Abstract:
A river power generating apparatus is provided in which a plurality of angular baffles are configured to extract and combine the available energy from flowing river water into a force for rotating an electric generator to 1800 rpm to produce large quantities of electric current without using a hydro-electric dam thereby allowing wild salmon to spawn upstream of the river. The angular baffles can harvest and convert the energy of the ocean currents and tides into great amounts of electric power.

Description:
REFERENCES CITED 
     U.S. Patent Documents 
     
         
         U.S. Pat. No. 4,353,702 October 1982 Nagy . . . 440/8 
         U.S. Pat. No. 1,417,000 May 1922 Vogt . . . 440/132 B 
       
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     At present the oil deposits in the Middle East are getting depleted rapidly so much so that the industrialized countries are frantically searching for alternative fuels as well as for other sources of energy. Although the hydroelectric dam is generating significant amounts of electricity there are environmental problems created by the dam as follows: (i) the hydroelectric dam is choking the river and preventing the wild salmons from spawning upstream of the river (ii) the big lakes created by the dam have destroyed the river habitats and valuable artifacts. (iii) records show that due to earthquakes and metal fatigue the old hydroelectric dams have collapsed and wiped out the downstream cities. A river power megawatts producer is provided in order to extract the energy from the river without using a hydroelectric dam. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     It is the object of the present invention to provide a river power megawatts producer that is inexpensive to construct for harvesting and converting the available energy from the flowing river into inexpensive electric current. The present invention does not use the hydroelectric dam for operation and will not prevent the wild salmons from spawning upstream of the river. 
     Another object of the present invention is to harvest and convert the available energy from flowing water into large quantities of megawatts of electric current to supply the power needs of the cities, towns and municipalities. 
     A further object of the present invention is to use the river power megawatts producer for harvesting and converting the available energy from ocean currents and tides into inexpensive electricity. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the angular baffle for use in an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the U-connector for use in an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention, and 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment according to of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated in  FIG. 1  a river power megawatts producer that includes a baffle assembly  1  and a flywheel assembly  2 . The baffle assembly  1  includes a pair of trapezoidal frames  3  and  4  which are identical to each other, a pair of circumferential chains  9  and  10  which are identical to each other, a plurality of circular gears  25 ,  26 ,  27 ,  28 ,  29 ,  30 ,  31  and  32  which are identical to each other, a plurality of angular baffles  45  which are identical to each other and a plurality of vertical supports  5 ,  6 ,  7  and  8 . 
     As can best be seen in  FIG. 1  a plurality of U-connectors  11  are disposed equidistantly and pivotally through the links of the chains  9  and  10 . Referring further to  FIG. 1  the drive shaft  12  is rotatably supported in the bearing assemblies  13  and  14 , the drive shaft  15  is rotatably supported in the bearing assemblies  16  and  17 , the drive shaft  18  is rotatably supported in the bearing assembly  20  and through the bearing assembly  19 , and the drive shaft  21  is rotatably supported in the bearing assemblies  22  and  23 . The drive pulley  24  is secured to the drive shaft  18  that extends through the bearing assembly  19 . 
     Equidistantly disposed and spacedly aligned for operation, the circular gear  25  is secured to the drive shaft  12 , the circular gear  26  is secured to the drive shaft  15 , the circular gear  27  is secured to the drive shaft  18  and the circular gear  28  is secured to the drive shaft  21 . The circumferential chain  10  is rotatably engaged with the circular gears  25 ,  26 ,  27  and  28 . The drive shafts  12 ,  15 ,  18  and  21  are parallel to each other. 
     Also equidistantly disposed and spacedly aligned for operation the circular gear  29  is secured to the drive shaft  12 , the circular gear  30  is secured to the drive shaft  15 , the circular gear  31  is secured to the drive shaft  18 , and the circular gear  32  is secured to the drive shaft  21 . The circumferential chain  9  is rotatably engaged with the circular gears  29 ,  30 ,  31  and  32 . 
