Patent ID: 7633174

Claim:
A floating turbine, comprising: a) a rotating shaft centrally disposed within and defining a major axis of an elongated, buoyant housing having a proximal end and a distal end and being mechanically coupled to said rotating shaft, said rotating shaft protruding beyond each of said proximal and said distal ends; b) a plurality of blades helically disposed on an outer surface of said elongated, buoyant housing; c) a stationary housing frame disposed proximate each of said proximal end and said distal end of said elongated, buoyant housing, said housing frame comprising a bearing adapted to receive and rotatively support said protruding portion of said rotating shaft; d) means for connecting a rotating load to said protruding portion of said rotating shaft disposed at least one of said proximate end and said distal end of said elongated, buoyant housing; and e) said elongated, buoyant housing comprising a volume, displacing an amount of water having a predetermined relationship to a weight of said turbine.