FLOATING INDEPENDENT X-SHAPED SELF-ALIGNING MULTIPLE HYDRO-GENERATOR WITH MAXIMUM THRUST SURFACE

Abstract

A floating independent X-shaped self-aligning multiple hydro-generator with maximum thrust surface that generates electrical power by using river and sea currents, regardless of the direction thereof, not requiring a supporting structure on the seabed, and enabling the maintenance thereof above the surface of the water. The hydro-generator of the present invention is formed by at least one floating X-shaped structure with four arms, there being at the end of each an electrical generator driven by a mechanism for the conversion of the linear movement of a fluid into the rotational movement of a shaft, the conversion mechanisms being arranged in a clockwise direction around the shaft of the X-shaped structure, each of these being configured for an alternating clockwise or counter-clockwise direction of rotation, having a tube attached to the lower side of the X-shaped structure with a plate attached thereto.

Claims

1-6. (canceled)

7. Independent multiple hydro-generator on a floating blade with maximum thrust surface and self-orienting employing a series of mechanisms for converting the linear motion of a fluid into the rotational motion of a shaft, characterized in that it comprises at least one floating blade-shaped structure with four arms at each end of which is an electric generator driven by a conversion mechanism, and, the conversion mechanisms being arranged clockwise around the central axis of the blade, each of them is configured to rotate clockwise or counter clockwise alternately, whereby if one rotates clockwise, the next rotates counter clockwise, the next rotates clockwise and the last rotates counter clockwise.

8. Independent multiple hydro-generator on a floating blade with maximum thrust surface and self-orienting according to claim 1, characterized in that from the central part of the blade-shaped structure a tube of a length greater than the depth reached by the conversion mechanisms is fixed on its lower face, to which is attached a fixed plate along the entire length of its generatrix and located at the mid-position of the imaginary line joining two adjacent conversion mechanisms clockwise about the axis of the blade, so that the forces acting on the fixed plate rotate the assembly so that it always faces the entire cross-section of the maximum thrust surface perpendicular to the direction of the water flow, which enters through one side of the imaginary square that would form the four converter mechanisms.

9. Independent multiple hydro-generator on a floating blade with maximum thrust surface and self-orienting according to claim 7, characterized in that the tube is partially closed at its lower end and has a chain or mooring cable attached to its central axis to the anchor or dead at the bottom, with said tube having two openings for the inlet and outlet electrical cables.

10. Independent multiple hydro-generator on a floating blade with maximum thrust surface and self-orienting according to claim 8, characterized in that the tube is partially closed at its lower end and has a chain or mooring cable attached to its central axis to the anchor or dead at the bottom, with said tube having two openings for the inlet and outlet electrical cables.

11. Independent multiple hydro-generator on a floating blade with maximum thrust surface and self-orienting according to claim 7, characterized in that each of the electric generators is accessible out of the water by means of a hatch on the immediately upper part of the floating blade-shaped structure.

12. Independent multiple hydro-generator on a floating blade with maximum thrust surface and self-orienting according to claim 7, characterized in that the floating blade-shaped structure has at its center and out of the water a dome also accessible through a hatch, inside which the connections, couplings and electrical treatment of the electrical energy waves produced independently by each of the electrical generators are carried out.

13. Independent multiple hydro-generator on a floating blade with maximum thrust surface and self-orienting according to claim 7, characterized in that the electrical waves produced by the four independent generators can be treated electrically and coupled in series, in parallel or in a mixed configuration, depending on the speed of the water current at any given moment, for maximum energy exploitation.

14. Independent multiple hydro-generator on a floating blade with maximum thrust surface and self-orienting according to claim 8, characterized in that the electrical waves produced by the four independent generators can be treated electrically and coupled in series, in parallel or in a mixed configuration, depending on the speed of the water current at any given moment, for maximum energy exploitation.

15. Independent multiple hydro-generator on a floating blade with maximum thrust surface and self-orienting according to claim 9, characterized in that the electrical waves produced by the four independent generators can be treated electrically and coupled in series, in parallel or in a mixed configuration, depending on the speed of the water current at any given moment, for maximum energy exploitation.

