초록 ▼

A reciprocating fluid-energy device to be used in a flowing fluid, having a foil, an upstream support member, a downstream support member, and a frame, where the frame retains the device in place within the flowing fluid, the support members movably attach the foil to the frame, and the foil moves l

A reciprocating fluid-energy device to be used in a flowing fluid, having a foil, an upstream support member, a downstream support member, and a frame, where the frame retains the device in place within the flowing fluid, the support members movably attach the foil to the frame, and the foil moves laterally back and forth across the direction of the flow of the fluid, with changes in direction of the movement of the foil occurring automatically and spontaneously without external intervention other than the force of the flowing fluid.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A reciprocating device for extracting energy from a fluid flow, said device comprising a foil, an upstream support member, a downstream support member, and a frame;with the foil having a configuration capable of being oriented at an angle of attack relative to the fluid flow, said foil having a l

1. A reciprocating device for extracting energy from a fluid flow, said device comprising a foil, an upstream support member, a downstream support member, and a frame;with the foil having a configuration capable of being oriented at an angle of attack relative to the fluid flow, said foil having a leading edge,a trailing edge,a length,an upstream connection point, anda downstream connection point,with the leading edge of the foil being oriented in an upstream direction relative to the fluid flow and the trailing edge of the foil being oriented in a downstream direction relative to the fluid flow, and the upstream connection point of the foil being located proximate to the leading edge of the foil and the downstream connection point of the foil being located proximate to the trailing edge of the foil;the upstream support member being elongate and having a first end,a second end,a length,a frame connection point, anda foil connection point,with the frame connection point of the upstream support member being located proximate to the first end of the upstream support member and the foil connection point of the upstream support member being located proximate to the second end of the upstream support member, wherein the foil connection point of the upstream support member is in pivotal connection with the upstream connection point of the foil;the downstream support member being elongate and substantially rigid and having a first end,a second end,a length,a foil connection point, anda frame connection point,with the foil connection point of the downstream support member being located proximate to the first end of the downstream support member and the frame connection point of the downstream support member being located proximate to the second end of the downstream support member, wherein the foil connection point of the downstream support member is in pivotal connection with the downstream connection point of the foil; andthe frame being a structure suitably configured to be at least partially placed into the fluid flow and to remain in place therein, having an upstream portion,a downstream portion,an upstream connection point,a downstream connection point, anda frame axis,with the upstream portion of the frame located upstream of the leading edge of the foil relative to the fluid flow,the downstream portion of the frame located downstream of the trailing edge of the foil relative to the fluid flow,the upstream connection point of the frame located on the upstream portion of the frame,the downstream connection point of the frame located on the downstream portion of the frame, andthe frame axis running from the upstream connection point of the frame to the downstream connection point of the frame in an orientation substantially parallel to the direction of the fluid flow;wherein the frame connection point of the upstream support member is in pivotal connection with the upstream connection point of the frame, the frame connection point of the downstream support member is in pivotal connection with the downstream connection point of the frame, the combined lengths of the upstream support member, the foil, and the downstream support member is greater than a distance from the upstream connection point of the frame to the downstream connection point of the frame along the frame axis, and the combined lengths of the upstream support member and the downstream support member is less than the distance from the upstream connection point of the frame to the downstream connection point of the frame along the frame axis;whereby the fluid flow acts upon the foil, causing the foil to move substantially perpendicular to the direction of the fluid flow in a reciprocating motion. 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the foil has a hydrofoil configuration. 3. The device of claim 2 further comprising a force transfer mechanism; wherein the force transfer mechanism has a first end and a second end, with the first end in connection with at least one of the foil, the upstream support member, and the downstream support member;whereby movement of the foil causes movement of the upstream support member and movement of the downstream support member, thereby resulting in movement of the force transfer mechanism. 