US2501696A

US2501696A - Stream turbine

Info

Publication number: US2501696A
Application number: US766818A
Authority: US
Inventors: Souczek Ernst
Original assignee: WOLFGANG KMENTT
Current assignee: WOLFGANG KMENTT
Priority date: 1946-01-12
Filing date: 1947-08-06
Publication date: 1950-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 1967-03-28

Description

March 28, 1950 E. soUczEK 2,501,696

STREAM TURBINE Filed Aug. 6, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

March 28, 1950 E, SOUCZEK 2,501,696

STREAM TURBINE Filed Aug. 6. 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 4

his Agent.

/NVEA/ro/P. Ernst SauczE/f E. SOUCZEK STREAM TURBINE I March 28, 1950 Filed Aug. 6, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Mumb FP Il Patented Mar. 28, 195

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STREAM TURBINE Application August 6, 1947, Serial No. 766,818 In Austria January 12, 1946 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires January 12, 1966 18 Claims. 1

Up to the present, the so-called stream turbines which utilize the current energy .of water courses directly by means of float suspended propellers with guiding means are in rather limited use only for the reason that the initial investments for the iioats anchored in the Water course, the suspension means, the gears between the propeller and a generator which is arranged above water, as well 'as for the protecting rakes are still too high in proportion to the obtainable output.

The invention relates to a stream turbine and has for its object to partly dispense with and to partly diminish the expenses for the just mentioned accessories so that energy may be gained from water courses with not too low a current velocity in an economical way. To achieve this end an essential feature of the invention consists in holding the turbine, which hangs on a rope anchored at the bottom of the water course, in

a floating condition by means of an underwater f carrier connected with the turbine and creating dynamic buoyancy. The underwater carrier may be provided with at least one underwater carrying surface or wing which is equipped with control devices in a manner similar to airplane wings. A favorable construction may be obtained by arranging the propeller on a streamlined casing which -contains the gears vand the generator and by providing one or more pairs of casings, the propellers of each pair running in opposite direction and the casings being connected with each other by means of an underwater carrier structure. The control devices may consist of a depth guide surface and/or a depth rudder and since with stream turbines the position of height relative to the water surface is essential, it is best to actuate these control devices in response to changes of the water level. While already thereby many of the accessories may be dispensed with, also the need for stationary -rakes serving as a protection against objects floating in the water may be eliminated. This can be done by arranging ahead of the stream turbine trouble indicators which, for instance, are secured to buoys and which in response to impulses they receive from objects swimming along cause a dive movement o the turbine so that the latter moves out of the path of these objects. The dive movement may be brought labout by depth control means and may lead to a temporary position of rest of the turbine at the bottom of the water course.

In the drawing which illustrates the invention diagrammatically and by way of example,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation and Fig. 2 a front elevation ci the stream turbine anchored to the ground;

Fig. 3 is a plan view at a larger scale than Figs. 1 and 2 of the stream turbine;

Fig. 4 shows in a side elevation and Fig. 5 in a front view the combination of the lstream turbine with a trouble indicator; and

Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating one form of the control mechanism of the water power plant and the electric connections therefor.

The stream turbine comprises one or more propellers -I each secured to a hub formed by the rear part 2 of a housing 3 of streamlined shape. A transmission gear 4 and a generator 5 are coaxially arranged within the housing. The parts I to 5 just mentioned form together a unit which can be, combined with the underwater structure in any desired of various possible ways. In the example shown in Fig. 3 there are two such units connected with each other by a carrier structure which consists of a rear underwater carrier wing 5 and a front underwater carrier wing 'I and also of a holding rope 8 engaging at 9 the wing 6 or a Vertical guide surface I2. The wing 'I is turnable about :a transverse axis and is thereby adapted to serve as a depth rudder. Along the holding rope 8 there extend the various pipes and leads I I required for the draining and Ventilating of the housing, for supplying the lubricating oil, for leading away the generated current and also for supplying the electric control impulses. In the middle plane of the carrier structure there is provided the vertical guide surface I2. The direction of the flow of the water is indicated by arrows. The holding rope is attached to a bracket I3 which is anchored in the river bed and from which a conduit I4 accommodating the pipes. and

leads I I extends to the bank of the river. The di- 'l rection'of rotation of the two propellers is opposite` so that the torques are balanced. The propellers may be equipped with guide members in a manner known per se.

