MOTIVE FORCE OR POWER TAKEOFF DEVICE FOR VESSELS ACTUATED BY THE WATER FLOW GENERATED IN A COLLECTOR OR CONDUCTOR INCORPORATED INTO THE HULL

Abstract

The device provides a motive force by a water collector or conductor (1) that has a hydrodynamic shape, incorporated or affixed to the bottom portion (10) of a vessel hull, and inside which a water flow is generated when the vessel moves through the water, driving a rotor/turbine (6) connected to a rotary shaft or power takeoff (7) coupled to its water outlet (3); the device allow the use various types of machines and equipment.

Description

The present invention relates to a device which provides motive force to a vessel upon the movement of its hull in the water, which upon movement generates a pressurized water flow in a collector/conductor incorporated into the bottom of the hull, setting into motion, causing the motion of a rotor/turbine connected to a rotary shaft, or power takeoff, coupled to the water outlet of the collector/conductor.

Nowadays, motive force devices which allow the coupling of machines and equipment inside vessels rely on the use of motors or wind energy.

In order to generate clean and abundant energy at a low cost, the present invention has been developed, which depicts a hydrodynamically-shaped collector/conductor internally/externally/mixedly incorporated or affixed to the bottom of the hull; the collector/conductor has its water inlets located at the bottom and front portion of the hull and its water outlets located at the rear portion of the hull; such device is provided with a support that will be incorporated/affixed to the rear portion of the hull, allowing the coupling of a chassis having machinery, gears, and a rotor/turbine connected to a rotary shaft or power takeoff; this support will not be visible, since it is under the chassis; the chassis is coupled, allowing the rotor/turbine to be placed within the water outlet of the collector/conductor and enabling the rotary shaft or power takeoff to be fixed and directed; the chassis will be provided with machinery that will be able to connect and disconnect the rotary shaft or power takeoff, according to whether it need to be used or not; the device takes advantage of the movement of the vessel hull being moved through the water generating a pressurized water flow inside the collector/conductor directing a water jet that rotates the rotor/turbine connected to the rotary shaft or power takeoff, which will produce a constant rotary motion.

Said motive force device may also be provided with more than one rotor/turbine, more than one rotary shaft or power takeoff, and will be designed to provide the required power and performance according to the model and size of the hull, by adjusting the number, size, shape, diameter, and arrangement of the collectors/conductors, the water inlets and outlets and the rotors/turbine; the collector/conductor may have its water inlets recessed entering the hull or it can be used with hydrodynamically-shaped walls or edges; such collector/conductor should have, at its water inlets, removable protective screens or grids and be provided with openings for cleaning and maintenance of the collector/conductor; such water inlets may be closed by a manual or remote device; the collector/conductor may have its water outlets externally beyond the hull or may be recessed entering the rear portion of the hull, with variable size, shape, diameter and arrangement to allow the rotor/turbine to be installed in its interior.

Such device will have the rotary shaft or power takeoff mounted with variable size and diameter, provided with a shape on the power head which can have splined shaft, a splined or normal pulley, or also a toothed/splined gear for chains or mechanisms of transfer gearbox; such rotary shaft or power takeoff can be mounted and driven in a variable direction and will allow coupling more than one equipment at once.

The device can be built using various types of materials, such as metals, ceramics, polymers, plastics, fiberglass, carbon fiber, etc.

The preset invention will be better understood with reference to the following detailed description, in connection with the enclosed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal cut view of the rear portion (11) of the vessel, the water outlet (3) of the collector/conductor and the chassis (5), revealing the rotor/turbine (6) and the rotary shaft or power takeoff (7).

FIG. 2 depicts a longitudinal view of the bottom portion on the front side of the vessel including water inlets (2) of the collector/conductor (1).

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section view of the hull having internally incorporated on its length, from its front portion to its rear portion, the collector/conductor (1) of the motive force device, showing its water inlets (2), and also a cut view of the chassis (5) and the water outlet (3), showing the rotor/turbine (6) and the rotary shaft or power takeoff (7).

FIG. 4 shows a cross-section view of the hull having internally incorporated the collector/conductor (1) of the pressurized motive force device, showing its inlets (2) at the front portion (12) and water outlets (3) at the rear portion (11), a rotor/turbine (6) with the rotary shaft (7) suitably coupled and installed in its interior, and shows the propeller engine (50) of the vessel having a specific exhaust pipe (51) containing anti-reflux devices and pressure regulation devices (52) for inserting and releasing gases into the duct of the collector/conductor (1); it can be observed, along the collector/conductor, maintenance and cleaning openings/windows (20) with access through the interior of the hull, a water/gases anti-reflux device and pressure regulation device (53) next to the water inlet (2), protective grids (21) on the water inlet (2) and outlet (3) and a wall/edge (22) having a hydrodynamic shape in front of the water inlet (2) of the collector/conductor (1).

FIG. 5 depicts a cross-section view of the hull having internally incorporated the collector/conductor (1) of the pressurized motive force device, which exhibits a slope on its end portion with the water outlet (3) located on the bottom portion (10) of the vessel; the device uses a different configuration format of the duct and the model of rotor/turbine (6) with rotary shaft (7), anticipating possible variations when pursuing the necessary compliance adjustments of size/model of the hull and the desired power.

