Abstract:
The APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR HARNESSING FLUID FLOW WITH FLEXIBLE MECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS include mechanisms that include flexible elements with strained deformations. In some implementations, oscillations of strained deformations in fins are excited by a moving fluid. By coupling the fin structure to an electrical generator and/or pump, energy from the moving fluid can be converted into electrical energy or used to perform useful mechanical work. In some implementations, the fin may be coupled to a motor or other actuator which causes the strained deformations to move, thereby imparting force onto the fluid to move or mix fluid or perform other useful work.

Description:
[0001]    This application for letters patent disclosure document describes inventive aspects that include various novel innovations (hereinafter “disclosure”) and contains material that is subject to copyright, mask work, and/or other intellectual property protection. The respective owners of such intellectual property have no objection to the facsimile reproduction of the disclosure by anyone as it appears in published Patent Office file/records, but otherwise reserve all rights. 
       PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0002]    This application is a Non-Provisional of, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to, prior U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/194,110, filed Jul. 17, 2015, entitled, “APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR HARNESSING FLUID FLOW WITH FLEXIBLE MECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS” (attorney docket no. 162666-0032 (P008Z)). The entire contents of the aforementioned application are expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD 
       [0003]    The present innovations generally address energy conversion, and more particularly, include APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR HARNESSING FLUID FLOW WITH FLEXIBLE MECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0004]    The kinetic energy of fluid flow can be harnessed and converted via an electromagnetic generator or other generator, or harnessed to perform useful mechanical work, such as pumping. Various designs have been developed for transducers, motors, power generators, and the like to facilitate the conversion of energy from one form to another. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The accompanying appendices and/or drawings illustrate various non-limiting, example, innovative aspects in accordance with the present descriptions: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  shows aspects of formation of a crenated strip in one embodiment; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  shows aspects of two crenated strips coupled together across a central longitudinal axis in one embodiment; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  shows aspects of formation of a crenated strip in another embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  shows aspects of crenated strips coupled together across a central longitudinal axis in another embodiment; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  shows aspects of formation of a crenated strip in another embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  shows aspects of formation of a crenated strip in another embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  shows rotational aspects of a fin under operation; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 8  A-C show a dynamic sequence of a fin under operation; 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  shows a mounted fin in another embodiment; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 10  A-C show a dynamic sequence of characteristics of another embodiment under operation; 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  shows another embodiment and dynamic characteristics under operation; 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  shows another embodiment with two axial members turning a common shaft; 
           [0018]      FIG. 13  shows a close up view of the central portion of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 14  shows a side elevation view of another implementation with two axial members turning a common shaft; 
           [0020]      FIG. 15  shows a top view of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 12-14 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 16  shows another embodiment with a boom arm; 
           [0022]      FIG. 17  is a simplified schematic elevation of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 16 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 18  shows an embodiment with multiple power take-off regions; 
           [0024]      FIG. 19  is a close up view of a central region of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 18 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 20  shows another embodiment with pods for power take-off; 
           [0026]      FIG. 21  shows a section view through a pod of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 20 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    In one embodiment, an arch-like planar member of flexible material  1  may have force  2  exerted upon it causing a straightening or partial straightening of the arch&#39;s inner edge  3  which may cause its outer edge  4  to take on one or more strained deformations that take on a pseudo-sinusoidal shape (e.g., wave-like deformations),  FIG. 1 , which taper in amplitude towards the inner edge  3 . Once in this strained and deformed shape, one or more restraining elements  6  fixed in place may maintain the planar member  1  in its strained and deformed shape as a type-one crenated strip  5 . 
         [0028]    In one embodiment, two arch-shaped planar members of flexible material  1  may have force exerted upon them  2  causing a straightening or partial straightening of their inner edges  3  causing their outer edges  4  to take on one or more wave-like strained deformations to form two type-one crenated strips  5 . The two inner edges  3  of each may be coupled together across a central longitudinal axis  7  which may maintain the strained deformations since each type-one crenated strip may act as a restraining element  6  for the other,  FIG. 2 . When configured together in this manner, two type-one crenated strips  5  may form a type-two crenated strip  5   a.    
