Abstract:
A water powered generator having a cylindrical shaped body supported in a substantially submerged fashion within a flowing body of water. A bracket extends from the body and is adapted to affix the same to an underwater bed location. A rotatable shaft extends vertically through a central interior of the body and about which are secured a plurality of vanes. An inlet of the body directs an inlet flow of fluid into an outer peripheral location of the body interior. A vertically descended outlet of the body aligns with the central interior and causes the creation of a naturally occurring vortex in the fluid passing within the body, this enhancing the rotational driving of the shaft, to which an electrical generator or other work output linkage can be connected, and prior to the fluid being discharged through the outlet.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 62/097,442 filed on Dec. 29, 2014, the contents of which are incorporated herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a fluid powered output assembly, such as in one non-limiting preferred embodiment including a hydroelectric generator. More particularly, the present invention discloses a water powered electrical generator which integrates a swirl chamber construction for magnifying and optimizing a power output associated with slow to moderate flowing bodies of water within which the generator is situated, such as which are often further associated with relatively small vertical drops in elevation existing within the body of water (e.g. rivers, streams, etc.). The construction of the water powered electrical generator is further such that it is largely safe to marine aquatic life and can further include a water outflow oxygenator for further benefitting such marine life including notably fish. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    As is known, the prior art is well documented with examples of water powered turbine, generator and other work output assemblies. In each instance, the objective of the assembly is to harness a work input, typically in the form of a flowing body of water, in order to create an initially rotating work output (e.g. a rotating shaft) which can either be tapped through a gear arrangement for a direct work output. Alternatively, an electrical generating component is operatively communicated with the output shaft for producing electricity. 
         [0004]    Known examples of water generated assemblies include the undershot impulse jet driven water turbine of Broome, US 2009/0175723, which teaches a low-head impulse jet water turbine for electric power generation at irrigation canal drop structures, navigation dam spillways or other low head watercourses for providing renewable electric power generation. Kinetic energy of a low-pressure jet is employed in a way that enables numerous locations to generate electricity conveniently near points of use, from a renewable source. The equipment is further described as pre-assembled for minimum installation on site and with no existing impoundment and which can be raised clear of flood levels with built-in lifting equipment. The system for raising the equipment is also disclosed as providing clear passage for fish migration. 
         [0005]    US 2007/0122279 to Sredzki et al. teaches a turbine device that consists of blades, cables, shaft, and sometimes flotation sections in the Blades for small (from under 1 KW) to large (multi MW) scale Energy Extraction (Potential and Kinetic) from currents, and for converting to mechanical and subsequently electrical energy. A cylindrical structure is provided which is less than 50% submerged into a water flowing current, and is designed to harvest the Energy, made available by a head induced across the blades which restrictively rotate slower than the current during the extraction of energy from the current. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,868,408, to Hesh, teaches a portable water-powered electric generator having a tubular form with opposite open inlet and outlet ends defining a longitudinal flow path for the moving stream water. The tubular form defines a converging Venturi terminating at a throat between the inlet and outlet ends. An electric dynamo, having a sealed housing and external driving propeller means, is supported in the flow path downstream of the throat, with the propeller means at the throat. The inlet end is between 2-5 times larger in area than the Venturi throat, to speed up the water passing through the propeller means. The tubular form and housing together define a diverging Venturi downstream from the throat, decelerating the water with minimal losses before exiting from the open outlet end. The open outlet end is 1.1-1.5 times larger in area than the open inlet end, whereby the slightly faster surrounding stream water blending with the exiting water at the open outlet end may tend to accelerate the exiting water slightly for added efficiencies. A buoyancy chamber, with remotely operated valve and gas pressure means, is on the portable electric generator unit to regulate its overall buoyancy, for adjusting its operative depth of use in the stream. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention discloses a water powered generator having a cylindrical shaped body supported in a substantially submerged fashion within a flowing body of water. A bracket extends from the body and is adapted to affix the same to an underwater bed location. 
         [0008]    A rotatable shaft extends vertically through a central interior of the body and about which are secured a plurality of vanes. An inlet of the body directs an inlet flow of fluid into an outer peripheral location of the body interior. A vertically descended outlet of the body aligns with the central interior and causes the creation of a naturally occurring vortex in the fluid passing within the body, this enhancing the rotational driving of the shaft, and prior to the fluid being discharged through the outlet. 
