AU3995097A

AU3995097A - Device for providing rotational output

Info

Publication number: AU3995097A
Application number: AU39950/97A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ghem Sheng Whan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-07-01
Filing date: 1997-10-07
Publication date: 1999-01-14
Also published as: JPH1137035A; KR19990012864A; GB9721515D0; ZA9711553B; GB2326916A; AR013908A1; BR9706243A; ID19641A; TR199800176A3; CA2225582A1; TR199800176A2

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Comiplete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority Related Art: 1~ Namne of Applicant: Ghemn Sheng Whan Actual Inventor(s): Gheni Sheng Whan Address for Service: PHILLIPS ORMONDE

FITZPATRICK

Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Invention Title: DEVICE FOR PRO VIDING ROTATIONAL

OUTPUT

Our Ref 506075 POF Code: 271724132084 The follo-wing statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it kno%,n to applicant(s): wtfal^ r*«ww*

TITLE

Device for providing rotational output.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Global development and progress has caused depletion of natural resources such as coal, petroleum and other forms of fuel. There is a need to find alternative means of generating power to replace the presently available generators which use energy sources that are fast depleting. Further, the generators commonly found emit pollutants to the environment or are generally hazardous to the environment.

The said generators are costly to build, use massive power grid and long distance power cables. Such high start-up costs will inevitably be passed on to the consumers. In the case of industries or non-domestic consumers such high costs for energy consumption will add to the costs of production thereby increasing prices of goods and utilities. All these costs will no doubt be finally i forced upon the end purchaser.

The high costs of building a power generator prevents the supply of power to the outback, isolated places such as the islands and mountain ranges.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to overcome the shortcomings of the known power generators by providing a rotational output comprising a circular rail I and a rotational hub structure within the rail, wherein the rotational hub structure includes a flexible-walled chamber on each end of a diametral spoke, wherein an output shaft is connected to the spoke substantially at the centre of the spoke, wherein the chambers are in fluid communication and the spoke is construed such that the output shaft canr be offset from the centre of the circular rail thereby causing one chamber to expand in volume and the other to decrease in volume by an equal amount, wherein in use, the device is immersed in a liquid and the output shaft is offset from the centre of the rail such that the larger volume chamber is more deeply immersed and thus more buoyant than the other chamber, whereby a rotation of the output T shaft is produced by the differential buoyancy of the chambers.

In essence the apparatus onsists of a device having the ability to self-rotate in water. It is the constant movement of the spokes in the water in circular motion that creates energy. The device does not emit any smoke or pollutant.

The device is not a hazard to the environment. This apparatus is comparatively cheaper to build and easier to operate.

The apparatus is modular, compact and easy to install. It can be installed above or below ground level, in the air or submerged in water.

The device is powered by using floatage energy derived from the flexible- ;i wailed chambers attached to the ends of spokes which rotate in the circular rail. The flexible-walled chambers are made from preferably rubber or other flexible material having the capacity of expanding and contracting. The spoke l has extendable means to shorten and lengthen the spoke. This is made S 20 possible by each spoke having a centre rod and two end rods wherein the end rods are slidable within the certie. rod, wherein each spoke includes an i air passage in communication with the interior of each flexible-walled chamber on each end thereof.

Once rotation starts, some spokes are then shortened or lengthened by the extendable means found in the spoke. The flexible-walled chamber expand or contract depending on the position of the spoke. The longest spoke having the most floatage energy will be the first to float to the surface of the water and thereby maintaining the rotation of the other spokes.

The output shaft includes gear means for extracting a rotational output from the device. The speed of the rotation is dependent on the type of gears used and the size of the spokes and the flexible-walled chambers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION In order that the invention may be clearly understood, some embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of examples with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is the elevation view of the device.

Figure 2is the side view of one pair of spokes on a holder.

Figure 3 is the side view of three pair of spokes on a holder.

Figure 4 is the top view of the spoke when it is at its maximum length.

Figure 5 is the top view of the spoke when it is at its minimum length.

Figure 6 is the side view of a spoke with one end of the spoke in the rail.

DETAILED

DESCRIPTION

The device comprises a circular rail which is held by holders of a water tank A frame for supporting the device may be provided.