16. Independent multiple hydro-generator on a floating blade with maximum thrust surface and self-orienting according to claim 10, characterized in that the electrical waves produced by the four independent generators can be treated electrically and coupled in series, in parallel or in a mixed configuration, depending on the speed of the water current at any given moment, for maximum energy exploitation.

17. Independent multiple hydro-generator on a floating blade with maximum thrust surface and self-orienting according to claim 11, characterized in that the electrical waves produced by the four independent generators can be treated electrically and coupled in series, in parallel or in a mixed configuration, depending on the speed of the water current at any given moment, for maximum energy exploitation.

18. Independent multiple hydro-generator on a floating blade with maximum thrust surface and self-orienting according to claim 12, characterized in that the electrical waves produced by the four independent generators can be treated electrically and coupled in series, in parallel or in a mixed configuration, depending on the speed of the water current at any given moment, for maximum energy exploitation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] In order to complement the description herein and to assist in a better understanding of the features of the invention, a set of drawings is attached hereto as an integral part of the said description, in which the following is illustratively and non-limitingly depicted:

[0034] FIG. 1a shows an elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the self-orienting, maximum thrust area floating blade independent multiple hydro-generator of the disclosed invention.

[0035] FIG. 1b shows a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the self-orienting, maximum thrust area floating blade independent multiple hydro-generator of the disclosed invention.

[0036] FIG. 1c shows a lower plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the self-orienting, maximum thrust area floating blade independent multiple hydro-generator of the disclosed invention.

[0037] FIG. 1d shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the self-orienting, maximum thrust area floating blade independent multiple hydro-generator of the disclosed invention.

[0038] FIG. 2 shows a top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the self-orienting, maximum thrust area floating blade independent multiple hydro-generator of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] Using the numbering adopted in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the present documents to identify the elements that make up the floating blade independent multiple hydro-generator with maximum thrust surface and self-orientable which is the subject of the invention, we proceed to the description of these elements for an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0040] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the self-orientable floating blade independent multiple hydro-generator with maximum thrust surface and self-orientable consists of at least a floating blade-shaped structure (1) with four arms at each end of which there is an electric generator (2) driven by a mechanism for converting the linear motion of a fluid into the rotational motion of a shaft (3).

[0041] Considering the conversion mechanisms (3) arranged clockwise around the central axis of the blade (1), each of them is configured to rotate clockwise or counter clockwise alternately. That is to say, if one turns clockwise, the next one will turn counter clockwise, the next one clockwise and the last one counter clockwise.

[0042] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a tube (5) of a length greater than the depth reached by the conversion mechanisms (3) is attached to the central part of the vane-shaped structure (1) on its underside. This tube (5) is partially closed at its lower end and has a chain or mooring cable attached to its central axis to the anchor or bottom Deadman. This tube (5) has two openings for the inlet and outlet electrical cables.

[0043] The tube (5) has a fixed plate (6) attached to it along the entire length of its generatrix and located at the mid-position of the imaginary line joining two mechanisms of (3) adjacent to each other clockwise about the axis of the blade (1).

[0044] The forces acting on the fixed plate (6) rotate the assembly so that it always faces the entire cross-section of the maximum thrust surface perpendicular to the direction of the water flow, which enters through one side of the imaginary square that would form the four conversion mechanisms (3).

[0045] The counter clockwise alternation of the direction of rotation of the conversion mechanisms (3) in the blade configuration (1) with fixed plate (6) thus forces the assembly to orient itself by offering one of the sides of the imaginary square formed by the four generators in the direction of flow of the water current, maximizing the thrust surface of this current and, therefore, the production of energy.

[0046] Each of the electrical generators (2) is accessible out of the water through a hatch (7) at the immediate top of the floating blade-shaped structure (1).

[0047] The floating blade-shaped structure (1) has at its center and out of the water a dome (4), also accessible through a hatch (8), inside which the connections, couplings and electrical treatment of the electrical energy waves produced independently by each of the electrical generators (2) are carried out.

[0048] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the electrical waves produced by the four independent generators (2) can be treated electrically and coupled in series, in parallel or in a mixed configuration, depending on the speed of the water flow at any given moment (even at low speeds) for maximum energy exploitation.