Patent Application
20180128245
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The disclosure and prior art relates to generation devices and more particularly pertains to a new generation device for converting wind, solar and tide motion into electrical energy.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a plurality of wind generators. Each of the wind generators extends upwardly out of a body of water. Each of the wind generators is rotated by wind thereby facilitating each of the wind generators to generate electricity. A platform is slidably coupled to each of the wind generators. The platform travels upwardly and downwardly along the wind generator when the body of water raises and lowers. A plurality of motion units is operationally coupled between an associated one of the wind generator and the platform. Each of the motion units converts the upward and downward motion of the platform into electrical energy. A plurality of solar cells is coupled to the platform to convert sunlight into electricity.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
The stanchion 14 corresponding to each of the wind generators 12 has an outer surface 20 and a distal end 22 with respect to the body of water 18. The turbine 16 corresponding to each of the wind generators 12 is positioned on the corresponding distal end 22. The turbine 16 corresponding to each of the wind generators 12 is rotated by wind thereby. Thus, the turbine 16 corresponding to each of the wind generators 12 generates electricity. The turbine 16 corresponding to each of the wind generators 12 is electrically coupled to a power distribution system 24. The power distribution system 24 may be an electrical grid or the like.
A platform 26 is provided. The platform 26 is slidably coupled to the stanchion 14 corresponding to each of the wind generator. The platform 26 is comprised of a buoyant material. Thus, the platform 26 travels upwardly and downwardly along the corresponding stanchion 14 when the body of water 18 raises and lowers. The platform 26 moves according to tide level and wave action.
The platform 26 has a bottom surface 28 and a top surface 30. The platform 26 has a plurality of apertures 32. Each of the apertures 32 extends through the top surface 30 and the bottom surface 28. The apertures 32 are spaced apart from each other. The stanchion 14 corresponding to each of the wind generator extends through an associated one of the apertures 32.
A plurality of motion units 34 is provided. Each of the motion units 34 is operationally coupled between an associated one of the wind generators 12 and the platform 26. Each of the motion units 34 converts the upward and downward motion of the platform 26 into electrical energy. Each of the motion units 34 comprises a rack gear 36 coupled to the outer surface 20 of the stanchion 14 corresponding to the associated wind generator. The rack gear 36 is vertically oriented on the associated wind generator. Thus, the rack gear 36 extends above and below a surface 38 of the body of water 18.
A gear box 40 is provided. The gear box 40 is positioned within the platform 26. The gear box 40 has an input shaft 42 and an output shaft 44. The gear box 40 may be a speed increasing gear box or the like. Thus, the output shaft 44 rotates at a speed that is greater than a rotational speed of the input shaft 42.
A pinion gear 46 is provided. The pinion gear 46 is rotatably coupled to the input shaft 42. The pinion gear 46 engages the rack gear 36. Thus, the pinion gear 46 rotates when the platform 26 travels upwardly and downwardly.
A generator 48 is provided and the generator 48 is positioned within the platform 26. The generator 48 is coupled to the output shaft 44. The gear box 40 spins the generator 48 when the pinion gear 46 rotates. Thus, the generator 48 converts the motion of the platform 26 into electrical energy. The generator 48 is electrically coupled to the power distribution system 24. Moreover, the generator 48 may be an electrical generator or the like.
A plurality of solar cells 50 is provided. Each of the solar cells 50 is coupled to the platform 26. Thus, each of the solar cells 50 is exposed to sunlight thereby facilitating each of the solar cells 50 to convert sunlight into electricity. Each of the solar cells 50 is positioned on the top surface 30 of the platform 26. Each of the solar cells 50 is electrically coupled to the power distribution system 24.
In use, the stanchion 14 corresponding to each wind generator is anchored to the bottom of the body of water 18. The corresponding stanchion 14 is vertically oriented to extend upwardly from the body of water 18. The platform 26 floats on the surface 38 of the body of water 18. The generator 48 corresponding to each motion unit is rotated when the platform 26 moves upwardly and downwardly. Each of the wind generator and the solar cells 50 produce electrical energy. Each of the wind generators 12 and the platform 26 are position off shore in an ocean or the like.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, system and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
