초록 ▼

Apparatus and method for generating electrical energy from a body of water flowing in a downstream direction are disclosed. A lever arm including a flap member is coupled to a rotatable shaft. The lever arm is movable from a first vertical position where the flap member is located in the body of wat

Apparatus and method for generating electrical energy from a body of water flowing in a downstream direction are disclosed. A lever arm including a flap member is coupled to a rotatable shaft. The lever arm is movable from a first vertical position where the flap member is located in the body of water and a second vertical position where the flap member is in located above the body of water. When the lever arm is lowered into the first vertical position, the body of water engaging the flap member pushes the lever arm from an upstream position to a downstream position. The rotation of the lever arm from the upstream position to the downstream position actuates the rotatable shaft, which can be coupled to a power generation device configured to generate electrical energy from motion of the rotatable shaft.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for rotating a shaft couplable to a power generation device with a body of water flowing in a downstream direction, comprising:a rotatable shaft, said rotatable shaft couplable to a power generation device configured to generate electrical energy from motion of sa

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for rotating a shaft couplable to a power generation device with a body of water flowing in a downstream direction, comprising:a rotatable shaft, said rotatable shaft couplable to a power generation device configured to generate electrical energy from motion of said rotatable shaft;a base supporting said rotatable shaft;a lever arm coupled to said rotatable shaft with a bidirectional coupling, said lever arm having a first end and a second end, said lever arm comprising a flap member coupled to the first end of said lever arm, said lever arm movable between a first vertical position wherein said flap member is located in said body of water and a second vertical position wherein said flap member is located above said body of water; said lever arm is movable from an upstream position to a downstream position upon the body of water engaging said flap member when said lever arm is in the first vertical position; anda tensioning member coupled to said lever arm, said tensioning member configured to retract said lever arm from the downstream position to the upstream position when said lever arm is in the second vertical position;wherein said apparatus further comprises a first guide member located between said rotatable shaft and the first end of said lever arm, said first guide member comprising an upward extending protrusion configured to guide said lever arm from the first vertical position to the second vertical position.