         [0009]    Other features include an electrical converting component situated atop the body and communicating with an upper projecting end of the rotating shaft. A bottom end of the shaft supports a rotary actuated water aeration component. A debris gate can also be situated at the inlet. 
         [0010]    Additional features include a journal support bracket affixed to an underside of an upper chamber defining wall associated with the body, the shaft extending upwardly through the bracket and being supported by bearings contained within the bracket, the shaft progressively extending through an aperture in the upper wall and terminating in contact with the electrical converting component. Yet additional features can include a swing arm integrated into the entry gate of the assembly and which is pivot adjustable, such as via a heavy duty screw mount, relative to a terminating wall location associated with the inlet stream in order to tune a volume of water flow into the generator in order to optimize operation of the same. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a top view in partially cutaway fashion of the hydro powered electric generator according to one non-limiting embodiment of the present inventions; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a partially rotated side view of the generator of  FIG. 1 , again in cutaway, and illustrating the water inlet and outlet locations in combination with the placement of the generator in a substantially submersed fashion within a body of water at a location of modest vertical drop. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0014]    As previously described, the present inventions disclose a fluid powered output assembly, such as in one non-limiting preferred embodiment including a hydroelectric generator, and which can be utilized in relatively slow moving bodies of water, such as rivers or streams exhibiting modest vertical drops in elevation. The assembly, as will be described below in detail, is particularly suited for use in smaller moving bodies of water such as streams associated with rural locations and for providing a hydro generated electrical output, as well as other mechanical rotary work output options, and such as in order to provide low cost power to a single (residential) location with access to a moderate amount of river flow and little elevation change. 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , corresponding top and partially side rotated views are shown, each in a partially cutaway fashion, of the hydro powered electric generator, generally at  10 , according to one non-limiting embodiment of the present inventions. A support structure, referenced at  12  in  FIG. 1 , is provided in the form of a three dimensional fixed support for the submerged assembly, such as which can be fixedly secured or anchored to an underwater bed. 
         [0016]    Without limitation, the support structure can include additional anchors or like restraining structure in order to be firmly affixed to the underwater ground location and so that a main swirl chamber portion, depicted by circular side wall  14  and radial base wall  16  with a central open location (see inner radial edge  18 ), a debris gate or filter  19  being located in the inlet stream further defined in the body, which is in turn substantially submerged within the flowing body of water (to level  20  as shown) in a fixed manner. While it is envisioned that the main body of the assembly can be configured in any desirable fashion for receiving the inlet water flow, one desirable application provides for an electrical generator component  21  (generically termed an electrical converting component) supported atop the main support structure  12  in the manner shown in  FIG. 2  and so that it is sufficiently located above the surface  20  of the moving water flow. Although not depicted, it is also understood that the electrical generator component  21  can be substituted by any other suitable work output (not shown) 
         [0017]    As depicted at  22  in each of  FIGS. 1-2 , a naturally flowing inlet water source is directed along an inlet passageway or conduit  24  (see as best shown in  FIG. 1 ) for introduction to an outer peripheral location of the cylindrical side wall  14  of the swirl chamber. The grate  19  is positioned at the interface of the inlet water source  22  with the delivery conduit  24  in order to filter out any of debris, other contaminants, and importantly also fish and other marine aquatic life. 
         [0018]    The construction of the grate  19 , including the selection and sizing of any filtering mesh associate associated therewith, can further be selected based upon the environment within it is place, such considerations also including what types of marine life/contaminants can be expected and how often it is desirable to change or clean the filters. Regardless of the sizing and application of the grating or filtering component, the design of the system is further such that fish and the like can safely pass through the swirl chamber and out the discharge with minimal odds of damaging the components of the assembly and/or injuring or killing the marine life. 
         [0019]    A shaft  28  is supported in vertically extending and centrally located fashion within the swirl chamber defining cylindrical side wall  14 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the shaft  28  is supported at an upper extending end by a journal support bracket  30  affixed to the underside of the upper chamber wall  12 . The shaft  28  is supported by bearings  32  and  34  at upwardly extending locations through the interior of the bracket  30 , the shaft extending through an aperture (see inner circumferential surface  36 ) in the top wall  12  and terminating in contact with the electrical generator  21 . In this fashion, the rotating output of the shaft  28  is transferred to the generator  21  in order to create an electrical output (such as for powering a nearby residence or other structure having electricity requirements). 
