Patent ID: 7847425

Claim:
A tidal flow power generator comprising a waterpower conversion unit, a transmission mechanism and a generator set, wherein the waterpower conversion unit includes: a cuboid shaped flow confining housing arranged longitudinally along the direction of water flow which has flow confining plates forming the sides of the flow confining housing and reinforcing supports provided between the flow confining plates, in which the both ends of the flow confining housing in longitudinal direction are open to allow water flow to pass through; a main frame mounted in the flow confining housing which has two chain sprockets spaced apart from each other, an endless track chain engaged with the two chain sprockets, and a plurality of foldable sails hinged to the track chain at one end and stretchable in a single direction, in which a inclined cable is connected between each foldable sail and the track chain, and the length of the inclined cable is determined to ensure that the foldable sails are substantially perpendicular to the track chain when the foldable sails reach the maximum stretchable extent, the part of the track chain on which the foldable sails attached are unfolded and pushed by water is a working section while the other part of the track chain is a non-working section, and the distance between the working section and the respective flow confining plate is equal to or a little larger than the length of the foldable sails when they fully stretch out, while the distance between the non-working section and the respective flow confining plate is a minimum distance allowing the folded foldable sails to pass through with the track chain, the foldable sails are unfolded by thrust of the water and then drive the track chain to rotate which force the rotation of the chain sprockets, and output gears attached on rotating shafts of the chain sprockets are engaged with the transmission mechanism and the latter finally drive the generator set to generate electricity.