US20080219831A1

US20080219831A1 - Pipe flow-driven power generator

Info

Publication number: US20080219831A1
Application number: US11/714,178
Authority: US
Inventors: Jen-Yen Yen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-03-06
Filing date: 2007-03-06
Publication date: 2008-09-11

Abstract

A pipe flow-driven power generator includes a vane wheel pivotally mounted in a water chamber in a water pipe and rotatable by a flow of water running through the water pipe, a dynamo pivotally mounted on the outside of the water chamber and coupled to the vane wheel through a transmission gear set for generating electricity upon running of water through the water pipe, and a storage battery for storing electricity generated by the dynamo.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to power generators and more particularly, to a pipe flow-driven power generator that utilizes the energy of a flow of water running through a water pipe to drive a dynamo to generate electricity for charging a storage battery.
2. Description of the Related Art
Regular water pipes are simply used to deliver water. When water is running through a water pipe, the running flow of water provides a dynamic energy. However, few people utilize this dynamic energy. It is too bad to waste this dynamic energy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a pipe flow-driven power generator, which utilizes the energy of a flow of water running through a water pipe for generating electricity. To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, the pipe flow-driven power generator comprises a water pipe connected to a water source for guiding a running flow of water; a water chamber disposed in fluid communication with the water pipe; a vane wheel pivotally mounted in the water chamber and rotatable by the flow of water running through the water pipe, the vane wheel having a wheel shaft pivotally mounted in the water chamber and partially extending out of the water chamber; a driving gearwheel fixedly mounted on the wheel shaft of the vane wheel and disposed outside the water chamber; a dynamo pivotally mounted on the outside of the water chamber; a transmission gear fixedly mounted on the shaft of the dynamo and meshed with the driving gearwheel for driving the dynamo to generate electricity upon rotation of the vane wheel; and a storage battery provided outside the water chamber and electrically connected to the dynamo for storing electricity generated by the dynamo.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional elevation of a pipe flow-driven power generator in accordance with the present invention (the protective cover opened).

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional rear view of the pipe flow-driven power generator in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional top view of the pipe flow-driven power generator in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1˜3, a pipe flow-driven power generator in accordance with the present invention is shown comprising a water pipe 10, a water chamber 11 disposed in fluid communication with the water pipe 10, a vane wheel 12 pivotally mounted in the water chamber 11, a driving gearwheel 13 fixedly mounted on the wheel shaft 120 of the vane wheel 12 and disposed outside the water chamber 11, a dynamo 15 pivotally mounted on the outside of the water chamber 11, a transmission gear 14 fixedly mounted on the shaft of the dynamo 15 and meshed with the driving gearwheel 13, a storage battery 16 provided outside the water chamber 11 and electrically connected to the dynamo 15, a circuit board 17 provided outside the water chamber 11 and electrically connected to the dynamo 15 and the storage battery 16, a protective cover 19 covered on one side of the water chamber 11 to shade the dynamo 15 and the storage battery 16 and the circuit board 17, and a light 18 electrically connected to the circuit board 17 and extending to the outside of the protective cover 19. The water pipe 10 has a water input port 20 at its one end, an accumulation chamber 201 disposed between the water input port 20 and the water chamber 11, and a small water inlet 21 in fluid communication between the accumulation chamber 201 and the water chamber 11.
When in use, the water input port 20 of the water pipe 10 is connected to a water source, and the other end of the water pipe 10 is for output of water, i.e., the invention can be installed in a water supply pipe to utilize the flowing force of water for generating electricity.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, when water is continuously supplied to the water input port 20, it goes through the accumulation chamber 201 and the small water inlet 21 into the water chamber 11 to rotate the vane wheel 12. During rotation of the vane wheel 12, the driving gearwheel 13 is rotated with the wheel shaft 120 of the vane wheel 12 to move the transmission gear 14, thereby causing the dynamo 15 to generate electricity. The electricity thus generated by the dynamo 15 is stored in the storage battery 16, and can be rectified by the circuit board 17 for turning on the light 18 for illumination. Further, the light 18 can be a light emitting diode. In general, when water is flowing through the water pipe 10, the vane wheel 12 is rotated to drive the dynamo 15, causing the dynamo 15 to generate electricity for charging the storage battery 16.
The invention can be used in gardening. When watering garden plants or flowers, the energy of water flow is used to drive the dynamo 15 to generate electricity for charging the storage battery 16. When at night, the circuit board 17 is controlled to turn on the light 18 for illumination.
Further, the accumulation chamber 201 and the small water inlet 21 are made to increase the pressure of flowing water so that flowing water can move the vane wheel 12 in the water chamber 11 fast, accelerating the power generating effect of the dynamo 15.
Further, the driving gearwheel 13 at the wheel shaft 120 of the vane wheel 12 has a diameter greater than the transmission gear 14 at the shaft of the dynamo 15 so that the dynamo 15 can be rotated at a high speed to accelerate the power generating effect.
Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A pipe flow-driven power generator comprising:

a water pipe connected to a water source for guiding a running flow of water;

a water chamber disposed in fluid communication with said water pipe;

a vane wheel pivotally mounted in said water chamber and rotatable by the flow of water running through said water pipe, said vane wheel having a wheel shaft pivotally mounted in said water chamber and partially extending out of said water chamber;

a driving gearwheel fixedly mounted on the wheel shaft of said vane wheel and disposed outside said water chamber;

a dynamo pivotally mounted on the outside of said water chamber;

a transmission gear fixedly mounted on the shaft of said dynamo and meshed with said driving gearwheel for driving said dynamo to generate electricity upon rotation of said vane wheel; and

a storage battery provided outside said water chamber and electrically connected to said dynamo for storing electricity generated by said dynamo.

2. The pipe flow-driven power generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said water pipe has a water accumulation chamber adapted to accumulate water from an external water source, and a water inlet in water communication between said water accumulation chamber and said water chamber.