# US 10,479,489 B2 · Rotary device, for instance an air mover such as a fan, a propeller or a lifting rotor, a water turbine or a wind turbine

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- Number: US 10,479,489 B2
- Document ID: US10479489B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/904,009
- Filed: 2014-07-08
- Published: 2016-06-02
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2013-07-09
- Assignees: Eco-Logical Enterprises B.V.
- Applicants: Eco-Logical Enterprises B.V.
- Inventors: Augustinus Wilhelmus Maria Bertels
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479489B2

## CPC

- B64C 27/20: Rotorcraft characterised by having shrouded rotors, e.g. flying platforms
- B60K 16/00: Arrangements in connection with power supply of propulsion units in vehicles from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind (electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind, B60L8/00; wind motors specially adapted for installation on vehicles F03D9/32)
- B64C 11/001: {Shrouded propellers}
- B64U 30/26: Ducted or shrouded rotors
- B64U 30/29: Constructional aspects of rotors or rotor supports; Arrangements thereof
- F03B 11/02: Casings {(spiral or volute casings F03B3/186)}
- F03B 13/00: Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus (if the apparatus aspects are predominant, see the relevant subclasses for such apparatus, e.g. H02K7/18); Power stations or aggregates (incorporating only machines or engines of positive-displacement type F03C; hydraulic engineering aspects E02B; {combinations with wind energy converters F03D9/008})
- F03D 1/04: having stationary wind-guiding means, e.g. with shrouds or channels (F03D9/35 takes precedence)
- F03D 1/065: {characterised by their construction elements (F03D13/10 takes precedence)}
- F03D 9/25: the apparatus being an electrical generator (F03D9/22 takes precedence)
- F03D 9/255: {connected to electrical distribution networks; Arrangements therefor}
- F03D 13/20: Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
- F04D 25/06: the pump being electrically driven (F04D25/08 takes precedence)
- F04D 25/066: {Linear Motors}
- F04D 29/325: {for axial flow fans (blade mountings F04D29/34, blades F04D29/38)}
- F04D 29/522: {especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps}
- B64U 10/14: with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
- B64U 10/25: Fixed-wing aircraft (VTOL aircraft B64U10/20)
- B64U 2101/31: for surveillance
- F03D 1/02: having a plurality of rotors
- F05B 2240/33: Shrouds which are part of or which are rotating with the rotor
- Y02E 10/20: Hydro energy
- Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
- Y02E 10/728: Onshore wind turbines
- B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
- F03B: MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS (positive-displacement engines for liquid F03C; machines for liquids and gases F01; positive-displacement machines for liquids F04, rotary fluid gearing of the hydrokinetic type F16H41/00)
- F03D: WIND MOTORS
- F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02)
- F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A rotary device comprises a frame with a guide for flowing medium, a rotor with a number of blades, whereby a relation is obtained between the flowing medium and the rotation of the rotor, and energy converting means, the one part of which is connected to the frame and the other part to the rotor. The device has the feature that the end zones of the blades are connected to a ring, the ring has a radial section with the shape of an isosceles triangle or trapezium, the medium guide has an encircling recess, the form of which corresponds to the form of the ring and the ring fits with clearance into the recess, permanent magnets are added to the truncated conical surfaces, electromagnets debouch on both the corresponding surfaces of the recess, this such that the ring and the frame together form an annular induction motor or an electric generator.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A rotary device for converting one form of energy to another form of energy, which forms of energy are electrical energy and the energy of a flowing medium, the device comprising:
a frame with an inlet and an outlet and a rotation-symmetrical guide for the flowing medium extending between the inlet and the outlet;
a rotor supported rotatably at least during operation by said frame and having a central hub and a number of blades which are connected to said hub in angularly equidistant arrangement and which extend at least in a radial direction, which blades all have a form such that a relation between the flowing medium and the rotation of the rotor is obtained;
the rotor comprising a concentric ring to which ends of the blades are connected;
the ring having a first truncated conical surface and a second truncated conical surface equal to the first truncated conical surface, the first truncated conical surface and the second truncated conical surface having mutually opposite orientations and having a radial section with a general shape of an isosceles triangle or trapezium, the base of the isosceles triangle or trapezium extends parallel to the central axis and the sides of the isosceles triangle or trapezium converge radially outward;
