Abstract: A method of automatically extracting energy from flowing liquid and a device using the same are disclosed. The device includes a paddle rod and a swing device. The paddle rod includes two paddles to bear a pushing force of flowing liquid. When the paddle rod is swung, one of the two paddle enters water and the other paddle leaves from water surface. When the paddle in the water bears a pushing force of flowing liquid to drive a rotary body to swing, the paddle rod moves upwardly and leaves the water surface, and the other paddle enters water to bear the pushing force, and after the rotary body is driven to swing reversely, the paddle rod moves upwardly and leaves water surface, and at the same time the paddle enters the water to bear the pushing force, to drive the rotary body to swing reversely.

Abstract: A fluid-powered generator harvests the inherent energy in a flowing medium, such as wind or water, as it flows along a flexible sail, creating an undulating motion that causes rotation of a crankshaft. The generator comprises a plurality of ribs pivotably connected to a support shaft. Each rib is coupled to the sail and to a crank arm such that when the sail undulates, the ribs and crank arm pivot in the direction of the undulation, causing rotation of the crankshaft. The generator thus converts the linear motion of the fluid to circular motion to produce renewable energy.

Abstract: A device for retrieving energy of flowing water for the riverside is disclosed. The device uses a rotating disk to respectively connect with a first blade and a second blade through two rotating bodies. The first blade and the second blade are respectively located at the first position of an upstream side and the second position of a downstream side. Water pushes the first blade under the surface of water to swing from the first position to the second position, thereby rotating the rotating disk by a rotating distance. Thus, the second blade originally arranged over the surface of water reversely swings to the first position. Then, the second blade sinks in the water. Water pushes the second blade to swing to the second position, and the first blade rises and leaves the surface of water to swing to the first position.

Abstract: A system for capturing fluid energy has a blade shaft coupled to a gear assembly and a blade assembly. The blade assembly has a rod arm and a blade having a front surface and a blade plane, the blade fixedly coupled substantially normal to the rod arm. A limiter coupling has a limiter coupling axis and is coupled to the blade such that the limiter coupling axis is substantially parallel to the front surface and perpendicular to the rod arm. A horizontal limiter restricts the limiter coupling to a range of motion substantially along a first movement axis perpendicular to the limiter coupling axis and substantially perpendicular to the blade shaft. The blade assembly interacts with a fluid flow to transmit fluid energy from the fluid flow to the blade shaft to impart rotational energy to the gear assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a human-powered boat that a user can easily operate with his/her own manual power even though the boat is in a form causing large resistance to propulsion, and the human-powered boat is equipped with a propulsion apparatus that imitates the tail fin of a fish. The propulsion apparatus, in which an oscillating foil mechanism is applied to an “L-shaped oar”, enables a rider to perform forward-facing rowing and can easily change a direction and prevent damage due to a collision with an underwater obstacle. Typically, the human-powered boat of the present invention has the following three limitations in order to maximize simplicity while maintaining propulsion efficiency, compared with prior arts in the same technical field: First, a rider has a specific limitation in tilting the propulsion apparatus through an up-down movement of his/her arm.

Abstract: A bionic pectoral fin propelling device based on a planetary gear train, including a frame, a power source (1), a propelling part (2), left and right maneuvering parts (3), a fixed support plate (4), a movable support plate (5), a left pectoral fin (6), a right pectoral fin (7), a fish body (8), and a tail fin (9). The fixed support plate (4) and the movable support plate (5) are installed on the frame parallel to each other; the fixed support plate (4) is located in front of the movable support plate (5); and the left and right maneuvering parts (3) are located between the fixed support plate (4) and the movable support plate (5). The present invention solves the problem that the two pectoral fins are not synchronized, realizes variable speed propelling and left/right maneuvering, facilitates increasing the bearing capacity of the propelling device, and is particularly suitable in limited space applications.

