WO1998027336A1

WO1998027336A1 - Device for generating electricity with bladed wheel for boat or the like

Info

Publication number: WO1998027336A1
Application number: PCT/FR1997/002367
Authority: WO
Inventors: Emmanuel Evrard
Original assignee: Emmanuel Evrard
Priority date: 1996-12-19
Filing date: 1997-12-19
Publication date: 1998-06-25
Also published as: FR2757574A1; FR2757574B1; AU5667298A

Abstract

The device for generating electricity comprises a bladed wheel (ROU) connected to an electrical energy converting mechanism. It is designed for being connected to a boat or the like capable of moving for generating a flow of water relative to the bladed wheel. It comprises means for attaching (ACC) the bladed wheel to a selected part of the boat, and means for adjusting said attachment for adjusting the height (TR) of the movement of the wheel in the water and for limiting the inclination of the wheel relative to the water surface, according to the inclination of the boat relative the water surface, to the pressure of the generating device on the water, to the speed of the boat, and/or to the energy requirements, so as to maintain the wheel substantially afloat while the boat is moving.

Description

Electricity generating device with paddle wheel for a boat or the like

The present invention relates to an electricity generating device comprising a paddle wheel connected to an electrical energy converter mechanism, said generating device being intended to be connected to the structure of a boat or the like capable of moving to create a current. relative water with respect to the impeller.

Hydrogenerators are already known which produce electrical energy for boats. For example, in US-A-1 898 973, the hydrogenator comprises a propeller completely submerged in water. The propeller is driven by the relative water current created by the movement of the boat. It is connected to an electrical energy converter mechanism which can either be in the water like the propeller, or out of the water and connected to the propeller via appropriate transmission means.

Such a hydrogenerator has a low efficiency due to the poor efficiency of the propeller blades, hydrodynamic losses due to the support of the propeller and the converter submerged in water, or transmission losses when the converter is off some water.

The Applicant has posed the problem of providing a hydrogenator which generates a good yield with low hydrodynamic losses compared to the propeller hydrogenators of the prior art and which is easy and inexpensive to use.

The present invention provides a solution to this problem.

It relates to an electricity generating device comprising a paddle wheel connected to an electrical energy converter mechanism, said device being intended to be connected to a boat or the like, able to move to create a current of water relative to the impeller.

According to a general definition of the invention, the electricity generating device comprises means for attaching the impeller to a chosen area of the boat, and means for adjusting said attachment capable of displacing the wheel in height relative to the surface of the water and to limit the inclination of the wheel relative to the surface of the water, as a function of the inclination of the boat relative to the surface of the water, of the pressure of the generating device on water, boat speed, and / or energy requirements, to keep the wheel roughly floating while the boat is moving.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the shaft of the wheel is hollow and the converter mechanism is housed coaxially and sealingly in said shaft.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the converter mechanism is housed out of the water.

According to another aspect of the invention, the blades of the wheel have straight or curved free ends.

To improve the coefficient of resistance in water, the axis of rotation of the blades may be offset from the axis of rotation of the wheel.

Advantageously, the free ends of the blades comprise means suitable for improving the buoyancy of the impeller as well as damping means for absorbing the shocks applied to the impeller.

Preferably, near the impeller, venturi means are provided to draw the water towards the impeller appropriately, if necessary with a water intake distant from the wheel. According to yet another aspect of the invention, the attachment means comprise an arm having a lower end and an upper end, the lower end comprising support means suitable for supporting the shaft of the impeller, and the 'upper end being able to be hung on the chosen area of the boat.

In practice, the height adjustment means comprise first rectilinear slides fixed on the area of the boat on which the generator device is intended to be hung, and a first plate capable of moving in vertical rectilinear translation in the first rectilinear slides.

For certain boats such as monohulls, subject to a strong list, the adjustment means to limit the inclination of the wheel relative to the surface of the water include a hook or pivot fixed on the first plate, second curvilinear slides , fixed on the first plate, and a second plate hooked on the hook so as to tilt relative to the surface of the water, the upper end of the arm being integral with the second plate, and the intermediate part of the arm comprises its own means to be supported in said curvilinear slides.

