Moving surface water driven power apparatus

The power apparatus includes a plurality of paddle wheels arranged in tandem and intended to be positioned generally transverse to the direction of movement of water at the surface of a body of water, each of the paddle wheels having a plurality of cylindrically curved blades which are concave on the blade face to be engaged and pushed by the water. Belt-like means mechanically couple the paddle wheels together to a power utilization device.

The invention relates generally to power apparatus for deriving power from 
moving water at the surface of a body of water, and is particularly useful 
for deriving power from water moving in a stream, or from waves at the 
surface of a large lake or sea. 
It has now become a well known fact that the demand for energy is 
threatening to become greater than the supply of energy, and as a 
consequence, the cost of energy has greatly increased, and the supply of 
energy has become depleted in relation to the demand for energy. 
Accordingly, it is one important object of the present invention to provide 
efficient energy recovery from a source not generally previously used, 
such as moving water at the surface of a body of water. 
Various proposals have been made previously for the recovery of energy from 
moving water near the surface of a body of water, but such proposals have 
not been generally adopted, apparently because they have not been of 
sufficient merit and efficiency, and have not been sufficiently cost 
effective. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,023,041 is issued to Walter L. 
Chappell discloses a very elaborate system for obtaining power from moving 
water which, so far as is known, has never been adopted or used. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an 
improved power apparatus for deriving power from moving water near the 
surface of a body of water which provides improved efficiency and improved 
cost effectiveness. 
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparant from the 
following description and the accompanying drawings. 
In carrying out the objects of the invention, there is provided an 
apparatus for deriving power from the movement of water at the surface of 
a body of water comprising a plurality of paddle wheels arranged in tandem 
and mutually parallel and to be positioned generally transverse to the 
direction of water movement, each of said paddle wheels having a plurality 
of cylindrically curved blades, a supporting means for supporting said 
paddle wheels for engagement by the lowermost blades with the water, the 
curvature of said blades being concave on the blade face to be engaged and 
pushed by the water, and belt-like means mechanically coupling said paddle 
wheels together and coupling said paddle wheels to a power utilization 
device.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a side view of a 
preferred embodiment of the invention including a series of paddle wheels 
indicated generally at 12A and 12B which are arranged in tandem with one 
another and mutually parallel, and which are intended to be positioned 
generally transverse to the direction of water movement in a stream, as 
indicated by the arrow 14. Each of the paddle wheels 12A, 12B includes a 
plurality of cylindrically curved blades 16A, 16B. Supporting frames are 
provided for each of the paddle wheels 12A and 12B as indicated at 10A and 
10B. While a single supporting frame, such as 10A, is shown for each 
paddle wheel such as 12A, it will be understood that more than one paddle 
wheel may be provided on each frame. The frames 10A, 10B, are each 
provided with individual flotation tanks at one end of the frame, as 
indicated at 18A, 18B. These flotation tanks support the paddle wheels 
12A, 12B, for engagement by the lowermost blades 16A, 16B with the water 
in the stream for rotation by movement of the water. The curvature of the 
blades 16A, 16B is concave on the blade face to be pushed by the water. 
This arrangement has been found to be much more effecient in obtaining the 
maximum power from the water as compared to a straight blade. 
The stream of water or body of water in which the apparatus is deployed may 
be a naturally occurring river or stream, or it may be a flume or an 
artificial water passage down an inclined ramp from the top of a structure 
such as a low dam, or between any two locations where water from a higher 
level is carried to a lower level. 
The paddle wheels are connected together and coupled to a power utilization 
device by means of belts or chains indicated at 20A and 20B. For this 
purpose, each of the paddle wheels 12A, 12B includes preferably at least 
two pulley wheels or sprocket wheels indicated at 22A, 22B which are 
engaged by the belts or chains 20A, 20B. 
