The present invention provides a turbine sub-runner that is positioned to be within the vortex zone of a turbine wicket gates (zone “S—R”, FIG. 1). The sub-runner includes at least two sub-runner blades, configured to monitor the relative flow of the vortex created by the wicket gates. A control mechanism is connected to the sub-runner shaft via gear and threaded interface, and is capable of transferring the relative (vs main-runner) rotational energy of the sub-runner into angular movement of the main runner blades. As the sub-runner interacts with the changing conditions of the main vortex within the zone “S—R”, it will act to automatically regulate, adjust, and control the angle of the main runner blades to optimize the performance of the turbine. The sub-runner uses the energy of the vortex existing in the zone “S—R” to perform the monitoring, regulation, adjustment and control of the main runner through regulating angular position of main runner blades.

Methods, systems, and devices for dynamic wind turbine rotational speed control are described. The method may include attaching a vane shaft to a support arm of the wind turbine, the vane shaft partially inserted into a cylindrical aperture of an airfoil of the wind turbine, rotating an airfoil around a vertical axis of the wind turbine, and controlling, via a torsion spring of the wind turbine, when a rear stop of the speed control assembly exerts a force on the airfoil to reduce the rotational speed of the wind turbine, where the torsion spring is configured to facilitate the rear stop to exert the force on the airfoil when a rotational speed of the wind turbine around the vertical axis exceeds a set rotational speed, where a portion of the vane shaft is inserted into a helical portion of the torsion spring.

A fluidic rotor rotary machine has a rotor comprising at least one blade (4) mounted on an arm (2) rotating about a main axis (1) of the rotor, the rotor being held by a support structure (5) in an orientation such that said axis (1) is essentially perpendicular to the fluid flow direction, the blade (4) being pivotally mounted about a rotational axis (3) parallel to the main axis (1), the machine being characterized in that it comprises means for generating a relative rotational movement of the blade (4) relative to the arm (2) at the rotational axis (3), thereby varying the blade angle, said means comprising an eccentric mechanism rotating on said blade rotational axis. Application in particular to propellers and generators operating according to Lipp-type or Voith-Schneider-type kinematics, with possible mode switching.

A novel universal propeller has a gearwheel arranged on each rotor blade that is directly operatively connected to a reference gearwheel of a timing gear. The timing gear is operatively connected to a hub gear. The hub gear senses and processes an angular velocity ω.sub.n of a rotation of the hub. The reference gearwheel and the gearwheels of the rotor blades of the timing gear are configured that the ratio of an angular velocity ω.sub.r of the reference gearwheel to the angular velocity ω.sub.n of the rotational movement of the hub is as follows: ω.sub.r/ω.sub.n=1±(½)*(S.sub.rot/S.sub.r), where S.sub.rot is a size of the gearwheels and S.sub.r is a size of the reference gearwheel. The present invention is particularly suitable for use in a wind power installation, hydropower installation or an engine of a ship or an aircraft.

A vertical axis windmill turbine includes a support structure for supporting the vertical axis windmill turbine above ground level. At least one rotor rotates upon the support structure. The at least one rotor comprises a horizontal structure having a rotational axis perpendicular to the ground level. A plurality of blades positioned within each of the at least one rotor cause the at least one rotor to rotate on the support structure responsive to wind force. A plurality of vanes are located on each of the plurality of blades and rotate between an open position to limit drag on the at least one rotor and a closed position that provides a rotational force to the at least one rotor. The plurality of vanes rotate between the open position and the closed position responsive to a wind force. A plurality of vane stops each associated with a vane of the plurality of vanes stops the rotation of the vane when the vane reaches the closed position. A vane control mechanism associated with each vane/vane stop lessens a force with which the vane impacts the vane stop when moving to the closed position.

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 pitch control system characterized by a hub with at least two blade housings on the hub that are disposed around the hub axis. The blade housings have corresponding blades that engage with them. The blades spiral along housing longitudinal axes toward and away from the hub axis about a segment of helical path to effect a change in the pitch of each blade. One or more elastic members draw the blades toward the hub axis, either directly or indirectly. There are pitch mechanisms effective to facilitate blades to spiral around housing-longitudinal axes. A blade will spiral away from the hub axis when the centrifugal force exerted on the blade exceeds the opposing elastic force in the housing-longitudinal direction (neglecting other forces). Conversely, blades spiral toward the hub axis when said centrifugal force is less than said elastic force. There is an imaginary plane orthogonal to the hub axis. Housing-longitudinal axes have angles with respect to the imaginary plane of not more than 30 degrees.

An ocean current turbine for converting water currents energy includes the following features: a main frame arranged to be immersed in a water current, wherein the main frame comprises a bow part towards the water current, endless rotation chains with plates arranged to being captured at the bow part and driven backward by the water current, wherein the rotation chain runs about and in driving engagement with one or more driven wheels that operates a generator, and port and starboard side frames that are continuously convex and extends from the bow section and back to a transverse wide stern that is narrower than the greatest distance between port and starboard side frames, wherein the rotation chains include a starboard and a port endless rotation chain with the plates, and a reversing mechanism arranged to turn each plate to catch the water current at the bow part, so that each plate is driven backwards along the starboard, respectively port side frame, to back at the rear end of the wide stern part, and where the turning mechanism turns each plate to a passive state where the plate does not substantially catches the water when plate is led forward again by the rotation chain in a shielded cavity between starboard and port side frames and extending to the bow part.

A servo actuator is provided which may comprise a controller configured to control a plurality of solenoid valves based upon an output signal. The plurality of solenoid valves may be used to control the position of the object. For example, a set of solenoid valves, of the plurality of solenoid valves, may be configured to conduct fluid from a tank into a first chamber of the cylinder, conduct fluid from the tank into a second chamber of the cylinder, conduct fluid from the second chamber of the cylinder into a first solenoid valve and/or conduct fluid from the first chamber of the cylinder into the first solenoid valve. The first solenoid valve, of the plurality of solenoid valves, may be configured to conduct fluid from the set of solenoid valves into a vent valve based upon a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal received from the controller.

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.