4. The device of claim 2 further comprising a force transfer mechanism, an upstream pivot, a downstream pivot, a leading edge pivot, and a trailing edge pivot; wherein the force transfer mechanism has a first end and a second end, with the first end in connection with at least one of the foil, the upstream support member, the downstream support member, the upstream pivot, the downstream pivot, the leading edge pivot, and the trailing edge pivot;the upstream pivot provides the pivotal connection between the frame connection point of the upstream support member and the upstream connection point of the frame;the downstream pivot provides the pivotal connection between the frame connection point of the downstream support member and the downstream connection point of the frame;the leading edge pivot provides the pivotal connection between the foil connection point of the upstream support member and the upstream connection point of the foil; andthe trailing edge pivot provides the pivotal connection between the foil connection point of the downstream support member and the downstream connection point of the foil;whereby movement of the foil causes movement of the upstream support member, the downstream support member, the upstream pivot, the downstream pivot, the leading edge pivot, and the trailing edge pivot, thereby resulting in movement of the force transfer mechanism. 5. The device of claim 3 further comprising a generator, wherein the generator is suitably configured to convert movement into power; andthe second end of the force transfer mechanism is in connection with the generator;whereby movement of the force transfer mechanism causes the generator to generate power. 6. The device of claim 4 further comprising a generator, wherein the generator is suitably configured to convert movement into power; andthe second end of the force transfer mechanism is in connection with the generator;whereby movement of the force transfer mechanism causes the generator to generate power. 7. The device of claim 2 wherein the frame is a unitary substantially rigid structure. 8. The device of claim 7 wherein the fluid flow is a current in a channeled body of water and the frame is anchored to a floor of the channel. 9. The device of claim 7 wherein the fluid flow is an ocean current and the frame is anchored to a floor of the ocean. 10. The device of claim 2 wherein the frame is a multi-component substantially rigid structure, with at least one component of the frame comprising the upstream portion of the frame and at least one other component of the frame comprising the downstream portion of the frame. 11. The device of claim 10 wherein the fluid flow is a current in a channeled body of water and each component of the frame is anchored to a floor of the channel. 12. The device of claim 10 wherein the fluid flow is an ocean current and each component of the frame is anchored to a floor of the ocean. 13. The device of claim 2 wherein the frame is a multi-component flexible structure, with at least one component of the frame comprising the upstream portion of the frame and at least one other component of the frame comprising the downstream portion of the frame. 14. The device of claim 13 wherein the fluid flow is a current in a channeled body of water having dry land banks on either side of the channel and each component of the frame is anchored to the banks on either side of the channel with at least a portion of said component placed within the channel. 15. The device of claim 2 wherein the upstream support member is a substantially rigid structure. 16. The device of claim 15 wherein the upstream support member is an elongate rod, and the downstream support member is an elongate rod. 17. The device of claim 15 wherein the upstream support member is comprised of a plurality of elongate rods;the downstream support member is comprised of a plurality of elongate rods;the foil has a plurality of upstream connection points corresponding to the plurality of elongate rods of the upstream support member;the foil has a plurality of downstream connection points corresponding to the plurality of elongate rods of the downstream support member;the frame has a plurality of upstream connection points corresponding to the plurality of elongate rods of the upstream support member; andthe frame has a plurality of downstream connection points corresponding to the plurality of elongate rods of the downstream support member;with each elongate rod of the upstream support member havinga first end,a second end,a frame connection point, anda foil connection point,with the frame connection point of each elongate rod of the upstream support member being located proximate to the first end of said elongate rod of the upstream support member and the foil connection point of said elongate rod of the upstream support member being located proximate to the second end of said elongate rod of the upstream support member, wherein said frame connection point of said elongate rod of the upstream support member is in pivotal connection with a corresponding upstream connection point of the frame, and said foil connection point of said elongate rod of the upstream support member is in pivotal connection with a corresponding upstream connection point of the foil; andeach elongate rod of the downstream support member havinga first end,a second end,a frame connection point, anda foil connection point,with the frame connection point of each elongate rod of the downstream support member being located proximate to the first end of said elongate rod of the downstream support member and the foil connection point of said elongate rod of the downstream support member being located proximate to the second end of said elongate rod of the downstream support member, wherein said frame connection point of said elongate rod of the downstream support member is in pivotal connection with a corresponding downstream connection point of the frame, and, said foil connection point of said elongate rod of the downstream support member is in pivotal connection with a corresponding downstream connection point of the foil. 18. The device of claim 17 further comprising a force transfer mechanism; wherein the force transfer mechanism has a first end and a second end, with the first end in connection with at least one of: the foil, one or more of the elongate rods of the upstream support member, and one or more of the elongate rods of the downstream support member;whereby movement of the foil causes movement of the elongate rods of the upstream support member and movement of the elongate rods of the downstream support member, thereby resulting in movement of the force transfer mechanism. 