Autonomous underwater vehicles
OwnerJarlath McEntee, Nathanial Hayes +1inventors
InventorsJarlath McEntee, Nathanial Hayes, Millard Firebaugh
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Abstract
Underwater vehicles capable of self-propulsion are described. An underwater vehicle includes a cross-flow turbine including two or more foils spaced apart from a main shaft. The foils have a pitch that is adjustable under control of a pitch control mechanism. The underwater vehicle also includes a frame supporting the main shaft. The frame enables rotation of the cross-flow turbine. The underwater vehicle additionally includes a generator-motor set including rotor and stator elements. The rotor element is in rotary communication with the main shaft.
Claims25
An autonomous turbine generator unit (ATGU), comprising:
- a cross-flow turbine comprising a plurality of foils spaced apart from a main shaft;
- a pitch control mechanism comprising a first slewing gear that remains concentric about the main shaft during operation, wherein rotation of the first slewing gear about the main shaft causes the plurality of foils to change pitch;
- a frame supporting the main shaft and enabling rotation of the cross-flow turbine;
- and
- a generator-motor set comprising rotor and stator elements, the rotor element being in rotary communication with the main shaft.
An autonomous turbine generator unit (ATGU), comprising:
- a first cross-flow turbine comprising a first plurality of foils spaced apart from a main shaft, the first plurality of foils having pitch that is adjustable under control of a pitch control mechanism;
- a second cross-flow turbine comprising a second plurality of foils spaced apart from a second main shaft, the second plurality of foils having pitch that is adjustable under control of a second pitch control mechanism;
- a frame supporting the main shaft and enabling rotation of the first cross-flow turbine;
- a generator-motor set comprising rotor and stator elements, the rotor element being in rotary communication with the main shaft;
- and
- a gearbox that either:
- operates on the first cross-flow turbine;
- or
- the first cross-flow turbine and the second cross-flow turbine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.