Abstract: A spinning horizontal axis wind turbine is disclosed. The blades of the wind turbine are configured to allow the blades to simultaneously rotate in a vertical axis and a horizontal axis when acted upon by an external force such as a wind current. The tip of each blade travels along a helical “figure 8” pattern as the blade rotates through a complete cycle, moving from nearly vertical to nearly horizontal in a complete cycle.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for converting the kinetic energy of a moving fluid stream into useful work by using a parallel cascade of aerofoils or hydrofoils positioned therein. The foils may be provided with at least two degrees of freedom and adjacent foils move in antiphase. The foils are subjected to resonant oscillations, known as flutter, induced by the fluid flow. Profiled inflow and outflow ducts may be positioned upstream and downstream, and the apparatus may be enclosed in a profiled duct, to increase efficiency by altering the fluid velocity and pressure. The foils are cantilevered, supported by vertical rods but are otherwise unattached. A cascade comprised of independent foil modules, each including a foil, a power conversion module and a motion control module, may be programmed to (1) receive energy from a fluid stream to generate power, or (2) transfer energy into a fluid stream to create propulsion or pumping.

Abstract: A centrifugal force bearing having a means for providing a steady pitching moment is disclosed. The centrifugal force bearing may optionally comprise a coning means. A rotor system having the centrifugal force bearing is disclosed. A rotary-wing aircraft having the centrifugal force bearing is disclosed.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, pairs of oscillating wind paddles are mounted in the lee of a wind turbine of the lift type. An oscillating wind paddle assembly has an upper pair of paddles moving between a first position at substantially right angles to the direction of wind and a second position substantially parallel to the direction of the wind and mounted on arms extending to either side of a shaft to which they are connected through a one-way clutch, and a lower pair of paddles moving between a position at substantially right angles to the direction of the wind and a second position substantially parallel to the direction of the wind and mounted on arms extending to either side of the same shaft to which they are connected through a one-way clutch, one of the paddles being a drive paddle and the other a recovery paddle, the two pairs of paddles being out of phase with respect to one another.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for generating electrical energy from a body of water flowing in a downstream direction are disclosed. A lever arm including a flap member is coupled to a rotatable shaft. The lever arm is movable from a first vertical position where the flap member is located in the body of water and a second vertical position where the flap member is in located above the body of water. When the lever arm is lowered into the first vertical position, the body of water engaging the flap member pushes the lever arm from an upstream position to a downstream position. The rotation of the lever arm from the upstream position to the downstream position actuates the rotatable shaft, which can be coupled to a power generation device configured to generate electrical energy from motion of the rotatable shaft.

Abstract: Power generation apparatus includes a wing-shaped blade having opposite sides, opposite ends and leading and trailing edges extending between those ends. A lift differential producing device in the blade produces a lift differential at the opposite sides of the blade and that device is switched so that one blade side or the other produces the greater lift. A blade shaft extends along an axis in the blade that is in close parallel relation to the leading edge of the blade and that shaft is fixed to move with the blade. Supports support the blade shaft so that the blade can be positioned in a fluid stream with the leading edge facing upstream and swing about the axis between first and second extreme positions on opposite sides of a neutral position, the blade shaft oscillating with the blade. A coordinating device coordinates the switching of the lift differential producing device with the swinging of the blade so that the switching occurs at the extreme positions of the blade.

Abstract: A fluid flow-driven energy conversion system configured to oscillate in the presence of fluid flow. The system comprises an adjustable electromechanically controlled fluidfoil, a balance beam, a compensatory weight and an angle of attack positioner to adjust the angle of attack of the fluidfoil with respect to fluid flow. The fluidfoil is controlled to permit a consistently optimum angle of attack into the prevailing flow. The kinetic energy of the oscillating action is transferred to a connector for energy transfer to one of a variety of energy storage systems for converting the energy of the linear oscillating motion to other desired forms of energy.

