Transfer of kinetic energy to and from fluids

An apparatus comprising:

• an array of foils positionable within a fluid stream;
• means mounting said foils for accommodating at least two degrees of freedom;
• means for allowing passage of said fluid stream past said array of foils whereby said foils undergo flutter oscillations;
• a plurality of suspension bars, each said foil being mounted on an individual suspension bar in the form of a cantilever;
• means for maintaining all of said suspension bars parallel to each other;
• and
• mounting means for supporting individual foils for forming integrated, readily detachable and disconnectable modules, and wherein each module is removable and replaceable without stopping operation of an adjacent foil.

An apparatus for converting the kinetic energy of a fluid stream into useful work, said apparatus comprising:

• an array of foils positionable within a fluid stream;
• means mounting said foils for accommodating at least two degrees of freedom;
• means for allowing passage of said fluid stream past said array of foils whereby said foils undergo flutter oscillations;
• a plurality of suspension bars, each said foil being mounted on an individual suspension bar in the form of a cantilever;
• means for maintaining all of said suspension bars parallel to each other;
• and
• an integrated multi-axis fluid actuator and pump module comprising a bidirectional pitch-controlling rotary actuator positioned within a bidirectional linear actuator and pump, such that movement of said foil or foils connected to said actuator and pump module by a respective one of said suspension bars provides for independent and simultaneous motion in both lateral and rotational axes.

A method of converting kinetic energy of a fluid stream into useful work, the method comprising:

• positioning a parallel array of foils within the fluid stream, each foil of the array of foils being mounted at one end of the foil to a mechanical structure comprising a plurality of fluidic actuators that provide each foil with two degrees of freedom including translational motion and rotational motion, each of the translational and rotational motions being limited;
• maintaining two adjacent foils in antiphase relative to each other within an oscillation cycle;
• providing adjustable control forces to the array of foils wherein control forces are applied to a respective foil of the array of foils through a respective fluidic actuator coupled to the respective foil, the control forces being provided such that flutter oscillation of the foils is initiated and maintained;
• and
• transferring energy output from the foils in oscillation to an accumulator.

An apparatus for converting kinetic energy of a fluid stream into useful work, the apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of foils positionable within a fluid stream;
• a plurality of fluidic actuator modules wherein a fluidic actuator module of the plurality of fluidic actuator modules is adapted for mounting a foil of the plurality of foils to the fluidic actuator at one end of the foil;
• and
• a plurality of conduits adapted for fluidic coupling of the plurality of fluidic actuator modules to each other, to a control force source, and to an accumulator;
• wherein the plurality of fluidic actuator modules are adapted to:
• allow rotational and translational movement of the foils;
• transfer control forces received through the plurality of conduits to the plurality of foils;
• and to transfer energy from motion of the foils through the plurality of conduits for transfer to the accumulator.