Patent Application
20080216472
The present invention is directed to a force transmitting apparatus providing an engine producing mechanical. The device as herein disclosed and described, relates to an apparatus employing the forces of buoyancy upthrust on a series of rotationally engaged floatation members to transmit a displacement force to a drive chain or chain engaging bellowed floatation members between two vertically displaced polygonal drive frames formed of individual linear segments. The resulting combined aggregate buoyancy upthrust from the engaged flotation members is utilized to impart rotational movement to mechanically engaged axles or belts.
Industrialized countries throughout the world in the 20th and 21st centuries have an increased requirement for energy proportional to their populations and production of products for national and international consumption. Conventionally, water power such as dams and fossil fuels such as oil and gas, have provided the world with their main source of energy for industry and for every more energy dependent populations.
With the increase in the world's population and the industrial output of new industrialized nations such as China, combined with ever decreasing natural energy resources, there is an increasing need to find alternate energy sources. It is preferable if such sources are non-polluting due to the theory of global warming from burning fossil fuels and the problems with pollution that oil cause in the world's environment.
As a result, greater emphasis is increasingly being placed on creating more efficient mechanical devices which either operate more efficiently, or which produce energy, in an attempt to conserve current resources. However, it is currently being recognized that many alternative energy sources exist such as wind power, which are being under utilized. Further, many potential non-polluting, renewable natural energy resources, such as gravity and solar energy, are currently under exploited. The apparatus herein described and disclosed, utilizes the natural power of buoyancy to provide an upthrust upon a series of the bellowed floatation members and a unique manner of circulating the floatation members in a flexible chain, to produce a driving force which may be mechanically capture to power mechanical devices to do work.
As is well known, a floating body or member, such as a sealed hollow container, if held below the surface of water, and then released, will rise vertically upwards toward the surface. It is also conventionally known that the water exerts an upward force on the floatation member according to the Archimedes principle. This principle provides that the magnitude of the upward force exerted onto the floatation members is equal to the weight of water which is displaced by the volume of the floatation members. Further, if the total volume of a floatation member displaces water weighing less than the member itself, that member will sink.
As such, there is an ongoing need for new energy sources which take advantage of naturally available sources. Such a device should therefore be provided that will harness the energy provided by the natural upward rise of floatation members and other components which displace sufficient water or fluid and allow for recompressing of such floatation members with minimal energy loss to thereby provide a net gain in upward force which may be harnessed.
With respect to the above description, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components or steps set forth in the following description or illustrations in the drawings. The various apparatus and methods of the invention are capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways which will be obvious to those skilled in the art once they review this disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
Therefore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing of other devices, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present buoyancy engine. It is important, therefore, that the objects and claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction and methodology insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further objectives of this invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.
The device as herein described and disclosed, employs a unique indirect means to reduce the volume of a compressible floatation member or object using indirect compression of the floatation members or object with the gas sealed therein maintained at a pre-determined constant pressure. While the specification herein refers to the compressible floatation members as hollow bellowed members, this term is for convenience and alternate terms for the unique compressible members can also be employed, such as floatation objects. A segmented polygonal shape of upper and lower frames providing rotational engagement the chain-engaged floatation members or floatation objects and takes advantage of the principle that where forces which are equal and collinear, and are acting in opposite directions, they will not produce a resultant moment at any point in space. Consequently, the pre-pressurized hollow collapsible flotation members or floatation objects, all being maintained at an equal constant pressure, rotationally engaged in a plurality of chained circular paths around both frames, are compressed starting at a widest point in their rotation around the segments of the upper frame section and decompressed beginning at the narrowest point of their rotation around the segments forming the lower frame section. The resulting rotationally engaged combination of compressed and enlarged floatation members or floatation objects, in a plurality of chained engagements to the frames, provide a net upward force to the flexible drive chains engaging each of the plurality of hollow compressible flotation members or floatation objects.
The above noted indirect compression is attained by the employment of circular members centrally engaged upon each linear segment or leg forming the top frame section. The individual segments forming both the upper and lower frames, are engaged to adjacent segments to form a polygonal frame with a generally circular shape. All of the segments forming each respective polygonal frame, rotate in tandem engaged to adjacent segments by means for flexible engagement such as a universal joint. The individual segments engaged to the circular members, the flexible drive chains engaged to the circular members, and dividing members engaged to the chains and sides of the floatation members, and other components engaged to the circular members or segments or chain, will all rotate at substantially the same speed.
