The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 11, 2002
Filed:
Nov. 28, 2000
Joseph M. Cybularz, Jacobus, PA (US);
Richard K. Donelson, Emigsville, PA (US);
Richard K. Fisher, Jr., Jacobus, PA (US);
Robert G. Grubb, York, PA (US);
Randy V. Seifarth, York, PA (US);
Siegbert Etter, Heidenheim, DE;
Donald E. Zehner, Etters, PA (US);
Voith Siemens Hydro Power Generation, Inc., York, PA (US);
Abstract
A turbine, adaptable to improve the survivability of fish present in water flowing therethrough, includes a hub and associated runner blades. Each blade comprises an inner edge and a distal outer edge, a leading edge and a trailing edge separated by a water directing surface. Each blade is rotatable relative to the hub about a blade rotational axis. The turbine is provided with a gap shielding device designed to shield a gap formed between the hub and the blade inner edge as the blade is rotated about its axis. The gap shielding device may comprise a plurality of independently biased pins, a plurality of fluid jets, a plurality of flexible members, a fluid-filled boot, and combinations thereof.