Turbine housing and floatation assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a turbine housing comprising a housing ( 2 ) body having a first end ( 8 ), second end ( 12 ) and a central region ( 4 ), wherein the housing body comprises a bore running therethrough, and wherein the bore tapers from a first larger cross-section at and/or in the region of the first and second ends to a second, smaller cross-section towards the central region. The turbine housing may also include a fluid flow restriction means arranged ( 34, 40 ) in use to restrict fluid speed, direction or location within the turbine housing.

1 . A turbine housing comprising a housing body having a first end, a second end and a central region, wherein the housing body comprises: 
 a bore running therethrough, and wherein the bore tapers from a first larger cross-section at and/or in the region of the first and second ends to a second, smaller cross-section towards the central region; and    fluid flow restriction means comprising two moveable members, one each located towards the first and second end of the housing, and arranged such that one of the first and/or second fluid flow restriction means moves to the first position when the other of the second and/or fluid flow restriction means moves to the second position.    
   
   
       2 . A turbine housing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the cross-section of the bore in the central portion is selected from the group of shapes consisting of rectangular, cylindrical, oval or square.  
   
   
       3 . A turbine housing as claimed in claims  1  or  2  wherein the shape of the first and second end is selected from the group of shapes consisting of frusto-conical, frusto-pyramidal or trumpet shaped.  
   
   
       4 . A turbine housing as claimed in claims  1  or  2  wherein the cross-sectional shape of the central portion of the housing is selected from the group of shapes consisting of rectangular or square, and the shape of the first and second end comprises a flared extension of the rectangular or square cross-sectional shape of the central portion of the housing.  
   
   
       5 . A turbine housing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first and second end comprise a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet respectively.  
   
   
       6 . A turbine housing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the central portion of the housing comprises means to house a turbine or a rotatable shaft of the turbine.  
   
   
       7 . A turbine housing as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the central portion of the housing comprises a bore of uniform cross-section, and suitably the means to house a turbine or rotatable shaft if located substantially centrally within the central portion.  
   
   
       8 - 9 . (canceled)  
   
   
       10 . A turbine housing as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the fluid flow restriction means restricts speed and/or direction of fluid flow through the housing.  
   
   
       11 - 13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . A turbine housing as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a movement limiting means operably co-operable with the means to restrict fluid flow, such that the means to restrict fluid flow is limited between the first and second positions only.  
   
   
       15 . A turbine housing as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the movement limiting means comprises an arresting pin which serves to prevent the movement limiting means from restricting fluid flow from moving out of the range of the first and second positions.  
   
   
       16 . A prime mover comprising a turbine housing as claimed in  claim 1 , on which is mounted a turbine.  
   
   
       17 . A prime mover as claimed in  claim 16  further comprising means to connect the turbine housing to a fixed structure.  
   
   
       18 . A prime mover as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the means to connect the turbine housing to a fixed structure comprises means to connect the turbine housing to an ocean, river or sea bed.  
   
   
       19 . A prime mover as claimed in  claim 18  mounted within a floatation unit, arranged in use to enable the prime mover to float in a fluid medium.  
   
   
       20 . A prime mover as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the floatation unit comprises means to enable entrapment of air within the floatation unit and means to enable control of release of air trapped within the floatation unit to enable the prime mover to float or sink in a fluid medium to a desired depth.  
   
   
       21 . A prime mover as claimed in  claim 19  or  20  wherein the floatation unit further comprises a waterproof shell, arranged in use to protect a mounted turbine's electrical components from the fluid medium.