A plurality of the flotation members or floatation objects having collapsible sidewalls are engaged between each pair of rotating flexible chains thereby providing means for rotation, translation and a spaced relationship, in between and around the upper and lower frame members in a generally circular path.
The circular planar members are engaged at a central portion of the individual linear segments substantially normal to the axis of individual linear segments. The polygonal shape provided by the individual segments causes the opposing side portions of each pair of circular planar members outside the circumscribed area of the upper and lower frames to be spaced a larger distance from each other than the respective opposite side portions rotating inside the circumscribed area of the frame. Dividing endwall members and the flexible chains on which they are engaged follow alternating narrowing and widening pathways during their rotation around the upper and lower frames. The result is a plurality of narrowing distances between each pair of planar circular members as they rotate on the upper frame from outside the circumscribed area to inside the circumscribed area, and, a plurality of widening distances as they rotate from the inside of the circumscribed area of the lower frame, toward the outside of the circumscribed area.
During rotation of the flotation members or floatation objects in chained or other means for segmented flexible engagement adjacent to each pair of planar circular members engaged to segments forming the upper frame segment, each of the pre-pressurized flotation members or floatation objects is compressed to a collapsed position following the path formed by the endwall members following the narrowing gap between the circular members engaged to the linear segments of the upper frame. In the collapsed position, the floatation members or floatation objects may have a volume that will displace water weighing greater than, equal to, or less than the weight of the floatation member itself.
Each of the plurality of floatation members is engaged between adjacent flexible chains or other flexible segmented engagement to positions wherein all the flotation members are horizontally aligned with respective adjacent floatation members engaged to adjacent flexible chain pairs. On all such engagements of the floatation members to the flexible chain segments, each flotation member is substantially equidistant from the preceding and subsequent flotation member in like engagement, with the least possible space between each succeeding floatation members to maximize buoyant forces. The result is a plurality of flotation members in engagement with chain segments located a fixed distance from other such engagements on the plurality of paired chains, rotating between the narrowing and widening paths formed by the rotating circular members. Another means for the compressible floatation member will be a floatation object that has a continuous sidewalls and endwalls thereby the internal gas pressure is constant all throughout the floatation object. As noted, all of the linear segments forming the upper and lower frames, are engaged to adjacent segment members in the frame, using means for rotational flexible engagement of the distal ends of the segments to adjacent segment distal ends, such as a universal or rotating joint. Consequently all components rotate around the segments forming both frames at the rotation speed of the segments.
The pressurized flotation members or floatation object descending, in a mechanically locked collapsed position, from inside the circumscribed area of the upper frame, to the inside of the circumscribed area of the lower frame, thereafter rotate around the lower frame section from inside its circumscribed area to the outside. The path follows the path formed by the circular planar members engaged to individual segments forming the lower frame from a narrowest point to a widest point and each floatation member or floatation objects is caused to inflate to its pre-determined expanded dimension by releasing a mechanical lock and allowing the force of the compressed gas inside the sealed flotation member or floatation objects to expand the collapsed sides. As noted, this enlarged dimension yields a volume that displaces water weighing more than the weight of the flotation member or floatation objects, thereby producing an upward thrust on the enlarged flotation members or floatation objects. This upward thrust is communicated by all of the plurality of inline enlarged flotation members or floatation objects to their respective engagements to the flexible drive chains. Mechanical means for engagement to capture the force of the resulting rotating segmented drive chains, and communicate it, will thereby provide force to do work.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method to produce power from the buoyancy upward thrust on a system of submerged flotation members or floatation object which may be harnessed.
It is a further object of this invention to use a unique configuration of polygonal frames and compression components rotating in a circular engagement, to minimize energy loss during compression of the flotation members or floatation objects.
An additional object of this invention is the provision of such a buoyancy engine which is easy to develop, construct, maintain and operate.
These together with other objects and advantages which become subsequently apparent reside in the details of the construction and operation of the invention as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.
The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification illustrate embodiments of the disclosed buoyancy engine and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Referring now to the drawings
The upper frame 14 and lower frame 16 are polygonal having a generally circular appearance and are formed of individual linear segments 22. The individual segments 22 which form the upper and lower frames, are engaged to adjacent segments 22 to form the polygonal frames using means for rotational engagement such as a universal joint 24. The segment 22 so engaged is adapted for rotational engagement with vertical support 48. The modified circular planar member 26, in fixed engagement with linear segment 22, is adapted for rotational engagement with vertical riser 31 which holds the upper and lower frames parallel to each other and at a fixed distance therefrom. The vertical risers 31 are also adapted to be used as a main support structure wherein the other support member will be engaged.
