Patent ID: 8786120

Claim:
An apparatus for generating electricity, comprising: a conduit having an open forward end and an open rearward end, said conduit adapted for water flow therethrough from said open forward end to said open rearward end; a shaft mounted within said conduit in substantially concentric relation to said conduit, said shaft having an axis of rotation substantially coincident with a longitudinal axis of symmetry of said conduit; a forward crossbar supporting a forward end of said shaft, said forward crossbar having opposite ends secured to said conduit; a rearward crossbar supporting a rearward end of said shaft, said rearward crossbar having opposite ends secured to said conduit; a hydraulic turbine secured to said shaft so that said shaft rotates conjointly with said hydraulic turbine when water flows through said conduit from said forward end to said rearward end; said hydraulic turbine having a hub and a plurality of blades formed integrally with said hub; a generator disposed rearward of said hydraulic turbine in axial alignment therewith; said hydraulic turbine and generator being immersed in water when water flows through said conduit, said water flow being substantially parallel to said axis of rotation of said shaft, said hydraulic turbine converting water flow into mechanical energy and said generator converting said mechanical energy into electrical energy; said generator including a rotor and a stator mounted for relative rotation therebetween, said rotor having a plurality of permanent magnets mounted thereon so that electricity is generated as said permanent magnets rotate relative to said stator; and a gap between said rotor and stator being filled with water when water flows through said conduit; said turbine hub having a rotating extension that forms a rotatable inner housing; said rotor mounted to an external surface of said rotatable inner housing; a non-rotatable outer housing mounted to said rearward crossbar; said stator mounted to an interior surface of said non-rotatable outer housing; and said stator mounted in encircling relation to said rotor.