US006998730B2
(12)
United States Patent
(10) Patent N0.:
US 6,998,730 B2
(45) Date of Patent:
Feb. 14, 2006
Tharp
(54)
(76)
HYDRO-ELECTRIC FARMS
Inventor:
John E. Tharp, 7278 Lake Dr., SW.,
Fort Myers, FL (Us) 33908
3,823,919 A
7/1974 Benedikter
3,896,753 A
7/1975 Shepherd et al.
3,973,864 A
3,980,894 A
8/1976 Atherton
9/1976 Vary et al.
3,986,787 A
( * ) Notice:
Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
-
~
' ' '
( )
y
ays'
(21) APPl- NO‘ 11/198,727
_
(22) Filed:
Prior Publication Data
US 2005/0285405 A1
(58)
5/1977 Chappell
5 1977 Thom son et a1.
4,048,947 A
9/1977 Sicard
8/1977 Blackp
Chris Lang, “Harnessing Tidal Energy Takes New Turn,”
9’ 2004'
(60) Provisional application No. 60/458,488, ?led on Mar.
28, 2003.
(52)
4,023,041 A
4 025 220 A
0 nar
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
_
Related U'S' Apphcatlon Data
Division of application No. 10/754,255, ?led on Jan.
(51) Int. Cl.
H02K 1/22
F03B 1/00
3/1977 Croisant
(Con?rmed)
Dec. 29, 2005
_
(62)
4,009,677 A
,
4:038:821 A
Aug. 5, 2005
(65)
ighl?ling
,
gusenct liszxgengedocg adjusted under 35
10/1976 Mouton, Jr. et a1.
2
Marine Current Turbines, one page
unkn0Wn> USA
no. unknown), date
Primary Examiner—Nicholas Ponomarenko
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Dennis G- Lapointe
(57)
ABSTRACT
(2006.01)
(2006.01)
An underwater hydroelectric farm comprising a plurality of
US. Cl. ........................ .. 290/54; 310/54; 310/261;
415/31; 290/52
Field of Classi?cation Search ................ .. 290/42,
electrical generator assemblies arranged in an array 0n a
bottom surface of a body of water within an ocean current
Path to take generate power from a kinetic energy Caused by
290/43, 44, 52, 53, 54, 55; 310/54, 261;
the How of the underwater current. Each assembly is
415/31
installed in a cradle, which is anchored with a pile driven
See application ?le for Complete Search history
(56)
References Cited
water. Generated power is transmitted to a land based
facility directly to or through an intermediate transfer sta
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
tion. Generator portion may have internally or externally
365,133 A
400,209 A
966,042 A
966,794
1,123,491
2,501,696
3,334,254
3,418,506
system to the bottom surface. Each assembly is a modular
system allowing for easy swapping out of an assembly under
A
A
A
A
A
3,513,340 A
6/1887 Kessler
3/1889 Haskins
8/1910 MCClung
9/1910
1/1915
3/1950
8/1967
12/1968
Miner
Corbin
SoucZek
Kober
Parker
5/1970 Appleton
supported ?eld windings. Various con?gurations of propel
lers may be used, some with channels or solid vanes and
another being a spiral shaped propeller. All water exposed
surfaces of the generator and propeller portions are coated
with a non-conductive, heat dissipating, anti-fouling and
water speci?c protective coating.
10 Claims, 20 Drawing Sheets
US 6,998,730 B2
Page 2
US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
470927828 A
6/1978 Garza
4,095,918 A
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4’134’710 A
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A
4,140,433 A
4,163,904 A
4,163,905 A
4,174,923
4,203,702
4,205,943
4,219,303
A
A
A
A
Comstock
2/1979 Eckel
8/1979
8/1979
11/1979
5/1980
Skendrovic
Davison
Williamson
Williamson
5,192,603
5,194,504
5,266,006
5,286,921
A
A
A
A
5 334 899 A
,
7
A
A
A
E
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Tsuietal.
.
Fontalne et a1.
8 1994 Sk b k
/
5,372,617 A
53787510
5,440,176
5,491,366
RE35,165
3/1993
3/1993
11/1993
2/1994
y
y
310 268
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
1/1995
8/1995
2/1996
3/1996
Th9?“ 6‘ a1~
Hammg
Newman
Seng
6/1980 Vauthier
8/1980 Mouton, Jr. et 81.
5,648,416 A
5,652,027 A
4,256,970 A
3/1981 Tomassini
5,661,259 A
4,275,680 A
6/1981 Pennington, III et 81.
