gh HYDRO LANTERN, OR LIGHT, WATER and… A CLEAN PLATE

A completely unusual device was exhibited to the visitors of the latest, already XXIst Moscow International Salon of Industrial Property “Archimedes-2008”, which took place early in April at the Moscow “Sokolniki” Exhibition Center. This is a strikingly economical and a very useful lantern, which operates as if by itself – at any case, without batteries or apparent effort. In fact, there is no trick about it. The hydro lantern (which was designed by a Muscovite Dmitry Shtorm, who is an economist, not an engineer by education) simply operates based on the same principle as a hydroelectric power station. It converts the energy of a water stream pouring from the tap into electric power.

The inventor explained to the attendees how the hydro lantern operates. “The device was accomplished in the form of a nozzle on the tap, which is fixed upon its tip with the help of regular threading instead of a standard splitter. Inside the nozzle, there is a low-noise turbine, which generates electric power. The turbine capacity is not high – about 3-4V, however, this is sufficient for power supply of 16 light-emitting diodes (LEDs)”.

From a technical point of view, the main novelty that allows to consider an unusual lantern to be an invention – is its “heart” – the turbine. The author does not mention in any circumstances how it is designed – the maximum of information the author mentions is that the hydro lantern has no blades like a mill does. A thorough patent search has proved that nothing similar to that has been invented or at least patented so far; therefore the author is now occupied with getting the copyright for his invention. And he is striving by all means to set going the useful device manufacturing.

There is no doubt that the hydro lantern designed by Dmitry Shtorm will be called for. It is very useful indeed. It is interesting to note that Dmitry Shtorm made the first lantern upon his wife’s request, who asked him to invent something to illuminate the sink area in the kitchen. “In reality, it has turned out that it is a pretty long way from the idea towards its implementation”, continues Dmitry Shtorm. “The turbine construction had to be changed several times before I succeed in making the lantern noiseless and efficient enough. But in the long run, everything worked out well. However, this lantern has an essential requirement. The water head in the tap should not be too weak – if the water flows in a thin stream, the lantern will be shining respectively. However, under normal conditions of a common water-supply, the lantern shines brightly enough.” It should be noted that at the exhibition it worked exactly like that: when you open a tap, the water is pouring, and LEDs are shining no worse than those in an ordinary LED torch.

Unfortunately, it is still impossible to buy such a lantern. Hopefully, the inventor will overcome the manufacturing issues and every person interested will be able to try and to purchase such a device by request. Presumably, there will be a lot of people who wish. Firstly, it is good to have an opportunity to additionally illuminate plates and dishes. Secondly, one can avoid switching on the light in the kitchen or in the bathroom if it is necessary to wash something or to pour water and so on – this is not only efficient but also economical. And finally, batteries in this lantern would never run down, like in a buzzing torch, where one should work (press the spring) by oneself, but in this case, the water “works” for you. At last, this is nice and funny. If the author makes an analogues lantern for shower or domestic water fountains, and the sphere of application will grow up respectively. We wish success to the author and the ability to purchase such a hydro lantern for home use to consumers.

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