US 11,661,925 B2Granted

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for extraction and/or storage of energy from moving fluids

OwnerLawrence G. Brown, Gregory A. M. Browninventors

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

This disclosure includes various embodiments of apparatuses for encapsulating and stopping a flowing mass of fluid (e.g., liquid such as water, or gas such as air) to extract the kinetic energy from the mass, and for exhausting the mass once stopped (spent mass, from which kinetic energy has been extracted). This disclosure also includes various embodiments of systems comprising a plurality of the present apparatuses coupled together and/or one or more of the present apparatuses in combination with one or more flow resistance modifiers (FRMs). This disclosure also includes various embodiments of methods of extracting kinetic energy from a flowing mass of fluid (e.g., liquid such as water, or gas such as air) by stopping the mass, and for exhausting the mass once stopped (spent mass, from which kinetic energy has been extracted). This disclosure also includes embodiments of mechanical energy-storage or accumulation devices.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An apparatus comprising:

a body defining an encapsulation channel having an inlet and an outlet;
a partition coupled to the channel such that the partition can move in a downstream direction that extends away from the inlet, or in an upstream direction that extends toward the inlet;
and
an exhaust mechanism, at least a portion of the exhaust mechanism being more directly coupled to the body than to the partition;
and
an energy storage mechanism;
where the partition is configured to be coupled to a load such that if a mass of fluid enters the inlet of the channel with an initial flow velocity in the downstream direction, the partition will decrease the flow velocity of the mass to zero and transfer a portion of the kinetic energy of the mass of fluid to the load;
and
where the exhaust mechanism is configured to, after the flow velocity reaches zero, exhaust the mass of fluid from the channel;
where the energy storage mechanism:
includes a resilient material configured to be compressed as the partition moves in the downstream direction;
or
is configured to raise a ballast member as the partition moves in the downstream direction.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/202,264Filed 15 Mar 2021 · continuation
Priority: 10 Apr 2012
Published: US 2022/0034307 A13 Feb 2022
Granted: 30 May 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

F03B 13/08
Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus ; Power stations or…:…
F03B 13/00
Adaptations of machines or engines for special use
F03B 13/086
Machine or engine aggregates in dams or the like; Conduits therefor , e.g. diffusors: plants characterised by the use of siphons; their regulation
F03D 1/04
Wind motors with rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor: having stationary wind-guiding means, e.g. with shrouds…

Family

Application61/622,189Us provisional application · filed 10 Apr 2012
Application61/654,596Us provisional application · filed 1 Jun 2012
Application61/657,742Us provisional application · filed 9 Jun 2012
PCT/US2013/031277Parent of this continuation · filed 14 Mar 2013
US 2022/0034307 A1Pre-grant publication · published 3 Feb 2022
Application14/391,752Parent of this continuation
US 10,947,961 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2015/0107238 A1Published application
US 11,661,925 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.