5,674,561 A
10/1997 DietZ et 81.
5,682,072 A
10/1997 Takahashi
4.306.127 A
4,313.0 9
4,329,277
4,335,093
4,335,319
4,358,693
4,371,801
4,382,190
4,383,182
4,383,797
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
12/1981 Wracszgicht
1/1982
5/1982
6/1982
6/1982
11/1982
2/1983
5/1983
5/1983
5/1983
Howar
Murphy
Salomon
Mettersheimer, Jr.
Pélmer 9t a1~
Rlchter
Jacobson
Bowley
Lee
5,798,572
5,834,853
5,918,360
5,937,644
5,985,983
6,006,518
6,011,334
6,064,123
6,091,161
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
/
12/1994 Kerrebrock
7/1997 Miller et 81.
7/1997 Brady, Jr. et 81.
8/1997 Cipolla
8/1998
11/1998
7/1999
8/1999
11/1999
12/1999
1/2000
5/2000
7/2000
Lehoczky
RuiZ et al.
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Dipnall
Yamada et al.
Geary
Roland
Gislason
Dehlsen et al.
4,389,034 A
6/1983 $119195
6,100,600 A
8/2000 P?anz ....................... .. 290/54
4,392,073 A
4,437,892 A
7/1983 Rosenberry, Jr.
3/1984 Kelsey
6,104,097 A
6,109,863 A
8/2000 Lehoczky
8/2000 Milliken
4,467,218 A
4,468,153 A
8/1984 AndrusZkiW et 81.
8/1984 Atencio et 91-
6,168,373 B1
6,177,735 B1
1/2001 Vauthier
1/2001 Chapman et al.
274513374312;
2
,
,
Z1322 395319991
1 9r
6,310,406
B1 10/2001
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6,327,994 B1
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4,520,273 A
5/1985 Rowe
6,329,042 B1
12/2001 Yamada et al.
2.25.332 2
31322 gem; er 91-
6,329,469 B1
12/2001 Bowers et al.
,
,
9110
4,529,784 A
4,551,066
4,575,282
4,613,279
4,619,593
4,661,716
4,667,137
A
A
A
A
A
A
7/1985 Finlay
11/1985
3/1986
9/1986
10/1986
4/1987
5/1987
FriSZ
Pardue
Corren
Molnar
Chu
Macleod
2,2227%;
A
,
,
3132; gotldwater
91
27522733; A
2%; gfflore
,
,
4,792,237 A
4,804,439 A
4,818,888 A
1
12/1988 Ham
2/1989 Fredriksson
4/1989 Lenoir, III
6,365,984 B1
4/2002
6,373,161 B1
4/2002 Khalaf ................ .. 310/154.02
6,409,466
6,417,578
6,472,768
6,518,680
6,531,788
6,537,608
B1
B1
B1
B1
B1
B1
6/2002
7/2002
10/2002
2/2003
3/2003
3/2003
Shu
Lamont
Chapman et al.
salls
McDavid, Jr.
Robson
Miller et al.
6,664,339 B1 12/2003
Schmiegel
2/2005 Belinsk
6,856,036 B1
6,943,478 B1
2002/0034437 A1
2002/0158472 A1
2003/0106602 A1
2003/0113464 A1
3/2002 Williams
10/2002 Robson
6/2003 Hsich et al.
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2724337421453
A
,
,
31323 gent
usslere
2003/0125421 A1
4,850,190 A
7/1989 Pitts
2003/0157336 A1
8/2003 Kinoshita et al.
4,937,485 A *
6/1990 Mihalko ................... .. 310/208
2003/O174994 A1
9/2003 Garito et a1_
‘51732233
2
,
,
333(1) gumigm
et 91r99
2003/0193198
A1 10/2003
Wobben
2003/0207103 A1
11/2003 Zvosec etal.
5,028,453 A
5,037,677 A
5,064,928 A
7/1991 Jeffrey er 918/1991 Halpern et a1.
11/1991 K959 9t 91-
5,100,290 A *
3/1992 Berger ....................... .. 415/60
5,117,141 A
5,120,816 A
5/1992 Hawsey et 81.
6/1992 Gould et a1.
2003/0118765 A1
9/2005 Zepp etyal. ............... .. 310/191
2003/0207118 A1
2003/0207986 A1
6/2003
Govaerts et al.
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11/2003 Fukushi
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* cited by examiner
U.S. Patent
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