An energy generating device having a drum and at least one vane that is movable between a deployed state and a stowed state as the drum rotates to capture energy potential from flowing water and converting it to usable electrical and/or mechanical energy. The movable vanes can automatically retract when not in the flow of water and re-deploy when entering the flow of water over the drum. The present system can generate usable electricity or mechanical energy from slow but steadily flowing bodies of water without the need to dam, restrict, or alter the path of the water flow.

An energy generating device having a drum and at least one vane that is movable between a deployed state and a stowed state as the drum rotates to capture energy potential from flowing water and converting it to usable electrical and/or mechanical energy. The movable vanes can automatically retract when not in the flow of water and re-deploy when entering the flow of water over the drum. The present system can generate usable electricity or mechanical energy from slow but steadily flowing bodies of water without the need to dam, restrict, or alter the path of the water flow.

A hydrokinetic turbine has upper and lower vane mounts; a main shaft coupling the vane mounts to form an assembly mounted for rotation about a central axis; a set of vanes, each vane mounted between the upper and lower vane mounts for reciprocating rotation about its respective longitudinal axis; a vane angle control mechanism, configured to control angle of the vanes relative to the direction of current so as to provide an angle of attack, relative to the direction of the current, that is cyclically adjusted over the course of rotation of the shaft. A given vane is oriented: (i) substantially transversely to the direction of the current when the assembly's orientation causes the vane to be in a driving mode, and (ii) substantially parallel to the direction of the current when the assembly's orientation causes the vane to be in a driven mode.

A kinetic fluid energy conversion system comprises one or more hubs which rotate about a central hub carrier, each including one or more independently controlled articulating energy conversion plates (ECP). An articulation control system rotates each ECP independently of all others to control its orientation with respect to the fluid flow direction between an orientation of 90 perpendicular to the fluid flow, while traveling in the direction of the flow and 0 minimal drag parallel position to the flow, while traveling in the direction against the flow or blocked from it. Each hub can be operably coupled to another hub to form one or more counter-rotating hub and ECP assemblies whereby the mechanical energy is transferred through the hubs, to one or more clutch/gearbox/generator/pump assemblies thereby permitting such assemblies to be land-based when the system is air-powered, and above or near the surface, when the system is water-powered.

A kinetic fluid energy conversion system comprises one or more hubs which rotate about a central hub carrier, each including one or more independently controlled articulating energy conversion plates (ECP). An articulation control system rotates each ECP independently of all others to control its orientation with respect to the fluid flow direction between an orientation of 90 perpendicular to the fluid flow, while traveling in the direction of the flow and 0 minimal drag parallel position to the flow, while traveling in the direction against the flow or blocked from it. Each hub can be operably coupled to another hub to form one or more counter-rotating hub and ECP assemblies whereby the mechanical energy is transferred through the hubs, to one or more clutch/gearbox/generator/pump assemblies thereby permitting such assemblies to be land-based when the system is air-powered, and above or near the surface, when the system is water-powered.

A hydrokinetic turbine system for harvesting energy from riverine and tidal sources, including a first floating dock, a marine hydrokinetic turbine mounted on the first floating dock, and a second floating dock. The system further includes a winch assembly mounted on the second floating dock and operationally connected to the first floating dock and a linkage assembly operationally connected to the first floating dock and to the second floating dock. The linkage assembly may be actuated to pull the first floating dock into contact with the second floating dock. The linkage assembly may be actuated to distance the first floating dock from the second floating dock, and the winch assembly may be energized to orient the first floating dock into a position wherein the marine hydrokinetic turbine is above the first floating dock and wherein the winch assembly may be energized to orient the first floating dock into a position wherein the marine hydrokinetic turbine is below the first floating dock.

Underwater vehicles capable of self-propulsion are described. An underwater vehicle includes a cross-flow turbine including two or more foils spaced apart from a main shaft. The foils have a pitch that is adjustable under control of a pitch control mechanism. The underwater vehicle also includes a frame supporting the main shaft. The frame enables rotation of the cross-flow turbine. The underwater vehicle additionally includes a generator-motor set including rotor and stator elements. The rotor element is in rotary communication with the main shaft.

The invention relates to a renewable energy power generating device for converting wind and/or water-flow energy into useable electrical power. The power generating device includes a support structure (112 A) rotatable about a first axis of rotation (C), a plurality of aerofoil blades rotatably mounted on the support structure (112 A) and free to rotate relative thereto about a second axes of rotation (Q) substantially parallel to and radially spaced from the first axis of rotation (C), and a means (162, 166, 168) for actuating the aerofoil blades (114) between first (114 A) and second (114 B) reflexed camber aerofoil section conditions such that the aerofoil blades (114) are freely rotatable to automatically set an angle of attack relative to a fluid flow direction (D) thereby to generate a lift force thereover and transmitting a torque to the support structure (112 A) to drive it through a repeating 360 degree rotary cycle.

This invention relates to an improved vertical axis water turbine assembly (2) for generating rotary power from fluid flow, the water turbine assembly (2) having active blade pitch control. The water turbine assembly (2) comprises a plurality of vertical blades (20) disposed about a vertical assembly axis, each vertical blade (20) having a vertical blade axis and being adapted for movement about said vertical blade axis. The water turbine assembly (2) further includes guide means to control the movement of each of the plurality of vertical blades (20) as the water turbine assembly (2) rotates.

An energy generating device having a drum and at least one vane that is movable between a deployed state and a stowed state as the drum rotates to capture energy potential from flowing water and converting it to usable electrical and/or mechanical energy. The movable vanes can automatically retract when not in the flow of water and re-deploy when entering the flow of water over the drum. The present system can generate usable electricity or mechanical energy from slow but steadily flowing bodies of water without the need to dam, restrict, or alter the path of the water flow.