Waterwheel for a Waterwheel Energy System

摘要

A water driven electrical power generating system has a frame with a waterwheel carried within the frame in an upright manner having a plurality of water receiving elements for turning the waterwheel. A water discharge manifold is used to discharge water from a discharge end in alignment with the water receiving elements. A water collection reservoir disposed below the waterwheel for the collection of water which has been discharged from the manifold and received by the water receiving elements. A water pump is used to pump water from the reservoir through the water discharge manifold. The waterwheel has side plates with outwardly extending axle shafts which are used to drive an electrical generator as the wheel rotates.

主权项

1. A water driven electrical power generating system, the system comprising:
a frame serving as an enclosure for components of the system; a waterwheel carried within the frame in an upright manner having a plurality of water receiving elements for turning the waterwheel in response to a discharge of water against the water receiving elements; water discharge manifold associated with the frame enclosure having a discharge end disposed above the waterwheel in discharge alignment with the water receiving elements; a water collection reservoir disposed below the waterwheel and integral with the frame for the collection of water which has been discharged from the manifold and received bathe water receiving elements; a water pump for pumping water from the water collection reservoir through the water discharge manifold and out the discharge end thereof onto the water receiving elements; wherein the waterwheel has a pair of spaced apart wheel shaped side plates each having an exterior surface and an interior surface, and wherein each of the side plates has an axle shaft welded thereon at a right angle to the exterior surface at a central location on each of the side plates, the axle shafts each being mounted in a bearing structure on the frame for rotational movement with respect to the frame; wherein the rotational movement of the axle shafts is used to drive an electrical generator for generating electrical power; and wherein the water receiving elements of the waterwheel are comprised of a series of flat metal sheets which radiate outwardly from a central axis of the waterwheel and which are welded between the two side plates, each pair of adjacent metal sheets defining a V-shaped trough for receiving water from the water discharge manifold; and wherein the water receiving elements further include a flat metal pivot sheet mounted on a pivot axis defined by a pivot rod which is welded between the side plates at a right angle thereto, the flat metal pivot sheets being moved from an initially open position to a closed position as water being discharged from the water discharge manifold is discharged downwardly into a respective V-shaped trough.