Patents Assigned to OpenHydro Group Limited
  • Patent number: 9284709
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for installing a hydroelectric turbine at a deployment site on the seabed which involves lowering the turbine and associated base onto the seabed from a vessel using a number of lines, and once on the seabed using these lines to tether the vessel to the base/turbine while telemetry from the base/turbine is analyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: OpenHydro Group Limited
    Inventors: James Ives, Paul Dunne
  • Patent number: 8784005
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of installing a hydroelectric turbine onto the seabed or the like while ensuring that a pre-laid electrical cable connected to the turbine prior to lowering to the seabed is not damaged during installation of the turbine, the method involving lowering the turbine towards the seabed while simultaneously displacing the turbine in order to maintain tension in the electrical cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: OpenHydro Group Limited
    Inventors: James Ives, Paul Dunne
  • Patent number: 8596964
    Abstract: In a hydroelectric turbine having a rotor disposed within a housing, the rotor having an annular outer rim received by a channel in the housing, the improvement comprising providing at least one debris release chute in said housing such that debris captured between the rotor and the housing is released through the debris release chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: OpenHydro Group Limited
    Inventor: James Ives
  • Patent number: 8466595
    Abstract: A hydroelectric turbine having a stator and a rotor housed concentrically within the stator, the turbine having a circumferentially disposed array of magnets on a rim of the rotor, and wherein the stator is slotless in configuration and is formed from a wire winding as opposed to the conventional toothed laminations, the turbine further having an annular array of individual coils mounted on the stator concentrically inwardly of the wire winding, each coil being provided with a dedicated rectifier to convert AC current induced in the coil into DC, preferably for transmission to a remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: OpenHydro Group Limited
    Inventor: Ed Spooner
  • Patent number: 8308422
    Abstract: In a hydroelectric turbine having a rotor disposed within a stator housing, the rotor having an annular outer rim received by a channel in the stator housing, the improvement comprising a buoyant rotor, the rotor preferably having buoyancy chambers disposed within the rotor. The buoyancy chambers may be disposed within the annular outer rim, the blades or an annular inner rim, or combinations thereof. Preferably, the buoyancy chambers are filled with a material having a specific gravity of one or less, and most preferably the filler material is a polymer foam that adds rigidity to the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: OpenHydro Group Limited
    Inventor: Herbert Williams
  • Publication number: 20100068037
    Abstract: In a hydroelectric turbine having a rotor disposed within a housing, the rotor having an annular outer rim received by a channel in the housing, the improvement comprising providing at least one debris release chute in said housing such that debris captured between the rotor and the housing is released through the debris release chute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: OpenHydro Group Limited
    Inventor: James Ives
  • Publication number: 20100026002
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hydroelectric turbine comprising a stator and a rotor housed concentrically within the stator, the turbine comprising a circumferentially disposed array of magnets on a rim of the rotor, and wherein the stator is slotless in configuration and is formed from a wire winding as opposed to the conventional toothed laminations, the turbine further comprising an annular array of individual coils mounted on the stator concentrically inwardly of the wire winding, each coil being provided with a dedicated rectifier to convert AC current induced in the coil into DC, preferably for transmission to a remote location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: OpenHydro Group Limited
    Inventor: Ed Spooner
  • Patent number: 7258523
    Abstract: A hydro electric turbine having a flexible, collapsible front shroud, the upstream open end of the front shroud being controlled by a draw line passing through purse rings, whereby the upstream end can be closed by drawing on the draw line, thereby stopping water flow through the turbine. Decreased drag allows the turbine to rise to the surface. Opening the upstream end so that water flows into the turbine increases drag to lower the turbine into the water and causes rotation of the turbine blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: OpenHydro Group Limited
    Inventor: Herbert L. Williams