Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
  • F03B17/00—Other machines or engines
  • F03B17/02—Other machines or engines using hydrostatic thrust
  • F03B17/04—Alleged perpetua mobilia

Definitions

• This invention relates to an apparatus which de ⁇ rives its motive power from the buoyancy of a body immersed in a liquid medium.
• U.S. Patent No. 29,149 discloses an endless chain of buckets traveling about suitable pulleys, the buckets immersed in a body of water. Steam is introduced into the buckets below the surface of the water to displace the water therefrom and render the buckets buoyant so as to give motion to the chain of buckets.
• Grondahl U.S. Patent No. 2,037,973, discloses a series of floats positioned on an endless belt which travels through a column of water, the buoyancy of the floats causing the belt to rotate.
• Platt U.S. Patent No.
• a power generator apparatus comprising a container holding column of liquid medium, upper and lower rotatable shaft above and below the container, pulleys journaled on the up per and lower shafts, an endless, flexible, spiral buoyan member passing around the upper and lower pulleys and posi tioned such that a portion thereof passes vertically throug the column of liquid medium in the container so that th buoyancy of the spiral member causes it to travel upwardl through the column and rotate the upper and lower pulleys Sealing means are provided at the lower end of the containe of liquid medium to permit passage of the spiral member ver tically therethrough into the container of liquid maxim while preventing loss of the liquid medium.
• Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the power generat ing apparatus of this invention.
• Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of th container holding the liquid medium, the rotatable seal a the lower end of the container and the spiral buoyant membe passing therethrough;
• Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view along sectio line 3-3 of Fig. 2;
• FIG. 4 is a partial view of the spiral member il ⁇ lustrating the manner in which it may be hinged to allow it to bend about the upper and lower sprockets;
• Fig. 5 is a partial view of the spiral member il- lustrating the manner in which it may be connected to allow one section of the spiral member to pivot relative to an adjoining section.
• the power generating apparatus disclosed includes a contain ⁇ er 10 of any desired form holding a liquid medium 12.
• the liquid medium is generally water; however, other liquids may be used.
• Shafts 14 and 16 are provided above and below the container 10 as illustrat ⁇ ed.
• Sprockets 18 and 20 are journaled, respectively, to the upper and lower shafts.
• An endless, flexible, spiral belt 22 is trained around the upper and lower sprockets which are disposed one above the other so that a portion of the belt passes through the column of liquid 12 in the container 10.
• the spiral buoyant member 22 causes the endless belt to travel and rotate the upper and lower shafts 14,16 and sprockets 18,20.
• the buoyant member 22 is a flexible, hollow spiral column of foamed polystyrene, al ⁇ though other foamed plastics and other flexible materials may be used.
• the hinge 24 allows the buoyant member to separate about the pivot point of the hinge.
• the hinge is flush with the exterior surface of the member 22
• OMPI and concealed so as not to create any undue friction as th buoyant member travels upward through the sealing member a the lower end of the column of liquid 12, as will be discus sed.
• the ends 26 of the hinge which are exposed on bendin of the buoyant member 22 at the hinge 24 are sealed to pre vent entry of the liquid thereinto.
• Illustrated in Fig. is an alternative means of connecting the sections. Pins 2 are inserted in the ends of the respective sections so tha the adjoining sections are free to rotate relative to th Pin.
• Sealing means are provided at the lower end of th container 10 where the spiral buoyant member 22 enters th fluid medium.
• the sealing means functions to permit th spiral buoyant member 22 to enter the liquid 12 without los of liquid from the container 10.
• the sealing member is bes illustrated in Fig. 2 and comprises a plate 28 resting o bearing 30, preferably an air bearing, for rotation of th plate relative to the container 10.
• the outer periphera edges of the plate 28 are closely fitted against the inne walls of the container 10 so as to prevent any leakage o liquid from the container ⁇
• an O-ring 32 ma be used to seal the gap between the plate 28 and inne surface of the container wall.
• the plate includes an arcu ate opening 34 as illustrated in Fig.
• the radius and size of the opening in the plate 28 is chose to fit the particular design of the spiral buoyant membe used. Desirably, the buoyant member should not contact th side walls of the plate 28 as it moves through the openin into the column of liquid 12 in the container 10.
• a flex ible seal 36 of rubber or other suitable material is fitte over the opening and secured thereto by rivets 38 or othe means to effect sealing against liquid loss.
• the seal 3 skirts the exterior surface of the spiral buoyant member 2 as it moves vertically into the column of liquid 12 to pre vent loss of liquid from the container 10. Movement of th buoyant member 22 upwardly through the opening in the plat
• V V// 28 causes the plate to rotate relative to the container.
• the sealing assembly is sufficiently light in weight and flexible so that the weight of the liquid ⁇ in the container seals the edges 40 of the sealing member 36 against the exterior surface of the spiral, buoyant member 22 moving into the column of liquid so that there is minimal loss of liquid. It may be necessary to locate an idler roll 42 on the lower surface of plate 28 as illustrated in Fig. 2 to guide it into the opening in the plate.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Other Liquid Machine Or Engine Such As Wave Power Use (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=22208462

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (5)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 1980
  • 1980-10-24 BR BR8008890A patent/BR8008890A/pt unknown
  • 1980-10-24 WO PCT/US1980/001425 patent/WO1981001175A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
• 1981
  • 1981-05-04 EP EP19800902335 patent/EP0038851A4/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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