the medium guide having an encircling recess, the form of which corresponds to that of the ring such that the ring fits with clearance into the encircling recess; and
energy converting means, one part of which is connected fixedly to the frame and another part is connected fixedly to the rotor, the energy converting means comprising:
magnets on each of the truncated conical surfaces corresponding to said sides, which magnets are placed angularly equidistant spaced apart at a first pitch and the poles of each magnet debouching on said truncated conical surfaces, wherein a width of the space between the magnets is less than a width of the magnets; and
electromagnets having poles, the poles of the electromagnets being placed equidistantly which poles of the electromagnets debouch on both corresponding surfaces of the encircling recess facing the ring;
wherein the ring with the magnets and the frame with the electromagnets together form an annular electrical motor or an electric generator, and wherein first poles of the magnets at the first truncated conical surface are placed such that the first poles are offset half the first pitch relative to second poles of the magnets at the second truncated conical surface.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotor ring is assembled from:
two identical part-rings which each comprise a strip of material with the shape of a part of a circular arc, free ends of each strip of material are connected to each other such that each strip has the form of the outer surface of a truncated cone, which thus modelled strips are connected with their outer circular peripheral edge to each other; and
a third part-ring, the third part-ring comprising a strip of material which is curved to a round form and mutually connects respective free circular inner edges and outer edges of the first two part-rings; and
the ends of the blades are connected to the third part-ring.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each electromagnet comprises a coil comprising:
a stack of electrically insulating carriers each with at least one electrically conductive track present thereon which forms at least one winding of the coil, which tracks debouch on an outer side of the respective carriers and are connected to each other electrically such that the windings formed by the tracks together form the coil, which carriers have through-holes through which a ferromagnetic core extends.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
an inflow grill which is placed upstream of the inlet and which comprises a pattern of baffles placed and formed such that channels bounded by these baffles have directions corresponding to the directions of local part-flows of the medium.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a stationary, substantially rotation-symmetrical nose element which is disposed fixedly relative to the frame or forms part of the rotor and which is disposed upstream relative to the hub and has an outer surface which widens from an upstream side to a downstream side and which connects at its rear side to the hub.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein a longitudinal section of an outer surface of the nose element has a form of a parabola, the extreme of which is situated at the upstream end of the nose element.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the nose element is disposed fixedly relative to the frame and is supported by the frame via spokes.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame is provided with a collar of channels which via a collar of openings guide medium part-flows from the area of the downstream medium flow into the clearance between the ring and the walls of the recess such that these part-flows flow along the poles of the electromagnets and the magnets and thus cool these electromagnets and the magnets and leave the clearance in the area of the upstream medium flow.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device further comprises auxiliary bearing means, and wherein the rotor is supported by the frame via the auxiliary bearing means.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame has on the outlet side a convergent annular protrusion which is formed by two mutually connecting concave surfaces which on their sides remote from the protrusion transpose smoothly into a largely toroidal, convex other surface of the frame.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the downstream part of the hub has a tapering rotation-symmetrical form, the end surface of which has an encircling concave form such that an end of a downstream part of the hub is sharp and in a center is situated a tip, the apex of which lies at least roughly in the plane of the end of the downstream part of the hub.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A system for operating a device according to claim 1, comprising an electronic unit which is configured to:
supply the electromagnets with alternating currents such that through the electromagnetic interaction between the electromagnets and the magnets the rotor is driven rotatingly; or
convert the currents induced in the electromagnets by throughflowing medium during rotating drive of the rotor to a form of electric current; or
wherein the electronic unit is further configured to supply the electromagnets with alternating currents such that the rotor is suspended magnetically during operation.

