Abstract:
The invention relates to a hydroelectric machine. According to the invention, the machine includes: at least two pipes ( 10, 11 ) connected to a ballast ( 8 ) and to a horizontal bar ( 14 ), bearing a vertical axis ( 15 ) driving a first gear manipulation box ( 25 ) and then the rotor of a first generator ( 27 ); blades ( 16 ) opposite the openings ( 12, 13 ) of the pipes ( 10, 11 ), carried by bearings ( 17 ) and beams ( 18 ), and by a second structure ( 24 ) via rolling bearings ( 22 ), the beams ( 18 ) leading to a hollow cylinder ( 31 ) driving, via two sprockets ( 28, 29 ) and an axis ( 30 ), a second gear manipulation box ( 31 ) and then the rotor of a second generator ( 33 ); cylindrical steel frames ( 38, 40, 42, 44, 47, 49 ) bearing shoulders and rolling bearings ( 39, 41, 43, 45, 46, 48, 50 ); a power supply for powering two needle latches ( 59, 60 ) via two concentric metal hoops ( 55, 56 ) and two brushes ( 57, 58 ).

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a National Phase application of PCT/CA2008/001897, filed on Oct. 31, 2008, which in turn claims the benefit of priority from Canadian Patent Application No. 2,604,610, filed on Nov. 5, 2007, the entirety of which are incorporated herein by reference 
     BACKGROUND 
     Description of Related Art 
     The increased demand for energy has driven up the cost of crude oil and has aggravated existing environmental pressures. 
     Renewable energy sources, be they wind powered or solar powered, are unable, for various reasons, to meet such a steep increase in demand. Nuclear power has the capability of doing so, but involves significant financial investment and runs into the problems of safety and lack of popularity which will not go away. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY 
     The present invention sets out to offer a machine which produces electrical current at a relatively modest price and without harming the environment. 
     The machine according to the invention aims to produce electrical current making simultaneous use of the properties of a jet of water leaving the orifice of a pipe at a certain velocity after having been collected at a certain height, ranging, for example, from fifty to one thousand five hundred meters. The water thus leaving the orifice of a pipe has two forces: a reaction force, as it leaves the pipe, and an impulse force as the same water strikes the blades of a turbine. It is this second property that is put to use in electricity production plants that use Pelton turbines, for example. 
     The machine according to the invention comprises a first rotary assembly made up of at least two horizontal pipes, extending in two diametrically opposed directions, and elbowed at their ends such that the water jets leaving their orifices leave in two, opposite and parallel, directions. Horizontal pipes are secured to a ballast intended to slow the speed of the rotation caused by the water leaving the orifices of these pipes at a certain velocity. Likewise, these horizontal pipes are secured to a bar which passes under them and which at its center carries a shaft which extends downward at right angles and meets a step-up gearbox the output shaft of which drives the rotor of a first generator. 
     Furthermore, the machine according to the invention comprises a second rotary assembly made up of blades, directed toward the inside of the circle that they form. These blades are carried by supports, themselves carried by spokes extending toward the center of the circle formed by the blades. A small distance away from this center, the spokes carry a hollow cylinder which extends downward at right angles. This hollow cylinder, which is fairly wide so as to allow the shaft carried by the horizontal bar to pass through it, has at its lower end a first gearwheel which drives a second gearwheel the shaft of which enters a second step-up gearbox the output shaft of which drives the rotor of a second generator. 
     Finally, the machine according to the invention comprises means for stabilizing the various shafts it contains and means for supplying electrical current. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures of the appended drawing will make it easy to understand how the invention may be achieved. It should be emphasized that, because of the very high number of possible embodiments of the machine according to the invention, these figures do not depict the design to a given scale. What this then means is that the figures of the attached drawing depict the machine according to the invention in a schematic and complete manner without bowing to the constraints of a particular installation. 