Abstract: A subsurface wave action harnessing system includes a seabed mounting plate adapted for securing to a seabed, a wing having generally opposed first and second wing surfaces extending between a first and second wing ends, the second wing end being pivotably mounted to the seabed mounting plate such that pivoting motion about a pivot axis generally parallel to the mounting plate is imparted to the wing by subsurface wave action acting on the first and second wing surfaces, and a drive arm pivotably connected to the wing to convert the pivoting motion into reciprocal motion. An electrical generator, water purifier or other wave action load can be driven by the drive arm.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for converting the kinetic energy of a moving fluid stream into useful work by using a parallel cascade of aerofoils or hydrofoils positioned therein. The foils may be provided with at least two degrees of freedom and adjacent foils move in antiphase. The foils are subjected to resonant oscillations, known as flutter, induced by the fluid flow. Profiled inflow and outflow ducts may be positioned upstream and downstream, and the apparatus may be enclosed in a profiled duct, to increase efficiency by altering the fluid velocity and pressure. The foils are cantilevered, supported by vertical rods but are otherwise unattached. A cascade comprised of independent foil modules, each including a foil, a power conversion module and a motion control module, may be programmed to (1) receive energy from a fluid stream to generate power, or (2) transfer energy into a fluid stream to create propulsion or pumping.

Abstract: A fluid flow-driven energy conversion system configured to oscillate in the presence of fluid flow. The system comprises an adjustable electromechanically controlled fluidfoil, a balance beam, a compensatory weight and an angle of attack positioner to adjust the angle of attack of the fluidfoil with respect to fluid flow. The fluidfoil is controlled to permit a consistently optimum angle of attack into the prevailing flow. The kinetic energy of the oscillating action is transferred to a connector for energy transfer to one of a variety of energy storage systems for converting the energy of the linear oscillating motion to other desired forms of energy.

Abstract: Wave power plant consisting of frame carrying at least two paddles unit, capable of moving successively in series, when driven by progressive waves and returning by the gravitation power and the backward wave's force. The plant has an appropriate means with at least one crankshaft mechanism for transferring the successive motion of paddle units in two ways into electric energy. Each of the paddles units have a rod, to be submerged into the sea and which is secured on the frame with possibility for pivoting with respect thereof, the lower extremity of the rod is terminated by a paddle plate and the paddles units are arranged around the frame in series. The energy consumed successfully by each paddle unit is equal to the energy of the paddle's movement forward from the forward wave's force plus the energy of the paddle's movement backward from the backward wave's force and the paddle's gravity. The plant's energy is consumed, in at least one hydraulic engine, which rotate generators.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method of using a scalable, configurable “propulsor” system to move and navigate a submersible device through a fluid medium. A propulsor system is an assembly of individual propulsors that act in concert to form a substantially continuous control surface that undulates in a working fluid. Each propulsor is driven and configured by computer-controlled actuators so that the control surface undulates in various wave forms. Optional actuators that may refine the surface shape include an “orientation” actuator that drives rotation about the propulsor's longitudinal axis, and a “geometry” actuator that controls each propulsor's geometric configuration.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed that rotate a first member about a first point relative to a chassis, wherein the first member is rotatably coupled to a second member at a second point. A second member is counter-rotated at a ratio of the rotational speed of the first member wherein the second member is rotatably coupled to the third member at a third point. The third point is translated in response to the counter-rotating second member in oscillatory motion along a path. The third member is pivoted at a third point and fluid is moved in response to the motion of the third member. A force is applied to the chassis due to the interaction of the third member and the fluid.

Abstract: The invention provides a propulsion system based on “thuniform” movement of a foil member to achieve desired directional movement of a vehicle such as an unmanned submarine type of vessel. A pair of foil members are mounted to the vehicle body for reciprocating oscillating movement towards and away from each other, creating forward movement due to the compression of a fluid medium between the foil members and the expulsion of the compressed fluid rearwardly of the foil members. Each foil member is mounted to a pivot shaft for limited rotational movement with respect to the vehicle body. Damping means are connected between each pivot shaft and its associated foil member so that during operation of the propulsion system damping torque will offset hydrodynamic loads imposed on the foil members by the fluid medium. The damping means will in turn control the pitch angle of the foil members during operation, meaning that a thrust is generated for rigid foil members when moving at zero forward speed.

