Patent ID: 6877968
Filing Date: 2005-04-12
Classification: F03B,Y02E,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A low head water turbine comprising: (a) a runner having a cylindrical outer surface extending between opposite ends; (b) a plurality of similar blades having inner and outer sides extending to the ends, the blades evenly spaced about the surface of the runner and extending to the ends of the runner, the blades similarly pivotably secured along their inner sides to the outer surface of the runner so as to pivot in the direction of rotation of the runner between, closed position lying adjacent the outer surface of the runner and an open position at an angle thereto; (c) a housing having end walls and a rounded side wall extending therebetween, completely encasing the runner and its blades, the end walls of the housing being proximal to the ends of the runner, the runner eccentrically mounted to the end walls of the housing for rotation about a horizontal axis so that the cylindrical outer surface of the runner is spaced closer to an upper portion of the housing side wall and farther from a lower portion thereof; (d) a water inlet opening located in a lower, forward portion of the housing and below the axis of rotation of the runner; and (e) a water outlet opening located in a lower, rearward portion of the housing; the blades constructed and positioned so that, during operation of the turbine, the blades will be constricted by the side wall of the housing and thereby moved to the closed position as they approach and pass said upper portion of the housing side wall, and will move to the open position under centrifugal force and the force of gravity and water acting on them as they move below the axis of rotation of the runner to said lower position, all the time the housing side wall acting on the outer sides of the blades.