Abstract: An integrated alternative energy roofing panel incorporates an array of solar concentrator tubes interconnected with transparent web to form a joined plate supported in frame elements with an attached working fluid manifold. The working fluid in the manifold is operatively in contact with the solar concentrator tubes for transferring heat from the tubes. In one exemplary construction, each of the solar concentrator tubes terminates in a conducting metal sleeve which extends beyond the frame element into the manifold. A safety glass panel is attached to one frame element beneath the joined plate. The joined plate and safety glass panel may be sealed to the frame elements to form a chamber and the chamber may be evacuated. A plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) are embedded in the web for supplemental lighting. An array of photovoltaic cells mounted to a top surface of the manifold and a battery are interconnected for powering the LEDs.

Abstract: An underwater apparatus for generating electric power from ocean currents and deep water tides. A submersible platform including two or more power pods, each having a rotor with fixed-pitch blades, with drivetrains housed in pressure vessels that are connected by a transverse structure providing buoyancy, which can be a wing depressor, hydrofoil, truss, or faired tube. The platform is connected to anchors on the seafloor by forward mooring lines and a vertical mooring line that restricts the depth of the device in the water column. The platform operates using passive, rather than active, depth control. The wing depressor, along with rotor drag loads, ensures the platform seeks the desired operational current velocity. The rotors are directly coupled to a hydraulic pump that drives at least one constant-speed hydraulic-motor generator set and enables hydraulic braking. A fluidic bearing decouples non-torque rotor loads to the main shaft driving the hydraulic pumps.

Abstract: A fluid transfer engine employs a case with a cylindrical inner wall having an operating radius extending from a case axis. A main rotor is carried within the case and incorporates a lobe with a major radius equal to and concentric with the operating radius of the case, the main rotor having a minor radius defining a body. Two peripheral rotors are diametrically opposed with respect to the case axis and rotate within rotor chambers extending from the case. Each peripheral rotor has a radius equal to the minor radius and a center of rotation located at twice the minor radius from the case axis. Each of the peripheral rotors rotates in uniform circular motion with the main rotor in sealing contact with the body and incorporates a sculpted recess for receiving the lobe of the main rotor.

Abstract: A method of controlling a tethered, underwater, water current-driven turbine, power-generating device. The device is comprised of dual turbines and dual rotor blades turned by fluid flow, each turbine including one or more generators driven by rotor blades. The device is connected by device tethers to a strut, which is moveable to control depth of the device. The strut is connected to the ocean floor by tripodal tethers: a main tether, a left side tether and a right side tether, which are strut control tethers. One or more winches are controlled to maintain operation of the device within set parameters by varying the tension on one or more of the strut control tethers.

Abstract: A fluid transfer engine employs a case with a cylindrical inner wall having an operating radius extending from a case axis. A main rotor is carried within the case and incorporates a lobe with a major radius equal to and concentric with the operating radius of the case, the main rotor having a minor radius defining a body. Two peripheral rotors are diametrically opposed with respect to the case axis and rotate within rotor chambers extending from the case. Each peripheral rotor has a radius equal to the minor radius and a center of rotation located at twice the minor radius from the case axis. Each of the peripheral rotors rotates in uniform circular motion with the main rotor in sealing contact with the body and incorporates a sculpted recess for receiving the lobe of the main rotor.

Abstract: A rotor system for a fluid flow turbine includes a hub assembly which is mounted on a shaft coupled with a power transmitting device and a plurality of rotor blades. Each rotor blade includes an inner blade section and an outer blade section, wherein the inner blade section is supported by and extends outwardly from the hub assembly and the outer blade section extends outward from the inner blade section. Each of the rotor blades includes a collar to accommodate the inner blade section and/or the outer blade section such that the inner blade section and the outer blade section are rotatable for pitch control. Pitch motors are located at the hub assembly and dependently or independently pitch the inner blade sections and the outer blade sections.

