Hydraulic generator, spouting apparatus, and method for manufacturing hydraulic generator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10934992-B2
Application number	US-202016782528-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 5, 2020
Priority date	Feb 18, 2019
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

The hydraulic generator includes a first structure; a second structure, such that a water passageway from the inflow port to the outflow port is formed by the first structure and the second structure in a state that the second structure is attached to the first structure; a water turbine; and an electrical generator. The second structure is removable from the first structure, and includes a fixing portion fixing the fixed shaft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hydraulic generator for generating electricity by water power, comprising:
a first structure configured to form a space communicating between an inflow port and an outflow port;
a second structure attached in the space within the first structure, wherein a water passageway from the inflow port to the outflow port is formed by the first structure and the second structure in a state that the second structure is attached to the first structure;
a water turbine configured to rotate around a fixed shaft by water flow flowing in the water passageway; and
an electrical generator configured to convert a water power to electrical power;
wherein the second structure is removable from the first structure, and comprises a fixing portion fixing the fixed shaft of the water turbine, and the second structure comprising a fixing portion fixing the fixed shaft of the water turbine forms an introducing port for introducing water to the water turbine.

2. The hydraulic generator of claim 1 , wherein the introducing port of the second structure is formed so as to introduce water to the water turbine from a lateral direction of the water turbine, the second structure further comprises an outgoing path for directing away water from the water turbine toward an outlet water passageway part of the first structure formed in the lateral direction of the water turbine.

3. The hydraulic generator of claim 1 , wherein the second structure forms a wall surface of a holding chamber surrounding an entire perimeter of the water turbine.

4. The hydraulic generator of claim 1 , further comprising:
a vibration absorbing member which is mounted between the first structure and the second structure, and which is configured to absorb vibration between the first structure and the second structure.

5. A spouting apparatus for spouting water, comprising:
a valve configured to open and close a supply flow path for supplying water;
a detection sensor configured to detect a presence of a user;
a control portion configured to control the valve based on a detection signal from the detection sensor;
and the hydraulic generator of claim 1 configured to generate at least a portion of electrical power consumed by the valve, the detection sensor, and the control portion.

6. A method for manufacturing a hydraulic generator comprising:
a first structure configured to form a space communicating between an inflow port and an outflow port; a second structure attached in the space within the first structure, wherein a water passageway from the inflow port to the outflow port is formed by the first structure and the second structure in a state that the second structure is attached to the first structure; a water turbine configured to rotate around a fixed shaft by water flow flowing in the water passageway; and an electrical generator configured to convert water power to electrical power;
the method including:
selecting the second structure from among plural second structures, which are formed to be removable from the first structure and which comprise a fixing portion fixing a fixed shaft of the water turbine, and each of which forms different water passageway shape, and the second structure comprising a fixing portion fixing the fixed shaft of the water turbine forms an introducing port for introducing water to the water turbine; and
fixing the fixed shaft of the water turbine to the fixing portion of the second structure selected in the selecting.

Assignees

• Toto Ltd

Inventors

• Kuroishi Masahiro
• Hayashi Nobuhiro
• Onodera Naoyuki

Classifications

• Y02P70/50

  Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product · CPC title

• E03C1/0404

  Constructional or functional features of the spout · CPC title

• F03B11/004

  Valve arrangements (F03B3/10 takes precedence; adjustable wicket gates F03B3/183; valves in general F16K) · CPC title

• H02K7/1823 Primary

  structurally associated with turbines or similar engines · CPC title

• Y02E10/20

  Hydro energy · CPC title