The power utilization device may preferably comprise a series of 
speed-increasing pulley and shaft arrangements, indicated generally at 24 
and 26, culminating in a belt drive 28 connected to drive a generator 30 
to provide an electrical power output. The pulley and shaft arrangements 
24 and 26 may include a variable speed transmission. The generator 30 and 
the pulley arrangements 24 and 26 are preferably supported upon a suitable 
barge 32 which is anchored in the stream, as indicated by the anchor shown 
at 34. The anchor chain is normally much longer than shown and is 
stretched out in a more nearly horizontal direction to hold more securely. 
As shown in the drawing, the flotation for the barge 32 is preferably 
provided by a series of drums 33 fastened to the bottom of the frame of 
the barge and arranged in two rows on opposite side edges of the barge, 
permitting a free flow of the current of the stream between the two rows 
of drums for maximum power realization by the paddle wheels. 
The leading edge of frame 10A is securely attached, as indicated at 36, to 
the trailing edge of the barge 32. Similarly, the leading edge of frame 
10B is securely attached, as indicated at 36A, to the trailing edge of 
frame 10A. In like manner, the leading edge of a third frame 10C (only 
partially shown) may be attached at 36B to the trailing edge of frame 10B. 
Thus, a long string of frames, each carrying an individual paddle wheel, 
may be attached and strung out downstream from a barge 32 to derive power 
from the movement of the water in the stream. It will be evident that as 
many frames and paddles as are needed may easily be added to the string in 
order to provide additional power. 
The attachments at 36, 36A, 36B, etc. are preferably carried out in such a 
way as to permit small angular movements between adjacent frames, and 
between the barge 32 and frame 10A. A preferred attachement structure for 
accomplishing this purpose is illustrated in detail in FIG. 4 and 
described below in connecting with that drawing figure. 
FIG. 2 is a persepctive detail view of just one of the frames and paddle 
wheels of the apparatus of FIG. 1 and showing additional details of 
construction. As shown in this drawing, one preferred construction for the 
belts 20B and 20C is a standard V-belt, and the associated pulleys 22B are 
standard V-belt pulleys. The paddle wheels, in addition to including 
curved blades 16B, also each include a large hub 38 to which the blades 
are attached, and a supporting axle 40 by means of which the paddle wheel 
is supported through bearing block brackets 42 upon the frame 10B. As 
illustrated further in FIG. 2, the flotation tanks 18B are laterally 
spaced apart to provide support at each of the rear corners of the frame 
10B. 
For establishing the connections 36A and 36B at the leading and trailing 
edges of the frame 10B, there may be provided simply bolt holes for the 
interconnections, at least two bolt holes being provided for each 
interconnection, as shown. The specific preferred structure of the 
interconnections 36A, 36B is shown in more detail in FIG. 4 and described 
below in connection with that figure. 
FIG. 3 illustrates how roller chains 20B-1 and 20C-1 may be substituted for 
the V-belts 20B and 20C. In that case, as also illustrated in FIG. 3, a 
sprocket wheel 22B-1 is substituted for the pulley 22B. The use of chains 
and sprockets in place of belts and pulleys was previously mentioned in 
connection with FIG. 1. Each principal embodiment is disclosed with belts 
and pulleys, but it is understood that chains and sprockets could be used 
instead. 
FIG. 4 is a sectional detail view illustrating the structure of a preferred 
form of one of the interconnections 36A between frames 10A and 10B. Each 
of the frames 10A and 10B is preferably fabricated from L-shaped section 
steel members 46 and 48. Attached at the upper surface of member 48 there 
is an auxiliary plate 44. The attachment between plate 44 and member 48 is 
preferably accomplished by welding so that plate 44 is integral with 
member 48 and provides an extension thereof. Enclosed in the space between 
the outer surfaces of L-shaped member 46 and the end surface of member 48 
and the under surface of the extension member 44 there is provided an 
L-shaped rubber cushion member 50 to cushion the connections between the 
two frames 10A and 10B. 
