Patent ID: 8049357
Filing Date: 2011-11-01
Classification: F03B,Y02E

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for rotating a shaft couplable to a power generation device with a body of water flowing in a downstream direction, comprising: a rotatable shaft, said rotatable shaft couplable to a power generation device configured to generate electrical energy from motion of said rotatable shaft; a base supporting said rotatable shaft; a lever arm coupled to said rotatable shaft with a bidirectional coupling, said lever arm having a first end and a second end, said lever arm comprising a flap member coupled to the first end of said lever arm, said lever arm movable between a first vertical position wherein said flap member is located in said body of water and a second vertical position wherein said flap member is located above said body of water; said lever arm is movable from an upstream position to a downstream position upon the body of water engaging said flap member when said lever arm is in the first vertical position; and a tensioning member coupled to said lever arm, said tensioning member configured to retract said lever arm from the downstream position to the upstream position when said lever arm is in the second vertical position; wherein said apparatus further comprises a first guide member located between said rotatable shaft and the first end of said lever arm, said first guide member comprising an upward extending protrusion configured to guide said lever arm from the first vertical position to the second vertical position.