Patent Application
20140117672
The present invention relates to the field of marine mechanics, more particularly to the power production from the ebb and flow of tides.
The present invention refers to a previous Canadian patent CA 2793716 <<Tidal motor>> filed on Oct. 26, 2012 by two of the same authors which show a tidal motor comprising a number of generators mounted on a floating platform installed in combination with vertical beams provided with means of rack such that the pinions of the generators drive along the rack beams. The tide pulls the platform which causes the rotation of the pinions along the rack beams. The rotation of the pinions drives the generators which produce electricity. The shaft of the pinions can be mounted in combination with a number of gears to multiply the produced velocity and energy.
In the present invention the floating platform has preferably a circular shape and comprises a hub located in the center, the hub extends upwardly in a vertical shaft comprising angle pitch. The other end of the shaft activates means of gears comprising a meshing female with opposite angle pitch to receive the shaft. The gears activate a generator or suitable mechanical device. The gears are enclosed within a dome which is fastened in combination with vertical pillars anchored in the ground which assure its stability, and the stability of the whole motor because the dome and the platform are in combination together through the drive shaft.
Tides are created by the moon attraction and generate a great power; nothing can prevent the tide from lifting or raising a mass. This power is used to lift or descend a floating platform having an upstanding shaft which turns gears which drive a generator (or suitable mechanical device).
There is a need on the market for a tidal motor producing energy with a minimum of interventions, and at any time of the tide: rising tide, low tide, even a stagnant tide.
Our tidal motor comprises a combination of the following elements:
A floating platform in a circular shape having a hub in the center, the hub may rotate due to the tide movement but it is essentially positioned to hold an upstanding shaft which is displaced by the rise and lowering of the platform, the displacement thereof being transferred to gears which rotate and activate a generator or a mechanical device. The platform may be of typically 60-75 ft in diameter and 35 ft of height.
The hub extends upwardly in a vertical shaft comprising angle pitch. The hub is being pushed upward or downward due to the tide rising or descending, an extension of the hub working as a drive shaft.
A number of intermeshed gears being commanded by the shaft, with a last gear activating a generator or suitable mechanical device. Gears are placed inside a dome.
Vertical pillars support the dome containing the gears to ensure stability for the whole assembly.
The platform could be fixed directly to the gears without using the shaft: the hub is so directly linked through the dome, precisely to a first gear which will rotate while the shaft engages it for rotating by means of its angled pitch. And the first gear turns a number of intermeshed intermediate gears.
The platform can be provided with means of pumps which suck up and propel water towards a turbine at a necessary pressure for the turbine to command a generator or suitable mechanical device. The pump may be commanded by the displacement of the platform. A system of pipes gets back the water of the turbine for the re-use.
The present invention will be further understood from the following description with reference to the drawings.
In the following description and in the accompanying drawings, the numeral numbers refer to identical parts in the various Figures.
A mass of weight equal to the displaced water times the displacement is a measure of energy in ft-lb: for a vessel of approximate dimensions of 65 ft diameter by 55 ft height, the weight is (55×65×65×π/4) cu.ft at 62.4 lb per cu.ft gives 11 382 65 ft-lb.
This energy may be applied over a period of time more or less rapidly, and depending on means of concentration of the weight, for example for priming a hydraulic pump.
The upward displacement may be made with an empty vessel which may be filled at high tide and be full upon descending, the weight of the full vessel causing the rotation of the gears with the same energy output.
In another case the vessel may be filled to reach a low point at the bottom of the course and emptied before reaching a high position at the top, the purpose being for a maximum course. The travel of the vertical shaft comprises the height of the rise of the tide plus the difference in height of a full and an empty vessel. Means of emptying the vessel is applied at end of low tide, and means of filling when at high tide. Those means of emptying and filling may include ballasts, closeable apertures or pumps which empty or fill those ballasts.
A tidal motor comprising a combination of a floating platform subject to a vertical movement due to the rise or the descent of the tide, with a means of hub located in the center of the platform, the hub extends upwardly and comprises angle pitch, extension thereof works as a threaded shaft, and with a dome comprising a master gear with an opposite angle pitch adapted to mesh with the shaft. The master gear is driving a generator or suitable mechanical device.
The master gear could drive a number of intermediate intermeshed gears located inside the dome, wherein a last gear of the intermediate gears drives the generator (or suitable mechanical device).
There is any number of intermediate intermeshed gears.
The dome is anchored in the ground by vertical pillars.
The platform may comprise means of helixes fixed at the bottom to accentuate the movement and make turn the shaft more easily.
To minimize friction a circular shape of the platform is preferred.
A doughnut-shaped platform is shown in
One can say that the platform may work as a vessel and the vertical shaft is a mast fixed thereto; the vessel may comprise means of filling at high tide for meshing with the opposite angle pitch while descending. The vertical displacement of the vertical shaft comprises a height of the rise of the tide plus the difference in height between a full and an empty vessel.
Means of emptying the vessel may also be used for creating floating while at low tide. Those means of filling and emptying may comprise ballasts filled/emptied with pumps or with closeable apertures.
Those means of filling can also made by a combination of pumps, turbines and pipes, commanded by the displacement of the platform, such that the pumps suck tip and propel water towards a turbine at a necessary pressure for the turbine to drive a generator gear. A network of pipes gets back the water of the turbine under the platform for a re-use.
It is to be clearly understood that the instant description with reference to the annexed drawing is made in an indicative manner and that the preferred embodiments described herein are meant in no way to limit further embodiments realizable within the scope of the invention. The matter which is claimed as being inventive and new is limited only by the appended claims.
20 Tidal motor system
22 Floating platform
24 Doughnut-shaped floating platform
25 Circular-shaped floating platform
26 Rays
28 Flub
29 Keyway
30 Threaded shaft
32 Dome comprising intermeshed gears
34 Vertical beams or pillars
36 Support members of the dome on the pillars
38-38′ Helixes
40 First gear
42 Intermediate gear
44 Generator gear
46 Generator
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2793716 | Oct 2012 | CA | national |