In order to secure the frames together, two bolts 52 and 54 are preferably 
provided which are mounted through openings in the rubber cushion 50 and 
through openings in the adjacent portions of the L-shaped member 46 and in 
the extension 44 and in the L-shaped member 48. The openings in the 
last-mentioned metal members are preferably substantially larger than the 
bodies of the bolts 52 and 54 so as to permit relative motion between the 
frames 10A and 10B through elastic deformation of the rubber cushion 
member 50. Each of the bolts 52 and 54 is preferably fastened by a 
combination of two nuts, as indicated at 56 and 58 which are locked 
together so as to be secure upon the bolt without having to be tightened 
down on the connections between the members 46, 48 and 44. Preferably, the 
nuts 56 and 58 are positioned so as to allow some lost motion in the 
connections between members 44 and 46 and between members 46 and 48 to 
permit greater freedom of movement. 
As an alternative, if greater flexibility is required or desired in the 
joint, the bolt 54 may be completely omitted. However, the preferred 
embodiment is the embodiment shown employing both of the bolts 52 and 54. 
The combination of the under surface of plate 44 and the outer surface of 
frame member 48 which are in contact with the rubber cushion 50 is 
sometimes referred to below as a concave L-shaped section. The outer 
surfaces of the L-shaped frame member 46 which are in contact with the 
rubber cushion 50 are sometimes referred to below as a convex L-shaped 
section. Also, the rubber cushion 50 is sometimes referred to below as 
being perforated since it includes openings to admit bolts 52 and 54. 
FIG. 5 is a side view of a modification of the invention which is 
especially adapted for deriving power from water moving at the surface of 
a body of water in the form of waves, such as those encountered on an 
ocean, sea, or large lake. The apparatus is arranged with the blades 
curved in such a direction as to capture the energy from waves which are 
travelling to the left in the drawing as indicated by the arrow 60. While 
it is not anticipated that the water will ever be completely calm in a 
location in which wave power is to be captured by the apparatus, the water 
level for a calm sea in relation to the apparatus is indicated at 62. This 
may also be referred to as the mean water level. One of the main 
differences in the embodiment of FIG. 5 compared to the embodiment of FIG. 
2 is that the blades 64 of the paddle wheels 66 and 68 are curved in a 
much larger arc, preferably an arc which is a full 180.degree., being a 
full semicircle. The reason for this is to provide a paddle wheel which is 
much more effective in capturing the power of the waves as will be 
described more fully below in connection with FIGS. 8, 9, and 10. 
Each of the paddle wheels 66 and 68 again includes belt pulleys by means of 
which the individual paddle wheels are interconnected through belts 70. 
This embodiment of the invention also floats by means of flotation tanks 
shown in FIG. 5 and described below. The assembly is also anchored, but 
the anchoring means is not illustrated in FIG. 5. 
At the center of the apparatus, there is provided a generator assembly 72 
which is coupled by means of pulleys 74 and belts 76 to the most closely 
adjacent paddle wheels 68. The generator assembly 72 preferably includes a 
water-tight enclosure enclosing a train of gears or other shaft 
speed-increasing apparatus culminating in an electrical generator. 
The train of gears within assembly 72 preferably comprises a variable speed 
transmission which can be controlled either remotely or automatically for 
the most efficient coupling of energy from the waves to the generator 
through the paddle wheels. This will generally mean a low generator speed 
for low wave power, and higher generator speed for higher wave power. The 
enclosure of the generator assembly 72 is preferably watertight to permit 
complete immersion, if necessary. However, as illustrate in FIG. 5, the 
generator assembly 72 is supported upon raised stanchions 78 so as to be 
above the usual level of the waves. 
The generator assembly 72 is supported through the stanchions 78 upon 
frames including upper frames members 80, 82 and 84. The upper frame 
members 80, 82 and 84 comprise parts of three separate frame assemblies 
86, 88, and 90 which are bolted together, as indicated at 92 and 94, to 
form a unitary frame structure. 