         FIG. 1  is a view of the machine according to the invention, from above. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a view of the machine according to the invention in section on I-II of  FIG. 1 . It should be noted that there are certain elements that have not been depicted in this figure, for example two columns, the presence of which would do nothing but clutter a figure that already contains a good deal of detail. 
         FIG. 3  depicts the way in which the blades, the supports and the spokes used in the machine according to the invention are arranged. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlargement of detail “A ” outlined in dotted line in  FIG. 2 ; it shows details of the systems used to attach and stabilize the shafts used in the machine according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The machine according to the invention comprises a water inlet pipe  1  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ) for water collected at a sufficient height to operate a Pelton turbine. The pipe  1  is fixed. On arriving in the machine according to the invention, the pipe  1  is extended by a rotary seal  2  which is carried by a support  3  that rests of four beams  4 , for example made of steel, themselves supported by a first structure  5  that is cylindrical at least in its upper part. This first structure may be made of steel for example. The number of pipes or beams is nonlimiting. 
     Extending downward over a short distance from the beams  4  ( FIG. 2 ) there are four columns  6  the widened bases of which form a circular ring  7 . On its inner and outer edges, this circular ring  7  carries ballast  8  the bracket-shaped arms of which close over rolling bearings  9 . These rolling bearings  9  have the function of minimizing friction when the machine according to the invention is running, and of bearing load. As a result, the rolling bearings  9 , and all the other rolling bearings used in the machine according to the invention, may be ball bearings, needle bearings or alternatively roller bearings. 
     On leaving the rotary seal  2  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ) the water conveyed by the pipe  1  is carried along two other pipes  10 ,  11  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ) which start out vertical and are then bent for a first time at a right angle ( FIG. 2 ) to become horizontal and extend in two diametrically opposite directions, then bent once again, in the same plane, at their ends, so that the outlet orifices  12 ,  13  of the pipes  10 ,  11  are directed in two parallel and opposite directions ( FIG. 1 ). The pipes  10 ,  11  pass under the ballast  8  to which they are attached, and protrude beyond this ballast  8  so that the elbowed part thereof is uncovered. 
     Under their horizontal part, the pipes  10 ,  11  ( FIG. 2 ) carry a bar  14 , made of steel, for example, which is secured to them and to the ballast  8 . Extending from the center of the bar  14  is a vertical shaft  15  made of steel, for example. This shaft  15  extends downward and is perpendicular to the bar  14 . 
     In addition, the pipes  10 ,  11  carry, to the rear of the two horizontal elbows that terminate at the orifices  12 ,  13  ( FIG. 1 ), electric motors  59 ,  60  each of which actuates a needle situated in the terminal part of the pipes  10 ,  11  and which can be used, if needed, to close the orifices  12 ,  13 . 
     Pacing the two orifices ( 12 ,  13 ) ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ) of the pipes  10 ,  11  are blades  16 . These blades  16  are identical to those fitted to Pelton turbines, that is to say are formed of two spoon-shaped halves connected along their longest edge. The jet of water thus strikes the ridge thus formed in a path perpendicular to said ridge. In addition, these blades  16  face toward the inside of the circle that they form, that is to say that the cutouts separating their two halves are directed toward the center of the circle formed by the blades  16  rather than outward. 
     The blades  16  are carried by supports  17  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ), which, joined together by welding, for example, form a circle ( FIGS. 1 ,  3 ). Between the supports  17  and the first structure  5  there are rolling bearings  23  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ). The supports  17  are carried by spokes  18  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ) which converge toward the center of the circle formed by the supports, without actually reaching this center. Over most of their length, starting from the center of the circle toward which the spokes  18  converge, these spokes  18  are carried by a circular ring  19  ( FIGS. 2 ,  3 ) made, for example, out of steel. 
     The small circle  20  ( FIG. 3 ) of the circular ring  19  carries a hollow cylinder  21  made, for example, of steel ( FIG. 2 ), which is attached orthogonally to the circular ring  19  and extends downward. The diameter of this hollow cylinder  21  needs to be fairly large so as to allow the shaft  15  to pass freely through it and also to contain the interior shoulders and the rolling bearings intended to facilitate the simultaneous (and in opposite directions) rotation of the shaft  15  and of the hollow cylinder  21 . 
