Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a divisional application of co-pending application Ser. No. 10/754,255 filed Jan. 9, 2004 which claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/458,488, filed Mar. 28, 2003. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is related to underwater ocean current Hydro-Electric farms and the electrical generators used for such farms. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The problem with underwater ocean current flow power conversion to electric energy up to now has been that the electric generators had to be shielded from the ocean water, either by placing them above the surface of the water or enclosing them in watertight containers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     What is needed is a new and unique invention that can use a direct ocean water immersion type of electrical generator. These generators can incorporate either an internal framework with the stator wire coils attached to and wound around this framework, which can then support this new assembly, or the more conventional exterior supported coil wire arrangement, sometimes known as the clamshell type arrangement. 
     The exterior and interior surfaces of this new generator is coated with a new combination of composite layers to form a non-conductive, heat dissipating, anti-fouling, caustic water environment specific, protective coating thus allowing the entire apparatus sustained immersion in the ocean water. 
     These generators are designed to allow the ocean current to pass through their shapes to further aid in heat dissipation. Air based generators are limited by heat in the amount of electrical current they produce. In this invention, by allowing the water to flow around the windings and increase the generated heat dispersion, it can produce larger amounts of electric current from the same size generator with industry standard windings. 
     These electrical generators could also incorporate the use of a brush-less design, whereas the rotator components are never actually in contact with the stator assembly. The extended life of each unit and each individual component is one of the overall design goals of this invention. 
     These electric generators are self-contained and modular in aspect. Replacement of most components involves the removal of the entire electrical generator and turbine blade/propeller assemblies and plugging in a replacement combined unit. Service of the combined units can be on either specially equipped ships and/or serviced on the mainland, depending upon the extent of the repairs required. Spare assemblies can be ready in advance to facilitate removal and replacement of malfunctioning units with a minimum of downtime. The Hydro-Electric Farm as a whole only loses the generating capacity of the individual assembly that is being replaced. 
     This plug-in unit capacity can only be accomplished with the generator-supporting replacement-friendly cradles. These cradles are pre-assembled, transported to the site location and then lowered into position ready to receive the generator assemblies. Cradles are attached to the ocean bottom with pile anchors. They can be driven, mechanically or power charged, augured or vibrated into position. 
     Placement of the electric generators minimizes environmental and boat traffic concerns. Other placement criteria include: a) degree of slope of the bottom which could be anywhere between vertical and horizontal, b) actual composition of the bottom, c) placement proximity to final use of the generated electricity, d) location of optimum constant ocean current. 
     The electric generators are powered by a composite turbine blade/propeller that converts the ocean current&#39;s kinetic energy into rotational force. The rotational blades are large and slow moving, but with substantial torque, this kinetic energy then is applied to the rotational shaft on which they turn. This shaft is coupled to, or is a part of, a gear up rotational enhancer to maximize the electric generator&#39;s output. These turbine blade/propeller assemblies are constructed of either non-corroding metals, space age composite materials and/or coated with a protective type coating similar to that used on the electric generators. 
     The metals incorporated in the design of these electric generating units and in their cradle design are preferably non-corroding alloy metals. 
     The power transmission lines from each Hydro-Electric Farm converges and unifies and then is routed to the mainland under land and water surface thru directional drilled conduits. The advantages of this arrangement are numerous. The described turbine blade/propeller driven electric generator, cradle, anchoring piles and transmission lines are located in plural. Directional drilling from the mainland sites places the transmission line conduit under the mainland and ocean surface. 
     The power control equipment, voltage regulators, converters and accumulators are located inland and adjacent to the conventional power grid system. 