The carrier structure against which the water flows at a certain velocity is adjustable so that the stream turbine obtains a buoyancy which, in cooperation with the holding rope 8, holds it in the desired position of height. In general, this position of height is determined by the diameter of the propeller which, together with the guide members, if such are provided, must submerge completely. Thus the position of height of the turbine depends on the water level. The automatic adjustment of the turbines to that position of height may, therefore, be brought about by 3 rudder machines D which are arranged within the housing t and actuate the wing l'.

The trouble indicator, which protects the stream turbine against damages through oating wood, drifting ice, etc., by causing. diving of the turbine may be of any suitable nature, for nstance of mechanical nature and in this case it may consist, e. g., of a series of buoys i (Figs. 4, 5) which are forced under water by the oncoming object and which carry each a pressure meter in the form of a spring diaphragm. The dia.- phragm operates an electric switch which through the auxiliary motor D, tilts the depth rudder 1 causing thereby a diving movement of the turbine. two regulating steps, one for smaller immersion. or draft ci the floating object, and the other for greater immersion or draft. In the latter case the turbine may dive almost down to thebottom of the water course, if this be necessary. 'Ihe switches are arranged in parallelsoth'at it is the buoy in the respective deepest position which determines the amount of actuation of thef depth rudder. The trouble indicator must, ofy course, be arranged so far up stream with respect to the turbineA that the diving movement of the turbine is completed beicre the arrival ofthe onswimming: objects at that turbine. The drawing shows this distance between trouble indicator and turbine much smaller as it actually would be; Preferably the arrangement is such as to always adjust the wing'` 1' so in dependence on the varying water level that the turbine always maintains the same distance from the water surface.

VIn order that the propeller does not suifer damage when thei turbine approaches the bottom" of the water course, means may be pro vided. to block the shaftr of the propeller completely and in a horizontal position for such a deep diving movement. Ii desired a braking action uponthe shaft may precede saidblocking oli the propeller. Such interruptions of the operation of the turbine will be` relatively seldom because iioating material of such* great immersion antov require such' a far-reaching diving of the turbine: will not come up' often.

It is desirable to use the troubley indicator also forinitiating the re-rising of the stream turbine at the end of the action of the oating material. For this purpose asuitable retarding device may be provided which preventsa. premature rising of the turbine.

In order to protect the turbine lying on the bottom ofthe river against rubble or boulders, or other objects traveling on the ground, there may be'provided a stationary small rake IB.

The diving movement of the turbine initiated by; theftrouble indicator, must be accomplished inidentical manner regardless of the water level; it is preferable, therefore, to keep the dive depth of' the iirst of the two above. mentioned. regulating steps (in the case of minor troubles) a1- ways constant in relation to the Water surface. The. dive depth of the second step (in the case of major troubles), however, must obviously always lead to the same distance from the bottom. Fig. 6 shows in detail how to attain this end. It is' an illustrative, schematic drawing presenting the combined operation ofv the control' devices on the' river' bank (in the auxiliary engine house H),

the trouble indicator, and inthey turbine. There arethree sections in the drawing, separated'from each other by dash and dot lines: the top section shows. the equipment of thev turbineY (only hall" of' itl beingl illustrated), the' middle: section shows 't is sufficient for that purpose to providel 4 the control devices on the river bank, and the bottom section shows the control devices of the trouble indicator.

