Fluid Pipe Generator

The present invention relates generally to collection of hydroelectric power and more specifically to an inline paddle wheel driven by fluid motion in a water conduit and represents further developments regarding my U.S. Pat. No. 4,272,685.

As the demand for energy increases, so do the costs, and it becomes necessary to avoid energy waste by employing co-generation techniques. One such method is to take advantage of the kinetic energy available from fluid motion. For example, the water pressure in a typical water pipeline that supplies a household ranges between 80 to 100 psi. The excessive pressure ensures an ample water supply for households located at various altitudes in relation to the pumping source. Therefore, it is possible to tap this source of kinetic energy and convert it to electrical energy, which is well known in the prior art.

The following patents reflect the state of the art of which applicant is aware insofar as they appear germane to the patent process: U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,436,683, Wood, Jr., 3,867,655, Stengel et al., 4,142,367, Guisti, 4,182,123, Ueda, 4,246,753, Redmond.

Of the references cited, the patent to Guisti would appear to be of interest since he teaches the use of a fluid motor including a rotatable output shaft having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet whereby the water pressure associated with the domestic water system can be harnessed to provide an electrical output which is thereafter stored in a bank of batteries.

Similarly, the patent to Wood, Jr. teaches the use of a generator for pipelines in which a rotor is mounted within the pipeline itself, and a plurality of blades on the rotor are adapted to rotate in response to the current of the fluid contained within the pipeline thereby providing an electrical output.

The instant invention is distinguished in that a vaned disc is contained within a housing which is easily mounted upon an existing fluid pipeline. Therefore, retrofitting is easily accomplished without any serious interruption in service. Furthermore, the instant invention employs a paddle wheel disc in which only a portion of the vanes engage the moving fluid aerodynamically which ensures that the device according to the instant application does not present a substantial encumbrance upon fluid motion.

The remaining references show the state of the art further.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel fluid motor which employs the kinetic energy associated with the fluid motion in a water conduit to generate an electrical current.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel fluid motor which may be readily retrofitted and connected to existing water systems as well as incorporated in newly constructed water systems.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel fluid motor which does not substantially interrupt the fluid motion present in a domestic water supply system.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a novel fluid motor which can be employed on the output side of a water system and take advantage by gravity of the flowing fluid contained therein.

These and other objects are accomplished by the provision of a housing readily applied to a water conduit containing a paddle wheel disc, the vanes of which are rotationally driven by the motion of a fluid moving through a pipe communicating with the conduit.

These and other objects will be made manifest when considering the following detailed specification when taken in conjunction with the appended drawing figures.

FIG. 1 is partial sectional side view of the invention as it would be applied to a typical water conduit.

FIG. 2 is an end sectional view of the instant device also displaying the output shaft engaging an electrical generator.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several figures, reference numeral 10 refers generally to the device according to the instant invention.

As shown in FIG. 1 the invention employs a disc 11 supporting a plurality of radially disposed transversely extending vanes 12. The vanes 12 may be cast or molded integrally with the disc 11 or secured thereto in any suitable manner; and as shown more clearly in FIG. 2, the vanes 12 extend laterally from both sides of the disc 11. The disc 11 is fixed to and supported on a shaft 13 which in turn is rotatably supported on an end 14 and a medial portion 15 by bearings 16. The bearings 16 are each contained within a cap 17 which is mounted on the outside of a large housing 18 which is semi-circular in section and contains the disc 11 and a portion of the shaft 13. The housing 18 has an arcuate flange 19 which is bolted with bolts 20 to a water pipe P in order to mount the device 10 on arcuate top wall 26 and planar side walls 25. The disc 11 has a centrally disposed transverse collar 21 to receive the shaft 13. The collar 21 receives plural pins or screws 22 to mount the disc 11 on the shaft 13. The output end of the shaft 13 is provided with a step-down square protrusion 23 which mates with a socket 24 to drive a generator G.

In use and operation the fluid F passing through the pipe P engages the vanes 12 on the disc 11 thereby rotating the disc 11 in the shaft 13 upon which it is fixed. Anytime the fluid F is moving through the pipe P with sufficient vigor the disc 11 is driven. When the disc 11 is driven the shaft 13 drives the generator G thereby producing an electric current.

Further fluid F flowing in the direction of the arrow A within the pipe or conduit P impinges upon and reacts against the vanes 12 disposed upon the disc 11. Consequently, the vane's reaction to the fluid flow in the direction A imparts a rotation upon the disc 11 in the direction of the arrow R. For convenience, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fluid flow direction is taken from left to right, and the disc rotation is taken counterclockwise. The unique configuration of the vanes is such that a maximum rotative force is imparted to the disc through the vanes while simultaneously not imparting any back pressure within the fluid flow system so as to retard the fluid flow. To this end, it is to be noted, especially in FIG. 2, that the vanes are configured so that an axis of symmetry exists about the disc 11, on either side thereof, the vanes taking the following form: a terminal portion of the blade 32 is provided just below a peripheral rim of the disc, so that a notched or stepped area is provided, and the vanes taper outwardly and towards the shaft in an arcuate path as shown at 38 until a side edge portion of the vane has been approached, see reference numeral 33. It has been found that the arcuate segment 38 can be preferably of parabolic or elliptical contour, but this should not be considered as a limitation. Side walls 34 of the vane are substantially linear in shape and taper inwardly towards the shaft 13 as shown in FIG. 2, the linear portion 34 terminating in a root section 35 having an arcuate segment stopping where the collar 21 and the disc stem coincide. While it has been determined that the root curve is most beneficially parabolic, this should not be construed as a limitation. As shown by the shading, the vanes have two sides, a back side 36 and a forward side 37, the distinction being that the forward side 37 addresses the fluid flow A and is substantially concave so that that surface will react most beneficially imparting the greatest amount of rotational force to the shaft 13. The convex back side 36 therefore provides an airfoil type of contour which minimizes the resistance of the vanes as it spins and also provides a second function. As pointed out hereinabove, the disc and vane assembly only extends partially within the pipe P thereby providing a lowermost portion in the pipe that does not contact the vaned disc. Additionally, the housing 18 includes an upper portion that is not readily influenced by the fluid flow. To this end, a resilient sealing means S can be provided at the interface between the vaned disc and the point of penetration into the pipe P as shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the upper portion of the housing 18 can be under pressure which retards the migration of fluid therewithin. Clearly, the nature of this device would suggest that as time went on, a portion of the fluid may migrate into the upper housing 18, and a purging device has been provided indicated by valve V in which pressure is applied to the housing upper portion to discourage the migration of fluid therewithin. In this way, the concave portion of the vane addresses the fluid flow in a most beneficial manner, the leading edge 32 of the vane contacting the fluid flow initially and imparting a vigorous spin to the disc 11. When the vane moves back into the upper housing portion, the convex side 36 allows the vane to enter therewithin without carrying an excessive amount of fluid within the upper housing in combination with the air pressure source.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.