### Claim 13

A rotary device for converting one form of energy to another form of energy, which forms of energy are electrical energy and the energy of a flowing medium, the device comprising:
a frame with an inlet and an outlet and a rotation-symmetrical guide for the flowing medium extending between the inlet and the outlet;
a rotor supported rotatably at least during operation by said frame and having a central hub and a number of blades which are connected to said hub in angularly equidistant arrangement and which extend at least in a radial direction, which blades all have a form such that a relation between the flowing medium and the rotation of the rotor is obtained;
the rotor comprising a concentric ring to which ends of the blades are connected;
the ring having a first truncated conical surface and a second truncated conical surface equal to the first truncated conical surface, the first truncated conical surface and the second truncated conical surface having mutually opposite orientations and having a radial section with a general shape of an isosceles triangle or trapezium, the base of the isosceles triangle or trapezium extends parallel to the central axis and the sides of the isosceles triangle or trapezium converge radially outward;
the medium guide having an encircling recess, the form of which corresponds to that of the ring such that the ring fits with clearance into the encircling recess; and
energy converting means, one part of which is connected fixedly to the frame and another part is connected fixedly to the rotor, the energy converting means comprising:
magnets on each of the truncated conical surfaces corresponding to said sides, which magnets are placed angularly equidistant spaced apart at a first pitch and the poles of each magnet debouching on said truncated conical surfaces; and
electromagnets having poles, the poles of the electromagnets being placed equidistantly which poles of the electromagnets debouch on both corresponding surfaces of the encircling recess facing the ring;
wherein the ring with the magnets and the frame with the electromagnets together form an annular electrical motor or an electric generator, and wherein first poles of each of the magnets at the first truncated conical surface are placed such that the first poles are offset half the first pitch relative to second poles of each of the magnets at the second truncated conical surface.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the rotor ring is assembled from:
two identical part-rings which each comprise a strip of material with the shape of a part of a circular arc, free ends of each strip of material are connected to each other such that each strip has the form of the outer surface of a truncated cone, which thus modelled strips are connected with their outer circular peripheral edge to each other; and
a third part-ring, the third part-ring comprising a strip of material which is curved to a round form and mutually connects respective free circular inner edges and outer edges of the first two part-rings; and
the ends of the blades are connected to the third part-ring.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein each electromagnet comprises a coil comprising:
a stack of electrically insulating carriers each with at least one electrically conductive track present thereon which forms at least one winding of the coil, which tracks debouch on an outer side of the respective carriers and are connected to each other electrically such that the windings formed by the tracks together form the coil, which carriers have through-holes through which a ferromagnetic core extends.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:
an inflow grill which is placed upstream of the inlet and which comprises a pattern of baffles placed and formed such that channels bounded by these baffles have directions corresponding to the directions of local part-flows of the medium.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a stationary, substantially rotation-symmetrical nose element which is disposed fixedly relative to the frame or forms part of the rotor and which is disposed upstream relative to the hub and has an outer surface which widens from an upstream side to a downstream side and which connects at its rear side to the hub.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the frame is provided with a collar of channels which via a collar of openings guide medium part-flows from the area of the downstream medium flow into the clearance between the ring and the walls of the recess such that these part-flows flow along the poles of the electromagnets and the magnets and thus cool these electromagnets and the magnets and leave the clearance in the area of the upstream medium flow.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the device further comprises auxiliary bearing means, and wherein the rotor is supported by the frame via the auxiliary bearing means.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

A system for operating a device according to claim 13, comprising an electronic unit which is configured to:
supply the electromagnets with alternating currents such that through the electromagnetic interaction between the electromagnets and the magnets the rotor is driven rotatingly; or
convert the currents induced in the electromagnets by throughflowing medium during rotating drive of the rotor to a form of electric current; or
wherein the electronic unit is further configured to supply the electromagnets with alternating currents such that the rotor is suspended magnetically during operation.