FR2757574A1 - BLADE WHEEL ELECTRICITY GENERATING DEVICE FOR BOAT OR THE LIKE - Google Patents

Abstract

The device for generating electricity comprises a bladed wheel (ROU) connected to an electrical energy converting mechanism. It is designed for being connected to a boat or the like capable of moving for generating a flow of water relative to the bladed wheel. It comprises means for attaching (ACC) the bladed wheel to a selected part of the boat, and means for adjusting said attachment for adjusting the height (TR) of the movement of the wheel in the water and for limiting the inclination of the wheel relative to the water surface, according to the inclination of the boat relative the water surface, to the pressure of the generating device on the water, to the speed of the boat, and/or to the energy requirements, so as to maintain the wheel substantially afloat while the boat is moving.

Description

Electricity generating device with paddle wheel for a boat or the like
The present invention relates to a device for generating electricity with a paddle wheel for a boat or the like in which said generator device is hooked to said boat which is capable of moving to create a current of water relative to the paddle wheel in view to drive said wheel.

Hydrogenerators are already known which produce electrical energy for boats. They generally include a propeller completely submerged in water.

The propeller is driven by the relative water current created by the movement of the boat. It is connected to an electrical energy converter mechanism which can either be in the water like the propeller, or out of the water and connected to the propeller via appropriate transmission means.

Such hydrogenerators have a low efficiency due to the low efficiency of the propeller, hydrodynamic losses due to the support of the propeller and the converter submerged in water, or transmission losses when the converter is out of the water. .

The Applicant has posed the problem of providing a hydrogenerator which generates a good yield with low hydrodynamic losses compared to the propeller hydrogenerators of the prior art and which is easy and inexpensive to use.

The present invention provides a solution to this problem.

It relates to an electricity generating device comprising a paddle wheel connected to an electrical energy converter mechanism and which is characterized by the fact that said device is intended to be hung on a boat or the like, capable of moving for create a current of water relative to the impeller, and by the fact that said device comprises means for hooking the impeller to a chosen area of the boat, said hooking being movable in vertical rectilinear translation and in horizontal rotation, depending on the inclination of the boat relative to the surface of the water, and the pressure of the generator device on the water, so that the wheel is driven by the movement of the boat and kept substantially floating while the boat is moving.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the shaft of the wheel is hollow and the converter mechanism is housed coaxially and sealingly in said shaft.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the converter mechanism is housed out of the water.

Advantageously, in the first or second embodiments, the converter mechanism comprises an alternator having a rotor driven by amplifier gear means connected to the wheel.

According to another aspect of the invention, the blades of the wheel have straight or curved free ends.

To improve the efficiency of the wheel, the axis of rotation of the blades is offset from the axis of rotation of the wheel.

Advantageously, the free ends of the blades comprise suitable means for improving the flotation of the impeller.

In practice, the device also comprises means suitable for capturing quantities representative of the speed of rotation of the wheel, of the energy delivered at the outlet of the converter and the depth of the wheel in water, and the attachment. is movable in vertical translation and in horizontal rotation as a function of said quantities thus captured.

According to another aspect of the invention, the hooking means comprise an arm having a lower end and an upper end, the lower end comprising support means suitable for supporting the shaft of the impeller, and the upper end being able to be hooked to the chosen area of the boat, movably in vertical rectilinear translation and / or in horizontal rotation.

In practice, the attachment means comprise - first means forming a rectilinear slide, fixed to the area of the boat on which the generator device is intended to be hung - a first plate forming a support capable of being movable in vertical rectilinear translation in the first slide means, said first plate comprising hook means - second curved guide means fixed on the first support plate; and - a second plate attached to the hook means, movable in horizontal rotation, the upper end of the arm being secured to the second plate, and the arm comprising support means capable of moving in said second curvilinear slide means .

As a variant, the attachment means comprise - first means forming a rectilinear slide fixed on the area of the boat on which the generator device is intended to be hung - a first plate forming a support capable of being movable in vertical rectilinear translation in the first means forming a slide, said first plate comprising hook means - a second plate attached to the hook means, movably in horizontal rotation, the upper end of the arm being secured to the second plate - a jack comprising a first end secured to the second plate and a second end secured to the arm, said cylinder being clean on command to tilt, lift out of the water and / or drive the arm supporting the impeller into water; and - own control means, in response to predetermined conditions, for controlling said jack.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the light of the detailed description below and the appended drawings in which - FIG. 1 schematically represents the stern of a sailboat on which the electricity generating device is intended to be hung according to the invention, the sailboat having a substantially zero list - Figures 2A and 2B respectively represent the stern of the sailboat with a port list and a starboard list and illustrate the rotation around a horizontal axis of the device according to the list of the sailboat according to the invention - FIG. 3 schematically illustrates the displacement of the impeller in a vertical rectilinear manner according to the invention - FIGS. 4A and 4B diagrammatically illustrate hooking means for curved slides according to the invention - FIGS. 5A and 5B schematically illustrate attachment means comprising a jack according to the invention - FIGS. 6A and 6B ill schematically ustrate the paddle wheel comprising a hollow shaft for housing the energy converter according to the invention - Figure 7 schematically represents the offset of the axis of the blades relative to the axis of rotation of the wheel according to the invention - Figure 8 shows schematically blades equipped with float means according to the invention - Figure 9 schematically illustrates the essential means constituting the energy converter housed in the hollow shaft of the wheel according to the invention - Figure 10 illustrates schematically the essential means constituting the energy converter disposed out of the water according to the invention; and - Figures 11A and 11B are views illustrating the generator device equipped with float means according to the invention.

 Referring to Figure 1, there is shown the stern of a sailboat on which is intended to be hung the device it tif electricity generator according to the invention.

 It is clear that the electricity generating device according to the invention can be hung at a place other than at the stern of the sailboat, for example on one of the sides of the boat. Similarly, it can be attached to any boat, boat or the like, capable of moving to create a current of water relative to the impeller in order to drive it.

Attaching a paddlewheel to a boat or the like is especially problematic when said boat, such as a sailboat, is intended to be subjected to very difficult weather, maritime or other conditions, in particular resulting in significant variations in the heel of the sailboat, and the speed of it.

The solution proposed according to the invention consists in driving the wheel by moving the boat while keeping said wheel substantially floating whatever the inclination of the boat and the speed of the latter.

To achieve this result, means are provided for attaching the impeller to a boat capable of providing a movable attachment in vertical rectilinear translation and / or in horizontal rotation as a function of the inclination of the boat relative to the surface. of water and the pressure of the generating device on the water.

With reference to FIG. 1, the heel G of the sailboat VOI is substantially zero relative to the vertical axis V (relative to and the surface of the sea SEA). The attachment means ACC which will be described in more detail below keep the paddle wheel AUB floating on the surface of the sea SEA.

With reference to FIG. 2A, the list G of the sailboat VOI is significant, here to starboard relative to the vertical axis V (relative to the surface of the sea SEA). The ACC attachment means keep the impeller ROU AUB floating by virtue of a rotation relative to a horizontal axis (relative to the surface of the sea) clockwise. Keeping floating here means that the rear axle of the wheel shaft is kept out of the water, to allow the wheel to be driven by the movement of the boat.

With reference to FIG. 2B, the list of the sailboat VOI is significant, here towards port on the vertical axis V (relative to the surface of the sea SEA). The attachment means ACC keep the impeller ROU AUB floating by virtue of a rotation RH with respect to a horizontal axis (with respect to the surface of the sea) in the anticlockwise direction.

With reference to FIG. 3, the speed of the sailboat is high enough to create an increasing slope PEN at the level of the sea surface located in the wake of the sailboat VOI. The attachment means ACC keep the impeller ROU AUB floating by virtue of a rectilinear translation TR vertical (relative to the surface of the sea).

With reference to FIGS. 4A to 4B, the attachment means ACC comprise an arm 10 having a lower end 12 and an upper end 14. The lower end 12 of the arm is extended by means forming a support suitable for supporting the shaft of the ROU paddle wheel.

In practice, these support means comprise a fork with two teeth 20 and 22.

The upper end 14 of the arm is capable of being hooked to the chosen area of the boat, movably in vertical rectilinear translation TR and in horizontal rotation RH as will be described in more detail below.

With reference to FIG. 4A, the attachment means comprise first means forming a slide 30 and 32, fixed to the area of the boat on which the generator device is intended to be hung. In practice, these rectilinear slides are previously provided on the stern of a sailboat, for example for the attachment of an outboard motor.

A rectangular plate forming a support 40 capable of being movable in vertical rectilinear translation TR in the first means forming a slide 30 and 32 is provided. These slides 30 and 32 allow the fastening means to move rectilinearly and vertically along said slides as a function of the behavior of the sailboat.

The plate 40 comprises a hook 45 disposed on its upper middle part.

This hook 45 is of spherical shape for example.

Curvilinear slide means 52, 54, 56 are provided on the lower part of the plate 40. These curvilinear slides are fixed on the plate 40 by adjustable fixing means 61, 63, 65, 67 and 69.

In practice, there are three slides. They are curvilinear to form a semicircle.

The attachment means further comprise a second plate 70 intended to be attached to the hook 45. This attachment is movable in horizontal rotation RH along the axis 47.

The upper end of the arm 14 is intended to be fixed to the plate 70. This joining is carried out using an appropriate fastening system along a horizontal axis 49.

Very advantageously, the arm 10 is able to be movable in horizontal rotation RH in the slides 52, 54 or 56.

This mobility is achieved using mechanical and elastic means making it possible to make the arm movable in said slides. These mechanical and elastic means comprise support means, for example two finger elements 100 and 101, one of which 100 crosses the arm perpendicularly and the other of which 101 is free to move in the curvilinear slides 52, 54 or 56 The finger 100 comprises two ends 102 and 103 respectively disposed on either side of the arm 10, the end 102 being resiliently mounted in the arm. The finger 101 comprises two ends 106 and 107, the end 106 moving in one of the slides.

The means for fixing the finger 100 in the arm 10 comprise a plate 110 fixed to the arm by means of four screws 82, 84, 86 and 88. The plate 110 comprises an opening 111 through which the end 102 of the finger 100 passes .

Elastic means 104 (springs) make it possible to make the attachment of the finger 100 elastic.

An adjustment system 120 makes it possible to adjust the displacement of the end 106 of the finger 101 in one of the slides 52, 54, or 56. The adjustment system 120 comprises, for example, an adjustment shim disposed at the end 107.

Another adjustment system 124 disposed at the end 102 of the finger 100 makes it possible to adjust the pressure of the arm 10 on the water by applying or releasing the spring means 104. The fingers 100 and 101 are held together l 'to one another and are parallel to each other by appropriate means of cooperation 130.

As a variant, with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5B, the attachment means comprise a jack 200 comprising a first end 202 secured to the plate 70 by suitable fixing means 209. The plate 70 here extends to the fork supporting the wheel shaft. the end 202 of the jack is articulated in rotation about a horizontal axis 207.

The jack further comprises a second end 204 secured to the arm 10. This joining is for example carried out using conventional fixing means such as means of the screw / nut type.

The jack here replaces the slides 52, 54 and 56 described with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, as well as the means forming support 100 and 101 of the arm 10 on said slides.

The cylinder is able, on command, to relax or retract to tilt, lift out of the water or push the arm 10 supporting the impeller into the water.

Cylinder control means (not shown) are capable of acting in response to predetermined conditions, may be parameters such as the inclination of the boat, the energy delivered by the impeller, the depth of the wheel in l water, the speed of rotation of the wheel.

These parameters can be measured by appropriate sensors using techniques well known to those skilled in the art.

It should be noted that in this configuration, the plate 40 is able to move rectilinearly TR, while the plate 70 is able to move in horizontal rotation RH.

The jack is of the electric type with preferably hydraulic damping means for damping the control of the jack.

in water.

Additional safety can be provided for in the event of a particular shock, triggering the lifting of the wheel out of the water.

With reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the impeller consists of two parts 800 and 850 capable of being assembled to one another. In this configuration, the shaft of the wheel 802 is hollow and includes a cavity 804 in which is housed the CONV converter mechanism coaxially and also sealed.

It should be noted that the vanes 810 of the wheel have straight free ends. Alternatively, these free ends can be curved.

With reference to FIG. 7, to improve the efficiency of the wheel, the axis of rotation 812 of the blades 810 is offset with respect to the axis AR of rotation of the wheel by an angle A of a few degrees.

With reference to FIG. 8, the free ends of the vanes 810 further comprise float means 820 suitable for improving the flotation of the impeller. For example, these float means comprise foam elements.

