterwheel;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the waterwheel;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of die waterwheel with a surrounding protective structure;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the waterwheel with a part of the surrounding protective structure;

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the waterwheel with a part of the surrounding protective structure; and

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the waterwheel with a part of the surrounding protective structure.

Referring to figure 1, the waterwheel assembly 20 is supported by a concrete base 22 which is disposed on the top of a river bank (not shown). Two parallel spaced support beams 23, 24 extend from the concrete base 22 transversely to the river bank. The support beams 23, 24 may be formed from lengths of standard RSJ (roiled steel joist) I-beam. Two spaced parallel stringer beams 25, 26 extend perpendicularly between the support beams 23, 24. Two vertical posts 27, 28 extend upwards from the two stringer beams 25, 26, and these vertical posts 27, 28 are connected at their upper ends by a brace 32.

The waterwheel 35 is supported on an axle 30 that extends between the vertical posts 27, 28, supported by journal bearings (not shown) that allow the axle to turn Two sets of radial spokes 42 are formed on the axle 30, each set of spokes 42 being reinforced by a circular rim 44. Where the ends of each spoke meets the rim, paddles 40 are set extending between the two runs. However, it will be realised that other forms of waterwheel could he used.

Two floats 37, 38 depend from the axle 30, each of the floats 37, 38 being secured by two arms 36 which are arranged triangularly, each arm secured to one end of the elongate form of each floats 37, 38, the two arms 36 meeting where they are secured to the axle, the axle being mounted in a bearing where it passes through the arms 38 so that the axle can freely rotate relative to the arms.

Each of the vertical posts 27, 28 includes a vertical channel 33, 34, these channels 33, 34 running most of the length of the vertical posts 27, 28. The axle and its journal bearing (and hence the waterwheel 35) are free to move up and down.

The axle 30 extends through the vertical post 28 nearest the river hank, and is torsionally attached to a power transfer means which in leads to a gearbox and generator 48; the power transfer means 63 may being flexible or articulated to accommodate vertical movement of the axle 30, as shown in figure .

The waterwheel assembly 20 and concrete base 22 are located so that the flow of water of the river or waterway is perpendicular to the paddles 40 of the waterwheel 35. The weight of the waterwheel 35 is supported by an upward force from the floats 37, 38, which float partially submerged on the surface of the river Since the axle 30 of the waterwheel 35 is free to move up and down the channels 33, 34 of the vertical posts 27, 28, the waterwheel rises and falls with any variation in height of the river. The waterwheel 35 and floats 37, 38 are arranged so that paddles 40 of the waterwheel 35 are optimally positioned to be efficiently extract kinetic energy from the flowing water.

By deposing this self-regulating waterwheel arrangement on in a cantilevered manner from the bank, the waterwheel can be quickly and efficiently installed in position, with no impact on the riverbed, and little impact on the river bank. Damning or modification of the river to create a race are entirely avoided.

Referring to figure 4, the waterwheel assembly 20 may be surrounded by a protective structure 50 comprising slats 52 and cage 54, which also incorporates a walkway 56. The gearbox and generator 48 is enclosed within a gearing house 58. The protective structure 50 projects from the gearing house 58. Referring to figure 5, in plan view, the protective structure 50 forms three sides of a rectangle, so that the gearing house 58 and protective structure 50 completely encompass the waterwheel assembly 20. Access to the walkway and the waterwheel is through the gearing bouse 58, which has a door or entrance that may be secured by conventional means. This ensures that children or unauthorised persons cannot gain access the waterwheel, so reducing the risk of injury through misadventure and the risk of damage or vandalism to the wheel and the other moving parts of the mechanism. Indeed, the outer cage 61 could be extended upwards and include a roof to form a fully closed structure.

The walkway 56 is situated well above the normal water level of the river. Referring both to figure 4 and figure 7, the slats 52 extend vertically downwards from the edge of the walkway 56, to a depth beneath the lowest extent of the waterwheel 35. The slats 52 comprise a screen having vertical slots that allows water to pass through relatively unimpeded, but prevents branches and other debris that may be washed down the river and may otherwise becoming entangled with or damage the waterwheel 35. The cage 54 extends upwards from the edge of the walkway, the inner cage 62 projecting upwards from the inside edge of the walkway 56 and the outer cage 61 projecting upwards from the outside edge of the walkway 56. The outer cage 61 prevents unauthorised persons accessing the waterwheel assembly 20 from outside of the structure. The walkway 56 allows access via the gearing house 58 for authorised persons to walk around and inspect the waterwheel assembly 20. If necessary; the waterwheel 35 can he raised on lifting gear 59 in order to carry out maintenance. The lifting gear 59 includes chains 66, 67 that are attached to the floats 37, .38, these chains being winched upwards and downwards to respectively raise and lower the waterwheel. The chains 66. 67 could alternatively be attached to the axle 30 via dedicated bearings. The waterwheel 36 can also be raised from the water if the river becomes dangerously high or swollen, or if this condition is forecast, and there is a danger of damaging the waterwheel. The lifting gear may he controlled remotely, so that the waterwheel does not have to be visited in order to raise the waterwheel. The operation of the waterwheel can also be monitored, so that the waterwheel can be raised if, tor example, it is not running correctly or has been damaged. Data, on the operation of the waterwheel can be transmitted off-site, so that the performance can be assessed remotely and a decision can be made whether to take the waterwheel out of service and possibly raise it. Monitoring of the waterwheel can be carried out automatically, either on-site or off-site; the waterwheel can then be raised quickly as soon as weather conditions or operating conditions indicate that this would he desirable.