     This invention and process is composed of predominately new art coupled with some prior art combined in a unique and exciting new manner to produce renewable electric energy from ocean currents. This new combination includes, but is not limited to: totally immersed electric generators powered by ocean currents that have new internal structures and support components, coated with non-conductive, heat dissipating, anti-fouling, water environment specific, protective coatings, employment of new turbine blade/propellers, (multiple styles are shown), setting of these submerged generators, (two types are shown), on pre-constructed cradles, (two types are shown), anchoring of these cradles in the current&#39;s flow, constructing the generator and turbine blade/propeller as a combined replaceable unit, employing directional drilling to route the transmission cables, using water specific electric cable types, employing a junction platform (transfer station) for mid ocean deployment, and grouping these electric generators in multiple placement formations that are known as Hydro-Electric Farms. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a Cross-Sectional View of an Adjacent Site Hydro-Electric Farm; 
         FIG. 2  is another embodiment of the invention in cases where the ocean currents are not directly adjacent to the mainland, in which an intermediate platform (transfer station) is incorporated where the platform is bottom supported. Alternatively, the transfer station may be of a submersible, or semi-submersible type structure, or a combination of the three types; 
         FIG. 2   a  is a side view of the conventional bottom supported intermediate platform; 
         FIG. 2   b  is a side view of the a submersible type intermediate platform; 
         FIG. 2   c  is a side view of the a semi-submersible type intermediate platform; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of a Hydro-Electric Farm in which the ocean current is in close proximity to the mainland shoreline; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the internally supported electric generator assembly, including the turbine blade/propeller, in whichever style selected, being omitted, (see the omit line at the end of the turbine blade/propeller shaft), to focus on the electric generator and it&#39;s corresponding parts; 
         FIG. 5  shows a cross-sectional view of the internally supported electric generator, as shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 5   a  is an exploded or expanded view of the top portion of the internally supported electric generator, as shown in  FIG. 5  as the area to be highlighted in the expansion circle; 
         FIG. 5   b  is an exploded or expanded view of the Brush-Less Rotator Assembly as if it were pulled forward from the front of the standard rotator; 
         FIG. 6  is the side view of an externally supported (stator) field wound electric generator, the turbine blade/propeller being omitted (see the omit line at the end of the turbine blade/propeller shaft), to focus on the electric generator and its corresponding parts; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view along cut line (B—B) of  FIG. 6  of the externally supported electric generator; 
         FIG. 8  is side view of the internally supported electric generator as it sits on the pre-manufactured cradle, again with the turbine blade/propeller being omitted to focus on the electric generator and the corresponding cradle; 
         FIG. 8   a  is side view of a concrete cradle mounted with an internally supported electric generator; 
         FIG. 8   b  is a cross-sectional along cut line (C 1 —C 1 ) showing the internal components of the Magnetic Force Support Points; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional along cut Line (C—C) of  FIG. 8  of the internally supported electric generator on the pre-manufactured concrete cradle; 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of an externally supported electrical generator on the pre-manufactured concrete cradle; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross section along cut Line (D—D) of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  shows the internally supported generator attached to a different type cradle system, again with the turbine blade/propeller being omitted to focus on the electric generator and the corresponding cradle; 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view along cut line (E—E) of  FIG. 12  of the internal supported electric generator mated with the open web cradle; 
         FIG. 13   a  is a front view of the extended open web cradle with the internal supported electric generators arranged side by side. The cut line (G—G) has abbreviated the length of the extended cradle in the drawing; 
         FIG. 13   b  is a plan view of the extended open web cradle system showing placement of the internal supported electric generators arranged side by side. The cut line (H—H) has abbreviated the length of the extended cradle in the drawing; 
         FIG. 14  is a side view of an externally supported electric generator placed on an open web cradle, again with the turbine blade/propeller being omitted to focus on the electric generator and the corresponding cradle; 
         FIG. 15  shows a cross section of an externally supported electric generator placed on an open web cradle along cut line (F—F) of  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  shows the placement of a Turbine Blade Propeller style on the blade spindle, connected to the end of the turbine blade/propeller shaft, which powers an internally supported electric generator; 
         FIG. 17  is the front view of the Turbine Blade Propeller style noted in  FIG. 16  and which has in a rotational configuration eight individual blades pitched and overlapped in order to maximize conversion to rotational movement; 
         FIG. 18  shows the placement of a Propeller Weave Rotational Unit style, on an internally supported electrical generator; 
         FIG. 19  is the front view of the Propeller Weave Rotational Unit style noted in  FIG. 18 ; 
         FIG. 20  is a side view of The Box Blade Weave Propeller style; 
         FIG. 21  is the front view of Box Blade Weave Propeller style of  FIG. 20 ; 
         FIG. 22  is the side view of the Box Blade Solid Vane Propeller style; 
         FIG. 23  is the front view of the Box Blade Solid Vane Propeller style of  FIG. 22 ; 
         FIG. 24  is the side view of The Skeletal Spiral Turbine style; 
         FIG. 25  is the front view of the Skeletal Spiral Turbine style of  FIG. 24 ; 
         FIG. 26  is the side view of the Multiple Three Blade Configuration style; and 
         FIG. 27  is the front view of the Multiple Three Blade Configuration style of  FIG. 26 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1 : Cross Section View of an Adjacent Site Hydro-Electric Farm. Shown in this view is the direct immersion type of electrical generator  12 . The exterior and interior surfaces of this generator is coated with a protective covering  19 . Also shown are the composite turbine blade/propellers  13 , the ocean current  17 , pre-assembled cradle  16  and the pile type devices  15 . This anchoring system can be used either horizontally into the side of the underwater channel drop-offs  8  or vertically into the bottom of the current channels  26 . The layout of the multiple generators is based on current flow  17  and the required design minimum depth  18  for the generator assemblies  12 / 13 , from the ocean surface  7 . 
