Patent Publication Number: US-RE38336-E

Title: Hydroelectric powerplant

Description:
BRIEF SUMMARY 
     The present invention combines elements of a hydroelectric power plant, the entire system of which produces electricity in a totally submerged attitude below the oceans surface, and upon blowing ballast rises to the surface for transportation, inspection and maintenance. The system of the present invention produces electricity to be routed to shore through buried conductor cables to a land based switching station. The system of the present invention provides efficient electricity in the following manner: 
     The water current flows through two turbines causing them to turn each in opposite rotation of the other. Pressed tightly against the outer rims of the turbines are synthetic rubber tires coupled directly to hydraulic type pumps. The turbines turn the synthetic rubber tires which turn the hydraulic pumps which pump oil under pressure to the frame of the machine which is constructed of pipe. The oil under pressure is routed through passages in the frame to a central area where the hydraulically turned electric generator is located. The oil under pressure does the work of turning the generator and is returned back to the pumps through difference passages than those used for pressure. 
     The entire system is secured to the ocean bottom and buoyed off bottom so that no part of it is visible from the surface. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1, is a elevation front view of a hydroelectric power plant according to an embodiment of the present invention, suspended from the bottom of the ocean is viewed from directly up current. 
     FIG. 2, is a representation in elevation side view of the hydroelectric power plant in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3, is a cross-section developed view of the frame, turbine and flotation chamber of the hydroelectric power plant of FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     FIG. 4, is a cross-section view of the power plant in both a rotational and a non-rotational mode. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now in detail to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3  and  4 , a hydroelectric power plant located submerged in a body of water with a current. 
     Two turbines  4 ,  5  and  6  which are identical to each other in every aspect except pitch are rotated in opposite rotation from each other by the pressure differential in the water current flowing through them. Blades  5  are of a shape which is pitched from leading edge to trailing edge which enables them to turn as a result of the pressure on the upstream side of the blades  5  being greater than that of the downstream sides. The inner rims  4  and the other rims  6  are secured to the blades  5  causing the entire turbines  4 ,  5  and  6  to be held securely together. 
     The synthetic rubber tires  12  are secured directly by the use of bolts to the shafts of the hydraulic pumps  13  which are attached to the frame  9  and  10  of the preferred embodiment. The pumps  13  when turned by the tires  12  pump oil under pressure which is introduced into the frame passage  9  to be routed to the generator enclosure  1  wherein is located a hydraulically powered generator. After the hydraulic oil has performed the work of turning the generator it is routed back to the pumps  13  via the frame passage  10 . Brace  14  although structurally a brace to add rigidity to the frame  9  and  10  also is a passageway for hydraulic oil. 
     The floatation chambers  7  are hollow fiberglass enclosures which when filled with air cause the entire preferred embodiment to rise to the ocean surface and in doing so, fall forward taking on the attitude of being horizontal and floating on the surface. It is in this horizontal attitude that the turbines  4 ,  5  and  6  will stop turning since the pressure has equalized on both sides of blades  5 . While in this horizontal attitude, the buoyancy of the flotation chambers  7  will hold the frame  9  and  10 , the pumps  13 , the tires  12  and the turbines  4 ,  5  and  6  above the waters surface to facilitate ease of transportation, inspection and maintenance. 
     When a portion of the air in flotation chambers  7  is released to the atmosphere, the water will enter the chambers  7  and allow the preferred embodiment to sink below the waters surface and back to its vertical attitude. As the water pressure against the blades  5  become unequal, the blades  5  will resume rotation and the generator will produce electricity. 
     The open areas  2  and  3  allow unrestricted water flow through them thereby reducing down current turbulence on the blades  5 . 
     The frames  9  and  10 , the flotation chambers  7 , the pumps  13  and the generator enclosure  1  are held stationary in the water flow. Only the turbines  4 ,  5  and  6  and the tires  12  rotate in the water. 
     The tires  12  and the water flow hold the turbines  4 ,  5  and  6  on location while allowing them to rotate.