Abstract: The present invention shows an oscillating wing system like lifting surface featuring a symmetrical profile mounted free to rotate over a fixation point located ahead neutral point and self-trimming at angle of attack in the flow by adjustment of a trailing edge elevon, and whose the system is actuated by linear lateral or vertical movement allowing to produce electrical energy with the wind flow or water flow of a deep river or at flood/ebb tide.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for converting the kinetic energy of a moving fluid stream into useful work by using a cascade of thin aero or hydro foils positioned therein. The foils may be provided with at least two degrees of freedom and adjacent foils move out of phase. The foils are subjected to fluid induced oscillations known as flutter. Barriers (3, 43) may be positioned upstream, above, or at sides of the apparatus for increasing efficiency by increasing the fluid velocity. A system of flywheels (17, 18) are used to increase inertia of the foils and are particularly useful with hydrofoils. A cascade of aero or hydro foils may be mechanically oscillated to transfer energy to a fluid.

Abstract: A vehicle with improved maneuverability includes: a vehicle body; a first bladelike element; a first tuned compliant transmission shaft attached to the bladelike element; and a reciprocating unit for reciprocally driving the bladelike element within a fluid medium in a first travel path such that interaction between the bladelike element and a fluid medium produces propulsive forces that propel the vehicle body in a desired direction. Preferably, the pitch and heave natural frequencies of the natural transmission shaft are approximately equal to each other and to the natural bending frequency and torsional frequency of the bladelike element, and the natural thrust frequency of the transmission shaft is often approximately twice that of the pitch frequency. In this configuration, the vehicle can be directed in virtually any direction, the directing force is be generated far more quickly than is the case for prior art vehicles, and energy typically lost as shaking or vibration instead provides thrust.

Abstract: An oscillating fluid flow motor and a fluid flow power system that converts the energy in the flowing fluid to mechanical energy through a vane that automatically sweeps back and forth across the flow. In one embodiment of the oscillating fluid flow motor, the motor includes (1) a support structure, (2) an elongated swing arm pivotably and rotatably mounted to the support structure, (3) a vane having a concave face, (4) an elastic link operatively coupled in tension between the swing arm and a support, and (5) a direction control mechanism operatively coupled to the swing arm. The vane is connected to the swing arm so that, upon rotation of the swing arm about its longitudinal axis, the orientation of the concave face of the vane changes relative to the flow of a fluid confronting the face. The direction control mechanism is operative to selectively re-orient the face of the vane at each of two points that define the ends of the bidirectional stroke of the swing arm.

Abstract: An oscillating fluid flow motor and an in-stream fluid flow power system that converts the energy in the flowing fluid to mechanical energy through a vane that automatically sweeps back and forth across the flow. The oscillating fluid flow motor consists of (1) a vane having a concave front face confronting the flow of fluid, (2) an elongated swing arm attached at one end to the vane, and (3) a direction control mechanism operatively coupled to the swing arm. The direction control mechanism is configured to rotate the swing arm about its longitudinal axis to re-orient the vane and thereby change the direction the vane moves across the stream.

Abstract: A device for converting a rotational movement for directing displacement of a flowable medium is provided with a mount and two rotatably mounted fixed axles which are arranged at a distance from one another on the mount and on which are articulated two end portions of a half cube-linkage chain having two lateral members and a middle member, the two lateral members being connected to the fixed axles and to the middle member by means of pivot axles which are successively offset relative to one another by in each case 90.degree.. The device is characterized in that the middle member and at least one of the two lateral members of the half cube-linkage chain cooperate to form sheet-like driving elements for displacing flowable substances.

Abstract: A propulsion system for use in a fluid, the system utilizing at least one foil which is both oscillated at a frequency f with an amplitude a in a direction substantially transverse to the propulsion direction and flapped or pitched about a pivot point to change the foil pitch angle to the selected direction of motion with a smooth periodic motion. Parameters of the system including Strouhal number, angle of attack, ratio of the distance to the foil pivot point from the leading edge of the foil to the chord length, the ratio of the amplitude of oscillation to the foil chord width and the phase angle between heave and pitch are all selected so as to optimize the drive efficiency of the foil system.

