Method and apparatus for retrieving energy from a flowing stream of water
OwnerJoseph Vovesinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A boat for retrieving energy from a flowing stream of water, such as a river or tidal flow, which can be easily moved to a convenient location and which is capable of capturing a significant portion of the energy of the flowing stream. The boat has a bottom and two sides, forming an elongate hull with a bow and a stern at opposite ends, and means for anchoring the boat to hold it stationary in a stream of water. The boat has openable hinged members at the bow and stern to allow water to enter the interior of, and to flow through, the hull from one end to the other. Devices such as paddles are arranged inside the hull for converting energy of the water flowing through the hull into mechanical energy of a rotating shaft.
Claims25
A mobile apparatus for retrieving energy from a flowing stream of water, said apparatus comprising, in combination:
- (a) a boat having a bottom and two sides forming an elongate hull with a bow and a stern at opposite ends, said bow and stern each including at least one hinged member, said hinged members being openable to allow water to enter the interior of, and to flow through, the hull from one of said ends to the other;
- (b) means for anchoring the boat to hold it stationary in a stream of water;
- and
- (c) means arranged inside the hull for converting a portion of the energy of water flowing through the hull into mechanical energy of a rotating shaft.
A method of retrieving energy from a flowing stream of water, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) moving a floating boat to a selected position in the stream of water, said boat comprising a hull formed by a bottom and two sides and having a bow and a stern at opposite ends thereof;
- (b) anchoring the hull of said boat to hold it stationary in the stream of water;
- (c) opening the hull at its bow and stern to allow water to flow through the hull;
- and
- (d) converting at least a portion of the energy of the water flowing through the hull into mechanical energy of a rotating shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.