         [0029]    In another embodiment, two or more arch-shaped planar members of flexible material  1 , each with an inner edge  3  and an outer edge  4 , are coupled together so that the inner edge  3  of one is attached to the outer edge  4  of the other. Forces  2  exerted may cause straightening or partial straightening of the innermost inner edge  3   a  to form a type-3 crenated strip  9 ,  FIG. 3 . In one implementation, a length of an inner edge  3  of one arch-shaped planar member and the outer edge  4  of a second arch-shaped planar member may be selected so as to produce an approximately equal length when attached in a deformed state. 
         [0030]    In one implementation, two type-three crenated strips  9  are coupled about their innermost edge  3   a  along a central longitudinal axis  7  to form a type-four crenated strip  9   a ,  FIG. 4 . 
         [0031]    In another embodiment, one or more arch-shaped planar members of flexible material  1  are assembled whereby the inner edge  3 , or innermost edge  3   a  of one, is coupled to a straight or substantially straight planar member of flexible material  11  with the application of force  2 , causing the assembly to take on wave-like deformations,  FIG. 5 , which may be kept from returning to an unstrained state with restraining elements  6 . In one implementation, two or more arch-shaped planar members of flexible material  1  are each coupled about their inner edges  3  to either side of a straight or substantially straight planar member of flexible material  11 ,  FIG. 6 , to create a type-five crenated strip  12 , in which the straight or substantially straight planar member of flexible material  11  may be bisected by the central longitudinal axis  7 . 
         [0032]    The term fins  13  is hereinafter used to encompass any or all of the type-two crenated strip  5   a , type-four crenated strip  9   a , and type-five crenated strip  12 . The morphology of a fin  13  is an expression of its internal energy state which, in one implementation, maintains the energy from the force  2  exerted upon the arch-shaped planar members of flexible material  1 , e.g., during the assembly described above. These undulations, or deformations, may travel along the central longitudinal axis  7 , such as with the application of a secondary force  10 , e.g., from fluid flow or other load source. The traveling undulations may be expressed as reciprocating rotations of regions of the fin  13  about the longitudinal axis  7  of the fin  13 . Continuous directional force  10  may cause the axis of the fin  13  at any given point to rotate sequentially through some angle clockwise and counter-clockwise,  FIG. 7 . 
         [0033]    In one embodiment,  FIGS. 8A-8C , the first end  14  of a fin  13  is fixed in one or more locations, such as via an edge-coupling member  15 , to a supporting member  16  which may be secured to an immovable substrate or object,  17 . The second end  18  of the fin  13  may be coupled via an edge-coupling member  15  in one or more locations to a shaft  19  which, in one implementation, is coupled to the rotor of an electromagnetic generator  20 , or to the driving mechanism of a pump  21 , or other transducer  22  capable of converting rotation into electrical energy or useful mechanical work. Conversely, the transducer  22  may be an actuator capable of turning electrical energy input into mechanical work, e.g., to create motion of the fin  13 , such as for a fan, fluid-mixing device, propeller, and/or the like. In one implementation, the electromagnetic generator  20 , pump drive mechanism  21  or other transducer  22  is fixed to a second supporting member  23 , which may be fixed to the first supporting member  16  or other immovable substrate or object  17 . 
         [0034]      FIGS. 8A-8C  show an embodiment in three states of motion induced by fluid flow  10  or other force causing the deformations of the fin  13  to travel in the direction of fluid flow  10  which in turn may cause the second end  18  of the fin  13  to rotate a shaft  19  which rotates an electromagnetic generator  20 , pump drive mechanism  21  or other transducer  22 . 
