NZ212843A

NZ212843A - Feathering water wheel: intervane screens

Info

Publication number: NZ212843A
Application number: NZ212843A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Louis Worms
Original assignee: Louis Worms
Priority date: 1984-08-02
Filing date: 1985-07-23
Publication date: 1987-05-29
Also published as: IT1200497B; BE900281A; PT80897B; ES545683A0; TR22387A; IT8521832A0; PT80897A; ZA855693B; GR851796B; CA1248430A; ES8608107A1; PH25940A

Description

2 12343 Priority Date(s): ...

Complete Specification Filed: *?.^.

Class: 1 • * Publication Date: .... Z JJftT.... P.O. Journal. No: j NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 No.: Date: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION ENERGY CONVERTER I/We. LOUIS WORMS, of Fruithoflaan 107-8b, Box 114, B-2600 Berchem, Belgium, Dutch nationality, hereby declare the invention for which I / xaocpray that a patent may be granted to fne/j«, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- (followed by page la) - \ Q — 212843 Energy converter This invention relates to an energy converter, comprising - a frame, - a rotor mounted in said frame, said rotor including — a rotor shaft and - vanes, each of said vanes being comprised of J a holder which is fastened to the rotor shaft and defines a main vane plane which extends through the rotor shaft at least one blade which hinges relatively to the holder about a hinge pin parallel to the rotor shaft and a stop for said blade, which is fastened to the holder and lies substantially in the main vane plane, at least some of said vanes being disposed in full side-by-side relationship as viewed axially of the rotor shaft and - an element which can connect the rotor shaft to an energy-converting mechanism.

The energy converting mechanism is, for example, an electricity producing mechanism, in particular an alternator or generator.

The energy converter receives energy through the rotor thereof from a flow and transmits such energy through the rotor shaft to the energy converting mechanism comprised, for example, of an alternator or generator.

One object of the present invention is to provide an energy converter of the above-defined type wl lough power from ' J 212843' the flow even if said flow has a limited speed.

Another object of this invention is to provide an energy converter of the kind defined above, for which the ratio between the energy conveyed to the converting mechanism, on the one hand and the energy available in the flow on the other, is very high.

For this purpose, according to the present invention, the energy converter further comprises, between the vanes disposed in side-by-side relationship as viewed axially of the rotor shaft, screen plates secured to the frame, directed transversely to the rotor shaft and extending over at least a large part of the half of the rotor where the 10 vanes are active, that is to say, where the blade of these vanes occupies the position in which it contacts the stop.

The energy converter according to the present invention is disposed so that its rotor is fully under water. The screen plates between the blades or sets of blades located in side-by-side relation-15 ship in an axial direction prevent the water from flowing along the active, i.e. the closed, vane blades.

Effectively, the energy converter according to the invention includes a similar screen plate also near. one of the ends of the rotor next to the extreme vane.

Preferably the screen plates extend substantially over the half of the rotor where the vanes are active, that is to say, where the blade of the vanes occupies the position in which it contacts the stop.

In the other half of the rotor, where the vanes are in-25 operative and their blades tilted into an open position, the water is not stopped by the screen plates.

The screen plates'may extend fully over the half of the rotor where the vanes are active, and effectively the screen plates. if.

\ C,9%& & t1 ? have the form of virtually a semi-circle with a central aperture for the rotor shaft.

In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the frame includes a fixed shaft and two supports mounting said shaft at its ends, the rotor shaft being a hollow shaft surrounding said fixed shaft, and bearings being mounted between said fixed shaft and said rotor shaft.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an energy converter according to the invention, which description is given merely by way of example and is not intended to limit the invention in any way; reference numerals refer to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a diagramatic front elevational view of an energy converter according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line II - II of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 illustrates on a larger scale, and in greater detail, a portion of the showing of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the lines IV - IV of Fig. 3.

In the various figures, like reference numerals refer to like elements.

The energy converter as shown in the accompanying drawings, mainly comprises a frame 1, a rotor mounted therein, which is comprised of a hollow shaft 2 and of four sets of vanes 3, and a gear-wheel 4, which is secured at one end of the hollow rotor shaft and forms part of a connection between this shaft 2 and an energy converting mechanism. This connection is known per se and is, for example, a gear-transmission. For the sake of clarity, only gear-wheel 4 of the connection is shown. % fl C£j L; The energy converting mechanism is also known per se. This mechanism is preferably one which converts rotation into electrical energy, for example an alternator or generator. For the sake of clarity, this mechanism is not shown either.

The unit as shown in the drawings is fully immersed in water in a stream. The shaft 2 journalled in frame 1 is directed transversely to the direction of flow of the water. The arrangement is preferably such that shaft 2 is in a horizontal position. This arrangement is represented in the drawings. However, it is also possible for the shaft to be disposed in a vertical position, and it may form any angle with the horizontal plane.