19. The device of claim 17 further comprising a force transfer mechanism, a plurality of upstream pivots, a plurality of downstream pivots, a plurality of leading edge pivots, and a plurality of trailing edge pivots; wherein the force transfer mechanism has a first end and a second end, with the first end in connection with at least one of: the foil, one or more of the plurality of elongate rods of the upstream support member, one or more of the plurality of elongate rods of the downstream support member, one or more of the plurality of upstream pivots, one or more of the plurality of downstream pivots, one or more of the plurality of leading edge pivots, and one or more of the plurality of trailing edge pivots;each of the upstream pivots provides the pivotal connection between the frame connection point of one of the elongate rods of the upstream support member and a corresponding upstream connection point of the frame;each of the downstream pivots provides the pivotal connection between the frame connection point of one of the elongate rods of the downstream support member and a corresponding downstream connection point of the frame;each of the leading edge pivots provides the pivotal connection between the foil connection point of one of the elongate rods of the upstream support member and a corresponding upstream connection point of the foil; andeach of the trailing edge pivots provides the pivotal connection between the foil connection point of one of the elongate rods of the downstream support member and a corresponding downstream connection point of the foil;whereby movement of the foil causes movement of the plurality of elongate rods of the upstream support member, the plurality of elongate rods of the downstream support member, the plurality of upstream pivots, the plurality of downstream pivots, the plurality of leading edge pivots, and the plurality of trailing edge pivots, thereby resulting in movement of the force transfer mechanism. 20. The device of claim 18 further comprising a generator, wherein the generator is suitably configured to convert movement into power; andthe second end of the force transfer mechanism is in connection with the generator;whereby movement of the force transfer mechanism causes the generator to generate power. 21. The device of claim 19 further comprising a generator, wherein the generator is suitably configured to convert movement into power; andthe second end of the force transfer mechanism is in connection with the generator;whereby movement of the force transfer mechanism causes the generator to generate power. 22. The device of claim 2 wherein the upstream support member is a flexible structure. 23. The device of claim 22 wherein the upstream support member is a chain, and the downstream support member is an elongate rod. 24. The device of claim 22 wherein the upstream support member is comprised of a plurality of chains;the downstream support member is comprised of a plurality of elongate rods;the foil has a plurality of upstream connection points corresponding to the plurality of chains of the upstream support member;the foil has a plurality of downstream connection points corresponding to the plurality of elongate rods of the downstream support member;the frame has a plurality of upstream connection points corresponding to the plurality of chains of the upstream support member; andthe frame has a plurality of downstream connection points corresponding to the plurality of elongate rods of the downstream support member;with each chain of the upstream support member havinga first end,a second end,a frame connection point, anda foil connection point,with the frame connection point of each chain of the upstream support member being located proximate to the first end of said chain of the upstream support member and the foil connection point of said chain of the upstream support member being located proximate to the second end of said chain of the upstream support member, wherein said frame connection point of said chain of the upstream support member is in pivotal connection with a corresponding upstream connection point of the frame, and said foil connection point of said chain of the upstream support member is in pivotal connection with a corresponding upstream connection point of the foil; andeach elongate rod of the downstream support member havinga first end,a second end,a frame connection point, anda foil connection point,with the frame connection point of each elongate rod of the downstream support member being located proximate to the first end of said elongate rod of the downstream support member and the foil connection point of said elongate rod of the downstream support member being located proximate to the second end of said elongate rod of the downstream support member, wherein said frame connection point of said elongate rod of the downstream support member is in pivotal connection with a corresponding downstream connection point of the frame, and, said foil connection point of said elongate rod of the downstream support member is in pivotal connection with a corresponding downstream connection point of the foil. 25. The device of claim 24 further comprising a force transfer mechanism; wherein the force transfer mechanism has a first end and a second end, with the first end in connection with at least one of: the foil and one or more of the elongate rods of the downstream support member;whereby movement of the foil causes movement of the elongate rods of the downstream support member, thereby resulting in movement of the force transfer mechanism. 26. The device of claim 24 further comprising a force transfer mechanism, a plurality of upstream pivots, a plurality of downstream pivots, a plurality of leading edge pivots, and a plurality of trailing edge pivots; wherein the force transfer mechanism has a first end and a second end, with the first end in connection with at least one of: the foil, one or more of the plurality of elongate rods of the downstream support member, one or more of the plurality of upstream pivots, one or more of the plurality of downstream pivots, one or more of the plurality of leading edge pivots, and one or more of the plurality of trailing edge pivots;each of the upstream pivots provides the pivotal connection between the frame connection point of one of the chains of the upstream support member and a corresponding upstream connection point of the frame;each of the downstream pivots provides the pivotal connection between the frame connection point of one of the elongate rods of the downstream support member and a corresponding downstream connection point of the frame;each of the leading edge pivots provides the pivotal connection between the foil connection point of one of the chains of the upstream support member and a corresponding upstream connection point of the foil; andeach of the trailing edge pivots provides the pivotal connection between the foil connection point of one of the elongate rods of the downstream support member and a corresponding downstream connection point of the foil;whereby movement of the foil causes movement of the plurality of elongate rods of the downstream support member, the plurality of upstream pivots, the plurality of downstream pivots, the plurality of leading edge pivots, and the plurality of trailing edge pivots, thereby resulting in movement of the force transfer mechanism. 27. The device of claim 25 further comprising a generator, wherein the generator is suitably configured to convert movement into power; andthe second end of the force transfer mechanism is in connection with the generator;whereby movement of the force transfer mechanism causes the generator to generate power. 28. The device of claim 26 further comprising a generator, wherein the generator is suitably configured to convert movement into power; andthe second end of the force transfer mechanism is in connection with the generator;whereby movement of the force transfer mechanism causes the generator to generate power. 29. The device of claim 1 wherein the foil is buoyant. 30. The device of claim 29, wherein the foil is a boat, the leading edge of the foil is a bow portion of the boat, and the trailing edge of the foil is a stern portion of the boat. 31. A reciprocating device for extracting energy from a fluid flow, said device comprising a plurality of foils, a first foil support member, a second foil support member, a pair of upstream support members, a pair of downstream support members, a frame, a pair of upstream pivots, a pair of downstream pivots, a pair of first foil support pivots, a pair of second foil support pivots, a plurality of leading edge pivots, and a plurality of trailing edge pivots;with each foil having a hydrofoil configuration capable of being oriented at an angle of attack relative to the fluid flow and having substantially the same size and shape as each other foil, with a leading edge,a trailing edge,a length,an upstream connection point, anda downstream connection point,with the leading edge of each foil being oriented in an upstream direction relative to the fluid flow and the trailing edge of each foil being oriented in a downstream direction relative to the fluid flow, and the upstream connection point of each foil being located proximate to the leading edge of said foil and the downstream connection point of each foil being located proximate to the trailing edge of said foil;the first foil support member being elongate and oriented substantially perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow, and having a first end,a second end,a pair of upstream support connection points, anda plurality of foil connection points,with one upstream support connection point of the first foil support member located proximate to the first end of the first foil support member,the other upstream support connection point of the first foil support member located proximate to the second end of the first foil support member,the plurality of foil connection points are distributed substantially evenly along the first foil support member and correspond in number to the plurality of foils, with each foil connection point of the first foil support member in pivotal connection with the upstream connection point of one of the foils by one of the leading edge pivots;the second foil support member being elongate and having substantially the same size and shape as the first foil support member and oriented substantially perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow, and having a first end,a second end,a pair of downstream support connection points, anda plurality of foil connection points,with one downstream support connection point of the second foil support member located proximate to the first end of the second foil support member,the other downstream support connection point of the second foil support member located proximate to the second end of the second foil support member,the plurality of foil connection points are distributed substantially evenly along the second foil support member and correspond in number to the plurality of foils, with each foil connection point of the second foil support member in pivotal connection with the downstream connection point of one of the foils by one of the trailing edge pivots;each upstream support member being elongate and having substantially the same size and shape as each other upstream support member, and having a first end,a second end,a length,a frame connection point, anda foil support member connection point,with the frame connection point of each upstream support member being located proximate to the first end of said upstream support member and the foil support member connection point of each upstream support member being located proximate to the second end of said upstream support member, wherein the foil support member connection point of each upstream support member is in pivotal connection with one of the upstream support connection points of the first foil support member by one of the first foil support pivots;each downstream support member being elongate and substantially rigid and having substantially the same size and shape as each other downstream support member, and having a first end,a second end,a length,a foil support member connection point, anda frame connection point,with the foil support member connection point of each downstream support member being located proximate to the first end of said downstream support member and the frame connection point of each downstream support member being located proximate to the second end of said downstream support member, wherein the foil support member connection point of each downstream support member is in pivotal connection with one of the downstream support connection points of the second foil support member by one of the second foil support pivots; andthe frame being a structure suitably configured to be at least partially placed into the fluid flow and to remain in place therein, having a pair of upstream portions,a pair of downstream portions,an upstream connection point associated with each upstream portion,a downstream connection point associated with each downstream portion, anda pair of frame axes,with each upstream portion located upstream of the leading edges of the plurality of foils relative to the fluid flow,each downstream portion located downstream of the trailing edges of the plurality of foils relative to the fluid flow,the upstream connection point associated with each upstream portion located on said upstream portion,the downstream connection point associated with each downstream portion located on said downstream portion,one frame axis running from one upstream connection point to one downstream connection point in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the fluid flow, andthe other frame axis running from the other upstream connection point to the other downstream connection point in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the fluid flow, with the two frame axes substantially parallel to each other,wherein the frame connection point of each upstream support member is in pivotal connection with one of the upstream connection points of the frame by one of the upstream pivots, the frame connection point of each downstream support member is in pivotal connection with one of the downstream connection points of the frame by one of the downstream pivots, the combined lengths of one of the upstream support members, one of the foils, and one of the downstream support members is greater than a distance from one of the upstream connection points to one of the downstream connection points along one of the frame axes, and the combined lengths of one of the upstream support members and one of the downstream support members is less than the distance from one of the upstream connection points to one of the downstream connection points along one of the frame axes;wherein the fluid flow acts upon the plurality of foils, causing the plurality of foils to move together substantially perpendicular to the direction of the fluid flow in a reciprocating motion. 32. The device of claim 31 further comprising a force transfer mechanism; wherein the force transfer mechanism has a first end and a second end, with the first end in connection with at least one of: the first foil support member, the second foil support member, one or more of the upstream support members, one or more of the downstream support members, one or more of the upstream pivots, one or more of the downstream pivots, one or more of the first foil support pivots, one or more of the second foil support pivots, one or more of the leading edge pivots, and one or more of the trailing edge pivots;whereby movement of the foils causes movement of the first foil support member, the second foil support member, the upstream support members, the downstream support members, the upstream pivots, the downstream pivots, the first foil support pivots, the second foil support pivots, the leading edge pivots, and the trailing edge pivots, thereby resulting in movement of the force transfer mechanism. 33. The device of claim 32 further comprising a generator, wherein the generator is suitably configured to convert movement into power; andthe second end of the force transfer mechanism is in connection with the generator;whereby movement of the force transfer mechanism causes the generator to generate power. 34. The device of claim 31 wherein the frame is a unitary substantially rigid structure. 35. The device of claim 31 wherein the frame is a multi-component structure. 36. The device of claim 31 wherein the fluid flow is a current in a channeled body of water and the frame is anchored to a floor of the channel. 37. The device of claim 31 wherein the fluid flow is an ocean current and the frame is anchored to a floor of the ocean.