Rotation device

Abstract

The invention relates to a rotational device to be used in a fluid to extract energy from a moving fluid stream or to convert energy into a motion of a fluid comprising main rotating means which is fixedly connected to a central rotary shaft of the rotational device, one or more rotational surfaces coupled rotatable about their rotational surface shafts, spaced away from the rotary shaft, and mounted on the main rotating means such that the main rotating means can execute by at least one rotational surface a rotational motion about the central rotary shaft, the rotational surface shafts extending parallel to the shaft of the main body, pivoting means or controlling means being provided to control or adjust the position of the rotational surface(s) relative to a direction of the moving fluid stream and comprising a respective adjusting sleeve ( 51, 52, 53 ) and/or an adjusting frame for each rotational surface, the adjusting sleeve and/or adjusting frame is arranged freely rotatable around the central rotary shaft (M), but it is not connected in fixed or force-fit manner to the central rotary shaft (M) radially, and is coupled to a respective rotational surface to transfer its pivoting motion to the rotational surface for adjusting the rotational surface.

1 . Rotational device for use in a fluid to extract energy from a moving fluid stream or to convert energy into a motion of a fluid comprising
 main rotating means which is fixedly connected to a central rotary shaft (M) of the rotational device ( 71 ), one or more rotational surfaces coupled rotatable about their rotational surface shafts or rotor blade shafts spaced away from the central rotary shaft (M) to the main rotating means such that the main rotating means can execute by at least one rotational surface or by a plurality of rotational surfaces a rotational motion about the central rotary shaft (M), the rotational surface shafts extending parallel to the central rotary shaft of the main rotating means, characterized by pivoting means or controlling means being provided to control or adjust the position of the rotational surface(s) relative to a direction of the moving fluid stream, comprising a respective adjusting sleeve ( 51 ,  52 ,  53 ) and/or an adjusting frame ( 79 . 1 ,  80 . 1 ,  81 . 1 ) for each rotational surface, the adjusting sleeve and/or adjusting frame is arranged freely rotatable about the central rotary shaft (M), but it is not connected in fixed or force-fit manner to the central rotary shaft (M) radially, and being coupled to a respective rotational surface to transfer its pivoting movement to the rotational surface for adjusting the rotational surface.   
     
     
         2 . Rotational device as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the pivoting means comprise a controlling cam fixedly coupled to the central rotary shaft (M) of the main rotating means and to the adjusting sleeve ( 51 ,  52 ,  53 ) or the adjusting frame ( 79 . 1 ,  80 . 1 ,  81 . 1 ) and transferring its motion to a rotational motion of the related rotational surface. 
     
     
         3 . Rotational device as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the pivoting means comprises an electric drive for adjusting the angle of the rotational surface as a function of the rotational position of the main rotating means via the related adjusting sleeve or the related adjusting frame. 
     
     
         4 . Rotational device as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the pivoting means adjusts a neutral position of the corresponding rotational surface in relation to the direction of the fluid stream by means of the adjusting sleeve or the corresponding adjusting frame in which the rotational surface does not exert any torque on the main rotating means. 
     
     
         5 . Rotational device as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized by a pivoting wheel ( 41 ,  42 ,  43 ) freely rotatable mounted, but not rigidly or positively connected radially to the central rotary shaft, and coupled to the rotational surface concerned via a drive or transmission. 
     
     
         6 . Rotational device as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the pivoting means or adjusting means comprises a controlling curve being provided on the central rotary shaft (M). 
     
     
         7 . Rotational device as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that several rotational surfaces and adjusting sleeves ( 51 ,  52 ,  53 ) and/or adjusting frames ( 79 . 1 ,  80 . 1 ,  81 . 1 ) in equal number are provided, each rotational surface is coupled to a respective adjusting sleeve or respective adjusting frame. 
     
     
         8 . Rotational device as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that several rotational surfaces and pivoting wheels ( 41 ,  42 ,  43 ) of equal number are provided, each of the rotational surfaces is coupled to a respective pivoting wheel. 
     
     
         9 . Rotational device as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that several rotational surfaces and adjusting members ( 61 ,  62 ,  63 ) in equal number are provided, each rotational surface is coupled to a respective adjusting member. 
     
     
         10 . Rotational device as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that several rotational surfaces and controlling curves in equivalent number are provided, each of the rotational surfaces is coupled to a respective one of the controlling curves. 
     
     
         11 . Rotational device as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that a plurality of rotational surfaces ( 1 ,  2 ) and adjusting sleeves ( 51 ,  52 ,  53 ) and/or adjusting frames ( 79 . 1 ,  80 . 1 ,  81 . 1 ) in equal number are provided, each of the rotational surfaces ( 1 ,  2 ) is coupled to a respective adjusting sleeve ( 51 ,  52 ,  53 ) or to a respective adjusting frame. 
     
     
         12 . Rotational device as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that a plurality of adjusting sleeves ( 51 ,  52 ,  53 ) or adjusting frames ( 79 . 1 ,  80 . 1   81 . 1 ) are nested into each other and arranged around the central rotational shaft (M). 
     
     
         13 . Rotational device as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the position or pitch of the respective rotational surface to the flowing direction of fluid or medium is adjusted by means of the pivoting means or controlling means such that a relative velocity between the flowing fluid and rotational surface concerned is constant or is optimally adjusted on a circular trajectory. 
     
     
         14 . Rotational device as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that a distance or free space is maintained between an adjusting sleeve and the central rotary shaft (M) next to it, and that a distance or free space is maintained between adjusting sleeves being next to each other. 
     
     
         15 . Rotational device as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the adjusting frame ( 79 . 1 ,  80 . 1 ,  81 . 1 ) comprises several rings ( 79 . 2 ,  80 . 2 ,  81 . 2 ;  79 . 6 ,  80 . 4 ,  81 . 4 ) or discs arranged parallel to each other and several bars ( 79 . 3 ,  80 . 3 ,  81 . 3 ) extending between the rings or discs. 
     
     
         16 . Rotational device as set forth in  claim 15 , characterized in that the rings ( 80 . 4 ,  81 . 4 ) or discs of the adjusting frames ( 79 . 1 ,  80 . 1 ,  81 . 1 ) comprise openings or radial elongated holes ( 80 . 5 ,  81 . 5 ) through which a respective bar or several bars of an adjusting frame arranged next or of several adjusting frames ( 79 . 1 ,  80 . 1 ,  81 . 1 ) arranged next extends or extend. 
     
     
         17 . Rotational device as set forth in  claim 15 , characterized in that the nested adjusting sleeves or adjusting frames ( 79 . 1 ,  80 . 1 ,  81 . 1 ) are coupled to a respective pivoting wheel ( 78 ) being coupled to the corresponding rotational surface ( 81 ) via a rope, belt, or chain drive { 78 . 1 ,  78 . 2 ).