Back to results
US 8,801,362 B2Granted
Fluid turbine
AssigneeOgin, Inc.
InventorsWalter M. Presz, Jr., Michael J. Werle, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, William Scott Keeley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid turbine comprises a turbine shroud and an optional ejector shroud. The turbine shroud and/or the ejector shroud are formed from a hard shell and a membrane. The hard shell forms a leading edge, a trailing edge, and an interior surface of the shroud. The membrane forms an exterior surface of the shroud. The resulting construction is lighter than previous turbine shrouds.
Claims15
A fluid turbine comprising:
- a shroud formed from at least one shroud segment having a leading edge, a trailing edge, an interior surface, and an exterior surface, the at least one shroud segment including a hard shell member and a membrane;
- wherein the leading edge, the trailing edge, and the interior surface of the shroud segment are formed from the hard shell member, the hard shell member including:
- an arcuate front edge having a first end and a second end;
- a rear edge including:
- a first outer edge and a second outer edge located in an outer plane;
- an inner edge located in an inner plane and located between the first and second outer edges;
- a first radial edge extending from a first end of the inner edge to an interior end of the first outer edge;
- and
- a second radial edge extending from a second end of the inner edge to an interior end of the second outer edge;
- an interior face extending from the front edge to the rear edge;
- a front lip on the arcuate front edge transverse to the interior face;
- and
- a rear lip on the rear edge transverse to the interior face;
- and
- wherein the exterior surface of the shroud segment is formed from the membrane.
12 more elements
A shrouded fluid turbine, comprising:
- an impeller;
- a turbine shroud surrounding the impeller, a trailing edge of the turbine shroud having a circular crenellated shape;
- and
- an ejector shroud, an inlet end of the ejector shroud surrounding a rear end of the turbine shroud;
- wherein a leading edge, the trailing edge, and an interior surface of the turbine shroud are formed from a first hard shell member, the first hard shell member including:
- an arcuate front edge having a first end and a second end;
- a rear edge including:
- a first outer edge and a second outer edge located in an outer plane;
- an inner edge located in an inner plane and located between the first and second outer edges;
- a first radial edge extending from a first end of the inner edge to an interior end of the first outer edge;
- and
- a second radial edge extending from a second end of the inner edge to an interior end of the second outer edge;
- an interior face extending from the front edge to the rear edge;
- a front lip on the arcuate front edge transverse to the interior face;
- and
- a rear lip on the rear edge transverse to the interior face;
- and
- wherein an exterior surface of the turbine shroud is formed from a first membrane.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.