     The power transmission lines to the mainland are via under water transmission cables  11  that are pulled thru the directional drilled conduits  6 . Close to the mainland, these transmission lines are routed through the entrances  9  of the conduits  6 , to sites set well back from the coastline  5  and the shoreline buildings  4 . These conduits emerge at  10  which is where the power regulators and conversion equipment (also referred herein as control segment)  3  is housed, and the standard mainland transformers  2  and transmission lines  1  are located. 
     The described electric generators  12  are located in plurality in an array arrangement. Control wirings  14  interconnect these multiple electric generators  12 . 
       FIG. 2 : In areas of the world where the ocean currents are not directly adjacent to the mainland, there can be placed an intermediate junction platform (transfer station)  22 , somewhat like the modern oil drilling platform, in which the platform may be bottom supported, as shown in  FIG. 2 , or of a submersible type, or semi-submersible type structure, or a combination of the above types, depending upon the depth of the ocean current  18  from the surface  7 , the conditions of the bottom, and other factors. These platforms collect and transform the harvested electricity into the proper configuration for long distance transmission to the mainland. The incoming, direct bottom laid, power accumulated transmission line  20  is routed up the platform  21  and then converted in the control segment  3  of the platform  22  to long distance transmission configuration. The power is then routed back down the platform  23  and to the mainland via the ocean bottom laid transmission cables  25 . When this cable  25  reaches proximity to the coastline it can then be routed into the same type of conduit opening  9  located in the naturally occurring ocean bottom  8 , thru the incoming conduit  6 , along with or be transformed into, part of the standard transmission cable  11 , and then up to the above ground emergence point  10 . The rest of the generation, collection, combining and transmission aspects of the collective Hydro-Electric Farm as depicted in  FIG. 1 , will apply to finally feeding the electricity generated into the mainland electric power grids  1 . We have not retraced the common and identical components in both  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , as they are similar and the concepts are alike. The conduit  6  may be shorter or longer based on the particular generating site&#39;s ocean bottom characteristics and location of the mainland emerging point  10 , its distance from the underwater conduit pull point  9 , which is influenced by the ocean bottom depth  8 . The control wiring and generator monitoring functions are handled from the adjacent platform  22 , rather than from the mainland site as in  FIG. 1 . The overall electric generating principles apply in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 2   a : This is a side view of the standard intermediate junction platform that is bottom supported. This has been discussed in length above. The permanent built in place bottom supported platforms are well known in the oil drilling art. 
       FIG. 2   b : This is a side view of a typical towed into place submersible intermediate junction platform that becomes tethered to the bottom in a semi-permanent placement. The drawing shows the exterior skin removed to reveal the interior spaces. The surface buoy for communications, anchorage of junction platform servicing ships and location of the submersible junction platform is shown as  83 . The docking port for underwater submersible craft to supply men and materials to the submersed junction platform is shown as  84 . The main temporary living, material storage and equipment areas are shown as  85 . The water filled stabilizing pontoons or ballast chambers are denoted as  88 . The structural cross bracing members bracing and tying the main junction platform chamber with the ballast chambers are shown as  90 . The submersible platform&#39;s bottom tethers are shown as  89 . The submersible platform&#39;s bottom support struts are shown as  86 . The tether bottom anchorage points are shown as  91 . The bottom is shown as  26 . The power from the Hydro-Electric Farm being serviced is routed into the submersible platform and is shown as  21 . The electrical transformation equipment in the control segment is shown as  3 . The configured outgoing power is then routed out of the structure  23  to the outgoing transmission lines to the mainland. These submersible platforms are known in the deep-sea exploration and the under sea habitat art. This is a new and unique use for this technology. 
       FIG. 2   c : This is a side view of a semi-submersible intermediate junction platform. These intermediate junction platforms are typically towed to remote ocean locations. Quite often these intermediate junction platforms  2   c  are placed over very deep water. The design allows for the hollow pylons and pontoons to be filled with water thus sinking them under the surface of the ocean. This feature allows for the junction platform to remain steady even in sever weather. The water filled pylons are shown as  87  and the connecting water filled pontoons are shown as  88 . The tether lines to the bottom are shown as  89  and the bottom anchoring points are shown as  91 . The structural cross members bracing the platform  22  above and between the pylons  87  and the pontoons  88  is shown in this drawing by the designation of  90 . The stabilizing conduit for the incoming electrical cables  21  and the outgoing cables  23  is shown as  92  in this drawing. These deep-water platforms are also known in the oil drilling art. 