Advantageously, the adjustment means comprise a clean cylinder on command to at least move the attachment means in height, and own control means in response to predetermined conditions for controlling said cylinder.

For other boats such as multihulls, generally subject to a low list, the height adjustment means include sliding pivots fixed on the area of the boat on which the generator device is intended to be hung, and means supporting the axis of the wheel and able to move in vertical translation in the sliding pivots, and the adjustment means limiting the inclination of the impeller relative to the surface of the water are formed by the structure of the boat on which said wheel is hung.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the light of the detailed description below and the attached drawings in which:

- Figure 1 shows schematically the stern of a sailboat on which is intended to be hung the electricity generating device according to the invention, the sailboat having a substantially zero heel;

- Figures 2A and 2B respectively represent the stern of the sailboat with a port list and a starboard list and illustrate the inclination of the device relative to the surface of the water and according to the list of the sailboat according to the invention;

- Figure 3 schematically illustrates the displacement in height of the impeller according to the invention;

- Figures 4A and 4B schematically illustrate the adjustment of the inclination of the wheel relative to the surface of the water using curvilinear slides according to the invention;

- Figures 5A and 5B schematically illustrate actuator adjustment means according to the invention;

- Figures 6A and 6B schematically illustrate the paddle wheel comprising a hollow shaft for housing the energy converter according to the invention;

- Figure 7 shows schematically the offset of the axis of the blades relative to the axis of rotation of the wheel according to the invention;

- Figure 8 shows schematically blades equipped with float means according to the invention; - Figure 9 schematically illustrates the essential means constituting the energy converter housed in the hollow shaft of the wheel according to the invention;

- Figure 10 schematically illustrates the essential means constituting the energy converter disposed out of the water according to the invention;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are views illustrating the generator device fitted with floats according to the invention;

- Figure 12 is a schematic view of a paddle wheel connected to a catamaran in which the limitation of the inclination of the wheel relative to the water surface is provided by the structure of the catamaran according to the invention; and

- Figures 13A and 13B illustrate two examples of means forming a venturi to reduce the water to the blades of the wheel 1 according to the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown the stern of a sailboat to which is intended to be connected the electricity generating device according to the invention.

It is clear that the electricity generating device according to the invention can be connected to a place other than the stern of the sailboat, for example on one of the sides of the sailboat. Similarly, it can be connected to any sailing or motor boat, monohull, multihull, or the like, capable of moving to create a current of water relative to the impeller in order to drive the latter. .

Attaching a paddlewheel to a boat or the like is especially problematic when said boat is intended to be subjected to very difficult meteorological, maritime or other conditions, resulting in particular in significant variations in the heeling of the boat, and in the speed of this one. The solution proposed according to the invention consists in driving the wheel by moving the boat while keeping said wheel substantially floating whatever the pressure of the generator device on the water, the speed of the boat, the energy requirements and / or the inclination of the boat relative to the surface of the water.

To achieve this result, means are provided for adjusting the attachment of the wheel capable of adjusting the height movement of the wheel in water and of limiting the inclination of the wheel relative to the surface of the wheel. water, depending on the inclination of the boat relative to the surface of the water, the pressure of the generator device on the water, the speed of the boat, and / or the energy requirements.

With reference to FIG. 1, the heel of the sailboat VOI is substantially zero relative to the vertical axis V (relative to the surface of the sea SEA). The attachment and adjustment means ACC which will be described in more detail below keep the impeller ROU AUB floating on the surface of the sea SEA.

With reference to FIG. 2A, the list G of the sailboat VOI is significant, here to starboard relative to the vertical axis V (relative to the surface of the sea SEA). The ACC attachment and adjustment means keep the impeller ROU AUB floating by virtue of an inclination relative to a horizontal axis (relative to the surface of the sea) clockwise. Keeping floating here means that the axis AR of the wheel shaft (or the axis of rotation of the blades) is kept substantially out of the water, to allow the wheel to drive properly by moving the boat.

With reference to FIG. 2B, the heel G of the sailboat VOI is large, here towards port on the vertical axis V (relative to the surface of the sea SEA). The ACC hooking and adjusting means keep the impeller ROU AUB floating by virtue of an inclination RH relative to an axis horizontal (relative to the sea surface) counterclockwise.