     In  FIG. 1  the flywheel assembly  2  includes a plurality of rpm enhancer pulleys  35  and  36 , a flywheel  33  both sides of which are provided with concentric channels  34 , an automatic transmission  60 , a drive pulley  53  having a ratchet bearing  54  and a power generator  56 . The drive shaft  37  of the flywheel  33  is horizontally and rotatably supported in the bearing assemblies of the supports  38  and  39 . As can best be seen in  FIG. 1  the supports  38 ,  39 ,  41 ,  42  and  44  are secured to the platform  40 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2  the support side  46  of the angular baffle  45  forms approximately an angle of 90 degrees with the impact side  47 . 
     As can best be seen in  FIG. 3  the U-connector  11  is fixedly secured to the support side  46  of the baffle  45 . As shown in  FIG. 1  the baffles  45  are spacedly disposed parallel to the drive shafts  12 ,  15 ,  18  and  21 . 
     Further in  FIG. 1  the drive belt  49  is rotatably engaged with the pulleys  24  and  50 , the drive belt  51  is rotatably engaged with the pulley  52  and the pulley  53  which is provided with a ratchet bearing  54 . The drive belt  55  is rotatably engaged with the pulley  57  and the pulley  58  of the power generator  56 . 
     In  FIG. 1  the present invention operates as follows: the flowing water (indicated by the arrow) pushes the submerged baffles  45  and actuates the chains  9  and  10 , at the same time rotating the drive shafts  12 ,  15 ,  21  and  18 . As the circumferential chains  9  and  10  pull the baffle  45  downwardly over the shaft  12  the trapezoidal frames  3  and  4  automatically flip the baffle  45  to an open position ready to submerge and receive the impact force of the flowing water. The stabilizer fins  48  prevent the sideways drifting of the submerged baffles  45  during operation. The automatic transmission  60  and the enhancer pulleys  35  and  36  accelerate the power generator  56  to 1800 rpm to produce electric current. 
     As the circumferential chains  9  and  10  pull the baffles upwardly over the drive shaft  21  the trapezoidal frames  3  and  4  automatically flip the baffles  45  to a closed position. In the open position, the support side  46  of the baffle  45  is supported by the circumferential chains  9  and  10  such that the impact side  47  of the baffle  45  is oriented at approximately 90 degrees to the path of the flowing water. 
     During operation the buildup of high torque at the low rpm drive shaft  18 . rotates the rpm enhancer pulleys  24 ,  35 ,  36 ,  57  and automatic transmission  60  thereby rotating the power generator  56  to 1800 rpm to produce electric current. The flywheel  33  is fine tuned by inserting the exact lead weights and counterweights into the concentric channels  34  for storing energy as well as for the spin-test balancing purposes. The baffles  45  are lightweight and float on water. The roller shaft  61  is rotatably secured in the bearing assemblies  62  and  63  for minimizing the sagging of chains  9  and  10  during operation. 
     During emergency shutdowns the ratchet bearing  54  of the pulley  53  provides a shock absorber protection to the equipments and safety protection to the operators by allowing the flywheel  33  to rotate harmlessly until the forces of inertia are dissipated. In  FIG. 4  more angular baffles will be used for storing the electric current or charging fully the unlimited number of lithium-ion batteries  65  which will be distributed to the battery stations (in phantom) that will operate like gas stations along the highway wherein the batteries are loaded on trailers (in phantom) and connected in 10 seconds with the electric car (in phantom) that will travel for 500 miles without recharging and without discharging any pollutants to the atmosphere thus resulting in clean air. 
     The operating advantages of the present invention are: (i) the angular baffles  45  do not use an expensive hydroelectric dam for extracting continuously the energy from the flowing river to produce electric current, (ii) the angular baffles  45  do not prevent wild salmon from spawning upstream of the river (iii) the downstream people living at the river bank are not exposed to the dangers of flash flood. (iv) every one mile stretch of the river can be used to supply the electric current needs of the towns and cities (v) a plurality of submerged baffles  45  are provided to harvest and combine the available energy from the flowing river into a giant force for rotating the power generator  56  to produce large quantities of electric power, (vi) the trapezoidal frames  3  and  4  automatically open and close the baffles  45  during operation, (vii) the circular chains  9  and  10  enable the baffles  45  to extract continuously the energy from the river, (viii) the ratchet bearing  54  provides shock absorber protection to the equipment and safety protection to the operators during emergency shutdowns wherein the flywheel  33  is allowed to rotate harmlessly until the forces of inertia are dissipated, (ix) the present invention can also be used for harvesting the energy from the ocean current and ocean tide. It is to be understood that many changes and modifications to the embodiment can be made therein without departing from the scope of the present invention.