Abstract: A wind turbine power generation system incorporates a turbine rotor having a plurality of blades extending from a hub with each blade having an inner blade and an outer blade. A collar is provided on each blade with the inner blade extending between the hub and collar and the outer blade extending from the collar. A generator ring is carried by the collars and includes a generator rotor attached to the collars to rotate with the turbine rotor. A stator ring is supported from the generator rotor by a low friction interface for relative rotation with the generator rotor. A torque stay system prevents rotation of the stator ring for generation of power from the rotating turbine rotor as a linear distributed generator.

Abstract: A power-generating device located in or on the surface of the ocean for generating power utilizing the energy in ocean wave motion. The device is moored to the bow and stern at ˜45° to incoming ocean waves, and with a yawing capability to adjust to change in wave direction. The device delivers power to a shore grid via a submarine cable from a generator. A rotational driving torque to the generator is produced by two long counter-rotating drive tubes, which are held by bearings in the bow hull and the stern hull of the device. As an alternative, hydraulics may be employed for energy capture and power smoothing and used to provide the rotational torque through a hydraulic motor to drive a generator. The main body is partially submerged and has multiple pod floats connected to the structure by rocker arms with bearings through which the drive tubes pass or double-acting hydraulic rams between the arms and the main body, which capture energy through pod displacement and store it in accumulators.

Abstract: An integrated alternative energy roofing panel incorporates an array of solar concentrator tubes interconnected with transparent web to form a joined plate supported in frame elements with an attached working fluid manifold. The working fluid in the manifold is operatively in contact with the solar concentrator tubes for transferring heat from the tubes. In one exemplary construction, each of the solar concentrator tubes terminates in a conducting metal sleeve which extends beyond the frame element into the manifold. A safety glass panel is attached to one frame element beneath the joined plate. The joined plate and safety glass panel may be sealed to the frame elements to form a chamber and the chamber may be evacuated. A plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) are embedded in the web for supplemental lighting. An array of photovoltaic cells mounted to a top surface of the manifold and a battery are interconnected for powering the LEDs.

Abstract: A modular rotor blade for a power generating turbine allows simple replacement of individual rotor blade sections in case of damage to or malfunction of a section. The modular rotor blade includes at least two rotor blade sections, wherein each rotor blade section includes at least one connecting part having at least one conical opening. The connecting parts of adjacent rotor blade sections rest against each other such that the conical openings of the connecting parts are aligned with each other and form a continuous conical connecting opening. Receiving elements for receiving tensioning elements are arranged at the smaller diameter end of the conical connecting opening. A conical bolt corresponding to the continuous conical connecting opening is arranged therein, and at least one tensioning element passes through the conical bolt and tensions the conical bolt against the receiving element.

Abstract: An extendable blade structure includes an extender blade module and a base blade module. The extender blade module includes a carrier airfoil shell housing, an extender blade and an adjusting device for positioning the extender blade between a retracted position within the carrier airfoil shell and an extended position. The extender blade is provided with trailing edge flaps and a support structure between the trailing edge flaps. The flaps are urged together to form a trailing edge in the extended position. The carrier airfoil shell is provided with a carrier airfoil shell support structure and slots formed at upper and lower sides of the carrier airfoil shell support structure. Each slot is adapted to accommodate one of the flaps, the flaps being forced apart and guided into the slots by the carrier airfoil shell support structure in the retracted position of the extender blade.

Abstract: A wind or water turbine mounted atop a support tower or tethered underwater drives a hydro-pumping system. The turbine converts wind or water energy into a driving torque applied to the hydro-pump. The hydro-pump forces water through a pipe transmission system to an onshore facility. On shore, the resultant pressurized fluid-flow propels a hydroelectric generating system to produce electricity or may first be used in a Reverse Osmosis desalinization process and the byproduct in part used to propel a hydroelectric generating system to produce electricity. The cold-water discharge from the hydroelectric generating system and/or from the desalinization process is used for onshore district or power plant cooling purposes.