With reference to said Figures, it can be seen that FIG. 1 shows that the chassis (5), with its mechanisms coupled to the rear portion (11) of the hull, allows the installation of the rotor/turbine (6) on the outlet (3) of the water collector/conductor (1), providing the attachment and guidance of the rotary shaft or power takeoff (7); FIG. 2 shows the front portion of the vessel with the water inlets (2) of the collector/conductor incorporated internally and disposed at the sides and the bottom of the hull; FIG. 3 shows a cross-section view of the vessel and provides an overall view of the device; on the hull bottom portion (10) there is a collector/conductor (1), which is provided with a variable number of water inlets (2); on the hull rear portion (11) it can be seen a cut view of: the chassis (5) with its mechanisms, the water outlet (3) of the collector/conductor, the rotor/turbine (6), and the rotary shaft or power takeoff (7) affixed and positioned.

Said device shall be part of the construction project of new vessels, which will already be produced by default with the collectors/conductors (1) internally/externally/mixedly incorporated into the bottom portion (10) of the hull and having a support (4) incorporated/affixed to the rear portion (11) of the hull to allow the coupling of the chassis (5) to its mechanisms and gearings; for already existing vessels, the device shall be incorporated/affixed by machining/rolling/embedding or by an equivalent process.

Said motive force device may have its power and performance changed by a second rotor/turbine, which can be electrical or driven by an engine, inserted into the collector/conductor (1) interior, next to its inlet (2), pushing the water flow towards the outlet; in the case of motorized vessels or vessels containing motors on-board, by directing the gases originated from the exhaust of those engines, introducing them into the water collector/conductor (1) by means of a specific conductor.

The motive force device pressurized by the insertion and releasing of the gases exhausted by the on-board motors together with the water flow inside the collector/conductor will, through the connection of the exhaust system of the engines to the same, receive an extra pressure load on the flow creating a mechanical action which will push it further, increasing the water suction into the collector/conductor; the device will be actuated by the movement of the vessel hull on the water, that upon movement generates a water flow inside the collector/conductor and/or through the actuation of the on-board engines which, by blowing the exhaust gases into the duct, will maintain a constant flow of water and gases, sufficient to move the rotor/turbine connected to the rotary shaft or power takeoff, installed inside the collector/conductor; the pressurized collector/conductor and the piping with the exhaust system, which will release the gases exhausted by the on-board engines into the duct, will comprise anti-reflux devices and pressure regulation device for the water/gases, in order to keep them stable; the device may be electronically assisted by computerized equipment.

Claims

1. Motive force or power takeoff device for vessels actuated by the water flow generated in a collector or conductor incorporated into the hull, characterized by comprising a water collector/conductor (1), having a hydrodynamic shape and variable dimensions, internally/externally/mixedly incorporated or affixed to the bottom portion (10) of the hull; the collector/conductor has its water inlets (2) located at the bottom portion (10) and front portion (12) of the hull and its water outlets (3) located at the rear portion (11) of the hull; such device is provided with a support (4) incorporated or affixed to the rear portion (11) of the hull which couples a chassis (5) having mechanisms and a rotor/turbine (6) connected to a rotary shaft or power takeoff (7); the chassis (5) with mechanisms and gearings is coupled positioning the rotor/turbine (6) inside the water outlet (3) of the collector/conductor (1); the device may contain more than one rotor/turbine (6) and more than one rotary shaft or power takeoff (7); such rotary shafts or power takeoffs (7) may be assembled with variable size, diameter, arrangement and direction, and may be provided with a variable shape on the power head, allowing coupling more than one equipment at once; such collector/conductor should have, at its water inlets, removable protective screens or grids and be provided with openings for cleaning and maintenance of the collector/conductor; the collector/conductor may have its water inlets closed by a manual or remote device; the motive force device can be built using various types of materials, such as metals, ceramics, polymers, plastics, fiberglass, carbon fiber, etc.

2. Motive force or power takeoff device for vessels actuated by the water flow generated in a collector or conductor incorporated into the hull, characterized by providing motive force to a vessel by a hydrodynamically-shaped water collector/conductor (1) incorporated or affixed to the bottom portion (10) of the hull and having affixed to its water outlet (3) a rotor/turbine (6) connected to a rotary shaft or power takeoff (7); the device takes advantage of the movement of the hull, which, when moving on the water, generates a water flow inside the collector/conductor that moves the rotor/turbine (6) and actuates the mechanisms which will continuously rotate the rotary shaft or power takeoff (7); the device allows the usage of many types of machines and equipment.

3. Motive force or power takeoff device for vessels actuated by the water flow generated in a collector or conductor incorporated into the hull, characterized by comprising a motive force device for vessels, such motive force generated by a water collector/conductor (1), said device having coupled in its interior a rotor/turbine (6) connected to a rotary shaft or power takeoff (7), pressurized by the insertion and release of gases exhausted by the on-board engines (50) into its interior; the device being incorporated/affixed to the bottom portion of the hull (10) of the vessel; the device is actuated by the vessel hull displacement on the water, which, upon movement, generate a water flow inside the collector/conductor (1), and/or by the actuation of the on-board engines (50) which, by blowing the exhaust gases through a proper piping (51) inside the duct (1), will create an extra load, increasing the suction and maintaining a constant flow of water and gases in the duct (1), sufficient to set the rotor/turbine (6) connected to a rotary shaft or power takeoff (7) into movement, making the system more potent and effective; the pressurized collector/conductor (1) and the piping with the exhaust system (51), which will release the gases exhausted by the on-board engines (50) into the duct (1), will comprise water/gases anti-reflux devices and pressure regulation devices, in order to keep them stable.

4. Motive force or power takeoff device for vessels actuated by the water flow generated in a collector or conductor incorporated into the hull, characterized by comprising a device which provides motive force to a vessel through a water collector/conductor (1) incorporated into the hull, having coupled inside it a rotor/turbine (6) connected to a rotary shaft or power takeoff (7), pressurized by the insertion and release of gases exhausted by the exhaust system of the on-board engines (50) into its interior (1) by a proper piping.