         [0020]    One non-limiting example of a plurality of paddles, or vanes, is depicted in  FIG. 1  by a plurality of five such vanes  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  and  46  arranged about the shaft  28 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the vanes  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  and  46  each exhibit an intermediate angled or bent location in order to maximize its fluid initiated rotational driving input delivered to the shaft  28 . Without limitation, the configuration of the vanes can be modified from that shown and can also envision other three dimensional or turbine designed components which can have smooth arcuate or other surface profiles configured to maximize the fluid driving forces created within the swirl chamber. 
         [0021]    To this end, an initial water inlet location is depicted by arrow  48  in each of  FIGS. 1-2  and which is intended to represent the inlet fluid flow through the conduit location  24  for introduction at the outer peripheral location (further at  50  in  FIG. 1 ) associated with the cylindrical swirl chamber interior. A swing arm  49  is integrated into the entry gate of the assembly, this defined by a pivotal screw mount  51  positioned at an inner terminating wall location along an inner surface of the inlet flow passageway  24 , and which is opposed by an outer guiding wall  53  which in turn transitions into a circulator outer chamber wall  55  defining the swirl chamber. The swing arm  49 , without limitation, can be dimensioned a substantial height of the flow passageway and, through the use of the heavy duty screw actuator, can pivot adjustable (see phantom adjusted positions  49 ′ and  49 ″), in order to tune a volume of water flow into the generator in order to optimize operation of the same. 
         [0022]    As further shown in  FIG. 1 , the flow inlet profile is converted to a continual swirl pattern, see further arrows  52 ,  54  and  56 , this being further propagated and maintained by the vertical drop (distance  58  in  FIG. 2 ) associated with the inlet  24  to outlet  60  interface location, this again aligning with the position of the central supported rotating shaft  28 . 
         [0023]    In one non-limiting example, the vertical drop can be a minimal distance (such as two to three feet corresponding to a four foot diameter swirl chamber construction) with the resulting fluid pattern adopting a descending swirl (or cyclonic) pattern between the (higher) inlet and the (lower) outlet. Without limitation, the water generating assembly is scalable to any dimensions associated with the sizing of the flowing water body within which it is placed and factoring in the desired electrical (or other work) output requirements. 
         [0024]    The further advantage of the cyclonic generated flow pattern is in maximizing the rotational driving forces exerted by the fluid upon the vanes  38 - 46 , and by extension the shaft  28 , relative to the speed of the fluid flow. This is further assisted by the generation of the internal kinetic energy forces within the swirl chamber which, combined with the weight of the upper level and continually in-flowing water, operates in conjunction with the naturally generated vortex in order to accelerate the speed of the water flow, and thereby enhance and improve shaft speed output, and by extension the ability to generator more output power (e.g. electrical or otherwise). 
         [0025]    Also depicted in  FIG. 2  is a water aeration chamber (or component)  62  of any known construction and which is mounted proximate a bottom-most extending end  64  of the shaft  28  and at a location proximate the open central underside of the swirl chamber through which a fluid accelerating base of the cyclonic fluid flow is exited from the swirl chamber through the underside outlet  60  as an oxygenated exiting water flow  66 . 
         [0026]    Advantages of the system include the ability to both magnify and optimize a power output associated with slow to moderate flowing bodies of water, within which the generator is situated, and such as which are often further associated with relatively small vertical drops in elevation associated with the body of water (e.g. rivers, streams, etc.). The construction of the water powered electrical generator is again further such that it is largely safe to marine aquatic life and can further include a water outflow oxygenator for further benefitting such marine life including notably fish. 
         [0027]    The system is further designed to return the water flow directly back into the river or other flowing body of water of origin. The oxygenation component  62 , being driven by the extending underside of the rotation shaft  28  to which it is secured, further assists in increasing the overall oxygenation content of the water, this in turn improving the quality of the river. Also, and given that the system is placed into a flowing body of water with modest vertical drop (i.e. often no more than a couple of feet at the location identified at outlet  60 ), minimal or no head pressure is created at the outlet (the existence of higher pressures otherwise resulting in the death of many smaller fish caught in the system). 
         [0028]    Having described my invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims.