Patent ID: 8616830
Filing Date: 2013-12-31
Classification: F03B,F05B,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A hydraulic power generating apparatus to perform power generation when installed in a waterway having flow, comprising: a housing which includes a water inflow opening located at an upstream side of the waterway, a water outflow opening located at a downstream side thereof, and a flow path providing communication from the water inflow opening to the water outflow opening; a water collecting plate which is disposed to an opening edge of the water inflow opening of the housing and which collects water into the water inflow opening while intercepting and accumulating water flowing through the waterway; a pair of vertical axis turbines, each rotatably supported adjacent to one another in the flow path of the housing and having rotor blades; a generator which generates power by receiving rotational force from the vertical axis turbines; a pair of arc-shaped gates, each gate having gate gears connected thereto, and each gate being rotatably attached to one of the vertical axis turbines, wherein the pair of gates define a flow path opening area therebetween; and a pair of drive gears, each drive gear mated with one of the gate gears; wherein rotation of the drive gears rotates the gates between (i) a first position in which the flow path opening area has a first flow width, (ii) a second position in which the flow path opening area has a second flow width less than the first flow width, and (iii) a third position in which a portion of each of the arc-shaped gates engage with one another to inhibit water from passing through the housing such that the flow path opening area has a third flow width of approximately zero.