Spiral screw fluid turbine having axial void

Abstract

A spiral turbine includes an axle configured to rotate and one or more spiral blades coupled to the axle by one or more support connections. Each spiral blade is formed around and outside of a conical inner space which is coaxial with the axle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A spiral turbine comprising:
 an axle configured to rotate;   one or more spiral blades coupled to the axle by one or more support connections, each spiral blade being formed around and outside of a conical inner space which is coaxial with the axle.   
     
     
         2 . The spiral turbine of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more spiral blades comprises at least two of the spiral blades, the blades being symmetrically disposed around the axle. 
     
     
         3 . The spiral turbine of  claim 1 , wherein each spiral blade converges on and couples to the axle at a narrow end of the conical inner space. 
     
     
         4 . The spiral turbine of  claim 1 , wherein each spiral blade is segmented. 
     
     
         5 . The spiral turbine of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more spiral blades are weight balanced around the axle. 
     
     
         6 . The spiral turbine of  claim 1 , wherein each spiral blade is wider at a wide end of the conical inner space than at a narrow end of the conical inner space. 
     
     
         7 . The spiral turbine of  claim 1 , wherein each spiral blade has a leading edge spaced apart from a perimeter of the conical inner space. 
     
     
         8 . The spiral turbine of  claim 1 , wherein each spiral blade has one of a flat profile or a curved profile. 
     
     
         9 . The spiral turbine of  claim 1 , further comprising an electricity generator operatively coupled to the axle. 
     
     
         10 . The spiral turbine of  claim 9 , wherein the axle is operatively coupled to the electricity generator through a rotatable universal joint. 
     
     
         11 . An electricity generating system comprising:
 at least one electricity generator having a rotational input;   an array of spiral turbines, each turbine comprising:
 an axle operatively coupled to the rotational input; 
 one or more spiral blades coupled to the axle by one or more support connections, each spiral blade being formed around and outside of a conical inner space which is coaxial with the axle. 
   
     
     
         12 . The spiral turbine of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more spiral blades of each turbine comprises at least two of the spiral blades, the blades being symmetrically disposed around the axle. 
     
     
         13 . The spiral turbine of  claim 11 , wherein for at least one of the turbines, each spiral blade converges on and couples to the axle at a narrow end of the conical inner space. 
     
     
         14 . The spiral turbine of  claim 11 , wherein for at least one of the turbines, each spiral blade is segmented. 
     
     
         15 . The spiral turbine of  claim 11 , wherein tor at least one of the turbines, each spiral blade is wider at a wide end of the conical inner space than at a narrow end of the conical inner space. 
     
     
         16 . The spiral turbine of  claim 11 , wherein for at least one of the turbines, each spiral blade has a leading edge spaced apart from a perimeter of the conical inner space. 
     
     
         17 . The spiral turbine of  claim 11 , wherein for at least one of the turbines, each spiral blade has one of a flat profile or a curved profile. 
     
     
         18 . The spiral turbine of  claim 11 , wherein each axle is operatively coupled to one of the electricity generators through a rotatable universal joint. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein at least two of the spiral turbines are operatively coupled to the rotational input in series. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein at least two of the spiral turbines are operatively coupled to the rotational input in parallel.