The total number of segments 22 forming the upper and lower frame are equal such that both frames are the same size and when in a fixed engagement to the vertical risers 31 and vertical support 48, all the segments 22 of the upper frame 14 will be parallel and aligned with all of the respective segments 22 forming the lower frame. Some, or all of the segments 22 forming each respective polygonal frame, are adapted to rotate on vertical risers 31. The remaining linear segment 22 not in engagement with vertical riser 31 and modified circular planar member 26, will be supported by vertical support 48. Design considerations will determine if vertical risers 31 are positioned upon each segment 22 and its paired segment 22 on the opposite frame, or just some of them. The number of segment 22 on the top and lower frames which are equal, can vary depending on the design requirement, thereby varying also the number of circular planar member 26 and the angle between the pairs of circular planar members. The vertical risers 31 will also be employed to operatively maintain the device to the ground or mounting surface upon which it rests during operation.
At a center section of each segment 22 is engaged one of a plurality of planar circular members 26 each being at an angle substantially normal to the axis of its respective engaged segment 22. As can be seen in
Each of the circular members 26 being engaged to a central portion of each segment 22 rotate at the same speed as the segment 22 to which it is engaged. As noted the segments 22 forming the polygonal frames are linked at their distal ends to adjacent segments 22 and all rotate at substantially the same speed in unison. This imparts a like rotation at an equal speed to all of the engaged circular members 26.
The flexible chain 18 is operatively engaged to each circular member 26 and properly tensioned in a circular rotation around both the top frame 14 and lower frame 16 rotating at the same speed as the engaged segments 22 and circular members 26. Spaced from the perimeter of each circular member 26 on the upper and lower frame, and from the flexible chain 18 extending between inline circular members 26 on the top and bottom frames, are guide rails 20 that are each engaged a fixed position by operative mounting to the vertical risers 31 or other means for holding the rails 20 in a fixed engagement substantially parallel to each other. Eccentric rails 30 are in an eccentric spacing to both the upper and lower frames in relation to respective adjacent circular planar members 26. A bearing 34 or similar means for supported rotational engagement, provides means for engagement of the modified planar circular member 26 to the vertical risers 31 supporting the upper and lower frames. A bearing 46 or similar means for supported rotational engagement of the circular planar member 26 to the vertical support 48 supporting the linear segment 22.
A plurality of the floatation members 17 are engaged to the flexible chain 18 in a fixed spacing from other floatation members 17 in the plurality engaged to the chain 18. The individual floatation members 17 can also be combined to form a single unit floatation object 29 with a continuous sidewalls 19 and endwalls 33. Continuous endwall for the floatation object is achieved by addition of a flexible sealed connection 37 between succeeding endwall 33. As such, as the chain 18 rotates in its engagement with the circular members 26, the floatation members 17 or floatation objects 29 will rotate at the same speed, in their spaced relationship. The guide rails 20 are in operative slidable engagement with the floatation members 17 or floatation objects 29 by means of rollers 40 operatively positioned on endwalls 33. The eccentric rails 30 are in operative slidable communication with the flotation members 17 or floatation objects 29 using roller 40 positioned at the distal end of pin 42. The other guide rail 20 is in operative slidable engagement with the connecting pins 41 by means of roller 40 being operatively positioned at the ends of the connecting pins 41. Positioned along the chain 18 in the space between the inline circular planar members 26 of the upper and lower frames are rails 20 substantially parallel to the outer positioned rails 20 that are fixed in position by operative engagement to the vertical risers 31 or other means for holding the rails 20 in a fixed engagement substantially parallel to each other. The path defined by the planar member 26, the chain 18, and the rails 20 is the path that endwall 33 of the floatation members 17 or floatation objects 29 will follow as the members 17 or floatation objects 29 ascend and descend between the upper and lower frames and around the segments 22 of the upper and lower frames.
In this engagement with the chain 18 the floatation members 17 or floatation objects 29 follow the path of the individual segments of the chain 18 in their rotation over the top of the upper frame 14 from outside its circumscribed area to inside its circumscribed area and thereafter toward the lower frame 16 where they follow the path of rotation from inside the circumscribed area of the lower frame 16 and around to outside of the circumscribed area, thereof.