       FIG. 3 : This is a plan view of a Hydro-Electric Farm  24  in which the ocean current  17  is in close proximity to the mainland shoreline  5 . It shows the placement of the electric generators  12 , the control wiring  14 , the turbine blade/propellers  13 , the concrete cradles  16 , the pile anchoring system  15 , the ocean current  17 , the sloping ocean bottom is depicted as a line  8 , and the ocean current&#39;s channel is depicted as the rapidly changing topographical lines  26 . Notice how in this configuration the rows of electrical generators  12  are staggered so each individual generator and the turbine blade/propeller  13  are placed in a clean flow of ocean current water. This staggered configuration also accommodates the flowing water&#39;s natural phenomenon of a water current closing back in on itself a short distance after encountering an obstruction and then resuming its natural flow path again with minimal loss of the current&#39;s forward momentum. This resumption point is where another generator  12  and turbine blade/propeller  13  are placed to again harvest the energy of the flowing ocean current. This resumption flow point, for the next row of generators  12 , placement spot is behind the first two staggered rows and maybe in line with the first row&#39;s generator, but placed some distance to the rear. The placement of the electric generators on this closing and resumption of the current&#39;s path and energy dictates individual generator placement throughout the entire field of generators on a typical Hydro Electric Farm  24 . This plan also shows the relationship of the shore  5  with the sloping bottom of the ocean  8 , the rapid topographical changes  26 , after crossing the shoulder of the current&#39;s trench  8 , and the placement of a Hydro-Electric Farm  24  on the slope of this trench, either on the sloping walls or on the floor, depending on optimal depth  18  from the surface  7  and most constant flow of the ocean current  17 . 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the internally supported electric generator assembly  12 , including the turbine blade/propeller  13 , in whichever style selected, has been omitted, (see the omit line at the end of the turbine blade/propeller shaft  29 ), to focus on the electric generator  12  and its corresponding parts. The internal field windings support rings  33 , rotator electromagnet assembly  27 , and the turbine blade/propeller shaft  29 , have been pulled forward along the Z–Z 1  line in order to clearly show the internal components listed above. The rest of the electric generator  12  has the standard parts as already described, starting with the protective coating (schematically depicted as solid black surfaces)  19 , the rotator electromagnet assembly  27 , the turbine blade/propeller shaft  29 , the rotator electromagnet supports on the shaft  30 , the electromagnets  35 , the stator field windings  32 , the stator field windings support rings  33  and the generator cradle docking support struts  34 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a cross section along Cut line (A—A) of the internally supported electric generator  12 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The rotator electromagnet portion  27  of this electric generator is exposed to the water currents via the open passages  28  and the same non-conductive, heat dissipating, anti-fouling, water specific, protective coating  19  also protects its exposed surfaces. The protective coating  19  is comprised of multiple layers in order to achieve multiple design goals. The primary layer is designed to provide non-conductivity of large electrical voltages. The secondary layers bind the non-conductivity layers to anti-fouling, water specific, protective layers. Such protective coatings are known in the art and are typical of those marine coatings used in the shipbuilding industries, military ships and barges, etc. These anti-fouling protective layers provide the protection required specific to each site&#39;s location. The composite layers are thermally conductive in order to cool the generator as described above. The protective coating is applied to the generators and other required components by a combination of application methods; Dipping, spraying, brushing, powder coating, or in a combination of these methods. The coating composition is designed for the specific salt concentration, the organic and inorganic make up of local elements present and site specific temperature of the water, as well as many other environmental factors for each Hydro-Electric Farm location. The rotator electromagnet assembly  27  is made up of the rotator electromagnet&#39;s support and anchoring structures  30 , the rotator electromagnets  35 , and the rotating turbine blade/propeller shaft  29 . The other components shown in this cross section are the field windings (stator)  32 , the field windings support rings  33 , the entire electric generator assembly  12 , and the electric generator cradle docking support struts  34 . 
       FIG. 5   a  is the expanded view of the top portion of the internally supported electric generator  12 , cross cut (A—A), as shown in  FIG. 5  as the area to be highlighted in the expansion circle. This expanded view shows the protective coating  19  removed from the field windings (stator)  32 , the field windings support rings  33 , the support ring connectors  93 , the bolts  94  that hold the support ring and connectors together, the stator winding cores  95  and the rotator&#39;s electromagnets  35 . The overall electric generator assembly  12  is partially shown in this circular expanded view, both the coated portion and the uncoated portion. 