         [0035]    In another embodiment,  FIG. 9 , the fin  13  is connected at its first end  14  to a first edge-coupling component  24  that is fixed to a supporting member  16 , and at its second end  18  is fixed to a second edge coupling component  25 . The second edge coupling component  25  may be fixed to one or more force-displacement bars  26  which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis  7 , where the force-displacement bars  26  are coupled, e.g. rotationally, to a first edge coupling mechanism  24 , such as via gears or other rotational linkage  27 , which may turn a shaft  19  to power a generator  20 , pump drive mechanism  21  or other transducer  22 .  FIG. 9  illustrates this embodiment with the fin  13  shown as a dotted outline for visual clarity.  FIGS. 10A-10C  illustrate the embodiment described above under operation in one implementation, with directional force  10  causing the deformations of the fin  13  to travel in the direction of the force  10  which induces rotation  8  of the second end  18  of the fin  13  which is coupled to the second edge coupling component  25 . In this implementation, rotation of the second edge coupling component  25  causes rotation via the force-displacement bar or bars  26  of a rotational linkage  27  that passes through the first edge coupling mechanism  24  to a shaft  19  to power an electromagnetic generator  20 , pump drive mechanism  21  or other transducer  22 . 
         [0036]    In another embodiment, both a first end  14  and second end  18  of the fin  13  may rotate  8  under operation about a longitudinal axis  7 ,  FIG. 11 . In this embodiment, the fin  13  is coupled at one end  14  to an edge-coupling member  15  that is attached to a shaft  19  attached to an electromagnetic generator  20  and/or the like. The fin  13  may be coupled at its other end to a second edge-coupling member  28  which may rotate about a longitudinal axis  7  via a shaft  29  rotationally coupled to the second edge-coupling member  28  and an end component  30 . The end component  30  is fixed to a supporting member  16  or secondary supporting member  23  fixed to the supporting member  16 . The degree of rotation of the second edge-coupling member  28  is limited by mechanical stoppers  32  and/or the like on the second edge-coupling member  28 , which engage with mechanical stoppers  32  and/or the like on the end component  30 . This prevents the fin  13  from going into full body rotation about its longitudinal axis  7 , by preventing the end coupling member from rotating beyond a limit set by the arrangement of mechanical stoppers  32 . 
         [0037]    The travel of deformations along the fin  13  corresponds with partial rotation of the fin  13  whereby the rotational position, or phase position of one part of the fin  13  may be out of phase with other parts. Parts of the fin  13  with dissimilar phase positions and with opposite rotational directions may be mechanically linked to turn a common shaft  19  attached to an electromagnetic generator  20  and/or the like,  FIGS. 12-13 . In one implementation, the fin  13  is bifurcated about its longitudinal axis  7  by at least one axial member  33  coupled at one end to a first region of the fin  13  via an edge coupling member  15 , and at the other end to a gear mechanism  34  that turns a shaft  19  attached to an electromagnetic generator  20  and/or the like. 
         [0038]      FIG. 12  shows one implementation in which two axial members  33  are attached to either end of the fin  13  and power an electromagnetic generator  20  and/or the like through a gear mechanism  34 , such as a beveled gear assembly, coupled to a common shaft  19 . An electromagnetic generator  20  may be mounted via a rigid chassis  35  to a supporting member  16 . The axial members  33  may be coupled to the chassis  35  via bearing elements  36  that allow the axial members  33  to rotate relative to the chassis  35 . The profile of the fin  13  in  FIG. 12  is shown as a dotted line for visual clarity.  FIG. 13  is a close-up view of the chassis  35  showing how it interfaces with the axial members  33 , gear mechanism  34 , electromagnetic generator  20  and/or the like, and the supporting member  16 , and showing how the axial members  33  may rotate in opposite directions while turning the shaft  19  in one direction. 
         [0039]      FIG. 14  shows, in another implementation, a side view of two halves of the fin  13  coupled together via ring brackets  37  so that both halves are locked into a shared rotational position. The gear mechanism  34  may be a gear box with beveled gears and counter-rotating output shafts, for example, or a differential, or other type of gearbox.  FIG. 15  shows a top view of the implementation shown in  FIG. 14 . 
