Thin plate turbine
AssigneeBASF SE
InventorJeffrey S. Dugan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid-powered rotor including one or more circular flow plates an an energy-transferring means, for example, an axle. Each circular flow plate has a circumferential groove near its outer edge with an inlet end and an outlet. The outlet is a through-hole in the circular flow plate and, in the case of a plurality of circular flow plates, is aligned with and connected to the inlet end of the groove in the adjacent downstream circular flow plate. Viscous drag of a fluid passing through the grooves rotates the circular flow plates to produce work.
Claims40
A plate-type rotor comprising:
- (A) at least one circular flow plate, each circular flow plate comprising a circumferential groove formed on a first facial surface of said circular flow plate, said groove having a fluid inlet end and a fluid outlet comprising a through-hole flow passage in said circular flow plate, wherein said through-hole flow passage extends from said first facial surface to an opposite second facial surface of said circular flow plate, said through-hole passage extending in a direction which is substantially normal to said first facial surface;
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- (B) an energy-transferring means in communication with said at least one circular flow plate.
A flow plate for rotation in a rotor comprising a substantially flat, circular plate having on at least one surface thereof a circumferential groove, said groove having a fluid inlet end and a fluid outlet comprising a through-hole in said circular plate.
A method of converting potential energy into work, comprising the steps of:
- (1) providing a plate-type rotor comprising:
- (A) at least one circular flow plate, each circular flow plate comprising a circumferential groove formed on a facial surface of said circular flow plate, said groove having a fluid inlet end and a fluid outlet comprising a through-hole flow passage in said circular flow plate, wherein said through-hole flow passage extends from said first facial surface to an opposite second facial surface of said circular flow plate, said through-hole passage extending in a direction which is substantially normal to said first facial surface;
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- (2) passing a pressurized fluid through each circumferential groove, said fluid entering said groove by means of said fluid inlet and exiting said groove by means of said fluid outlet, said passing of said fluid through said groove causing said at least one circular flow plate to rotate, said rotating at least one circular flow plate generating said work.
A plate-type rotor, comprising:
- (A) a plurality of circular flow plates stacked for contact with adjacent circular flow plates in the stack, each circular flow plate comprising a circumferential groove, said groove having a fluid inlet end and a fluid outlet comprising a through-hole in said circular flow plate, wherein said through-hole of said fluid outlet in said circumferential groove in each of said circular flow plates is aligned with and connected to a fluid inlet end of a circumferential groove disposed on an adjacent downstream circular flow plate;
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- (B) an energy-transferring means in communication with said circular flow plates.
A method of converting potential energy into work, comprising the steps of:
- (1) providing a plate-type rotor comprising:
- (A) a plurality of circular flow plates stacked for contact with adjacent circular flow plates in the stack, each circular flow plate comprising a circumferential groove, said groove having a fluid inlet end and a fluid outlet comprising a through-hole in said circular flow plate, wherein said through-hole of said fluid outlet in said circumferential groove in each of said circular flow plates is aligned with and connected to a fluid inlet end of a circumferential groove disposed on an adjacent downstream circular flow plate;
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- (B) an energy-transferring means in communication with said circular flow plates;
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- (2) passing a pressurized fluid through each circumferential groove, said fluid entering said groove by means of said fluid inlet and exiting said groove by means of said fluid outlet, said passing of said fluid through said groove causing said circular flow plates to rotate, said rotating circular flow plates generating said work.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.