Each of the floatation members 17 have sidewalls 32 having means for repeated compression and expansion such as a bellows 35 or accordion shaped of sidewall 32 and are formed of material adapted for continuous compression and expansion without failure from fatigue. This sidewall 32 thereby provides means to shorten the sidewall through compression on the endwalls 33 of the floatation members 17. The floatation object 29 have a continuous sidewalls 19 having means for repeated bending without failure from fatigue. Repeated bending of the continuous sidewall 19 is accomplished by means of flexible connection 27 at the distal ends of linear reinforcing members 21. These are the most preferred component of the device since the segmented polygonal shape of upper and lower frames providing rotational engagement the chain-engaged floatation members 17 or floatation object 29 takes advantage of the angled pathways defined by the angled positioning of the paired circular members 26 and the principle that where forces which are equal and collinear, and are acting in opposite directions, they will not produce a resultant moment at any point in space. As such, as noted above, the flotation members 17 being hollow bellowed or floatation object 29 being flexible such that they are adapted to change from an expanded position having a maximum volume to a collapsed position having a minimum volume, are urged to a compressed position starting at a widest point in their rotation around the segments 22 of the upper frame 14 section and subsequently decompressed beginning at the narrowest point of their rotation around the segments 22 forming the lower frame 16. During the compression and expansion of the floatation member 17, constant gas pressure is maintained using gas passages 49 to balance internal gas pressure between individual floatation member 17. Another means to maintain a constant internal gas pressure on a compressible floatation member is to use a floatation object having a continuous sidewalls 19 and endwalls 33, thereby forming a single unit floatation object between each pair of circular planar member 26 and also between the upper frame 14 and lower frame 16. Endwalls 33 have sealed engagement with member 37 to form a continuous endwall. The resulting rotationally engaged combination of compressed and enlarged floatation members 17 or floatation object 29, and employment of equal, opposite, and collinear forces on the narrowing and widening paths to change the dimensions of the members 17 or floatation object 29, and uniform rotation of the entire system, provide a net upward force to the chain assembly 12 engaging any plurality of the floatation members 17 or floatation object 29.
During rotation of each of the plurality of flotation members 17 or floatation object 29 in operative engagement with their respective chain assembly 12 through the angled pathway defined by each angled pair of planar circular members 26 each of the flotation members 17 or floatation object 29 is collapsed through equal opposite and collinear forces to a collapsed position while traversing the narrowing pathway around the upper frame 14. Once in this collapsed position, the floatation members 17 or floatation object 29 are held by means for restraining the floatation members 17 or floatation object 29 in the collapsed position as they descend toward the interior of the lower frame 16.
The flotation members 17 or floatation object 29 descending in the collapsed position from inside the circumscribed area of the upper frame 14 traverse through the interior of the lower frame 16 and thereafter rotate through a widening pathway defined by the angled positioning of the paired circular members 26 engaged to segments 22 on the lower frame 16. During traverse through this widening pathway, a release of the means to restrain the floatation members 17 or floatation object 29 in the collapsed position is affected thereby allowing sealed flotation members 17 or floatation object 29 to expand the collapsed sidewalls 32 or continuous sidewall 19 as the floatation member 17 or floatation object 29 traverses around the circular planar member 26 on the lower frame 16 and thereby return to the expanded position.
As can be seen in
The narrowing pathways and employment of the equal, opposite and collinear force provided by the narrowing angled pathways 28 and rotating planar members 26 on the upper frame 14 provide a defined narrowing pathway yielding the compression for the floatation members 17 or floatation object 29 and as noted take advantage of forces which are equal and collinear, and are acting in opposite directions to compress the flotation members 17 or floatation object 29 as they traverse over the top of the upper frame 14.
The compression is accomplished as such, with little or no resistance force as the endwalls 33 of the flotation member 17 or floatation object 29 are compressed inward during travel through the angled passage 28 formed between the rotating planar members 26. For the floatation object 29, the relationship between the projected area of the endwall and the projected area of the sidewall is such that the projected area of the endwall should always greater than the projected area of the sidewall to prevent possible collapse during any state, expanded or collapsed, of floatation object 29.
A graphical representation and mathematical equation of the dimensional relationship between the indicated variables between adjacent circular planar members as shown in
Letting X/y be expressed as compression ratio. (ratio of initial cylinder length to final cylinder length). Examination of the above equation will give the following conclusions:
From the above equation, “r” has the greatest effect on the compression ratio, hence “r” will mostly dictate in the design of the device to yield the most substantial energy gain from the system.