A

rotational hub structure within the rail consists of a central output shaft (14) from which diametral spokes (10)radiate. On each end of each spoke is a flexible-walled chamber Each spoke (10) comprises two parts, namely a centre rod (10b) within each end of which a smaller diameter rod can slide. The innermost end walls of chambers (12) are fixedly sealed around rods (10b) as indicated at (20) (see Figure 6) and rods (10a) pass through the outermost end wall of the chambers which end wall is fixedly sealed to the rods (10a) as indicated by reference (22) (see Figure 6).

The outermost end of each rod (10a) is held captive by rail such that it can rotate around the rail, for example it includes rollers (24) (see Figure The chambers (12) one each end of a spoke (10) are in fluid communication by means of an air passage (not shown) that passes through each spoke It will thus be appreciated that if output shaft (14) is displaced or offset from the centre of the circular rail one chamber (12) on one end of a spoke will be expanded in volume whilst the chamber (12) on the opposite end of that spoke (10) will be reduced in volume by an equal amount by virtue that the rods (10a) slide within the rod (lOb). Supports (26) for the output shaft (14) (see Figures 2 and 3) contain apertures (28) through which the output shaft (14) passes. These apertures must be of sufficient size to accommodate the amount of offset movement experienced by the output shaft The output shaft (14) may also include gears (18) (see Figure 2) for extracting an output from the device. The gap referenced (30) between two gears is for accommodating the offset movement of shaft (14).

In operation, the tank is filled with a liquid such as water and shaft (14) offset from its centre position by some power input in a direction such that the flexible-walled chambers (12) that are more deeply immersed are expanded in volume and are thus rendered more buoyant than the others.

These more buoyant chambers (12) will have a tendency to rise in the liquid and will thus set up a rotation of the hub structure within the rail As the rotation continues the chambers (12) that are moving deeper in the liquid are expanding in volume whilst each opposite chamber is reducing in volume by an equal amount. Thus tie buoyancy of each chamber (12) is cyclically expanded and reduced to maintain the rotation. It will, of course, be necessary to supply a power input to establish an offset for shaft (14) to maintain an output rotation of shaft This output may be extracted from shaft (14) via gearing (18).

This position can vary depending on the revolutions desired. The positioning of the spokes can be manipulated by adjusting the rail holder (14) by adjusting means such as screws or hydraulic pumps.

The speed of the revolutions made by the rotating device is dependent on the type of gears (18) used, the position of the spokes in relation to the rail and generally the size of the device.

Claims

1. A device for providing a rotational output comprising a circular rail and a rotational hub structure within the rail, wherein the rotational hub structure includes a flexible-walled chamber on each end of a diametral spoke, wherein an output shaft is connected to the spoke substantially at the centre of the spoke, wherein the chambers are in fluid communication and the spoke is construed such that the output shaft can be offset from the centre of the circular rail thereby causing one chamber to expand in volume and the other to decrease in volume by an equal amount, wherein in use, the device is immersed in a liquid and the output shaft is offset from the centre of the rail such that the larger volume chamber is more deeply immersed and thus more buoyant than the other chamber, whereby a rotation of the output shaft is produced by the differential buoyancy of the chambers-

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rotational hub structure includes a plurality of diametral spokes, each of which has a flexible- walled chamber on each end, wherein the spokes are equally spaced angularly.

3. A device as claimed in claims 2 wherein a plurality of circular rails each having a hub structure are provided, wherein the output shaft is connected to each hub structure.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein each spoke includes a centre rod and two ends, wherein the end rods are slidable within the centre rod, wherein each spoke includes an air passage in communication with the interior of each flexible-walled chamber on each end thereof.

A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein an innermost end wall of each chamber is sealingly fixed to the centre rod and an outermost end wall of each chamber is sealingly fixed to an end rod.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein each end rod passes through Athe outermost end wall of a chamber and includes means engaging the circular rail and allowing rotation of the end rod around the rail, whereby the hub structure can rotate within the rail.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said means is held captive by the rail.

8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the output shaft includes gear means for extracting a rotational output from the device.

9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the circular rail is fixedly supported within a container in a vertical orientation. S 15

10. A device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the container is filled with a liquid. S' DATED: 7th October, 1997 P. HILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: GHEM SHENG WHAN ',I