As iar as the action of the depth control device is concerned, fteen diierent functional conditions may be distinguished, characterized first by the water level, viz: A middle water, B low water, and C high water; second by different trouble conditions in each of the above cases of water level. l may denote the condition when there is no trouble (normal case), 2 during a minor trouble, 3 immediately after a minor trouble, 4 during a major trouble, and 5 immediately a-fter a major trouble. The combined iniluence of water level and trouble condition determines what may be called the combined functional condition. A4 e. g. is the combined functional condition in the case of middle water during a major trouble whose end phase is shown in Fig. 6 wherein current carrying leads are drawn in full lines, currentless leads in dotted lines;

In the following' detailed description of one. form` of control mechanism suitable for carrying. the invention into effect only the conditions A I'- AE' will be described since the corresponding B- andC-conditions will then be obvious` Condition AI is the working condition inthe case of middle'` water,A no drift wood or the like working upon the trouble indicator (floating rake). ItA can be considered asthel normal case.

In the case of a sinkingv water level (as shown in the* drawing) an apparatus indicating; the: water level, e. g. a float I8` of usualconstruction, imparts, by means of an appropriate transmis.- sion mechanism; a turning' motion in clockwise direction to a slide contact 50 of an. impulse: in: citer C. The slide contact gli'des on slide ring? segments 5l thereby actuating' a steering machine id step.` by step in' counter-clockwise direction. The steering machine" IS)` is connected with` the worm 2D of a worm gearv 2U, 52, whose4 worm wheel 52 carries three segments 53 ofI an impulse inciter 2| attached. Thus, the rotation: of the steering machine |'9 in counter-clockwisek s direction causes the slide ring segments 53 to` glide along the slide contactvv 54` of` the impulse. inciter2l, and as aresultof the successive actu-V ation of these contacts the rudder device D in the turbine casing is moved step by step in clockiwise direction. Ther rudder device D on its? part, tilts by means of the worm gear 55,V 22 the depth rudder 1 in the sense of a reduced inclinationr to the horizontal plane; A switch 56.` is provided for` closing` thev circuit of the magnet coil 6i of a locking device 4i so that a` locking pin 42 is pulled upwards and the propeller shaft 43` can rotate unobstructedly. The generator` shaft diby means of a spur gea-

r

51, 45, drivesa small. alternator 44. The current. of the latter ows. through a galvanometer 41, actuating. instead of a. pointer a switch 46, which at normal speed' of the. generator is in position II, so thatthecircuit for the coil El of the locking device 4l is also closed. by switch 46 parallel to switch 56.

In the case or a rising water level" alll movements of the steering machine take place in cppo'site direction, so that the depth rudder is actuated inthe sense of an increase of inclination angle. In this manner the turbineA maintains always the same distance below the water sur` face', regardless Vci. its level.

Condition A2'isA the working condition in the case of middle water during a. minor trouble. The water level is' the'l same as inV the case orv condition AI consequently there isf nol change,

in comparison with the latter condition, as to the positions of the impulse inciter C andthe worm wheel 52 with the slide ring segments 53. However, drift wood, or the like, caused one or several of the buoys I5 of the trouble indicator to dive under water; thereby, water pressure is originated, pressing depth plates 23 coordinated to the affected buoys, downwards against the tension of depth springs 24, and thus shifting corresponding depth switches 25 fromthe position of rest I to the position II. The depth switches close in position II the circuit of a magnet coil 26, which pulls a switch rod 21 downwards so that a release lever 28 of a retarding clock 294, which in the position of rest is held elevated by a cam 62 of the switch rod, can drop down so as to obstruct the running of the wound clock 29. The same cam tilts a switch v3l] from switch position I to switch position II, and likewise the switch 56 from I to II. This closes the circuit of a steering machine 32, the current flowing through the eld magnet 3l, thereof, causing the rotor o the steering machine 32 to rotate in counter-clockwise direction. The rotor just mentioned is connectedwith the winding device of the retarding clock by means of a clutch which engages said winding device and thus winds the clock 29 if it rotates in a counterclockwise direction, and is uncoupled if it rotates in clockwise direction. At the same Itime the machine 32 turns the slide contact 54 of the impulse inciter 2|, by means of a worm gear 33. A lever key switch 35 is operated by means of another worm gear 34. The slide contact 54 of the impulse inciter 2| glides in its rotating move- :I