If required, the outer cage 61 could be extended higher, and even form a cage structure above the waterwheel assembly 20 to completely prevent unauthorised persons from climbing into the waterwheel assembly 20.

The slats 52 are optional, and may he dispensed with, particular in cases w'here there is a risk that they could impede the passage of fish up the river. Figure 6 shows a view of the waterwheel assembly 20 and cage 54, without the slats 52. The articulated power transfer means 63 can be seen clearly here.

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Claims

1. A waterwheel assembly for a river or similar body of flowing water including a waterwheel mounted on a support structure one or more buoyant members wherein waterwheel can move up and down, and the buoyant members support part of the weight of the waterwheel so that the waterwheel is able to rise and fall with any change to the river level and the support structure is secured on land by the river or body of water by means of one or more cantilevered beams.

2. An assembly according to claim I wherein the waterwheel has an axle secured between two vertical posts by means of slidable bearings that permit the waterwheel to move up and down.

3. An assembly according to claim 2 wherein the axle may be raised and/or lowered by lifting gear attached to the waterwheel.

4. An assembly according to any previous claim wherein the one or more buoyant members having an elongate form oriented perpendicular to the axle and substantially horizontal, each of the one or more buoyant members being attached to the axle by diagonal struts, the attachment allowing the axle to turn relative to the one or more buoyant members.

5. An assembly according to any previous claim wherein there is included a walkway around the waterwheel, extending from the same bank as the cantilevered beam or dependant on the cantilevered beam.

6. An assembly according to any previous claim wherein there is included a harrier around the waterwheel, extending from the same batik as the cantilevered beam or dependant on the cantilevered beam.

7. An assemblv according to anv of claims 3 to 6 wherein, the waterwheel mav be raised and lowered by the lifting gear remotely.

8. An assembly according to any of claims 3 to 7 wherein, the waterwheel may be raised and lowered by the lifting gear automatically.

4. A waterwheel assembly for a river or similar body of flowing water including two vertical posts a waterwheel, having an axle secured between the vertical posts one or more buoyant members wherein the axle is supported between the vertical posts by means of slidable bearings that permit the waterwheel to move up and down, and the buoyant members support part of the weight of the waterwheel so that the waterwheel is able to rise and fall with any change to the river level

5. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein the one or more buoyant members having an elongate form oriented perpendicular to the axle and substantially horizontal, each, of the one or more buoyant members being attached to the axle by diagonal struts, the attachment allowing the axle to turn relative to the one or more buoyant members.

6. An assembly according to either claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the waterwheel is mounted on a support structure secured on Sand by the river or body of water by means of one or more cantilevered beams.

7. A waterwheel assembly for a river or similar body of flowing water including a support structure two vertical posts a waterwheel, having an axle secured between the vertical posts one or more buoyant members wherein the axle is supported between the vertical posts by means of slidable bearings that permit the waterwheel to move up and down, and the buoyant members support part of the weight of the waterwheel so that the waterwheel is able to rise and fall with any change to the river level and the one or more buoyant members having an elongate form oriented perpendicular to the axle and substantially horizontal, each of the one or more buoyant members being attached to the axle by diagonal struts, the attachment allowing the axle to turn relative to the one or more buoyant members

8. An assembly according to claim 7 wherein the waterwheel has an axle secured between two vertical posts by means of slidable bearings that permit the waterwheel to move up and down <7<7<7<7<7<7777<7<7<7<7<7<7<7<7<7<7<7<7<7<7<7<7<7<7<7<7<7<7<7<777V (Λ <7<7<7<7<7<7<7<7<7<7<7777(77

9. An assembly according to either of claims 7 or 8, wherein the one or more buoyant members having an elongate form oriented perpendicular to the axle and substantially horizontal, each of the one or more buoyant members being attached to the axle by diagonal struts, the attachment allowing the axle to turn relative to the one or more buoyant members

10. A waterwheel assembly according to any previous claim wherein there is included a cage structure substantially above the normal water level around the assembly to prevent unauthorised access.

11. A waterwheel assembly according to any previous claim wherein there is included a screen structure substantially below the normal water level around the assembly to prevent debris from contacting the waterwheel.

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