     The circular ring  19  is carried by concentric rolling bearings  22  ( FIGS. 2 ,  4 ) which facilitate its rotation and ensure its stability. The rolling bearings  22  are themselves carried by a second structure  24  ( FIGS. 2 ,  4 ) made, for example, of steel. The second structure  24  is contained within the first structure  5 ; it is of cylindrical shape with a horizontal roof supporting the rolling bearings  22 . The junction between the vertical part and the horizontal part of the structure  24  ( FIG. 2 ) is not at right angles but in the form of a small part of the roof which slopes toward the vertical part. The roof of the second structure  24  is pierced with a circular opening large enough to allow the hollow cylinder  21  to pass through it and also large enough to contain a fixing element discussed in greater detail later on. 
     At its lower end, the shaft  15  ( FIG. 2 ) enters a first step-up gearbox  25 , the support of which is not shown, and which via a shaft  26  drives the rotor of a first generator  27 . The elements that are intended to stabilize the various shafts used in the machine according to the invention will be discussed later on. 
     As for the hollow cylinder  21 , it at its lower end carries a first gearwheel  28  ( FIG. 2 ). The first gearwheel  28  drives a second gearwheel  29  which is secured at its center to a shaft  30  supported by a device that will be explained later on. The shaft  30  drives a second step-up gearbox  31 , the support of which is not shown, and which in turn, and via a shaft  32 , drives the rotor of a second generator  33 . 
     The various shafts used in the machine according to the invention and which work together to produce electrical current are stabilized as follows. It should be noted that the various shoulders and rolling bearings used for this purpose, although contained inside steel frameworks, are depicted in continuous line, to make the figures easier to understand. 
     The shaft  15  ( FIG. 4 ) is guided in its rotation, inside the hollow cylinder  21 , by two rolling bearings; a rolling bearing  34  carried by an interior shoulder  35 , and another rolling bearing  36  forced against another interior shoulder  37 . 
     In addition, once it leaves the hollow cylinder  21 , the shaft  15  is held in position by a cylindrical steel framework  38  ( FIG. 4 ) which contains an interior shoulder and a rolling bearing  39 . 
     As for the hollow cylinder  21 , it is stabilised as follows. In the roof of the second structure  24 , the hollow cylinder  21  enters a cylindrical steel frame  40  ( FIG. 4 ) containing an interior shoulder and a rolling bearing  41 . In addition, and before reaching the first gearwheel  28 , the hollow cylinder also passes through another cylindrical steel framework  42  which likewise contains an interior shoulder and a rolling bearing  43 . 
     As for the shaft  30  ( FIG. 4 ), it is supported as follows. The upper end of the shaft  30  ends in the form of a flat-head nail. This flattened head sits in a cylindrical steel framework  44  containing an interior shoulder supporting a rolling bearing  45 . Furthermore between the flattened end of the shaft  30  and the roof of the second structure  24  there is a thrust ball bearing  46 , for example, which facilitates rotation of the shaft  30 . It is probable that the various components of this fastening will need to be assembled with one another before being installed. 
     Then the shaft  30 , before entering the second gearwheel  29  to which it is attached, passes through a cylindrical steel framework  47  which contains an interior shoulder and a rolling bearing  48 . Likewise, having left the second gearwheel  29 , and before entering the second step-up gearbox  31 , the shaft  30  passes through another cylindrical steel framework  49  which contains an interior shoulder and a rolling bearing  50 . 
     The cylindrical steel frameworks  42 ,  47  are supported by a horizontal steel bar  51  attached to the walls of the second structure  24 . The cylindrical steel frameworks  38 ,  49  are supported by another horizontal steel bar  52 , parallel to the bar  51 , positioned below the latter, and likewise attached to the walls of the second structure  24 . 