       FIG. 5   b  is an expanded view of the Brush-Less Rotator Assembly  74  as if it were pulled forward from the front of the standard rotator  27 . The main components of this brush-less assembly are the transmitting ring  67 , with its transmit nodes  68 , the protective spacer ring  69 , with its correctly placed spaces (apertures)  70 , and the reception ring  71 , with the reception nodes  72 , connected to the reception tabs  73  that are embedded into the windings of the electromagnets  35  that have been previously discussed in the internally supported electric generator  12 . This brush-less assembly and its components are also coated with the protective coating  19 , where required. Obviously, the transmit nodes  68  and the reception nodes  72  are not coated and are constructed from naturally occurring non-corrosive materials that can continue to transmit the electrical charge to power the rotator&#39;s  27  electromagnets  35 . The reception tabs  73  are locked into the corresponding internal wired grid of the electromagnets  35 , as in a conventional rotator  27 , this has not been shown, as it is standard in the industry. The electrical energy that the transmitter nodes  68  fire to the reception nodes  72  is supplied via internally wired circuits in this particular portion of the turbine blade/propeller shaft  29 . These electrical charges required for the electromagnets  35  to maintain their polarity are fired the short distance between the transmitting nodes  68  and the reception nodes  72  through the protective spacer ring  69  letting the ocean water provide the electrical connection between. These nodes and their corresponding attachment rings and the spacer ring  69  provide the shortest point between the transmitting nodes  68  and the reception nodes  72  in this defined space, and yet are part of the water environment. Again, the ultimate goal is to design as many non-contact mechanical elements into the Hydro-Electric Farm as possible. 
       FIG. 6  is the side view of an externally supported (stator) field wound electric generator  38 , the turbine blade/propeller has been omitted (see the omit line at the end of the turbine blade/propeller shaft  29 ), to focus on the electric generator  38  and its corresponding parts. The external shell (clamshell type arrangement)  36  supports the field winding much as in a conventional air-cooled electric generator. In this immersion electric generator configuration the shell and internal parts are protected by the non-conductive, heat dissipating, anti-fouling, water specific, protective coating,  19 . The ocean water is encouraged to flow around the field windings  32 , the electromagnetic rotator assembly  27 , the shaft  29  and supports  30 , and in and out of the external support shell  36  through openings in the external shell  37 , and through the front and rear of the shell. The field windings and electromagnets naturally have spaces between their individual components that also allow the water access around them inside the shell  36 . The field windings and cores are attached to the exterior shell with non-corrosive rods and bolts  47 . The internal parts have not been pulled out of the shell in this drawing, as they are similar to the parts already shown in  FIG. 4  except for not having the internal field winding support rings  33 . The externally supported electric generator  38  are interchangeable with the internally supported generator  12 . In many of the drawings we have depicted the electric producing generators as type  12  for simplicity. The same principles also apply for the externally supported electric generators  38 . 
       FIG. 7  is a cross section view along cut line (B—B) of  FIG. 6  of the externally supported electric generator  38 . The internal parts are visible and are similar to the internally supported electric generator  12 , except the absence of the field winding support rings  33 , this support is again completed by the external shell arrangement  36 . The other standard electrical generator parts of the internally supported electric generator  12 , as shown in  FIG. 5  are present in this design. The turbine blade/propeller shaft  29  is in the center, with the electro-magnets  35  attached to it by means of the shaft magnet supports  30 . Water passages  28  are between the field windings  32  and the rotator assembly  27 . The external shell  36  supports the field windings  32 . Water passages  28  are in between the field windings  32 , the exterior shell  36  and the outside ocean current  17 . Again, this design increases production of electrical power by keeping the winding&#39;s insulation cooler than an air environment electric generator. The same coating  19  protects the externally supported electric generator  38  exposed surfaces to the ocean water, as mentioned previously. The externally supported electric generator  38  also employs the cradle docking support struts  34 . This feature is also crucial to the modular replacement of the generating units  38  and  13 , as a replaceable unit, similar as replacing  12  and  13 , as previously described. 
       FIG. 8  is a side view of the internally supported electric generator  12  as it sits on the pre-manufactured cradle  16 , again the turbine blade/propeller has been omitted to focus on the electric generator  12  and the corresponding cradle  16 . This view shows the concrete cradle  16 , the cradle docking support struts  34 , the cradle docking pins  45 , the cradle anchoring piles  15 , the turbine blade/propeller shaft  29 , the cradle rotational shaft mounting module  39 , the mounting module&#39;s release mechanism  40 , the shaft rotational gear up unit  41 , the electric generator&#39;s rotational shaft stabilizer  42 , the electric generator&#39;s internal frame connection  43  to the rotational shaft stabilizer  42 , the electric generator  12 , the protective coating  19 , and the placement on the ocean bottom as depicted by  26 . The cradle rotational shaft mounting module  39 , the shaft rotational gear up unit  41  and the electric generator&#39;s rotational shaft stabilizer  42  in the conventional arrangement are in contact with the turbine blade/propeller shaft  29 . Conventionally these rotational support-bearing points would necessitate the use of hardened bearings and races. These components may be the only items that necessitate special protection from the ocean water. 
       FIG. 8   a  is a side view of a concrete cradle  16  mounted with an internally supported electric generator  12 . The outer covers of the rotational shaft mounting module  39  and the electric generator rotational shaft stabilizer  42  have been striped away to show the magnetic force support points  75 . These magnetic force support points  75  are mounted in multiple units along the turbine blade/propeller shaft  29  as required to support the multiple types of turbine blades  13 , shaft  29 , gear up unit  41 , brush-less rotator assembly  74  and the rotator assembly  27 . 