ment on the three slide ring segments 53, establishing thereby contact with one of these segments after the other and thus moving the rudder device D step by step in clockwise direction. The rudder device D tilts the depth rudder 1 by means of the worm gear 55, 22 in the sense of reducing the angle of inclination. This displacement continues until the lever key switch 35 is tilted from position I to position II, whereby the circuit of the steering machine 32 is interrupted.

The circuit of the locking device 4| is no interrupted at switch 56, but since it is still held closed by switch 46, the locking pin 42 remains pulled upwards, and the propeller shaft 43 can rotate unobstructedly.

Condition A3 is the working condition in the case of middle water immediately after the end of a minor trouble. There is no change, in comparison with the conditions AI and A2, as to the water level and the positions of the impulse inciter 2| and the

worm gear

20, 52. Drift wood, or the like, has just passed over the trouble indicator, and all buoys are again on the water surface. Consequently, all depth switches are again in the normal position I, so that also the switch rod 21, by means of the recoil spring 36, has been pulled back from the magnet coil 26 into the position of rest. At the same time, the right hand cam 62 of the switch rod 21 has pressed upwardly the release lever 28, so that the retarding clockwhich during the condition A2 has been wound by the steering machine 32- can run during a period of time long enough to let the drift wood swim past the turbine; and at the end of this time the clock has pressed back the switch 30 from position II into position I, and keeps on running. In the example shown Y schematically in the drawing, wherein the switch arms of the switches 30 and 56 form the two isolated parts .of a bell crank lever, the initial position of Al has not yet been fully reached but the bell crank lever 30, 56 has been turned backwards only so much that though the circuit of the motor of the steering machine 32 has been closed, the position I of switch 56 has not yet been reached, since the circuit of the motor of the steering machine 32 is closedv by means of the switch 30 in position II (which has been reached at the end of the working condition A2). The current now flows through the field magnet 31,'F so that the motor of the steering machine 32 rotates-in clockwise direction. Therefore, the winding device of the retarding clock is un-.j coupled, whereas the worm gears 2U, 52 and 33 are running in a direction opposite to that dur-e` ing the working condition A2. Thereby also the switch 35 and the slide contact 54 of the impulse inciter 2| are actuated in opposite direction to that in the case A2. The impulse inciter 2|, therefore, tilts the rudder, by means of the rud-l der device D and worm gear 55, 22, in the sensey of an increased angle of inclination. This tilting lasts until the lever key switch 35 has returned from position II to position I. The switch is constructed in such a manner that this occurs when the angle of inclination of the rudder 1 has been restored to that of the condition AI. In the meantime, the retarding clock 29 keeps lon running and after a certain time (see A5) when its run comes to an end, it presses the bell crank lever completely back into its initial position, so that the switch arm 56 is again in position I, and as a whole, the condition AI has been restored.l

Condition A4 is the working condition in the case of middle water and a major trouble. The water level is the same as in the case of condi-vtion Al. Therefore, the positions of the impulse inciter C and the worm gear 2U, 52 with the slide ring segments 53 have not changed, in comparison with condition AI. Drift wood, or the like, has pressed one or several buoys deep under water, the water pressure caused thereby pressing downwards the corresponding depth plates, in the drawing: depth plate of buoy'I, against the tension of the depth springs, shifting thereby the corresponding depth switches from the position of rest I over II into the position III. The depth switches in position III short-circuit the armature 41 of the dynamo, which is in the form of a D. C. generator, resulting in the braking of the dynamo and, by means of the planet gear 4, also the propeller screw. Furthermore, they close in this position also the circuit of the magnet coil 38, which pulls the switch rod 21 down into its lowest position. This causes, as described above for condition A2, the freeing of the release lever of the retarding clock 29, so that it can drop and obstruct the running of the clock; ,andY

