Fluid-powered generator
A fluid-powered generator harvests the inherent energy in a flowing medium, such as wind or water, as it flows along a flexible sail, creating an undulating motion that causes rotation of a crankshaft. The generator comprises a plurality of ribs pivotably connected to a support shaft. Each rib is coupled to the sail and to a crank arm such that when the sail undulates, the ribs and crank arm pivot in the direction of the undulation, causing rotation of the crankshaft. The generator thus converts the linear motion of the fluid to circular motion to produce renewable energy.
1. A fluid-powered generator comprising:
a plurality of ribs disposed horizontally along a support shaft, each rib connected to a socket at a proximal end of the rib, each socket pivotably connected to the support shaft;
an elongated flexible sail coupled to each rib of the plurality of ribs at a distal end of the rib;
a crankshaft comprising a plurality of shafts, the plurality of shafts disposed horizontally along the crankshaft and parallel to the support shaft;
a plurality of crank arms disposed horizontally along the crankshaft, each crank arm of the plurality of crank arms pivotably coupled to the crankshaft at a first end of the crank arm and to a medial point of a rib of the plurality of ribs at a second end of the crank arm, wherein the medial point of the rib is located between the proximal end of the rib and the distal end of the rib; and
one or more interior supports, each interior support coupled to the support shaft at a bottom portion of the interior support and coupled to the crankshaft at a top portion of the interior support.
2. The fluid-powered generator of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ribs are disposed perpendicularly to the support shaft and are coupled to the support shaft by a connection mechanism.
3. The fluid-powered generator of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ribs are equidistantly spaced along the support shaft.
4. The fluid-powered generator of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ribs are comprised of a rigid material.
5. The fluid-powered generator of claim 1 , further comprising an end support at each end of the fluid-powered generator, each end support coupled to the support shaft at a bottom portion of the end support and to the crankshaft at a top portion of the end support.
6. The fluid-powered generator of claim 1 , wherein the crankshaft includes a plurality of throws coupled to the shafts, each throw comprising two vertical webs disposed perpendicularly to the shafts and a crank pin disposed parallel to the shaft between the vertical webs.
7. The fluid-powered generator of claim 6 , wherein each crank arm is coupled to a crank pin of a corresponding throw.
8. The fluid-powered generator of claim 1 , wherein the elongated flexible sail comprises a flexible fabric having an elongated rectangular shape.
9. The fluid-powered generator of claim 1 , further comprising an electric generation subsystem operatively connected to the fluid-powered generator, the electric generation subsystem including a direct drive motor driven by rotation of the crankshaft so as to generate electricity.
10. The fluid-powered generator of claim 1 , further comprising a pump operatively connected to the fluid-powered generator, wherein the fluid-powered generator exerts force on water moving through the pump.
11. A method for providing a fluid-powered generator, comprising:
pivotably coupling a plurality of sockets to an elongated support shaft, each socket of the plurality of sockets connected to a rib of a plurality of ribs at a proximal end of rib, the plurality of sockets disposed horizontally along the support shaft and protruding perpendicularly from the elongated support shaft;
attaching an elongated flexible sail to each rib of the plurality of ribs at a distal end of the rib;
generating a crankshaft by arranging a plurality of co-linear shafts horizontally and parallel to the elongated support shaft, each shaft connected to an adjacent shaft by means of a throw;
pivotably coupling a crank arm to each throw at a first end of the crank arm and to a medial point of a rib of the plurality of ribs at a second end of the crank arm, wherein the medial point of the rib is located between the proximal end and the distal end of the rib; and
one or more interior supports, each interior support coupled to the elongated support shaft at a bottom portion of the interior support and coupled to the crankshaft at a top portion of the interior support.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of ribs are equidistantly spaced along the elongated support shaft.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of ribs are comprised of a rigid material.
14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising attaching an end support at each end of the fluid-powered generator, each end support coupled to the elongated support shaft at a bottom portion of the end support and to the crank shaft at a top portion of the end support.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein each throw comprises two vertical shafts disposed perpendicularly to the shafts and a crank pin disposed parallel to the shaft between vertical webs.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein each crank arm is coupled to a crank pin of a corresponding throw.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the elongated flexible sail comprises a flexible fabric having an elongated rectangular shape.
18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising positioning the fluid-powered generator to engage with the flow of fluid.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the fluid-powered generator is mounted horizontally and right-side up along the roof of a building and captures the flow of wind.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the fluid-powered generator is mounted in a flowing body of water.