During this travel the segments of the flexible chain 18 engaged to a sprocket or other means for engagement rotate at substantially the same speed as the rotation of the planar member 26 to which they are engaged. The first end of the compression members 38 are rotatably engaged to connecting pins 41 of segments of the chain 18 and the second end of the compression members 38 are slidably engaged to endwall 33 of the floatation member 17 or floatation object 29. The sliding engagement of compression members 38 will allow for the changing distance between endwall 33 and the connecting pins of the chain 18 as the floatation member rotates with circular member 26 around the segment 22 of the upper and lower frames 14 and 16. A stopper on member 38 is provided to maintain an equal gap between the chain 18 and the adjacent edge of endwall 33 when the chain 18 is not in contact with the circular planar member 26. Compression member 39 is rotatably engaged to the chain 18 on one end and on the opposite end is in a fixed engagement with the endwall 33. This rigid engagement to the endwall 33 provides a means to maintain the member 39 in a radial direction from the center of segment 22 and means to maintain at a fixed distance, the side of endwall 33 adjacent to chain 18.
Traversing the circular planar members 26 rotating with the segments 22 of the upper frame 14, as the pathway 28 narrows, the compression members 38 and 39 move the endwalls 33 of each floatation member 17 or floatation object 29 to the collapsed position. As best shown in
During traverse of any one floatation member 17 or floatation object 29 along the eccentric rail 30 on the upper frame 14 the floatation member 17 or floatation object 29 is collapsed as noted herein. A roller 40 engaged to the distal end of the pin 42, traverses the eccentric path of the rail 30 around the axis of the planar member 26 it surrounds. While traversing the upper frame, the roller 40 slidably engaged with the rail 30, translates the pin 42 toward the center axis of segment 22, where it disengages the cable housing 45 from the stop 47. The stop 47 when engaged provides a means to lock the cable housing 45 and the cable 43 extending from it. This allows the endwall 33 to follow the narrowing angled path 28 while the cable 43 changes length to accommodate the changing size of the floatation member 17 or floatation object 29.
The cables 43 as noted are located inside the sealed floatation members 17 or floatation object 29 and are biased to retract onto cable housings 45 operatively located inside the floatation members 17 or floatation object 29. As the floatation members 17 or floatation object 29 collapses as it rounds the upper frame around any respective planar member 26, the cables 43 are biased into the housings 45 by a biasing means such as internal springs or the like, whereafter the pin 42 is translated to activate the internal restraint mechanism to engage the stop 47 operatively with the housing 45 to maintain the housing 45 in position, and hold the cables 43 in a shorter state. The current preferred means for retracting and extending the cables 43 into fixed relative positions, is shown by restraint mechanism 51 shown in
As the floatation member 17 or floatation object 29 rounds any planar member 26 located on the lower frame 16, the eccentric rail 30 engaged with the roller 40 translates the pin 42 toward the axis of the segment 22 moving the restraint mechanism 51 from the locked position to an unlocked position and allowing the cables 43 free to unwind from their housings 45 to the elongated position as the floatation member 17 or floatation object 29 expands and the endwalls 33 move away from each other to a point where they are fully extended to a pre-determined extended state. As the roller 40 on pin 42 ceases contact with rail 30 the cables 43 are restrained from further elongation by the locking mechanism 51 and provide a means to prevent the floatation members 17 or floatation object 29 from over expansion. This operation of the locking mechanism 51 to release and then secure the cables 43 to their position of extension from the housing 45, repeats during each traverse of the upper and lower frames. As noted the pin 42 extends beyond the boundaries of the sealed member 17 or floatation object 29. Means to seal the penetration of the pin 42 through the sidewall 32 or continuous sidewall 19 as well as allow translational motion of the pin 42 through the sidewall 32 or continuous sidewall 19 is provided by annular seal 44.
The method and components shown in the drawings and described in detail herein disclose arrangements of elements of particular construction, and configuration for illustrating preferred embodiments of structure of the present invention. It is to be understood, however, that elements of different construction and configuration, and using different steps and process procedures, and other arrangements thereof, other than those illustrated and described, may be employed for providing a buoyancy engine system in accordance with the spirit of this invention.
As such, while the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modifications, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure, and will be appreciated that in some instance some features of the invention could be employed without a corresponding use of other features, without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. All such changes, alternations and modifications as would occur to those skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of this invention as broadly defined in the appended claims.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract of the invention, is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting, as to the scope of the invention in any way.
This application is a continuation-in-part of prior U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 11/604,968 filed on Nov. 27, 2006 and claims the benefit thereon.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60765162 | Feb 2006 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 11604968 | Nov 2006 | US |
| Child | 12148427 | US |
