Hydroelectric power generation apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10648449-B2
Application number	US-201716079841-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 1, 2017
Priority date	Feb 26, 2016
Publication date	May 12, 2020
Grant date	May 12, 2020

Abstract

A hydroelectric power generation apparatus includes a hydroelectric power generation module, a supporting part, and a bar. The hydroelectric power generation module includes a rotary blade and a power generator that generates power by rotation of the rotary blade. The supporting part supports the hydroelectric power generation module. The supporting part can be installed at a water channel. The bar is connected to the supporting part to protrude from the supporting part. With one end of the bar closer to the supporting part or a portion of the supporting part serving as a center, the other end of the bar opposite to one end of the bar can be pivoted to switch a first state to a second state and vice versa.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A hydroelectric power generation apparatus comprising:
a hydroelectric power generation module including a rotary blade and a power generator the power generator configured to generate power using rotation of the rotary blade;
a supporting part that supports the hydroelectric power generation module, the supporting part extending across a water channel so that a first end of the supporting part is disposed on a first side of the water channel and a second end of the supporting part is disposed on a second side of the water channel, the second end of the supporting part being opposite the first end of the supporting part, the second side being opposite the first side of the water channel; and
a bar having 1) a first end at one end of a longitudinal axis of the bar and 2) a second end at another end of the longitudinal axis of the bar, the first end of the bar being connected to the first end of the supporting part so that the longitudinal axis of the bar is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the supporting part,
wherein when the hydroelectric power generation apparatus is in a first state, 1) the rotary blade is below a surface of water flowing through the water channel and 2) the longitudinal axis of the bar is parallel to the surface of water flowing through the water channel,
wherein when the hydroelectric power generation apparatus is in a second state, 1) the rotary blade is above the surface of water flowing through the water channel and 2) the longitudinal axis of the bar is perpendicular to the surface of water flowing through the water channel, and
wherein the bar pivots about the first end of the bar to switch between the first state and the second state of the hydroelectric power generation apparatus, and
wherein the hydroelectric power generation apparatus further comprises a supporting member that rotatably supports the supporting part, the supporting member including 1) a first supporting member disposed on the first end of the supporting part and the first side of the water channel and 2) a second supporting member disposed on the second end of the supporting part and the second side of the water channel.

2. The hydroelectric power generation apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a connecting member that detachably connects the bar to the supporting part.

3. The hydroelectric power generation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the supporting member has a hinge.

4. The hydroelectric power generation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the supporting member has a bearing.

5. The hydroelectric power generation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the rotary blade is a horizontal-axis-type, propeller-type rotary blade.

6. The hydroelectric power generation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the rotary blade is a vertical-axis-type rotary blade.

Assignees

• Ntn Toyo Bearing Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kawai Tomoya
• Fujikawa Yoshio

Classifications

• F05B2220/706

  an electrical generator · CPC title

• F03B17/061

  with rotation axis substantially in flow direction · CPC title

• F05B2240/916

  with provision for hoisting onto the structure · CPC title

• F03B15/00 Primary

  Controlling (controlling in general G05 {; regulation of plants characterised by the use of siphons F03B13/086}) · CPC title

• F05B2220/32

  in water turbines · CPC title