Abstract:
The invention produces electricity by the use of a continuous loop cable drawn by a water current through the use of sea anchors (chutes).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    “Not applicable” 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002] “Not applicable” 
     
    
     
       REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX  
         [0003]    “Not applicable” 
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The invention is a machine for producing electricity from a water current. A provisional application 60/233,754 filing date Sep. 19, 2000 has been filed. The name has been changed from “Powerplant for producing electricity from a body of water which has a flow” to “Chute type powerplant”. The invention has been simplified from the above provisional application by omitting the use of a hydraulic system.  
           [0005]    This machine is designed to primarily be used in slower (low head) currents where propeller type turbines are not very efficient. A good application for this would be ocean currents. Although ocean currents have tremendous energy potential, they do not readily lend themselves to existing turbine technologies. This invention will work in the 1 to 5 knot velocity ranges where present ones do not perform well.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    This invention deals with the need to be more efficient in slow velocity currents by converting the current energy to a tension energy by the use of drag chutes. A tension energy can them be readily transferred to a rotational energy needed to turn a generator.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1. is the anchoring cables.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2. is the open area in the center of the frame.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3. is the platform that is anchored to the bottom.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4. is the housing.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5. is the continuous loop of cable.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6. is the drag chutes that do the work of tensioning (pulling the cable downstream).  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 7. is the geared generator that produces the electricity.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 8. is the gear that attaches to the housing.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 9. is the gear that is attached to the shaft of the geared generator. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]    The invention is old in its technologies but new in its method of utilizing them. takes the idea of a plurality of drag chutes (sea anchors)  6  and attaches them around a continuous loop of cable  5  which is arraigned in such a manner that half the drag chutes  6  are deployed (spread open) being moved downstream and half are collapsed being moved upstream. The half of the drag chutes  6  moving downstream are doing the work while the half moving upstream are being positioned to do work. The cable  5  is arraigned in such a manner that its continuous movement turns the housing  4  located around the perimeter of the frame  3 . The frame  3  is stationary and secured to the bottom with an anchoring system  1 . Around the perimeter of the frame  3  is attached a plurality of direct drive generators  7  which are turned by the outer housing  4 . On the inside of the housing  4  is a gear  8 . On the shaft of each generator  7  drive is a mating gear  9 . These generator drive gears  9  do the work of turning the generators  7  and also hold the housing  4  in position. The generators produce electricity, which is tied in to the electrical grid on shore. The entire process takes place beneath the water surface. The frame can have an open area  2  in its center or be filled for additional flotation. The energy can be transferred from the housing to the generators by the use of gears (as is shown in FIG. 3) or by a hydraulic system as is described in the provisional application referred to above in THE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION.