HYDRO-GRAVITATIONAL FISH-LIFTING DRIVE Russian patent published in 2006 - IPC E02B8/08 

FIELD: hydraulic structures, particularly devices with hydraulic drives, namely fish-lifting means.

SUBSTANCE: fish-lifting drive comprises bearings with shafts secured to the bearings and with disc installed on the shafts. The discs are provided with flexible continuous gearing having tensioning means and formed of flexible endless members tightened on the discs. Blades are hinged to the endless members. One branch of flexible gearing is arranged in waterway, the second branch thereof is located in fish pass. The waterway and fish pass are defined by partition. The blades connected to flexible gearing are made as chutes. Crossbars with embedded flexible members are pivotally installed between the blades and adapted to prevent blade breakage. The crossbars extend along diagonal line connecting lower blade edge exposed to incoming flow and axis of upper blade of rotation. The flexible members provide blade deflection under the action of foreign objects touching the blades. The waterway is defined between dam wall and the partition. The fish pass is formed between the partition and the wall from lower pool side. Slides moving along guiding means are installed on axes in areas of blade connection with flexible gearing.

EFFECT: increased operational efficiency and reliability along with reduced fish injuries.

2 cl, 3 dwg