Each set of vanes is comprised of three vanes 3 having the same axial position relative to shaft 2, but extending in different radial directions; their main vane planes make an angle of 120° with each other. The four sets are located fully in side-by-side relationship in the axial direction of shaft 2. The four sets are off-set through 90° relative to each other in the rotary sense of the rotor which rotary sense is indicated by arrow 5 in Figures 2 and 4. As each set comprises three vanes 3, the rotor has twelve vanes 3 in all.

Each vane 3 comprises two spokes 6 which extend substantially radially relatively to the rotor shaft 2 and are axially spaced apart. The two spokes 6 accordingly define a main vane plane. The ends of the two spokes 6 remote from rotor shaft 2, however, are bent over about 45° rearwardly relative to the direction of rotation of rotor shaft 2. Accordingly, these ends form an angle of 135° with the remaining portion of spokes 6.

The spokes are joined together by a connecting rod 7. Connecting rod 7 together with the two spokes 6 forms a holder for three blades t • v- i ' > y';J ^ .,••■. , . , r ' ',_ ^ i,| -•■ r-> n ' l~ i 1 f 8.

Each of blades 8 has its side remote from shaft 2 hinged to spokes 6 by means of two pins 9, journalled in the two spokes 6. The two pins 9 form a hinge shaft about which blade 8 hinges relatively 5 to spokes 6. This shaft is parallel to rotor shaft 2.

A support 10 is secured to spokes 6 for each blade 8. This support 10 is parallel to the rotor shaft 2, lies in front of blade 8, relative to the direction of rotation of rotor shaft 2 indicated by arrow 15 and this in opposition to the edge of the blade 8 which is 10 proximal to rotor shaft 2 when blade 8 is in the main vane plane.

In the operative position, blade 8 is in the main vane plane in contact with support 10 which support forms a stop for the blade and lies approximately in the main vane plane.

Blades 8 cannot hinge past spokes 6, which form their 15 holders, this being prevented by stops 10. In the reverse direction, i.e., away from stops 10, however, they are free to swing about pins 9, thus lagging relatively to the swinging of the spokes 6, which are fixedly carried along with the rotor shaft 2. In Fig. 2, the blades 8 of those vanes 3 which lie above the rotor shaft 2 are shown in the main vane plane, and the blades 8 of the other vanes are shown in a position in which they lag relative to their holders 6.

It is noted that when a blade 8 lags relatively to the holder 6 carrying it, this blade 8 hinges about its hinge pin 9 in the direction of arrow 5, i.e. in the direction in which rotor shaft 25 2 rotates.

The blade 8 of each vane 3 which is farthest away from the rotor shaft can only lag relative to its holder 6 by about 120°, as further movement of blade 8 relative to spokes 6 in this lagging 2 1284 direction is prevented by connecting rod 7, which forms a second stop for this blade.

Each blade 8 is comprised of three leaves 11 which are hinged together. The outermost leaf 11 is secured for rotation to spokes 6 by pins 9. The middle leaf 11 is provided on its outer edge with two pins 12 supported in projections 13 of the outermost leaf 11, while the innermost leaf 11 also has two pins 12 at its outer edge, which are journalled in projections 13 of the middle leaf 11.

Pins 12 of leaves 11 are directed so that the geometrical axes defined by these pins and about which the leaves 11 hinge relatively to each other, are parallel to the rotor shaft 2.

The relative rotation of the three leaves 11 of each blade 8 is limited, however, on the one hand by stops 14 and on the other hand by stops 15.

Stops 14 and 15 are secured to the middle leaf 11, respectively on the back and on the front of said leaf as viewed in the direction of rotation of rotor shaft 2 indicated by arrow 5.

As best shown in Figures 3 and 4, stops 14 are the ends of two straight strips which are directed transversely to the axes of rotation of the leaves and secured to the back of the middle leaf 11 so as to project from opposite sides of said leaf.

These stops 14 prevent buckling of blade 8 backwards relative to the direction of rotation of rotor shaft 2 as indicated by arrow 5, due to a rotation of leaves 11 relative to the position in which leaves 11 are in alignment with each other.

In the position shown in Fig. 3 and 4, leaves 11 are in alignment with each other because they are lying in the main vane plane; blade 8 then has the edge of the innermost leaf located proximal to 212843 rotor shaft 2 in engagement with support 10.

The bending of blade 8 in the reverse direction due to a relative swinging movement of its leaves 11 is possible to a limited extent. Stops 15 are formed by the ends projecting outside the middle leaf 11 of two strips which are secured to the front of said middle leaf 11 but these ends are not parallel to the plane of the middle leaf 11 but are directed frontwards at an angle of about 45°.