     The two horizontal steel bars  51 ,  52  in their turn are reinforced by two vertical steel bars  53 ,  54  ( FIG. 2 ) extending from the roof to the floor of the second structure  24 . 
     Finally, the machine according to the invention also comprises:
         two metal hoops  55 ,  56  ( FIG. 2 ) fastened to the beams  4 , with the necessary insulation, that two metal brushes  57 ,  58  face in order to receive electrical current from an electrical current source, (not shown) with a view to supplying electrical current, via electric cables (likewise not shown), to the needle-operated shut-off systems  59 ,  60  carried by the pipes  10 ,  11  behind their horizontal elbow ( FIG. 1 );   openings  61  ( FIG. 2 ) situated between the first structure  5  and the second structure  24 , at ground level, allow the water used while the machine according to the invention is running to be discharged through the pipelines, the flow of which water will have been made easier by the inclined part of the second structure  24 .       

     The machine according to the invention works as follows. The water, picked up at sufficient height to operate a Pelton turbine, reaches the machine according to the invention via the fixed pipe  1 . It then passes through the rotary seal  2  and then enters the pipes  10 ,  11 . On leaving the orifices  12 ,  13  of these pipes  10 ,  11  in two parallel and opposite directions, the water causes the pipes  10 ,  11  and the ballast  8 , the horizontal bar  14  and the vertical shaft  15  that this bar  14  carries at its center, to rotate. The pipes  10 ,  11 , the ballast  8 , the horizontal bar  14  and the shaft  15  form the first rotary system. 
     At the same time, the water leaving the orifices  12 ,  13  of the pipes  10 ,  11  at a certain velocity strikes the blades  16  and causes the elements dependent on these blades  16 , namely the supports  17 , the spokes  18  with the circular ring  19  and the hollow cylinder  21  perpendicular thereto to rotate. The blades  16 , the supports  17 , the spokes  18  with the circular ring  19  and the hollow cylinder  21  form the second, rotary system. 
     However, because the two rotary system rotate in opposite directions, it is necessary for the first of these systems to be slowed, while maintaining its power, so that the second system can benefit effectively from the water jets emanating from the orifices  12 ,  13  of the pipes  10 ,  11 . That is the function of the ballast  8  carried by the platform  7  of the column  6  via the rolling bearings  9 . This ballast  8  has to be heavy enough that the first rotary system acquires a uniform and slow circular motion. An analogy might be the rotational speed of the rotors of large wind turbines which produce electrical current in an operating range from 9 to 19 revolutions per minute. 
     With the rotational speed of the first rotary assembly slowed, the water jets leaving the orifices  12 ,  13  of the pipes  10 ,  11  strike the blades  16  with greater force, increasing the electricity production of the second rotary assembly. 
     When the first rotary system is rotating under the effect of the water leaving the pipes  10 ,  11 , the shaft  15  which forms part of the first system also rotates and the first step-up gearbox  25 , in which the shaft  15  terminates, steps up the rotational speed of its output shaft  26  to the desired level. Because the shaft  26  is secured to the rotor of the first generator  27 , its rotation leads to a first production of electrical current. 
     Further, when the second rotary system is rotating, the hollow cylinder  21  that forms a part thereof also rotates and causes the first gearwheel  28  to which it is secured to turn. By turning, this first gearwheel turns the second gearwheel  29 , and the shaft  30  which is secured to it and which terminates in the second step-up gearbox  31 . This second step-up gearbox  31  steps up the rotational speed of its output shaft  32  to the desired level. Because the shaft  32  is secured to the rotor of the second generator  33 , its rotation causes a second production of electrical current. 
     Thus, under the effect of the same jet of water, the two rotary systems, which are independent of one another, each produce electricity. 
     The total production of electrical current of the machine according to the invention is equal to the sum of the electricity production of the two generators  27 ,  33 .