With reference to FIG. 3, the speed of the sailboat is high enough to create an increasing slope PEN at the level of the sea surface located in the wake of the sailboat VOI. The attachment and adjustment means ACC keep the impeller ROU with blades AUB floating by virtue of a displacement in height of the wheel (here rectilinear translation TR vertical upwards relative to the surface of the sea).

With reference to FIGS. 4A to 4B, the attachment and adjustment means ACC comprise an arm 10 having a lower end 12 and an upper end 14. The lower end 12 of the arm is extended by means forming a support suitable for supporting the paddle wheel shaft ROU.

In practice, these support means comprise a fork with two teeth 20 and 22.

The upper end 14 of the arm is able to move in height TR and to incline relative to a horizontal plane RH as will be described in more detail below.

With reference to FIG. 4A, the attachment and adjustment means comprise first slide means 30 and 32, fixed to the structure of the boat on which the generator device is intended to be hung. In practice, these rectilinear slides are previously provided on the stern of a sailboat, for example for the attachment of an outboard motor.

A rectangular plate forming a support 40 is provided for moving in height TR in the first slide means 30 and 32. These slides 30 and 32 allow the fastening means to move rectilinearly and vertically along said slides as a function of selected conditions. . The plate 40 comprises a hook or pivot 45 disposed on the upper middle part of the plate 40.

This hook or pivot 45 is of spherical shape for example.

Curvilinear slide means 52, 54, 56 are provided on the lower part of the plate 40. These curvilinear slides are fixed on the plate 40 by adjustable fixing means 61, 63, 65, 67 and 69.

In practice, there are three slides. They are curvilinear to form a semicircle.

The attachment and adjustment means further comprise a second plate 70 intended to be attached to the hook 45. This attachment is tiltable relative to the horizontal axis 47.

The upper end of the arm 14 is intended to be fixed to the plate 70. This joining is carried out using an appropriate fastening system along a horizontal axis 49.

Very advantageously, the arm 10 is tiltable in the slides 52, 54 or 56.

This mobility is achieved using mechanical and elastic means making it possible to make the arm mobile in said curvilinear slides. These mechanical and elastic means comprise support means, constituted for example by two finger elements 100 and 101, one of which 100 crosses the arm perpendicularly and the other of which 101 is free to move in the curvilinear slides 52, 54 or 56. The finger 100 comprises two ends 102 and 103 respectively disposed on either side of the arm 10, the end 102 being mounted resiliently in the arm. The finger 101 comprises two ends 106 and 107, the end 106 moving in one of the curvilinear slides. The means for fixing the finger 100 in the arm 10 comprise a plate 110 fixed to the arm by means of four screw-nuts 82, 84, 86 and 88. The plate 110 comprises an opening 111 through which the end 102 of the finger 100. Elastic means 104 (springs) make it possible to make the attachment of finger 100 elastic.

An adjustment system 120 makes it possible to adjust the displacement of the end 106 of the finger 101 in one of the slides 52, 54, or 56. The adjustment system 120 comprises, for example, an adjustment shim disposed at the end 107.

Another adjustment system 124 disposed at the end 102 of the finger 100 makes it possible to adjust the pressure of the arm 10 on the water by applying or releasing the spring means 104. The fingers 100 and 101 are held together to each other and are parallel to each other by appropriate means of cooperation 130.

As a variant, with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5B, the generator device comprises a jack 200 comprising a first end 202 secured to the plate 70 by suitable fixing means 209. The plate 70 here extends up to the fork supporting the wheel shaft. The end 202 of the jack is articulated in rotation about a horizontal axis 207.

The jack further comprises a second end 204 secured to the arm 10. This joining is for example carried out using conventional fixing means such as means of the screw / nut type.

The jack here replaces the slides 52, 54 and 56 described with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, as well as the means forming support 100 and 101 of the arm 10 on said slides.

The cylinder is able, on command, to relax or retract to tilt, lift out of the water and / or push the arm 10 supporting the impeller into the water. Cylinder control means (not shown) are capable of acting in response to predetermined conditions, which can be parameters such as the inclination of the boat, the energy delivered by the impeller, the depth of the wheel in water, the speed of rotation of the wheel.