the shifting of the switches 30 and 56 from posiu tion I to position II. Likewise switch 39 is shifted to position II. In the initial phase, the circuit of the steering machine 32 is closed in the same manner as in the case of condition A2. This means: the motor runs in` counter-clockwise direction, thereby winds the retarding clockand actuates the impulse inciter 2| by means of the worm gear 33 and the switch 35 by means of the worm gear 34. The impulse inciter 2| operates the rudder device, which decreases, by means of the worm gear 55, 22, the angle o f inclination of the depth rudder. i This continues until the lever key switch 35 has been shifted from position I to position II. In the meantime, the screw propeller too has slowly come to a standstill, and

end to said turbine and anchored at the other end to the bottom of the water course, an underwater carrier wing structure adapted to create dynamic buoyancy connected to said turbine so as to hold the latter suspended below the surface of said water course, at least one control surface on said carrier wing structure, and means for changing the angular position of said control surface.

5. A water power plant comprising a stream turbine having at least one pair of propellers,

each propeller having coordinated thereto a streamlined housing enclosing an electric generator and a gear, elongated holding means connected at one end to said turbine and' anchored at the other end to the bottom of the water course, the propellers of each of said propeller pairs having opposite rotational direction and their coordinated housings being connected with one another by an underwater carrier wing structure adapted to create dynamic buoyancy so as to hold said turbine suspended below the surface of said water course.

6. A water power plant comprising a stream turbine having at least one pair of propellers, each propeller having coordinated thereto a streamlined housing enclosing an electric generator and a gear, elongated holding means connected at one end to said turbine and anchored at the other end to the bottom of the water course, the propellers of each propeller pair having opposite rotational direction and their coordinated housings being connected with one another by an underwater carrier wing structure adapted to create dynamic buoyancy so as to hold said turbine suspended below the surface of said water course, at least one adjustable control surface on at least one of said carrier Wing structures, and means for changing the angular position of said control surface or surfaces.

7. A water power plant comprising a stream turbine, elongated holding means connected at one end to said turbine and anchored at the other end to the bottom of the water course, an underwater carrier wing structure adapted to create dynamic buoyancy connected to said turbine so as to hold the latter suspended below the surface of said water course, said carrier wing structure including at least one control surface adjustable about a horizontal axis, and means responsive to changes in the height of the water level operatively connected to said control surface for varying the angular position of said control surface and thereby the position of height of said turbine.

8. A water power plant comprising a stream turbine, elongated holding means connected at one end to said turbine and anchored at the other end to the bottom of the water course, an underwater carrier wing structure adapted to create dynamic buoyancy connected to said turbine so as to hold the latter suspended below the surface of said water course, said carrier wing structure including at least one control surface adjustable about a horizontal axis, and means adapted Yto operate upon the approach of objects drifting in the water towards the turbine operatively connected to said control surface for varying the position of height of said turbine.

9. A water power plant comprising a stream turbine, elongated holding means connected at one end to said turbine and anchored at thel other end to the bottom of the water course, an underwater carrier wing structure adapted to create dynamic buoyancy connected to said tur- 410 bine so as to hold the latter suspended below the surface of said water course, said carrier wing structure including at least one control surface adjustable about a horizontal axis, means responsive to changes in the height of the water level operatively connected to said control surface for varying the angular position of said control surface and thereby the position of height of said turbine in response to changes in said water level, and means adapted to operate upon the approach of objects drifting in the water towards the turbine operatively connected to at least one of said control surfaces for varying the position of height of said turbine in response to the approach of such drifting objects.