With reference to FIG. 9, the converter mechanism is housed in the hollow shaft of the wheel as with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B.

In this configuration, the shaft of the wheel 860 is fixed while the blades 810 are intended to be rotatable around said shaft 802. The shaft therefore plays the role of stator, while the blades play the role of rotor here.

The alternator 870 of the electrical energy converter is here secured to the shaft of the wheel by means 872. The rotor 874 of the alternator is driven by a ring gear 876 which has as its axis that of the shaft of the wheel. For example, the number of teeth of the toothed crown 876 is here 30. This toothed crown 876 is driven by two toothed crowns constituted here by a number of teeth equal to 90 and diametrically opposed around the rotor 874. The intermediate amplifying factor is therefore here equal to 3.

Each toothed crown 878 further communicates with a toothed crown 880 whose number of teeth is equal to 30. The second amplifying factor is therefore here equal to 3. The total amplifying factor is therefore here equal to 9. The two toothed crowns 880 are integral with the blades and therefore rotate at the speed of the latter.

Referring to Figure 10, the CONV converter mechanism is housed out of the water. The movement of the paddle wheel ROU is then transmitted to the alternator of the converter CONV via means of transmission with amplifying gear, by COU belt, friction chain or the like integral with the axis of the shaft of the rear wheel by suitable means of the gear type RD for example.

With reference to FIGS. 11A and 11B, the converter CONV mechanism is disposed out of the water. Means floats
FLO1 and FLO2 are arranged on the two cheeks of the wheel JO1 and JO2. The ACC attachment means can be raised manually like an on-board ECH scale or pantograph.

Claims (9)

Claims 1. Electricity generating device comprising a paddle wheel (ROU) connected to an electrical energy converter mechanism (CONV), characterized in that said device is intended to be hung on a boat or the like capable of moving to create a current of water relative to the impeller, and in that it comprises attachment means (ACC) of the impeller to a chosen area of the boat, said attachment being movable in vertical rectilinear translation ( TR) and / or horizontal rotation (RH), as a function of the inclination of the boat relative to the surface of the water, and of the pressure of the generating device on the water so that the wheel (ROU) is driven by the movement of the boat and kept substantially floating during the movement of the boat. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the shaft of the wheel is hollow and in that the converter mechanism (CONV) is housed coaxially and sealingly in said shaft. 3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the converter mechanism (CONV) is housed out of the water. 4. Device according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the converter mechanism (CONV) comprises an alternator having a rotor driven by amplifier gear means connected to the wheel (COU). 5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blades of the wheel have straight or curved free ends. 6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the free ends of the blades comprise means (820) suitable for improving the flotation of the impeller. 7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the attachment means (ACC) comprise an arm (10) having a lower end (12) and an upper end (14), the lower end (12 ) comprising support means (20, 22) suitable for supporting the shaft of the impeller, and the upper end (14) being capable of being hooked to the chosen area of the boat, so as to be movable in vertical rectilinear translation (TR), and / or in horizontal rotation (RH). 8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the attachment means (ACC) comprise - first means forming a rectilinear slide (30, 32) fixed on the area of the boat on which the generator device is intended to be hung, - a first support plate (40) capable of being movable in vertical rectilinear translation in the first guide means, said first plate comprising hook means (45), - second guide means of curvilinear shape (52, 54, 56) fixed on the first support plate (40), and - a second plate (70) attached to the hook means (45) movably in horizontal rotation (RH), the upper end of the arm being integral with the second plate, and the arm comprising support means (100 and 101) capable of being movable in horizontal rotation (RH) in said second slide means (52, 54, 56). 9. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the attachment means (ACC) comprise - first means forming a slide (30, 32) fixed on the area of the boat on which the generator device is intended to be hung, - a first support plate (40) capable of being movable in vertical rectilinear translation (TR) in the first slide means, said first plate comprising hook means (45), - a second plate (70) attached to the hook means (45) of the first plate, said hooking state mobile in horizontal rotation (RH), the upper end of the arm being secured to the second plate (70), - a jack (200) comprising a first end secured to the second plate (70) and a second end integral with the arm (10), said cylinder being clean on command to tilt, lift out of the water and / or push the arm supporting the impeller (ROU) into the water, and - Own control means in response to predetermined conditions to control said cylinder.