Fluid energy converter

Abstract

A fluid energy converter includes: a rotatable U-shaped rim rack having a raised along-edge wall forming a rail, a rotatable cylindrical frame and a plurality of vertical rectangular blades uniformly distributed and rotatably mounted in the frame. Each blade includes rollers alternately sliding in the recessed rail. The U-shape of the rim rack forms a hollow chamber in which a portion of the frame is received. The blades mounted in the frame are allowed to revolve about an arbor of the frame and at the same time, with the rollers being guided by the rail of the rim rack, the blades spin about their own axes. Instead of mechanical control, the rail formed in the rim rack is defined by a curve that has unique mathematic characteristics to set each blade to an optimum angle for receiving wind power so as to reduce resistance and better action of force thereon.

1 . A fluid energy converter, characterized by comprising: a rotatable rim rack having a U-shaped cross-section, the rim rack having a raised along-edge wall having a surface that is recessed to form a rail and a rotatable frame; the rotatable frame carrying a plurality of blades, the blades being mounted in a rotatable manner to the rotatable frame, each of the blades having an upper edge having opposite ends to which rollers are respectively mounted for sliding in the recessed rail of the rim rack; when fluid energy causes the blades to move, the movement of the blades drives the rotatable frame to rotate and generate kinetic energy; oppositely, rotational kinetic energy of the rotatable frame causes the blades to move and the movement of the blades causes motion of fluid; the recessed rail of the rim rack guides the blades to make the movement of the blades the most efficient. 
     
     
         2 . The fluid energy converter according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the rotatable frame comprises multiple pairs of support arms respectively arranged at upper and lower ends in a symmetric manner; distal ends of each pair of support arms support a rotatable blade therebetween, the blade having shoulders and feet to which rollers are mounted, whereby when the blade spins, the rollers of the blade are respectively sliding in the recessed rail formed in the raised portion of the rim rack; the rotatable frame having an arbor having outward extensions to serve as an interface for exchange between the rotational kinetic energy of the rotatable frame and an external energy source. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid energy converter according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the recessed rail of the rim rack is such that when the rotatable frame rotates, the recessed rail has an opening and the opening serves as an entry opening for the rollers when the blades spin; when the rotatable frame is rotated, the blades of the rotatable frame are caused to spin, the two rollers of the blade in motion are such that at least one of the rollers is kept on the recessed rails and the two rollers alternately enter the recessed rail; the rollers of the feet and the rollers of the shoulder dog the same motion; the two rollers, when interchangeably entering the recessed rail, are both kept on the recessed rail, when the rotatable frame rotates, under the guidance of the recessed rail, the blade themselves spin in such a way that when the blades revolve by a full turn about a center axis of the rotatable frame, the blades spin by half a turn, a revolution of 180 degrees makes spinning of 90 degrees, and a revolution of 90 degrees makes a spinning of 45 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid energy converter according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the recessed rail has a lotus that is symmetric and smooth curve having an axis of symmetry, a flow direction mark is formed on a surface of the rim rack in a direction perpendicular to the axis of symmetry for facilitating positioning or mounting an air rudder or a tail vane; when fluid enters in the direction of the flow direction mark, an optimum action of force is provided for the blades of the frame; oppositely, by fixing the rim rack, when the rotatable frame rotates, the blades drive fluid to flow with a primary flowing direction having a positive component consistent with the flow direction mark. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid energy converter according to  claim 4 , characterized in that an air rudder is mounted to the rim rack along the flow direction mark, flow of fluid driving rotation of the air rudder, making the flow direction mark of the rim rack consistent with the direction of fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid energy converter according to  claim 1 , characterized in that upper and lower sides of the rotatable frame both have a rim rack having a recessed rail mounted thereto; the upper and lower rim racks are completely symmetric and synchronously rotatable to form a dual-rim rack structure having two rim racks; shoulders and feet have rollers mounted thereto, the recessed rail of the rim rack is such that when the rotatable frame rotates, the recessed rail has an opening, the opening serving as an entry opening for the rollers when the blades spin; when the rotatable frame is rotated, the blades of the rotatable frame are caused to spin with the rotation of the rotatable frame, the two rollers of the blade in movement are such that at least one of the rollers is kept on the recessed rail and the two rollers alternately enter the recessed rail; the rollers of the feet and the rollers of the shoulders do the same motion; the two rollers, when interchangeably entering the rail, are both kept on the recessed rail, when the rotatable frame rotates, under the guidance of the recessed rail, the blade themselves spin in such a way that when the blades revolves by a full turn about a center axis, the blades spin by half a turn, a revolution of 180 degrees makes spinning of 90 degrees, and a revolution of 90 degrees makes a spinning of 45 degrees, the two rollers symmetrically slide in the recessed rails of the upper and lower rim racks; the dual-rim rack structure is composed of two parallel and symmetric rim racks and a link or shell connecting between portions of the two rim racks close to the openings of the recessed rails to ensure synchronization and symmetry of the two rim racks for bearing strong fluid motion. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid energy converter according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the rim rack has a surface on which a flow direction mark is formed to facilitate positioning or mounting an air rudder or a tail vane, a bearing support is mounted outside a center point of the shell that connects the two rim racks of the dual-rim rack structure to control the rotation of the dual-rim rack structure so as to have the direction of the flow direction mark of the rim rack pointing to the direction in which the fluid is driven to flow. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid energy converter according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the shell connecting the two rim racks of the dual-rim rack structure forms an upside down tray, the tray located simultaneously outside of the dual-rim rack structure at a location close to the opening of the recessed rail; to control the dual-rim rack structure to rotate, the flow direction mark is set in a direction of horizon and the tray is set above the dual-rim rack structure; to control the dual-rim rack structure to rotate, the flow direction mark is set in a direction of horizon and pointing toward the direction along which push is to be made, the tray being full of air therein to thereby serve as an efficient propeller for sailing on an incompressible fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid energy converter according to  claim 5 , characterized in that to perform a job of receiving energy of compressible fluid in a large scale, the fluid energy converter has a center axis that is divided into a vertically fixed hollow shaft, the hollow shaft receiving wires therein to have an alarm device mounted to an upper end thereof and forming a maintenance channel, the hollow shaft is such that an upper end thereof comprises a thrust bearing that bears the weight of the rim rack and a rack brake device that controls the rail mounted thereto; the hollow shaft has a lower end that comprises a thrust bearing that bears the weight of the frame, a frame brake device that controls the frame, and an energy conversion control chamber; the rotatable frame has a center axis that forms a sleeve, the sleeve being fit over the fixed axis with bearings as interface, the outward extensions of the arbor of the frame arbor being also a sleeve comprising an energy conversion unit, a brake drum, and thrust bearing. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid energy converter according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the blades comprise area-adjustable blades; interior of the rectangular blade is constructed as a contractible/expandable sail structure, an outer framework of the blade being a support to the contractible/expandable sail structure; a lower edge of the sail is fixed to a lower support of the outer framework of the blade, the sail being supported by a plurality of horizontal sail bars, ascending and descending of an uppermost horizontal sail bar determines contraction and expansion of the sail; the outer framework of the said comprises a C-shaped channel structure, the C-shaped channel having an opening facing inward; each horizontal said bar of the sail has two ends to which support rollers are respectively mounted, the support rollers mounted to the ends of each horizontal sail bar being received in the C-shaped channel of the blade outer framework, whereby the horizontal sail bars slide between two side supports of the blade for ascending and descending without detachment; the rectangular blade has a lower edge and contact surface of the rotatable frame.