         [0040]      FIGS. 16-17  show an embodiment in which one end of a fin  13  is attached to an edge-coupling member  15  which is attached to an axial shaft  33 . The other end of the fin  13  may be coupled to an edge-coupling member  15   a  which is fixed to a boom  38 , which is rigidly fixed to a chassis  35  which is fixed to a supporting member  16 . In one implementation, the end of the fin  13  coupled to the boom  38  via an edge-coupling member  15   a  may be substantially restrained from rotating. In one implementation, the axial shaft  33  is rotationally coupled to a gearbox  34  which turns a shaft  19  which turns an electromagnetic generator  20  and/or the like. In one implementation, the axial shaft  33  is housed within the boom  38 . The boom  38  provides support for the fin  13  and provides a surface around which the ring brackets  37  may rotate. The ring brackets  37  may rotate around the surface of the boom  38 , e.g., by sliding or may contain bearings for reduced friction. The gear box  34  and electromagnetic generator  20  and/or the like are fixed to the chassis  35 .  FIG. 16  shows a perspective view of this embodiment and  FIG. 17  shows a schematic sectional view in which the profile of the fin  13  is shown as a dotted line for visual clarity. 
         [0041]    It has been disclosed how directional force such as fluid flow  10  may cause traveling wave deformations along a fin  13  which may have an affect whereby regions of a fin  13  may rotate  8  in different directions relative to each other. An elongate fin  13  with multiple deformations may have multiple locations suitable for power take-off.  FIG. 18  is an example of an embodiment with multiple deformations with regions that rotate  8  in different directions relative to each other as described above. 
         [0042]    In this implementation, a fin  13  that may be in flowing water or other fluid  10 ,  39  is tethered  41  to a fixed or immovable object or substrate  17 . A fin coupling member  40  at one end of the fin  13  may be coupled to the tether  41 . An axial shaft  33  is connected at one end to the fin coupling member  40 , and at the other end to the shaft  19  of an electromagnetic generator  20  and/or the like. In one implementation, the electromagnetic generator  20  and/or the like may be fixed inside a chassis  35  which is coupled to the fin  13  by one or more chassis-coupling members  42 ,  FIG. 19 . In one implementation, the axial shaft  33  passes through and may rotate relative to ring brackets  37  which are coupled to the fin  13 . Under operation the chassis  35 , to which the electromagnetic generator  20  and/or the like if fixed, may rotate relative to the axial shaft  33 , causing the generator  20  and/or the like to rotate relative to the axial shaft  33 .  FIG. 19  shows a close up view of a middle portion of the implementation shown in  FIG. 18 . 
         [0043]    Energy from the moving fluid  10 ,  39  may be harnessed in the electromagnetic generator  20  and/or the like. One or more additional axial shafts  33  turning electromagnetic generators  20  and/or the like, in a manner similar to the description above, may be added along the longitudinal axis  7  for multiple power take-offs. Where power take-off is the harnessing of electricity, power may be extracted via wires leading from the electromagnetic generator/s  20 , along the tether  41  to a battery  43 , an electricity grid, a remote motor, and/or the like. 
         [0044]    In another embodiment, power take-off from the moving fluid  10 ,  39  may take place in one or more locations along the fin  13  inside pods  44 ,  FIGS. 20-21 . The pod  44  may be comprised of a chassis-like outer body  45 . The chassis-like outer body  45  may be attached to the fin  13  with fin coupling members  40  that, in one implementation, may be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  7 , and with rotational fin coupling members  46  that are able to rotate about the longitudinal axis  7 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 21  shows a pod  44  sectioned to expose the power take-off mechanism inside the pod  44  in one implementation. The power take-off mechanism may utilize a heavy weight or pendulum  47  to provide reaction force for an electromagnetic generator  20  and/or the like. The rotation of the fin  13  causes the pod, to which the fin  13  is coupled, to rotate about the longitudinal axis  7  through some angle clockwise and counter-clockwise. The pendulum  47  hangs from a cross-bar  48  to which the pendulum  47  is rotationally coupled, e.g., with one or more pendulum bearings  49 . The cross bar  48  is coupled to an internal structure such as support plates  50  which are coupled to the chassis-like outer casing  45 . Under operation, as the pod  44  rotates clockwise and counter clockwise, the cross-bar  48  rotates with the pod  44  but the rotational position of the pendulum  47  remains substantially unchanged due to gravity. Therefore, the cross-bar  48  may rotate with respect to the pendulum  47 . An electromagnetic generator  20 , or the like, may be fixed to the pendulum  47 . The shaft  19  of the generator  20  may be turned, for example, via a belt  51  connected to a wheel  52  fixed to the cross-bar  48 ,  FIG. 21 , or the shaft  19  may be turned by gears and/or the like.