Abstract: A service crane for a wind turbine comprising a main crane beam (128) having a track (154) that accommodates a trolley (156). A hinge (144) is provided at a pivot point (148) near a proximate end of the main beam (128), such that an aft portion of the main beam (128) extends beyond the pivot point (148) to the exterior of the turbine. A distal end of the main beam (128) rests upon a forward beam. A lateral motion actuator (134) moves the main beam (128) back and forth along the forward beam. The trolley (156) runs back and forth along the main beam (128). A turbine component is attached to a hook lowered by cable from the trolley (156). The trolley (156) with the component on the hook is moved to the aft portion of the main beam (128), which extends beyond the turbine. The hook is lowered to the ground so that the component can be serviced or replaced.

Abstract: A method of controlling a tethered, underwater, water current-driven turbine, power-generating device. The device is comprised of dual turbines and dual rotor blades turned by fluid flow, each turbine including one or more generators driven by rotor blades. The device is connected by device tethers to a strut, which is moveable to control depth of the device. The strut is connected to the ocean floor by tripodal tethers: a main tether, a left side tether and a right side tether, which are strut control tethers. One or more winches are controlled to maintain operation of the device within set parameters by varying the tension on one or more of the strut control tethers.

Abstract: A power generating system includes a turbine which is mounted on top of a tower or tethered under water. The turbine includes a rotor having a main blade connected to a rotor hub and an extender blade module. An adjusting device positions the extender blade between a retracted position within the main blade and an extended position to expose more or less of the rotor to the fluid flow. An extendible rotor blade structure provides support for an air foil shell by extending a structural beam of a base blade portion of the rotor blade through a telescoping module of the blade. This occurs both when an extender blade portion of the rotor blade is retracted and when it is extended.

Abstract: A power generating system wherein a turbine is mounted on top of a tower or tethered underwater. The turbine includes a rotor having a main blade section connected to a rotor hub and an extender housing mounted on a top surface of the main blade section. The extender housing has an extender blade stored therein. An adjusting device positions the extender blade between a retracted position within the extender housing and an extended position to expose more or less of the rotor to the fluid flow. A generator is connected to the turbine for generating electrical energy.

Abstract: A power generating system wherein a turbine is mounted on top of a tower or tethered underwater. The turbine includes a rotor having a main blade connected to a rotor hub and an extender section. An adjusting device positions the extender blade between a retracted position within the main blade and to an extended position to expose more or less of the rotor to the fluid flow. The adjusting device includes a servo-controlled rack and pinion mechanism that converts rotation of the pinion by a servomotor into linear motion of the extender blade. A generator is connected to the turbine for generating electrical energy.

Abstract: A fluid transfer engine employs a case with a cylindrical inner wall having an operating radius extending from a case axis. A main rotor is carried within the case and incorporates a lobe with a major radius equal to and concentric with the operating radius of the case, the main rotor having a minor radius defining a body. Two peripheral rotors are diametrically opposed with respect to the case axis and rotate within rotor chambers extending from the case. Each peripheral rotor has a radius equal to the minor radius and a center of rotation located at twice the minor radius from the case axis. Each of the peripheral rotors rotates in uniform circular motion with the main rotor in sealing contact with the body and incorporates a sculpted recess for receiving the lobe of the main rotor.

Abstract: A rotary engine with multiple pivotally mounted lobes desmodromically extendible and retractable from a rotor to trace asymmetric volumes for inlet and compression and expansion and exhaust based on the contour of the engine case which the lobes sealingly engage.

Abstract: An asymmetric complete-expansion thermodynamic engine cycle is provided by an engine which compresses an air/fuel mixture to a given ratio, ignites and combusts the mixture, and expands the products through a power stroke to a volume substantially larger than the compression volume before being vented and purged to the atmosphere. This cycle is performed by a non-axisymmetric main rotor revolving within a cylindrical housing. Sealing means associated with the main rotor provide for the varied compression and expansion volumes. The cylindrical housing also contains means for air intake, fuel injection, venting, and spent gas exhaust porting.