10. A water power plant comprising a stream turbine, elongated holding means connected at one end to said turbine and anchored at the other end to the bottom of the water course, an underwater carrier wing structure adapted to create dynamic buoyancy connected to said turbine so as to hold the latter suspended below the surface of said water course, said carrier wing structure including at least one control surface adjustable about a horizontal axis, and means responsive to changes in the height of the water level operatively connected to said control surface for varying the angular position thereof so as to maintain the distance of said turbine from said water level substantially constant in spite of changes in said water level.

11. A water power plant comprising a stream turbine, elongated holding means connected at one end to said turbine and anchored at the other end to the bottom of the water course, an underwater carrier wing structure adapted to create dynamic buoyancy connected to said turbine so as to hold the latter suspended below the surface of said water course, said carrier wing structure including at least one control surface adjustable about a horizontal axis, means responsive to changes in the height of the water level operatively connected to said control surface for varying the angulaiposition thereof so as A to maintain the distance of said turbine from said water level substantially constant in spite of changes in said water level, and trouble detecting devices arranged ahead of said turbine in the direction of the flow of the water course connected with means for varying the position of height of said turbine upon at least one of said devices being acted upon by objects drifting in the water course so as to submerge said turbine to great enough a depth below the water level to permit said objects free passage over said turbine.

12. A water power plant comprising a stream turbine having at least one propeller, each propeller having coordinated thereto a streamlined housing enclosing an electric generator and a gear, elongated holding means connected at one end to said turbine and at the other end to the bottom of the water course, an underwater carrier wing structure adapted to create dynamic buoyancy connected to said turbine so as to hold the latter suspended below the surface of said water course, said carrier wing structure including at least one control surface adjustable about a horizontal axis, means responsive to changes in the height of the water level operatively con nected to said control lsurface for Varying theV angular position of said control surface so as to, maintain the distance of said turbine from said water level substantially constant in spite of changes in said water level, and trouble detecting devicsarransed ahead of said turbine in the :direction of -the now of `the water course connected with `means `for varying the position of 'height of sadlturbine `upon at least one of said 1devices being acted upon by objects drifting in the Water course so as to submerge said turbine to ggreat enough .a depth below said water level to permit free passage `ol said objects over said turbine.

13. .4A Vwater power plant ycomprising `a stream turbine, elongated `holding means `connected at one end ,to said turbine and anchored `at `the other end itc the bottom of `the Water course, yan underwater lcarlrier wing structure adapted 'to create dynamic buoyancy connected to said turbinersoqas to yhold the `latter `suspended below :the lsuriace of Vsaid water course, said carrier wing structure including atleast one control sur- .face adjustable about .a lhorizontal axis, and means adapted tto be operated upon the approach .of objects drifting in the water towards the turbine operatively connected to said control surface Afor varying the position of height of said turbine in `response to such approach of such driitingobjects `together with means 4for controli ling the :displacement ol` said control surface or ysurfaces to an rextent corresponding to immersioniof said turbine to one depth below the water level if the approaching object 'has a predetermined draft -or lessand to an vextent corresponding to immersion of the turbine to a larger depth belowuthe water level if the approaching object has-.more lthan ysaid predetermined draft,

14. A water power plant comprising a stream turbine `having at least one propeller, elongated holding Vmeansconnected :at one end to said turbine vand anchoredat theother end `to the bottom of the water course, an underwater `carrier wing structure adapted to `create dynamic buoyancy connected -to said turbine so as to hold the latter suspended below the surface oi said watercourse, Isaid `carrier wing `structure :including at least one control surface adjustable about a horizontal exis, means adapted to be operated upon approach ci objects driftingr in 'the vwater towards the -turbine 4operatively connected to said control surface rior varying the 'positionlol height'oi said turbine in lresponse to `such approach of such drifting objects, fand means Afor locking said propeller l or l-propellers in substantially horizontal i posi-tion of the propeller blades.