These parameters can be measured by appropriate sensors using techniques well known to those skilled in the art.

It should be noted that in this configuration, the plate 40 is able to move rectilinearly in height TR, while the plate 70 is tiltable relative to the surface of the water.

The jack is of the electric type with preferably hydraulic damping means for damping the control of the jack, in the water.

Additional safety can be provided for in the event of a particular shock triggering the lifting of the wheel out of the water.

It is clear that the wheel described above can be kept floating by means equivalent to those described above, such as guide cables, winches, or the like. Similarly, the rectilinear and curvilinear slides can be replaced by movable guide means in horizontal rectilinear translation arranged on the structure of the boat and suitable for guiding the horizontal movement of the arm to limit the inclination of the boat relative to the surface of the 'water.

The rectilinear or curvilinear slides can also be considered as rectilinear or curvilinear sliding pivots arranged so that the axis of the wheel can rotate around the horizontal axis 49 of the hook 45 (FIGS. 4A and 4B). You can also replace the straight or curvilinear slides with one or two arms. With reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the impeller consists of two parts 800 and 850 capable of being assembled to one another. In this configuration, the shaft of the wheel 802 is hollow and includes a cavity 804 in which is housed the CONV converter mechanism coaxially and also sealed.

It should be noted that the vanes 810 of the wheel have straight free ends. Alternatively, these free ends can be curved.

With reference to FIG. 7, to improve the efficiency of the wheel as a function of maritime and other conditions, the axis of rotation 812 of the blades 810 is capable of being offset with respect to the axis AR of rotation of the wheel d 'an angle A of a few degrees. This offset can be achieved by the user of the sailboat according to energy needs and / or maritime conditions.

In addition, the blades can be held between two flanges FL1 and FL2 (Figure 11A) to improve the resistance coefficient of the wheel in water.

The flanges FL1 and FL2 also allow the inclination of the blades to be adjusted (by additional fixing holes or oblong holes) and the installation of AM shock absorbers (FIG. 11B) capable of absorbing the shocks liable to be applied. on the blades.

The shock absorbers limit the impact on the leading edge of the blades. They also make it possible to limit the overloads by blades in the event of excessive sudden speed (these shocks can be due to waves).

The shock absorbers can be made up of springs, or pneumatic or hydraulic shock absorbers.

With reference to FIG. 8, the free ends of the vanes 810 further comprise suitable float means 820 to improve the buoyancy of the impeller. For example, these float means comprise foam elements.

With reference to FIG. 9, the converter mechanism is housed in the hollow shaft of the wheel as with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B.

In this configuration, the shaft of the wheel 860 is fixed while the blades 810 are intended to be rotatable around said shaft 802. The shaft therefore plays the role of stator, while the blades play the role of rotor here.

The alternator 870 of the electrical energy converter is here secured to the shaft of the wheel by means 872. The rotor 874 of the alternator is driven by a ring gear 876 which has as its axis that of the shaft of the wheel. For example, the number of teeth of the toothed crown 876 is here 30. This toothed crown 876 is driven by two toothed crowns constituted here by a number of teeth equal to 90 and diametrically opposed around the rotor 874. The intermediate amplifying factor is therefore here equal to 3. Each toothed crown 878 further communicates with a toothed crown 880 whose number of teeth is equal to 30. The second amplifying factor is therefore here equal to 3. The total amplifier factor is therefore here equal to 9 The two toothed rings 880 are integral with the blades and therefore rotate at the speed of the latter.

Referring to Figure 10, the CONV converter mechanism is housed out of the water. The movement of the paddle wheel ROU is then transmitted to the alternator of the converter CONV via means of transmission with amplifying gear, by COU belt, friction chain or the like integral with the axis of the shaft of the rear wheel by suitable means of the gear type RD for example.

Referring to Figures 11A and 11B, the CONV converter mechanism is disposed out of the water. Floating means FLOl and FL02 are arranged on the two cheeks of the wheel JOl and J02. The ACC attachment means can be raised manually like an on-board ECH scale or pantograph.

