CLOGGING AND FOULING RESISTANT MARINE POWER GENERATING SYSTEM

Abstract

A power generating system for sailboats and sailing vessels employing the vacuum provided by a Venturi generator while the boat or vessel is in motion. Placement of a turbine for recovering the energy of air moving from the atmosphere to the throat of the Venturi generator in a duct leading from above deck to the Venturi generator. A variety of methods for generating the required vacuum while avoiding fouling of moving parts and clogging by debris in the water.

Claims

1. A power generating system for sailboats and sailing vessels consisting of an air-driven turbine/generator assembly mounted in a duct between the outside air and the throat of a venturi vacuum generator under the vessel, comprising: (a) a venturi generator or eductor, or a step, below the vessel creating a vacuum while the vessel moves forward through water at sufficient speed; (b) a duct from the throat of the venturi generator or eductor, or the step, to the outside air; (c) a turbine/generator assembly inserted into said duct; (d) necessary wiring and circuitry for utilizing the generated electricity.

2. A power generating system for sailboats and sailing vessels as recited in claim 1, wherein the venturi vacuum generator can be a hull step, a venturi tube, a similarly shaped space formed between the hull and/or retractable foils as occasioned by the absence or presence of debris in the waters where the invention will be used, one or more venturi eductors similar to those used for self-bailing devices, or a combination of such designs.

3. A power generating system for sailboats and sailing vessels as recited in claim 1, wherein the principle of energy recovery by means of a turbine inserted into a duct feeding air to a vacuum generated by the movement of the vessel through water is used, irrespective of the location of the air outlet of said duct in the water around the vessel, the precise means of generating said vacuum at that location, and the precise form of recovering said energy.

4. A power generating system for sailboats and sailing vessels as recited in claim 1, where, by utilizing suitable controls and run-time adjustments, the steering of the vessel can be affected as desired by varying the relative resistance against the flow of ambient water of two or more venturi generators mounted in parallel along the two sides of the vessel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a process flow diagram, showing the functional principle of the present invention.

[0009] FIG. 2 shows a side view of a boat equipped with an external Venturi tube embodiment of the invention.

[0010] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the same embodiment.

[0011] FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the same embodiment.

[0012] FIG. 5 shows a side view of a boat equipped with a multiple foil embodiment of the invention.

[0013] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the same embodiment.

[0014] FIG. 7 is a cross-section of the same embodiment.

[0015] FIG. 8 is a side view of a boat equipped with a single-foil embodiment of the invention.

[0016] FIG. 9 is a plan view of the same embodiment.

[0017] FIG. 10 is a cross-section of the same embodiment.

[0018] FIG. 11 shows a side view of an embodiment where the vacuum is generated by a stepped hull.

[0019] FIG. 12 is a plan view of the same embodiment.

[0020] FIG. 13 is a cross-section of the same embodiment.

[0021] FIG. 14 illustrates the step hull embodiment augmented by a semicircular foil booster.

[0022] FIG. 15 is a plan view of the same embodiment.

[0023] FIG. 16 is a cross-section of the same embodiment.

[0024] FIG. 17 shows a side view of a boat equipped with an internal Venturi tube embodiment of the invention.

[0025] FIG. 18 is a plan view of the same embodiment.

[0026] FIG. 19 is a cross-section of the same embodiment.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS

[0027] 1 Hull

[0028] 2 Air intake

[0029] 3 Connecting duct between air intake and turbine/generator

[0030] 4 Turbine/generator

[0031] 5 Venturi throat

[0032] 6 Connecting duct between turbine/generator and Venturi throat

[0033] 7 Air outlet(s) to the throat of the Venturi generator

[0034] 8 Foil/foils shaped for generating Venturi effect

[0035] 9 Hull step

[0036] 10 Vacuum relief valve

[0037] 11 Control panel

[0038] 12 Air outlet(s) at the throat of the step

[0039] 13 Connecting duct between turbine/generator and step throat

[0040] 14 Water Intake to Venturi throat

[0041] 15 Water outlet from Venturi throat

[0042] 16 Venturi tube

[0043] 17 Process start

[0044] 18 Process end, Electrical supply connector

[0045] 19 Process end, Vacuum supply connector

[0046] 20 Three way valve

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0047] The drawings show the principle of the invention and its application in several different embodiments, where the vacuum generation is performed in various ways.

[0048] FIG. 1 is a process flow diagram, showing the functional principle of the present invention. When the boat is in motion 17, a vacuum is formed in the throat 5 of the Venturi generator. A duct or set of ducts 6 placed between the turbine/generator 4 and outlets 7 to the Venturi throat 5 impels air supplied by the air intake 2 through the connecting duct 3 and powers the turbine/generator 4. A vacuum relief valve 10 and a three way valve 20 are placed in duct 6 between the turbine/generator 4 and air outlets 7 at the throat of the Venturi generator.

[0049] FIG. 2 is a side view of a boat, showing the external Venturi tube embodiment of the present invention. The same embodiment is shown as a plan view in FIG. 3 and as a cross-section in FIG. 4. When the boat is in motion, a vacuum is formed in the throat 5 of the Venturi tube 16. A duct or set of ducts 6 placed between the turbine/generator 4 and outlets 7 to the Venturi throat 5 impels air supplied by the air intake 2 through the connecting duct 3 and powers the turbine/generator 4. The amount of power thus generated will depend on the speed of the vessel and a number of design variables that will have to be theoretically and empirically optimized for each type of vessel where the invention is to be implemented.

[0050] FIG. 5 is a side view of a boat, showing the multiple foil embodiment of the present invention. The same embodiment is shown as a plan view in FIG. 6 and as a cross-section in FIG. 7. When the boat is in motion, a vacuum is formed in the throat between the two retractable foils 8. These foils, by virtue of their cross-section, as indicated in FIG. 6, act as a two-dimensional Venturi generator. A duct or set of ducts 6 placed between the turbine/generator and outlets 7 to the Venturi throat 5 impels air supplied by the air intake 2 through the connecting duct 3 and powers the turbine/generator 4.

[0051] FIG. 8 is a side view of a boat, showing the single foil embodiment of the present invention. The same embodiment is shown as a plan view in FIG. 9 and as a cross-section in FIG. 10. The working principle is exactly the same as described above. Research and development work will determine which foil design is best from the points of view of speed, power generation, maneuverability, draft, etc.

[0052] FIG. 11 shows the same principle in an embodiment where the vacuum is generated by a stepped hull. The same embodiment is shown as a plan view in FIG. 12 and as a cross-section in FIG. 13. Air supplied by the connecting duct 13 from the turbine/generator to an outlet 12 at the throat of the step 9 replaces or complements the venting normally used for stabilizing a stepped hull.

[0053] FIG. 14 illustrates the step hull embodiment augmented by a semicircular foil 8 acting as a booster for the vacuum generation in the hull step 9. The same embodiment is shown as a plan view in FIG. 15 and as a cross-section in FIG. 16. Like the straight foils described above, the semicircular foil can be temporarily retracted into a similarly shaped chamber in the hull when it needs to be cleared of debris.

[0054] FIG. 17 is a side view of a boat, showing the internal Venturi tube embodiment of the present invention. The same embodiment is shown as a plan view in FIG. 18 and as a cross-section in FIG. 19. The working principle is exactly the same as described above. The internal Venturi tube embodiment may be advantageous where clogging is not an issue but the draft of the vessel must be minimized.