Harnessing Flowing Fluids to Create Torque

Abstract

An apparatus and method for producing high output and low cost/time, sustainable energy (e.g., wind or water) via natural currents that is environmentally friendly and includes a gravity-assisted equalizing control system is provided. Wings with a large surface area can be included in the design, as well as an optional counterbalance system that synchronizes the wings' position and speed with a mechanical leverage point on the body of the device. When a fluid flows past wings of the device, the fluid flow induces motion in the wings, which causes a shaft to move, creating torque at the generator. The outcome is a coordination of harmonizing the wings pitch angle to the natural frequency of a fluids specific velocity. The device can adapt itself to the velocity of the surrounding fluid through a rotational sweeping control system that produces a more streamlined profile to maximize reliability.

1 . An apparatus for generating torque from a moving fluid, the apparatus comprising:
 a generator for capturing torque;   a shaft attached to the generator;   a base attached to at least one of the generator or the shaft;   at least one wing attached to the shaft; and   a control system attached at least in part to the wing, wherein the wing is configured for pivoting around a central axis in response to a motion of the wing, the motion of the wing in response to a moving fluid, the pivoting motion of the wing imparting a torque on the shaft, and wherein the control system is configured for orienting the wing in response to a position of the wing around the shaft and a speed of a flow of the fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pivoting motion of the wing is an oscillatory motion, the wing being configured for oscillating back and forth about the shaft through an arc of motion. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pivoting motion of the wing is a rotational motion, the wing being configured for rotating continuously in a single direction around the shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wing is hinged at the shaft, such that the wing is configured to fold towards the shaft in response to a rate of the flow of the fluid or a debris in the flow of the fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control system further comprises a pendulum that is pivotally mounted to an arm and counterweight, wherein the pendulum and counterweight are positioned opposite the wing for swinging about the shaft in a direction opposite the wing to trigger pivoting of the wing about the shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises a drag scoop movably mounted around the shaft to create drag to generate linear movement to fold the wings toward the shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises an elastic connector that attaches to the shaft, the base, or the generator to allow different leveraging of the apparatus for movement of the wing. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises a pendulum and an elastic connector that attaches to the pendulum for controlling movement of the wing. 
     
     
         9 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control system deflects the wing and wherein the deflection allows the wing to respond to the moving fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wing is configured for changing its angle relative to the flow of the fluid past the wing as it pivots about the shaft. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wing further comprises a leading edge and a trailing edge, and wherein the control system is configured to rotate the wing about an axis to change an angle of attack of the wing such that a side of the axis to which the trailing edge or the leading edge is positioned varies with movement of the wing. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wing further comprises a plurality of wings that oscillate about the shaft. 
     
     
         17 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a rudder attached to the shaft, base, or generator for keeping a front of the apparatus facing into the flow of the fluid. 
     
     
         22 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method for generating torque from a moving fluid, the method comprising:
 pivoting at least one wing about a shaft in a first direction responsive to a flow of the fluid about the wing;   pivoting the at least one wing about the shaft in a second direction responsive to the flow of the fluid about the wing, the pivoting in the first and second directions driving an oscillating motion of the wing;   exerting a first torque on the shaft from the fluid flowing about the wing when the wing has pivoted in the first direction;   exerting a second torque on the shaft from the fluid flowing about the wing when the wing has pivoted in the second direction, wherein the pivoting in the first direction occurs as the wing approaches a first maximum position in the oscillating motion, and the pivoting in the second direction occurs as the wing approaches a second maximum position in the oscillating.   
     
     
         25 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 pivoting a second wing about a shaft in a first direction responsive to the flow of the fluid about the wing;   pivoting the second wing about the shaft in a second direction responsive to the flow of the fluid about the wing, the first direction of the second wing being opposite the first direction of the at least one wing and the second direction of the second wing being opposite the second direction of the at least one wing.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising using a plurality of lines and pulleys associated with the wing for pivoting the wing about the shaft. 
     
     
         33 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . An apparatus for extracting energy from a directional fluid flow, comprising:
 a generator for converting torque into a new form of energy;   a transmission mechanically coupled to the generator to transmit torque to the generator;   a wing mechanically coupled to the transmission to transmit torque to the transmission; and   a control system mechanically connected to the wing that pivots the wing, thereby changing an angle of the wing between a first angle and a second angle relative to the fluid flow, wherein the wing is configured to oscillate back and forth in an arced path that is perpendicular to the directional fluid flow, and wherein the control system is configured to pivot the wing in a first direction when the wing approaches a first maximum position in the arced path and to pivot the wing in a second direction opposite the first direction when the wing approaches a second maximum position in the arced path, and wherein the wing is configured to exert a first torque on the transmission when pivoted in the first direction and a second torque on the transmission when pivoted in the second direction, the second torque being opposite the first torque.   
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the control system is configured to pivot the wing in response to a motion of a gravity-controlled counter weight. 
     
     
         37 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , further comprising a second wing mechanically coupled to the control system and mechanically coupled to the transmission. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the second wing travels in an arc of similar shape but opposite direction to the arced path of the wing. 
     
     
         41 . (canceled)