Abstract: An apparatus for power production from low velocity fluid flow includes a lateral support arm assembly extending from a vertical drive shaft. A power blade is pivotally secured to the distal end of the support arm, and constrained to pivot within a defined operating angle. The center of force on the power blade is proximal to the power blade pivot, so that at the limit of travel of the support arm the thrust on the power blade moves the power blade into an over-center position, causing the power blade to pivot in retrograde fashion. The pivoted power blade then drives the support arm away from the extreme position, through a neutral position, to the opposite angular position, where the process reiterates and reverses. Thus the lateral support arm is driven continuously in oscillating, lateral motion.

Abstract: A machine for extracting useful work from lowspeed winds includes a sail (28) pivotally mounted to an arm (22) for pivotal motion about a first axis (32), and a base (18) to which the arm (22) is pivotally mounted for pivotal motion about a second axis (24) that is parallel to the first axis (32). Through the use of a parallelogram linkage (38, 40, 52, 54), the angle .alpha. of the sail with respect to the base is rendered independent of the angle .theta. of the arm with respect to the base. This permits the angle of attack of the sail (28) to be programmed to provide any desired motion of the arm (22) with respect to the base. In a preferred embodiment, the angle .alpha. of the sail with respect to the base is coupled to the angle .theta. of the arm with respect to the base in quadrature so that the maximum angle of attack of the sail occurs in the middle of the stroke of the arm and so that the angle of attack of the sail is reduced to zero as the arm approaches the limits of its range of motion.

Abstract: In an electric device having a package included an electric circuit element therein, a cooling fan is fixed on the package directly. The fan is formed of piezoelectric elements and a flexible cooling fin. The fan generates the cooling air flow due to vibration of the piezoelectric elements.

Abstract: A device for converting the energy of a flowable medium into torque, or vice versa, employs a pair of linkages positioned on opposite sides of a common mount such that the linkages form mirror images of each other. Each linkage comprises a plurality of link members which are pivotally attached to each other. A first rotatable axle is attached to one end of each linkage, while a second rotatable axle is attached to an opposite end of each linkage.

Abstract: A device for producing a directed fluid flow utilizing an elongate paddle member having first and second wing portions formed along a common longitudinal axis. The wing portions are orthogonally disposed relative to one another. Pivots are constructed in each of the wing portions, which pivots extend substantially perpendicular to each wing portion and are disposed orthogonally relative to each other. First and second rotatably driven shafts are disposed in generally parallel spaced relationship and are coupled to the pivots by a hinge and swivel arm connected to each shaft at one end and to the pivot at the other end. The rotatably driven shafts then define a notional plane and the rotation of the shafts causes rotation of the paddle member for generating directed fluid flow generally perpendicular to the notional plane.

Abstract: A ceiling fan adapted for use in factories and office buildings, the ceiling fan including flapping vanes capable of vertically flapping during rotation, the double movement of the vanes being effective to stir and circulate the air in the room in a wide range. To effect the flapping of the vanes no wire or elevating members are used unlike the prior ceiling fan having flapping vanes.

Abstract: A watercraft propulsion device having a forward and a rearward foil in nested relationship for reciprocal oscillating movement in opposite directions having a foil angle greater than 0.degree. and less than 60.degree..

Abstract: An acoustic pump including a resonant member having low internal damping and asymmetrically tapered to a thin edge; a piezoelectric driver mounted on the resonant member; and means for applying an alternating voltage to the piezoelectric driver in the resonant range of the resonant member for vibrating the resonant member and pumping fluid away from the thin edge.

Abstract: A non-vibrational oscillating blade piezoelectric blower is disclosed, including: a piezoelectric bender and means for supporting the piezoelectric bender at its inertial nodes. Weights may be attached to the bender to control the location of the inertial nodes. Flexible blades may be attached to the bender at various locations and with their planes in various orientations. The blower according to this invention may also consist of two benders oscillating 180 degrees out of phase to further minimize vibration and noise.

Abstract: A pumping device comprising: a housing; piezoelectric element having one end mounted to the housing and one end free; a generally planar impeller blade connected to the free end of the piezoelectric element and having its distal end unconstrained by the housing; the blade having a high Q factor, a high stiffness-to-weight ratio and a low mass per unit area substantially less than that of the piezoelectric element; a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element for oscillating its free end perpendicular to its plane at or close to resonance and propagating a traveling wave along the blade to generate and shed vortices at the distal end of the blade.