       FIG. 8   b  is a cross section along cut line (C 1 —C 1 ) showing the internal components of the Magnetic Force Support Points  75 . The corresponding components are as follows: First there is the outer ring electromagnets  78 , the outer electromagnetic induced polarity  79 , the outer ring magnet control and power wiring  81 , the protective coatings  19 , the water passage between the inner and outer magnetic rings  28 , the inner electromagnetic ring  76 , the inner ring control wiring  80 , the inner ring induced polarity  79 , the turbine blade/propeller shaft coupler  82 . This is based on the simple principle that like kind polarity magnetic fields repel other like kind polarity magnetic fields. The shaft stabilizer units  42  and the rotational shaft-mounting module  39  capture the outer ring&#39;s electromagnets  78  and hold them in place. The inner electromagnetic ring  76  is attached to, via the coupler  82 , and become a part of the rotational mass, including the shaft  29 . The electric force is calibrated for rotational pull, mechanical pull and the overall weight to be supported at depth in order to permanently suspend the rotational shaft  29  within the center of the outer electromagnetic ring  78 . Wiring to these electromagnets is accomplished by the use of the brush-less  FIG. 5   b , concepts already discussed above. 
     Some other design alternates of these metal to metal contact points are as follows: One solution to protect these support and turning shaft points from the ocean water environment would be to enclose conventional rotational bearing races in a sealed container filled with an inert gas under pressure, thus resisting water intrusion into the races. And of course, a more common solution is to support the turbine blade/propeller shaft  29 , in a more conventional nature in which the rotational bearings and races that are required are constructed from very dense non-corroding composite materials or metals. These materials maybe of alloyed metals, ceramics and/or other substances selected for their design qualities in this particular use. 
       FIG. 9  is a cross section along cut Line (C—C) of  FIG. 8  of the internally supported electric generator  12  on the pre-manufactured concrete cradle  16 . It shows the cradle docking support struts  34  mated with the corresponding recess  31  secured by the docking pins  45  in the pre-manufactured concrete cradle  16 . The other components have already been discussed in length above. 
       FIG. 10  is a side view of an externally supported electrical generator  38  on the pre-manufactured concrete cradle  16 . This drawing also depicts the standard parts that are listed above and shows the interchangeability of the internal electric generator  12  and the externally supported generator  38 . 
       FIG. 11  is a cross section along cut Line (D—D) of  FIG. 10 . The commonality of the parts has been previously discussed. This again shows the interchangeability of the electric generators  12  and  38 . 
       FIG. 12  shows the internally supported generator  12  attached to a different type cradle system  44 , again the turbine blade/propeller has been omitted to focus on the electric generator  12  and the corresponding cradle  44 . These open web cradles  44  are constructed of structural members of either non-corrosive composites or metals or be coated with the protective coating  19 . The docking pins  45  are the connection between the cradle&#39;s docking support struts  34  and the open web cradle  44 . In this open web cradle  44  design, the anchoring piles  15  are mated to the frame of the cradle with an adjustable pile restraint cap  46 . They are closed after the piles have been placed into the ocean bottom. This allows the open web cradle  44  to resist the ocean current  17 . The other parts of the open web cradle  44  and electrical generator  12  are the same as shown and discussed above in  FIG. 8  and before. The open web structural members allow more ocean current  17  to pass thru the cradle than the concrete cradle design  16 , as has already been discussed. 
       FIG. 13  is a crosscut view along cut line (E—E) of  FIG. 12  of the internal supported electric generator  12  mated with the open web cradle  44 . Note the cradle docking support struts  34  and the docking pins  45 . The anchoring piles  15  are also captured with the pile restraint caps  46 . The other components shown are also the same as already discussed above. 
       FIG. 13   a  is a front view of the internal supported electric generator  12  arrayed in unison side by side on an elongated open web cradle  44   a . The common components have already been discussed above. This arrangement allows the elongated open web cradle to act as a suspension bridge and support these multiple electric generators  12  across a longer reach of sloping topographical bottom  26 . The length of the extended open web cradle  44   a  has been truncated by the cross cut line (G—G). These open web cradles are sized for length and number of supported electrical generators  12  for each individual farm&#39;s unique design criteria. 
       FIG. 13   b  is a plan view of the open web cradle  44   a  showing the elongation and placement of multiple electric generators  12 . The length of the extended open web cradle  44   a  has been truncated by the cross cut line (H—H). Again, the common elements have been discussed above. The extended open web cradles, in some instances are connected with other extended open web cradles, side-to-side and front-to-back, based on each individual farm&#39;s criteria. The design of number of electric generators  12  placed at each farm is unique to each individual Hydro-Electrical Farm site. 
