Patent ID: 7375437

Claim:
A hydroelectric device comprising: a) a base portion having a first end at a substantially upstream end of said device when said device is in operable position within a body of water and a second end at a substantially downstream end of said device when said device is in operable position within a body of water, and further having opposing side walls, a top surface, and a bottom surface, said opposing sidewalls and top and bottom surfaces defining an interior space therein, said interior space being wider at said first and second ends of said base portion than at an interior of said base portion, said top surface of said base portion having a central slot along at least a portion of a longitudinal axis thereof; b) a wheel support portion fixedly attached to said base portion and extending away therefrom; c) a wheel portion rotatably attached to said wheel support portion, said wheel portion having a plurality of blades extending from a center thereof, wherein said plurality of blades pass through said central slot of said base portion when said wheel is rotated; and d) an electrical generator operably engaged with said wheel portion, wherein when water is introduced into said first end of said base portion, the rate of flow of the water is increased by the shape of said interior space of said base portion, and further wherein when said wheel portion is operably positioned on said wheel support, the blades of said wheel portion are impacted by the accelerated water and said wheel portion is thereby caused to rotate, and further wherein electricity is produced from the rotation of said wheel portion, said hydroelectric device being positioned in said body of water such that at least a first portion of said body of water flows through said interior space of said base portion, and at least a second portion of said body of water flows around said hydroelectric device.