Patent ID: 6139255
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: E02B,F03B,Y02E,Y10S

Abstract:
A bidirectional hydroturbine assembly for tidal deployment, comprising:a. a cylindrical hydroturbine shroud having a first end and a second end, the cylindrical hydroturbine shroud being positioned about a central axis, the central axis generally directionally concomitant with both an inflow and an ebb of a tidal current, the cylindrical hydroturbine shroud having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a shroud void;b. a hydroturbine rotatably carried by the inner surface of the cylindrical hydroturbine shroud and positioned within the shroud void in working interrelation to a hydroturbine shaft, the hydroturbine shaft disposed along the central axis of the cylindrical hydroturbine shroud;c. a plurality of stabilizer fins carried by and extending radially outwardly from the outer surface of the cylindrical hydroturbine shroud along substantially the entire distance between the first end and the second end of the cylindrical hydroturbine shroud, each of the plurality of stabilizer fins having a first stabilizer fin end and a second stabilizer fin end, each of the plurality of stabilizer fins also having a first planar side and a second planar side, the respective first and second planar sides terminating at a point remote from the cylindrical hydroturbine shroud in a stabilizer fin edge, the stabilizer fin edge having a first stabilizer fin tip defined by the junction of the first stabilizer fin end and the stabilizer fin edge and a second stabilizer fin tip defined by the junction of the second stabilizer fin end and the stabilizer fin edge;d. a first pivot point at each respective first stabilizer fin tip of the plurality of stabilizer fins, and a second pivot point at each respective second stabilizer fin tip of each of the plurality of stabilizer fins;e. a plurality of first end pivoting deflectors, pivotally connected between adjacent first pivot points of respective stabilizer fins about the periphery of the first end of the cylindrical hydroturbine shroud; andf. a plurality of second end pivoting deflectors, pivotally connected between adjacent second pivot points of respective stabilizer fins about the periphery of the second end of the cylindrical hydroturbine shroud, whereby the inflow of the tidal current biases the first end pivoting deflectors in a non-deflective position while biasing the second end pivoting deflectors in a deflective position, and whereby the ebb of the tidal current biases the second end pivoting deflectors in a non-deflective position while biasing the first end pivoting deflectors in a deflective position.