Abstract: A boat propulsion apparatus having a thrust blade mounted for swinging movement about a generally horizontal axis lengthwise of the boat and for turning movement about an upright axis, and a swash plate drive for simultaneously swinging the blade in a direction crosswise of the boat and for angularly oscillating the blade about its upright axis to sinusoidally vary the pitch of the blade as the blade is swung crosswise of the boat. Provision is made for reversing the direction of angular oscillation of the blade about the upright blade axis relative to the direction of the swinging movement of the blade to enable forward and reverse drive. A variable angle swash plate drive is provided to vary the mechanical advantage of the drive.

Abstract: A fluid machine which converts fluid movement into a useful force utilizing a pivotally mounted first plate which is hingedly connected to a second plate, the first plate first contacting the moving fluid and the second plate causing the first plate to move.

Abstract: An elevated and elongated boom is centrally pivoted for rocking movement in a vertical plane through the horizontal plane. Provision is made to align such plane with the direction of the wind. A pair of free wings are mounted on the fore and aft ends of the boom with control panels being oscullatably mounted on such wings for determining by their relative positions and aerodynamic equilibrium reaction thereto the angle of attack of such wings. Provision is made to control the relative positions of the control panels with respect to their respective wings so that the wings have angles of attack of opposite sense, with such senses being reversed as the boom approaches each predetermined limit of its rocking motion.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for converting the kinetic energy of a moving fluid stream into useful work by means of a cascade of thin airfoils positioned therein. In one embodiment, the airfoils are provided with at least two degrees of freedom and adjacent airfoils are movable out of phase. The airfoils are subjected to the aerodynamically induced oscillations caused by the aeroelastic phenomenon known as flutter and the oscillatory movement is then harnessed to do useful work. In an alternate embodiment, a cascade of airfoils is mechanically oscillated within a moving fluid stream to increase the propulsion of the fluid. Where the fluid is a liquid, the cascade includes a plurality of hydrofoils.

Abstract: A propulsion unit for driving water craft, particularly those of the floating lounge type, is disclosed as including a fin made from a flexible material with a first end formed to define a foil into which the lower end of an oscillatory drive member projects downwardly in a fixedly secured relationship and with a second flexible fin end that extends from the foil end to provide a flapping movement through the water upon oscillation of the drive member in order to propel the water craft. Movement of the drive member through the water is facilitated by the foil shape of the first fin end which is also more rigid than the second flexible end so as to increase the moment arm about the drive member where the flexible flapping movement is concentrated. Flexible sheet plastic is preferably used to form the fin with a folding operation at a score line to define the foil shape.

Abstract: A manually operable device for propelling and steering a boat is disclosed. A bracket is adapted to be secured to the stern of the boat. A bearing plate is rotatively mounted on the bracket and supports a tubular sleeve which is pivotal along an axis generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve. An elongate vane or paddle shaft extends longitudinally through said tubular sleeve and is adjustable relative to the sleeve. The upper end of the shaft carries an arm adapted to be grasp by the boatman so that the shaft can be manually rocked or actuated. The lower end of the shaft carries one or more vanes which are swingable or pivotal between a motive position in one direction of actuation in which maximum surface area is presented to the water and a return position in the opposite direction of actuation in which there is minimum resistance to movement through the water.

Abstract: Wave producing apparatus, as for simulated surfing, skateboard riding, and the like, including a flexible elongate web and nether carriage means upwardly flexing the web and movable longitudinally thereof to produce a traveling wave.

Abstract: A screw propeller assembly comprising a propeller shaft rotatable co-axially with a swash member, a propeller having a hub connected to the propeller shaft by way of a universal joint wherein the hub is mounted to the universal joint indirectly through jointing members, the jointing members and swash plate co-operating to cause the axis of rotation of the hub to move at an incline to the axis of rotation of the propeller shaft thereby providing a paddle action to the propeller in addition to the rotary motion thereof.