Method and apparatus for generating electricity
OwnerRobert G. Dickie, Chris Pearen +1inventors
InventorsRobert G. Dickie, Chris Pearen, Paige Elyse Dickie
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An energy generating device having a drum and at least one vane that is movable between a deployed state and a stowed state as the drum rotates to capture energy potential from flowing water and converting it to usable electrical and/or mechanical energy. The movable vanes can automatically retract when not in the flow of water and re-deploy when entering the flow of water over the drum. The present system can generate usable electricity or mechanical energy from slow but steadily flowing bodies of water without the need to dam, restrict, or alter the path of the water flow.
Claims16
An energy generating device comprising:
- a body;
- a cylindrical drum contained within the body and rotatable about a substantially transverse axis;
- a stationary cam;
- at least one movable vane having a first closed end, a second closed end, and a curved rear wall, the at least one movable vane forming a cupped shaped and pivotally connected to an outer surface of the drum;
- at least one roller bearing connected to the at least one movable vane and operable to interact with the stationary cam to move the at least one movable vane to a plurality of positions between a deployed state wherein the flow of water from an associated body of water over the cylindrical drum and into the at least one movable vane drives the rotation of the cylindrical drum about the transverse axis, and a stowed state wherein the curved rear wall of the movable vane sits substantially flush with the outer surface of the cylindrical drum;
- and
- a spring that biases the at least one vane towards the stowed state when the at least one roller bearing is not contacting the stationary cam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.