FIG. 6 is an end view of the apparatus of FIG. 5, and from that view it is 
apparent that the frame structure formed by the frame assemblies 86, 88, 
and 90 forms essentially a triangle with two relatively large flotation 
tanks 96 and 98 being attached to the frame at the bottom corner of the 
triangle, as shown in both FIG. 6 and FIG. 5. The tanks are attached to 
the frame by means of a series of clamps 100. The clamps 100 are attached 
to the bottom of the frames by means of a bottom frame rail 102, which is 
preferably a T-cross section beam. The clamps 100 are arranged so that 
they can be bolted closed to secure a tank, or opened to remove and 
replace a defective tank 96 or 98. 
Another important feature of the structure as disclosed in FIGS. 5 and 6 is 
the provision of flotation in addition to the flotation provided by tanks 
96 and 98 by auxiliary tanks 104 which are combined with the structure of 
the top frame rails 80-84. These tanks are positioned so as to be 
partially above and partially below the mean water level 62. Thus, the 
tanks 104 provide stabilizing flotation which keeps the apparatus in a 
state of flotation at the desired level with respect to the mean water 
level. The flotation tanks 104, and 96 and 98 serve as reinforcement 
members for the entire frame assembly. The tanks 104 are built into the 
upper rail structure which includes the rails 84 and a top plate 106, 
which closes off the tank 104, provides the support for the generator 
assembly 72 and for each of the paddle wheels 66 and 68. The paddle wheel 
supports are carried out by means of bearing block brackets 108. 
While not shown in FIG. 6, upper cross-brace members are included, as shown 
at 110 in FIG. 5, which provide bracing between the top rails 84 and the 
upper flotation tanks 104 on opposite sides of the paddle wheels 66 and 
68. 
As indicated in FIG. 6, the apparatus of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 is generally 
intended to be combined with similar apparatus assemblies which are placed 
side by side with the apparatus of FIGS. 5 and 6. The flotation provided 
by upper flotation tanks 104 is shared by adjacent assemblies, as are the 
upper side rail structures. This is indicated in FIG. 6 where frames 90A 
and 90B are shown only partially for the adjacent assemblies. Similarly, 
generator pulleys 74A and belts 76A are indicated in FIG. 6 for the 
adjacent assembly to the left of the assembly portrayed in FIG. 6. 
Each of the main flotation tanks 96 and 98 is provided with means for 
interchanging the normal flotation medium, which is air, with water. By 
this means, the flotation can be adjusted to thereby adjust the height of 
the blades 64 of the paddle wheels 66 and 68 with respect to the mean 
water level to provide for optimum recovery of energy from the waves. For 
that purpose, as particularly shown in FIG. 6, there is provided an outlet 
pipe 110 at the bottom of each tank. While illustrated at the outer end of 
each tank, the outlet pipes 110 may be optionally provided in another 
position on the tank. The most important feature is that the outlet pipes 
110 communicate with the lowermost portion of the interior of the tank. 
There is also provided an inlet pipe 112, particularly shown in FIG. 6, 
connected at the upper portion of the interior of the tank 96 (and 98) for 
supplying compressed air to the interior of the tank. Inlet pipe 112 is 
connected to an air control mechanism 114. Mechanism 114 may include an 
air compressor, and air control valves for controlling the level of air 
within the tanks 96 and 98. As illustrated in FIG. 6, tank 96 is not 
completely filled with air, since a water level is indicated at 116. 