For boats other than monohulls, for example multihulls which are generally subject to low heel, it is not necessary to provide specific adjustment means to limit the inclination of the impeller relative to the surface some water. In this case (FIG. 12), the means for adjusting the inclination are constituted by the structure STR of the multihull MC on which said wheel is hung.

In the case of the multihull MC described with reference to FIG. 12, the height adjustment means comprise rectilinear or curvilinear GRC slides (or sliding pivots as mentioned above) fixed on the area of the boat on which is intended to be hung the generating device.

SUP means supporting the axis of the rear wheel are able to be movable in vertical rectilinear translation in the GRC slides (or sliding pivots). As a variant, these slides can be replaced by one or two arms allowing the axis of the wheel to rotate around the horizontal axis of its support.

As a variant (not shown), the wheel can be inserted into the structure of the multihull in the rest position and be driven into the water at a height chosen according to the inclination of the boat relative to the surface of the water, the pressure of the generating device on the water, the speed of the boat, and / or the energy requirements.

With reference to FIGS. 13A and 13B, the generator device according to the invention further comprises, near the impeller ROU, means forming a venturi TUYl and TUY2 making it possible to reduce the water towards the impeller appropriately. With reference to FIG. 13A, the means forming a venturi TUYl are fixed while with reference to FIG. 13B, the means forming a venturi TUY2 are tiltable or retractable relative to the axis of the wheel. If necessary, water intakes can be arranged at a certain distance from the wheel, for example on the sides of the boat.

Claims

claims

1. Electricity generating device comprising a paddle wheel (ROU) connected to an electrical energy converter mechanism (CONV), said device being intended to be connected to the structure of a boat or the like capable of moving to create a current of water relative to the impeller, characterized in that it comprises means for attaching (ACC) the impeller to a selected area of the boat, and means for adjusting said attachment capable of adjust the height displacement (TR) of the wheel in the water and limit the inclination of the wheel relative to the surface of the water, depending on the inclination of the boat relative to the surface of the water, the pressure of the generator device on the water, the speed of the boat, and / or the energy requirements, in order to keep the wheel substantially floating during the movement of the boat.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the shaft of the wheel is hollow and in that the converter mechanism (CONV) is housed coaxially and sealingly in said shaft.

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the converter mechanism (CONV) is housed out of the water.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blades of the wheel have straight or curved free ends.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the free ends of the blades comprise means (820) suitable for improving the buoyancy of the impeller.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the free ends of the blades comprise damping means for absorbing the shocks applied to the impeller.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axis of rotation (812) of the blades is capable of being offset by a chosen angle (A) relative to the axis of rotation (AR) of the wheel.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises, near the impeller, means forming a venturi for drawing the water towards the impeller appropriately, if necessary in combination with water intakes distant from the wheel.

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the attachment means comprise an arm (10) having a lower end (12) and an upper end (14), the lower end (12) comprising support means (20, 22) suitable for supporting the shaft of the impeller, and the upper end (14) being able to be attached to the chosen area of the boat.

10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the height adjustment means comprise first rectilinear slides (30, 32) fixed on the area of the boat on which the generator device is intended to be hung, and a first plate ( 40) able to move in vertical rectilinear translation along the first rectilinear slides.

11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the adjustment means for limiting the inclination of the wheel relative to the surface of the water comprise a pivot (45) fixed on the first support plate (40), second curvilinear slides (52, 54, 56) fixed on the first plate (40), and a second plate (70) hooked to the pivot (45) in an inclination with respect to the surface of the water, the upper end of the arm being secured to the second plate (70), and in that the intermediate part of the arm comprises means suitable for bearing in said second curvilinear slides.

12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the height adjustment means comprise slides or sliding pivots (GRC) fixed on the area of the boat on which the generator device is intended to be hung, and means (SUP) supporting the axis of the wheel and able to move in vertical rectilinear translation in the slides or sliding pivots (GRC) and in that the adjustment means limiting the inclination of the impeller relative to the surface of the water are formed by the structure (STR) of the boat on which said wheel is hung.

13. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjustment means comprise a jack (200) clean on command to tilt, lift out of the water and / or drive the wheel hooking means into the water with blades (ROU), and own control means in response to predetermined conditions for controlling said cylinder.