Abstract:
A fluid conduit includes an open chamber. A rotating device is mounted in the chamber. The rotating device includes a portion protruding through the open chamber and into the conduit. A plurality of fluid impingement surfaces are spaced apart on a surface of the rotating device, whereby fluid moving through the conduit impinges on the impingement surfaces and rotates the rotating device.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is related to and claims priority to Provisional U.S. Application No. 61/868,088 filed on Aug. 21, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The disclosure relates to a device and system within a fluid conduit and more particularly to the device being rotated by fluid flowing through the conduit sufficient to generate electrical power. 
     Attempts have been made to generate electrical energy from fluid flow systems. It is important in such systems that the fluid flow in the conduit not be exposed to significant disruption, which may precipitate effects on other components within the fluid flow system such as pumps used to move the fluid through the conduit. It would be of benefit to provide an electrical power generating system within a fluid conduit capable of substantially maintaining a constant velocity and pressure in the conduit. 
     SUMMARY 
     A fluid conduit includes an open chamber. A rotating device is mounted in the chamber. The rotating device includes a portion protruding through the open chamber and into the conduit. A plurality of fluid impingement surfaces are spaced apart on a surface of the rotating device, whereby fluid moving through the conduit impinges on the impingement surfaces and rotates the rotating device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1 and 5  are diagrammatic illustrations of an embodiment of a portion of fluid conduit system. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view illustrating an embodiment of an elbow including a rotating device. 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  are perspective views illustrating embodiments of the rotating device of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This disclosure describes a new, innovative device and system for generating electricity for industrial, municipal, and commercial facilities. The device involves a rotatable member provided inside existing and operational water lines. The device is driven by existing water flow, gravity, and pressure points throughout pipeline networks that provide water to municipalities and other facilities. The power generated by the water through the spinning rotation of this device will function in any system used to pump 500 to 10,000 plus gallons of water per minute throughout existing water lines. This new device simultaneously captures and releases the water flow in route to its intended destination. The spinning rotation of the device is connected to generators that produce electricity. The disclosure describes the device and provides examples of implementation in existing water systems. 
     This disclosure includes a system that captures and transfers untapped energy within existing and operational pipeline networks in use on a daily basis. These pipeline networks are in use twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week and three-hundred and sixty-five days a year. This system involves very few moving parts. Already in existing municipalities and pipelines are billions of gallons of water in place and used daily to provide water for many purposes, such as drinking water, irrigation and sewage systems. Existing locations for this new system include water utilities, water storage facilities, municipalities, factories, universities, water parks, etc. Other prime locations include desalinization plants, offshore platforms, military facilities, petrochemical plants or other industries that use large volumes of water or fluids on a daily basis. This new system works in unison with all existing water or fluid systems, including other liquid transfer systems, to generate electricity. 
     The system  10 ,  FIG. 1 , includes a fluid conduit  12  having an energy source such as one or more pumps  14  for moving a fluid through the conduit  12  as indicated by the directional arrows designated F. An elbow portion  16  having a bend of about ninety degrees (90°) is provided in the conduit  12 . The elbow portion  16  includes a chamber  18  and flanges  20 . The elbow portion  16  may include a bend from about 30° to about 90°. 
     In  FIG. 2 , the elbow portion  16  includes an opening  22  at a point where the chamber  18  attaches to the elbow portion  16 . The chamber  18  includes a cap  24  which is separable from the elbow portion  16  along a line designated C, and this provides access to a rotating device  26  which is rotatable on a shaft  28 . The shaft  28  is supported in the cap  24 . 
     The rotating device  26  may be of various shapes and sizes but is illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3  as a spherical device having a circumferential surface  30 . As an example, a portion P of the circumferential surface  30  includes a serial row  32  of equally spaced apart steps  34  extending about surface  30 . The steps  34  each include a lip  36  and a tapered pocket portion  38  extending to an adjacent lip  36 . As a result of this structure, fluid F moving through conduit  12 , impinges on the lips  36  of steps  34  of rotating device  26  causing rotation of the device in a direction R. Thus, energy E from the rotation may be provided to a generator  40  to generate electricity. 
     A siphon tube  42  extending from the opening  22  along a wall W of conduit  12 , provides for siphoning fluid back into the conduit  12  from the chamber  18 , in the event of fluid becoming trapped in chamber  18 . 
     The rotating device may be of a spherical shape as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , or may be of an oblong shape as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Also, the fluid impingement surfaces or steps  34 ,  FIG. 3 , which are recessed into the rotating device, may alternatively protrude, see  FIG. 4 , wherein the fluid impingement surfaces  50  protrude in a fin-like structure, from a peripheral surface  52  of a rotating device  54 . 
     Other rotating device shapes and fluid impingement surface orientations are contemplated by the teachings of this disclosure. The rotating device is deemed to be positioned in the elbow or bend  16  of the conduit  12 , however, other locations in the conduit  12  may be satisfactory. The conduit size is contemplated to be about a 12 inch to 24 inch diameter but is not considered to be limited to such dimensions. In  FIG. 5 , an alternative location for chamber  18 , as described above, is located along a straight portion of conduit  12 . 
     The foregoing has described a rotating device and system within a fluid conduit. The device is rotated by fluid flowing through the conduit sufficient to generate electricity. 
     Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of the embodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.