When greater flotation is desired, the control mechanism 114 is controlled 
in such a way as to energized the air compressor and appropriate valves to 
supply compressed air through the pipe 112 to increase the amount of air 
within tank 96 and to cause the displacement of some of the water in the 
bottom of the tank, discharging the water out of the tank through the 
outlet pipe 110. If less flotation is desired, a relief valve is opened in 
the control mechanism 114 to relieve and discharge air from the tank 96 
through the inlet pipe 112, permitting water to rise through the discharge 
pipe 110 into the tank 96. By this means, the flotation of the apparatus 
can be very precisely controlled. Furthermore, if the necessity arises, 
the main flotation tanks 96-98 can be flooded with water, virtually 
eliminating any flotation effect, and permitting the entire apparatus to 
be sunk beneath the surface of the water. This procedure is particularly 
valuable during extremely stormy conditions, when the effect of the storm 
on the apparatus can be completely eliminated by sinking the apparatus. 
When the storm has subsided, the air compressor is again energized and the 
tanks are filled with air and the apparatus is caused to rise to the 
surface. For this operation, it is, of course, necessary for the air 
compressor to have an air inlet which is above the surface of the water 
even when the apparatus is sunk. The arrangements for accomplishing this 
are not illustrated in the drawing. Alterantively, tanks of compressed air 
can be provided for this purpose. 
FIG. 7 is an enlarged end view detail of one of the paddle wheels 66 of 
FIG. 5 illustrating the preferred paddle curvature and mode of attachment 
of each of the paddles 64. 
The paddle wheel is seen to include a central shaft 116, a pulley wheel 
118, and an enlarged hub portion 120 (sometimes referred to herein as a 
drum). A dottted construction line has been added at 122 in the drawing 
which passes through the center of the drum shaft 116, and which 
intersects the ends of the blade 64 shown on the right. The construction 
line 122 represents a plane which is common to the two opposite edges of 
the blade 64 and extends through the axis of the hub. Thus, each blade 64 
is attached to the enlarged hub portion 120 at the inside surface at one 
edge of the blade, generally at a point upon the hub substantially 
diametrically opposite from the outer edge of the blade, at 126. 
Furthermore, the angle of curvature of the blade from the inside edge 24 
to the outside edge 126 is preferably 180.degree.. While the paddle wheel 
may have as few as two blades, and perhaps more than three blades, the 
three-blade combination illlustrated in the drawing is preferred. This 
combination is believed to provide the most efficient capture of energy 
from the moving waves. 
As previously described above, the normal mode of operation of the 
apparatus is intended to be carrried out while the level of the apparatus 
is maintained so that the waves generally pass beneath the enlarged hub 
120, engaging and pushing upon the lowermost blade 64 of each paddle wheel 
in order to derive power from the movement of the waves. However, FIGS. 8, 
9, and 10 illustrate modes of operation of the apparatus in which the 
waves attain higher levels, even washing completely over the entire paddle 
wheel structure. This may occur when the size of the waves increases 
suddenly. 
Referring more particularly to FIG. 8, when the predominant movement of the 
wave is upwardly in relation to the rotor 66, as indicated by the arrow 
128, and as indicated by the outline of the wave in section at 130, the 
rising front of the wave engages the concave surface of the righthand 
blade 64, as indicated at 132, in order to extract energy and to cause the 
rotor to rotate in the counterclockwise direction. Meanwhile, the water 
rising against the lowermost blade 64, as indicated at 134, engages the 
convex surface of that blade and does not exert as much turning effect on 
that blade, being deflected around the blade instead. 
FIG. 9 illustrates the action of the wave upon the paddle wheel when the 
wave is high enough to virtually immerse the paddle wheel and when the 
wave direction is predominantly a forward direction, as indicated by the 
arrow 136 and the wave outline 138. Again, the wave is deflected over the 
convex upper surface of the uppermost blade 64 indicated at 140, but 
engages and turns the paddle wheel at the concave surface at the lowermost 
blade as indicated at 142. 
FIG. 10 illustrates a similar action in which the predominant movement of 
the wave is downward or receding, as indicated by the arrow 144 and the 
wave outline 146. Here the water is deflecting at 148 over the convex 
outer surface of the right blade 64, and is working at the concave inner 
surfaces of the other blades at 150 and 152. Therefore, in each of the 
instances of FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, energy is derived from the water movement 
to cause rotation of the paddle wheel in a counterclockwise direction. 
