Patent ID: 11879424
Assignee: HYDROKINETIC ENERGY CORP.
Field: Engines, pumps, turbines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F  Y | IPC F

Claim 0:
1. A unidirectional hydrokinetic turbine having a water entrance end and a water exit end defining a direction of water flow through the turbine, comprising:
a generally cylindrical accelerator shroud that comprises a radially inner wall and a radially outer wall spaced apart from the radially inner wall, to form a radial wall cross-section that defines within its cylindrical cross-section a water flow area that contains therein structure that consists essentially of an integral hydrokinetic force-generating member that rotates during force generation within the accelerator shroud, the integral force generating member comprising:
a center hub member having an open center surrounded by an inner wall and having a hydrofoil profile; and
a plurality of rotor blades, each blade having two edges and extending radially outwardly from a radially inner base end thereof, at which base end each rotor blade is mounted on said center hub member for rotation therewith, said rotor blades terminating at radially outer blade tips, wherein said rotor blades have a profile thickness at their radially outer ends that is greater than the profile thickness at their radially inner ends, wherein said force-generating member is mounted at said outer blade tips for its support and for rotation, within the wall cross-section of said accelerator shroud.