       FIG. 14  is a side view of an externally supported electric generator  38  placed on an open web cradle  44 , again the turbine blade/propeller has been omitted to focus on the electric generator  38  and the corresponding cradle  44 . The components are the same as previously discussed including: the rotational shaft  29 , the shaft mounting module  39 , the mounting module release mechanism  40 , the shaft rotational gear up unit  41 , the electrical generator mounted shaft stabilizer  42 , the cradle docking support struts  34 , the docking pins  45 , the adjustable pile restraint cap  46 , and the externally supported shaft stabilizer mounts  47 . It should also be noted here that the open web cradle  44  design would also lend itself to multiple electric generator  38  placements on a single open web elongated cradle  44   a . The elongated open web cradle  44   a  then acts as a suspension bridge to support these multiple electric generators  38  across a longer reach of sloping topographical bottom  26 . This again, depicts the interchangeability of the electric generators  12  and  38 . 
       FIG. 15  shows a cross section of an externally supported electric generator  38  placed on an open web cradle  44  along cut line (F—F) of  FIG. 14 . The parts as labeled have already been discussed in detail above. To recap, the main parts are the externally supported electric generator  38 , the open web cradle  44 , the pile anchors  15 , the cradle docking support struts  34 , the docking pins  45 , the pile restraint caps  46  and the sloping topographical changes  26 . 
       FIGS. 16 and 17  shows the placement of the Turbine Blade Propeller  13  style  48  on the blade spindle  52 , connected to the end of the turbine blade/propeller shaft  29 , which powers an internally supported electric generator  12 . This arrangement could also be made with the externally supported electrical generator  38 . As the turbine blade/propeller shaft  29  can be utilized with both types of generators so can various types of water current driven rotational units be able to be placed on either of these generators by use of the turbine blade/propeller shaft  29 . The Turbine Blade Propeller  13  style  48  is perceived as an open weave bladed windmill type arrangement with surface added directional enhancers. The weave itself is unique and is comprised of structural non-corroding channels  49  that direct the water flow in an altered direction as it passes through and over the face of each channel  49 . This action gives the blades increased rotational force. The amount of open space between the individual channels is a consideration of: size of blades, rotational force required, structural stability, multiplicity and other engineering principles. To the front of this blade channel weave can be added further directional enhancers  50 . These enhancers add to the rotational output. Finally, each individual blade is positioned in relationship with it&#39;s neighboring blade much as the conventional windmill blades, both in blade pitch into the flowing current and individual blade shape overlap so that each component blade  51 , comprised of the channel weave  49  and the rotational enhancers  50 , also act as a homogenized single blade on a rotator to further add to the rotational force placed on the turbine blade/propeller. These blades  51  are large and slow moving, but exert large amounts of rotational torque on the turbine blade/propeller shaft  29 . 
       FIG. 17  is the front view of the Turbine Blade Propeller  13  style  48  and has in a rotational configuration eight individual blades  51  pitched and overlapped in order to maximize conversion to rotational movement. The blade composition has been discussed earlier, and is made up of a weave of non-corrosive channels  49  overlaid with rotational enhancers  50  set on the center-mounted spindle  52  that is mated to the turbine blade/propeller shaft  29 . The pre-manufactured concrete cradle  16  and anchoring piles  15  are shown as a gauge to relative size, the open web cradle  44  could have been depicted because of design interchangeability. To simplify the drawings, the concrete cradle  16  will continue to be used as part of the illustrations for the different types of turbine blade/propeller type units. The electric generator unit, either  12  or  38 , is hidden behind the turbine blade/propeller in this view. The exact size of the turbine blade/propeller may be larger or smaller than what is depicted, based on the engineering calculations required for optimum performance with the connected generators, either  12  or  38 , required rotational torque demands. 
       FIGS. 18 and 19  shows the placement of the Propeller Weave Rotational Unit  13  style  53 , on an internally supported electrical generator  12 . This arrangement is again made up of an open weave arrangement of channels  49  grouped in a turbine blade fashion. This composite is constructed in the fashion of overlapping and pitched blades  54 , while each blade captures a portion of the current&#39;s  17  kinetic energy, it also allows the remainder of the current  17  to pass through and affect the next blade  54  that is positioned offset and behind the blade in front. This multi-layering of blades  54  continues until the required rotational torque is applied to the center spindle  52 , which transfers this energy to the rotational shaft  29 , that then powers the attached electric generator, either  12  or  38 . 
