Energy Caterpillar Hydropower plant
The floating body design with paddle carriers and paddles addresses the inefficiency of conventional caterpillars by harnessing river current energy, providing a continuous energy source.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE202024000980
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-05-22
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-22
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-05-31
AI Technical Summary
Conventional caterpillars lack an efficient mechanism to harness energy from flowing water, limiting their ability to operate as a perpetual energy source.
A floating body design with paddle carriers and paddles attached to a transport chain, allowing the paddles to rotate freely and be driven by water current, anchored in rivers to capture energy continuously.
Enables a natural, perpetual, and continuous energy source from flowing water, utilizing the kinetic energy of rivers for operation.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
[0001] Caterpillars of conventional design have a chain of individual links arranged in a row and run around toothed wheels to move, and are driven by motors.
[0002] The energy crawler, with its floating body similar in design to a watercraft, is deployed in flowing waters. To set the energy crawler in motion, it must be anchored in the current of a river so that it remains on the water's surface at all times, like ships moored in a harbor.
[0003] Only the paddles running around the bottom are allowed to be driven by the flowing water. Thus, the paddles, which are attached to the tracks of the energy crawler, move with the current.
[0004] The energy crawler consists of a floating body that simultaneously forms the frame. Two rigid axles, mounted at the front and rear, extend beyond the full width of the frame on both sides, with a sprocket attached to each end. A transport chain runs over these sprockets on the left and right. The so-called paddle carriers, made of metal and featuring several holes, are attached to this transport chain. They are mounted by replacing the original chain pin with machine screws mounted directly opposite it, creating an axle. The paddles, which can be made of metal or plastic, are then attached to two further holes in the paddle carriers, spaced from the chain to ensure free rotation around the floating body.
[0005] The underlying idea is the advantage of having a natural, perpetual, 24-hour, free energy source in flowing water. Reference symbol list
[0006] Fig. 1 (1) Floating bodies (2) wooden strip (3) Square metal tube (4) Transport chain (5) Paddle carrier (6) Rigid axle (7) Footboard (8) Chain pins (9) Bearing block (10) screw (11) Paddle (12) Sprocket
Claims
[1] Energy Caterpillar Hydropower plant characterized by that it is powered by flowing water to generate energy. The caterpillar energy hydroelectric power plant consists of one (1) floating body that floats on the water's surface and simultaneously forms the frame for the attachments required for its operation. [2] Energy Caterpillar Hydroelectric Power Plant according to Claim 1, characterized by that the float is made of a tub, PVC or similar plastic. [3] Energy Caterpillar Hydroelectric Power Plant according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized by , a wooden strip (2) is attached to each of the inner left and right long sides, which is flush with the upper edge of the tub [4] Energy Caterpillar Hydroelectric Power Plant according to Claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized by , that a metal support made of square metal tubing (3) which is slightly longer than the plastic tub is attached to each of these wooden strips (2). [5] Energy Caterpillar Hydroelectric Power Plant according to Claim 1, 2, 3 and 4, characterized by . On the two square metal supports (3) a (9) bearing block, made of aluminium and steel, is mounted at each of the four ends. [6] Energy Caterpillar Hydroelectric Power Plant according to Claims 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, characterized by , on the two equally long (6) rigid axle ends, made of aluminium in the bearing blocks, the four (12) sprockets also made of aluminium are mounted, on which the transport chains made of metal (4) will then run. [7] Energy crawler hydroelectric power plant according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. On the transport chains, the original link bolts of the chain links must now be partially replaced by screws. On these screws, the paddle carriers are mounted to the transport chain parallel to the left and right in a line. The paddles, which are made of PVC or similar plastic, are then attached to these paddle carriers with the screws.