The result is that the middle leaf is capable of swinging approximately through 45° relative to the outermost leaf 11 in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of rotor shaft 2 as indicated by arrow 5, while the innermost leaf 11, in turn, can swing through about 45° in the same opposite direction relative to the middle leaf 11.

When vane 3 is above rotor shaft 2, transverse to the direction of flow of the water, indicated in Fig. 2 and 4 by arrow 16, tovesll of each blade 8 of this vane 3 are in alignment with each other and in engagement with stops 14. Blades 8 are in the main vane plane in contact with stops 10.

When, during its downward movement, vane 3 approaches the position in which it extends in the direction of flow of the water, blades 8 lag a little relatively to the rotation of rotor shaft 2, and accordingly relatively to the movement of spokes 6. Blade 8 as a whole is released from stop 10 and perforins a limited swinging movement about its hinge shaft 9 in the same direction as the direction of rotation of rotor shaft 2 indicated by arrow 5. At the same time, the outermost and innermost leaves 11 of each blade 8 are released from stops 14 on the middle leaf, and leaves IL Urge relatively to one another until the outermost * and innermost leaves engage stops 15 on the middle leaf. As shown in the right-hand part of Fig. 2 at thfe^' // * O .ltN 2 1284 level of rotor shaft 2, blades 8 still remain directed approximately oppositely to the direction of flow 16 of the water for some time, but, as a whole, continue to lag a little behind the main vane plane.

When the vane has come below the level of rotor shaft 2, 5 blades 8 perform a further swinging movement about their shafts 9, still in the direction of rotation as indicated by arrow 5, until they extend completely flat in the direction of flow of the water, designated by arrow 16. The innermost and outermost leaves 11 now hinge in the opposite direction relative to the middle leaf, so that 10 they are released from stops 15 and again engage stops 14, and the three leaves 11 of one and the same blade 3 are again in alignment with each other.

At a certain moment blades 8 make an angle of considerably more than 90° with the main plane of vane 3. The outward rotation 15 of the outermost blade 8 is limited to an angle of about 135° relative to the main vane plane by virtue of connecting rod 7, which forms a stop.

When the vane 3 moves further in the direction opposite to the direction of flow of the water designated by arrow 16 and 20 thereafter moves upwards again, blades 8 lag behind the main vane plane, relative to the direction of rotation of rotor shaft 2.

As soon as vane 3 has returned above shaft 2, the push of the water will undo the deviation between blades 8 and the main 25 vane plane, and leaves 11 will be pressed into contact with stops 14 in alignment with each other.

Frame 1 comprises a fixed shaft 17 and two supports 18 in which the encte of shaft 17 are secured. 212843 The hollow rotor shaft 2 is journalled in frame 1 by being mounted for rotation and coaxially around the fixed shaft 17. Arranged between the fixed shaft 17 and the hollow rotor shaft 2 are bearings 19. The hollow shaft 2 is made of steel and comprises two halves secured together.

The two spokes 6 of each vane 3 are welded to a curved foot plate 21. Two strut members 22 support each spoke 6 relatively to foot plate 21.

The foot plates of the three vanes 3 of a set together surround the hollow shaft 2 and are secured to it.

The perpendicular distance between the sets of vanes 3 is just a few centimetres.

The diameter of gear 4 secured to one end of the hollow shaft 2 is a few centimetres in excess of the diameter of the rotor part comprises of hollow shaft 2 and vanes 3.

Arranged between two adjacent sets of vanes 3 and next to the extreme set at the end of first rotor part remote frcnt gear wheel 4 is a screen plate 20.

These screen plates 20 are directed transversely to rotor shaft 2 and secured by means of a bridge 23 to the support 18 of frame 1.

Screen plates 20 extend over the full half of the rotor part comprised of hollow shaft 2 and vanes 3 where vanes 3 are operative, that is to say, where their blades are in 20 the closed position and in contact with stop 10. Screen plates 20 also extend exclusively over this half of this rotor part. In the arrangement illustrated in the accompanying drawings, this half is the upper half and, accordingly, screen plates 20 exclusively extend in this upper half. They are attached at the top to bridge 23. 25 Screen plates 20 each have the form of a semi-circle, the diameter of which is a few centimetres in excess of the diameter of * I • the rotor part comprised of hollow shaft 2 and vanes 3 rotor shaft 2 is provided in the centre. and an -aT3e£±ure for °X 212843 Screen plates 20 prevent the onccming water frcm flowing along vanes 3 where vanes 3 can be operative. Where the blades 8 of vanes 3 occupy the open position, there are no screen plates 20, so that this flow is impeded to a minimum extent.

If the frame 1 is placed in the stream not in a fixed position but for rotation around a vertical shaft, screen plates 20 help to place the energy converter in the correct position relative to the direction of flow, and they are operative as a rudder.

The energy converter described hereirbefore has a very high efficiency, for example, at a flow of 2 m/sec.

The invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described hereinbefore and many changes can be made in the embodiment described without departing from the scope of the invention, notably as regards the shape, the composition, the arrangement and the number of the components used for embodying the invention.

In particular, the number of vanes need not necessarily be twelve. Also, there need not necessarily be four sets of blades, and each set need not necessarily comprise three vanes.

The connection between the rotor shaft and the energy converting mechanism need not necessarily comprise a gear wheel on the shaft. The element secured to the shaft depends on the connection proper and, among other devices, may be a chain wheel or a belt pulley.

A plurality of rotors may be placed in •juxtaposition to each other, for example, on one and the same fixed shaft of the frame.

Claims

1. An energy converter, comprising - a frame - a rotor mounted in said frame, said rotor including — a rotor shaft 5 and ""vaneSy each of said vanes being comprised of I a holder which is fastened to the rotor shaft and defines a main i vane plane which, extends through the rotor shaft t 2o at least one blade which hinges relatively to the holder about a hinge pin . parallel to the rotor shaft and a stop for said blade which is fastened to the holder and lies substantially in the main vane plane, 15 at least some of said vanes being disposed in full side-by-side relationship as viewed axially of the rotor shaft and - an element which can connect the rotor shaft to an energy-converting mechanism, 20 characterized by further comprising, between the vanes disposed in side-by-side relationship as viewed axially of the rotor shaft , screen plates — secured to the frame directed transversely to the rotor shaft and extending over at least a large part of the half of the rotor where the vanes ' are active, that is to 25 say, where the blade - of the vanes occupies the position in which it contacts the stop* 1 2 6 MAR £•«• .'•A?''-' ^ '/ - 12 - 212843 jft"' 'X

2. An energy converter as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it includes a similar screen plate . also near (one of the ends of the rotor ,* next to the vane situated at said one of the | ,._v ends of the rotor. \ »

3. An energy converter as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that 5 the element which can connect the rotor shaft to an energy converting mechanism is a wheel element located at one end of the rotor with screen plates being disposed at the other end of the rotor . and between the vanes located axially in side-by-side relationship. 10

4. An energy converter as claimed in any of claims 1 - 3, characterized in that the vanes " are arranged in sets, the sets are located fully in side-by-side relationship as viewed axially of the rotor shaft and a screen plate is disposed between two adjacent sets. 15

5. An energy converter as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that each set of vanes - . comprises three vanes whose main vane planes make angles of 120° with each other.

6. An energy converter as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that adjacent sets of vanes are offset by 90° relatively to 20 each other in the direction of rotation of the rotor.

7. An energy converter as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the rotor comprises four sets of vanes.

8. An energy converter as claimed in any of claims 1 - 7, characterized in that the screen plates extend substantially 25 overrjthe half of the rotor where the vanes . . are active,.that is to say, where the blade of the vanes -rv\ln which it contacts the stop® occupies c on

. An energy converter as claimed in claim 8 »character|jj.'zegl \\ ' /] - 13 - screen plates (^CfT extend over the full half of the rotor £2<3"T where the vanes XVf are active.

10. An energy converter as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the screen plates U&f have the form of virtually a semi-circle, with 5 a central aparture for the rotor shaft

11. An energy converter as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the diameter of the circle is virtually equal to the diameter of the rotor .

12. An energy converter as claimed in any of claims 8 to 11, 10 characterized in that, with the rotor shaft in a horizontal position, the screen plates irZftT are located in the upper half of the rotor

13. An energy converter as claimed in any of claims 1-12, characterized in that the frame j(if includes a fixed shaft S^rtT and 15 two supports jUr8T mounting said shaft at its ends, the rotor shaft j^f^being a hollow shaft surrounding said fixed shaft and bearings ££9T being mounted between said fixed shaft Jpr?T and said rotor shaft

14. An energy converter as claimed in any of claims 1-13, 20 characterized in that the blade Jfifi of each vane is comprised of at least two leaves (>3-T arranged for relative hinging movement about a shaft Q2T parallel to the rotor shaft Jj&f, said leaves jtitT including means LW-) which when said leaves are in alignment with each other and the blade J&f is in contact with the stop , 25 render further relative hinging movement of the leaves £13rT impossible in the direction which brings the shaft about which they pivot relatively to each other beyond the plane defined by the stop U&Y and by the hinge shaft j19Y of said blade J<8f relative to said holder jCj&F. - 14 -

15. An energy converter as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the blade of each vane is comprised of three leaves , the middle one of which is hinged to the two adjacent leaves.

16. An energy converter as claimed in any of claims 1-15, 5 characterized in that each vane yifi comprises a plurality of blades J&f arranged for hinging movement relative to said holder .

17. An energy converter as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. ., a ted this P^day of 3^ 1 A. J. PARK & SON PER AGENTS FOR THE APPLICANTS