       FIG. 19  is the front view of the Propeller Weave Rotational Unit  13  style  53 . It is visible that this unit is made up of three layers of four blades  54  that are constructed of the rotational weave channels  49  previously discussed. These blades  54  are formed in a square with radius corners shape. This shape provides the maximum rotational weave  49  surface area to the current  17 . The rotational weave  49  also allows the current&#39;s force to act correspondingly on the multiple layers of blades  54 , as previously discussed. This unique shape of the blade  54  also lends itself to be angled into the current and add to the rotational force exerted on the coupled shaft  29 . The Propeller Weave Rotational Unit  13  style  53  has been depicted in  FIG. 18  and  FIG. 19 , as three layers of four blades, but may be either more or less layers or blades, depending on the torque requirements of the electric generator to be powered. 
       FIG. 20  is a side view of The Box Blade Weave Propeller  13  style  55 . This is a more conventional propeller arrangement. The body of this style is made up of a weave of structural non-corroding channels  49  that again direct the water flow in a slightly altered direction as it passes through and over the face of the channels  49 . This reaction to the force of the current imparts a rotational force to the weave as a whole. This weave again is arranged in a blade type fashion. The blades are connected via a center spindle  52  to the rotational shaft  29 , which imparts rotational force to the attached electric generator, either  12  or  38 . In this arrangement the blades  56 , are protected by a circular cage arrangement  57  that also serves to direct the flow of the current  17  against the blades to increase the rotational force imparted on the system as a whole. 
       FIG. 21  is the front view of Box Blade Weave Propeller  13  style  55 . The circular cage  57  also protects the blades  57  from floating objects carried in the current  17 . The other items shown are as previously discussed: Pre-Manufactured concrete cradle  16 , anchor piles  15 , the blades  57 , the blade weave composition  49 , the spindle  52 , and the ocean current channel bottom  26 . 
       FIG. 22  is the side view of the Box Blade Solid Vane Propeller  13  style  58 . In this arrangement the blades  59  are constructed in a more conventional fashion using non-corroding material of a solid material. These blades are constructed in a fan type arrangement inside a similar circular cage  57 , connected to a center spindle  52 , and with the other corresponding parts as already discussed. This fan arrangement is drawn as having 16 blades, but may have more or less and be shaped differently based on the rotational torque required by the electric generator coupled to the shaft  29 . 
       FIG. 23  is the front view of the Box Blade Solid Vane Propeller  13  style  58 . 
       FIG. 24  is the side view of The Skeletal Spiral Turbine  13  style  60 . This rotational assembly is constructed in an increasing spiral form from the center point  61  toward the outside edges  62 . This spiral is angled to optimally direct the current toward the outer edges of the spiral thus turning this directed force of the ocean water current  17  into rotational movement. The spiral again is constructed of the directional channel weave  49  that is formed into shape by the support rods  63  and the support cables  64 . The support rods and cables  63 ,  64  are constructed of non-corrosive materials chosen for their design composition. This skeletal spiral turbine is connected to the traditional rotational shaft  29  by the means of the center point  61  being attached to the rotational shaft  29 . 
       FIG. 25  is the front view of the Skeletal Spiral Turbine  60 . This view shows the spiral effect from the center point  61 , that is pointed toward the oncoming current  17 , toward the outside reinforced edges  62 . The current flow  17  is converted to rotational force that turns the rotational shaft  29  which powers the coupled generator, either  12  or  38 . The spiral is constructed of the weave of directional cannels  49 . To reinforce the spirals flat surfaces and keep them angled towards the ocean current  17  flow, an arrangement of support rods  63  and cables  64  have been employed. The skeletal nature of this turbine/propeller decreases the weight and allows for more surface area to be used, which equals more rotational torque for the same expenditure in materials. 
       FIG. 26  is the side view of the Multiple Three Blade Configuration  13  style  65 . This design is based on the common wind turbine blade design with the new feature of multiple additional blade sets. The additional sets of turbine blades captures more of the water current&#39;s  17  energy and by being used in multiple sets, slows down the rotational requirements of the system as a whole. Remember our goal is large slow moving rotational blades imposing large amounts of torque to the rotational shaft  29 . The blades  66  are constructed of non-corrosive materials and be shaped to impart rotational motion from a frontal current flow. 
       FIG. 27  is the front view of the Multiple Three Blade Configuration  13  style  65 . The internally supported electric generator  12  is visible behind the multiple blades  66 . The pre-manufactured concrete cradle  16  and the cradle piles  15  are also visible in the rear of this view. 
     A great deal of time has been spent looking at the propulsion (turbine blade/propeller  13 ), component for these electric generators  12  and  38 . Up to this invention, there has not been a need for a completely submerged rotational turbine blade/propeller  13 , unit to turn a completely immersed power-producing electric generator  12  and  38 . Further selection for the final type and style of the turbine blade/propeller  13  units are made based on specific conditions for each electric generator  12  or  38  placed within each Hydro-Electric Farm.

Technology Category: f