15. `A water power plant comprising a stream turbine Thaving fat `least one propeller, elongated holding 1i'neans connected at one end to `said turbine vand anchored at the `other end to the bottom of the water course, an underwater carrier wing Astructure -adapted to create dynamicbuoyancy `connected vto said 'turbine so as to hold the latter .suspended below the surface of said water lcourse, said carrier wing struclaure :including at least one control isurface ad- 'instable about a horizontal axis, means Yadapted to `be operated upon the approach of objects drifting vrin the water towards the turbine operatively connected to said control surface for varyingathe position foi 'height of Vsaid turbine in re sponsetc `suchapproach of such ,drifting objects {togetherwithimeans for .controlling the displace ment fof said control surface or surfaces `to an extent corresponding to immersion of said 'tur- .bine to one depth below the water level if the :appr-caching -lobject has a predetermined draft or yless .and to an extent corresponding to immersion of the turbine to a larger depth below .the water level `if the .approaching object has kill more than said predetermined draft, and means for locking said propeller or propellers in substantially horizontal position of .the propeller blades upon said means for controlling the ,displacement of said control surface or surfaces being actuated for the immersion of the turbine ,to said larger depth. l

16. A water power plant comprising a stream turbine,elongatedholdingmeans connected atlone end to said turbine and anchored at the other end tothe bottom of the water course, an underwater carrier wing structure .adapted to create dynamic buoyancy .connected :to said turbine so as to hold the latter suspended below the surface of said water course, said carrier wing .structure including at least one control surface adjustable about a horizontal axis, trouble detecting devices arranged ahead of said turbine in the direction ofthe flow kof the watercourse connected with means for Varying the angular position of said devices being acted upon by objects drifting in the water course so as to submerge said turbine to great enough a depth below the Water level to permit free passage of said objects over said turbinaand means for readjusting said control surface to return said turbine to the position assumed .before said lowering.

17. A water power plant comprising a stream turbine, elongated holding means connected .at one end :to said .turbine and anchored ,at the other end to `the bottom oi the water course, anunderwater carrier wing structure adapted to create dynamic ybuoyancy connected to said turbine so as to hold the latter suspended below the surface of .said water course, said carrier wing structure including at least one control surface adjustable about ,a horizontal axis, trouble detecting devices arranged ahead of said `turbine in the `direction oi the dow of the water course connected with means for varying the angular position of said control surface to lower said turbine upon at least one oi said devices being acted upon by objects drifting in the water course Vso as to submerge said turbine to great enough ya depth below the water level rto permit ,free passage of said objects over said turbine, and means for readjusting said control surface `to return said turbine to the position assumed before said lowering, said readjusting means being operatively connected with said trouble detecting devices to be initiated for operation thereby and being .c ontrollable by `rotar-ding means for delaying the actionrof said -readjusting means until some time after said drifting objects have passed said trouble detecting devices.

lil. A water power plant comprising a stream turbine having at least one propeller, each propeller having coordinated thereto .a streamlined housing enclosing ,an electric generator and la gear, elongated holding means connected `at one end to said turbine and anchored at the other end to the .bottom of the water course, an under'A water carrier wing structure adapted to create dynamic buoyancy connected to said turbine so as to 4hold the latter suspended below the suroi: said water course, a cable :for leading away the electric current produced .by said ,generator, and flexible pip@ lines for draining `and Ventilating vof vsaid housing and for the supply of lubricants, said cable and pipe lines ,extending along said elongated holding means .to the bottom of the water course and from there to one of the banks or said water course.

ERNST SOUCZEK.

(References on following page) 13 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of yecord in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 502,624 Holcomb Aug. 1, 1893 867,192 Dawson Sept. 24, 1907 868,798 McLaughlin Oct. 22, 1907 Number Name Date Low Nov. 10, 1908 Corbin Jan. 5, 1915 Au May 3, 1927 Hogg May 8, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Nov. 11, 1908