Patent ID: 8491266

Claim:
A fluid energy conversion device, comprising: a central drive shaft rotating about a central drive axis for delivering rotational output of said fluid energy conversion device; a plurality of fluid catching modules mounted on said central drive shaft and oriented perpendicular to said central drive shaft; and at least one base plate disposed between each of said plurality of fluid catching modules, each of said at least one base plate extends beyond an outer surface of said plurality of fluid catching modules and is configured to improve efficiency by directing additional fluid to said plurality of fluid catching modules; wherein each of said plurality of fluid catching modules is offset a predetermined angular position about said central drive shaft; and wherein said predetermined angular positions of said plurality of fluid catching modules about said central drive shaft comprise: a first intake element of a first fluid catching module disposed at an angular offset of zero degrees; a first intake element of a second fluid catching module disposed at an angular offset of sixty degrees; a first intake element of a third fluid catching module disposed at an angular offset of one hundred twenty degrees; a first intake element of a fourth fluid catching module disposed at an angular offset of thirty degrees; a first intake element of a fifth fluid catching module disposed at an angular offset of ninety degrees; and a first intake element of a sixth fluid catching module disposed at an angular offset of one hundred fifty degrees.