Thus the paddle wheel of the present invention is very effective even if 
the level of the waves greately exceeds the anticipated level, and the 
paddle wheel is momentarily submerged by the waves. 
FIG. 11 is a top or plan view illustrating how a plurality of apparatus 
assemblies of paddle wheels and generators such as described above in 
connection with FIGS. 5 and 6 can be combined and connected together side 
by side to form an assemblage of paddle wheels and generators. This entire 
assemblage is arranged to be connected to, and anchored by, a circular 
tower 154 which is built upon and thus secured to the sea bottom. The 
tower 154 may preferably provide the additional function of a lighthouse. 
The attachment of the assemblage to the tower 154 is carried out by means 
of a circular frame 156 which is attached to, and forms a part of, the 
entire frame of the entire assemblage and which is positioned near the 
front of the assemblage in relation to the anticipated direction of waves 
which are to be intercepted by the apparatus, as indicated by the arrows 
60. The circular frame 156, as illustrated in FIG. 11, surrounds the tower 
154, but permits angular rotation of the assemblage about the tower to 
align the assemblage with the direction of wave movement, as indicated by 
the arrows 60. The actual attachment from the frame 156 to the tower 154 
is preferably accomplished by means of an inner ring 158 carrying rollers 
160 which engage the outer surface of the tower 154. The inner ring 158 is 
maintained in spaced relationship to the circular frame 156 by means of 
steel tension cables 162. 
The assemblage preferably includes six apparatus assemblies of the type 
illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, all arranged mutually in parallel, and 
separated by the tower anchoring circular frame 156 and an associated 
central frame, with three assemblies arranged on each side of the circular 
frame 156. In addition to the frame 156, the centermost assemblies are 
maintained in a spaced apart relationship, and the cross connection is 
reinforced by cross-tying and bracing members 164, 166, and 168, as well 
as by a continuous frame member 170 extending across that space, and also 
tying the trailing end of all of the assemblies together. 
For purposes of clarity, only the generators and the first paddle wheel in 
each assembly are specifically identified. However, the different 
assemblies are identified by appending different letter suffixes to the 
components of those different assemblies. Thus, the lowermost assembly in 
the drawing is identified by the suffix A and the generator is identified 
as 72A. The third assembly is identified by the suffix B, and so forth. 
While not specifically illustrated in FIG. 11, the interconnections between 
adjacent assemblies, and between the center assemblies and the central 
frame, including the anchoring circular frame 156 and the braces 164-168 
may be articulated, using connections including rubber cushions and 
following the structure shown in FIG. 4 and described above in connection 
with that figure. 
The cable connections 162 between the inner ring 158 and the outer 
anchoring ring 156 provide a flexibility and cushioning effect between the 
entire assemblage and the anchoring tower 154. Furthermore, the rollers 
160 permit ease of adjustment in the vertical direction required by wave 
action and also required by the shifting of the tides. The rollers 160 at 
the front of the circular anchoring frame 156 will normally be in contact 
with the surface of the towers since the force on the whole assemblage 
will be from front to back. It is anticipated that the entire assemblage 
will rotate automatically to accommodate for changes in the direction of 
the waves. However, additional control means may be provided, if required, 
such as a suitable wind vane which can be controlled by the crew. It is 
anticipated that a crew will be provided for controlling the apparatus and 
that the crew will be housed in the tower where the operation of the 
apparatus can be observed. However, in most aspects, the operation of the 
apparatus is quite automatic, and it may be found to be possible to 
operate the apparatus without a crew in constant attendance. 
While this invention has been shown and described in connection with 
particular preferred embodiments, various alterations and modifications 
will occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the following claims 
are intended to define the valid scope of this invention over the prior 
art, and to cover all changes and modifications falling within the true 
spirit and valid scope of this invention.