ES2385075A1 - Device generator of driving force. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

The driving force generating device is characterized in that it comprises a sealed body (1; 11; 21; 31) provided with means (5; 15; 25; 35) sensitive to the pressures exerted on the outside; a linear generator (2; 12; 22; 32) comprising a mobile element (2a; 12a; 22a; 32a) that can move inside a housing (2b; 12b; 22b; 32b); and at least one actuator (4; 14; 24; 34) that causes the displacement of said mobile element (2a; 12a; 22a; 32a) of said linear generator (2; 12; 22; 32) inside said accommodation (2b; 12b; 22b; 32b), whose movement is driven by alterations of the gravitational attraction of the earth, by pressure differences, and/or by induced kinetic forces. It allows to balance the kinetic, gravitational and electromagnetic forces, minimizing the resistance, and admits diverse orientations and extremely diverse scenarios of operation. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

MOTOR FORCE GENERATOR DEVICE

The present invention relates to a driving force generating device, and in particular a driving force generator that takes advantage of the kinetic and pressure energy exerted on it by a fluid, being especially indicated for the conversion of the energy contained in the seas and oceans.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The objective of traditional driving force generating devices is the use of dynamic energy that concentrates air, water and other fluids for the generation of mechanical or electromotive forces. The force that these devices are capable of producing depends on the volume, mass and speed of the fluid with which they work, so that the energy they can convert grows or decreases directly with their size, while doing so much more that proportional to the intensity of the exploited phenomenon.

The objectives of improving the use of energy face multiple difficulties, among which are important conditions of a dynamic, mechanical and electrical nature. In the specific area of the use of the energy contained in transport elements in seas and oceans such as sea waves or tides, the difficulty of adapting to the extreme variations that these can present is added. The mechanical and mobile elements must be designed to eventually resist great efforts and consequently they are only valid for certain geographical areas and configurations, thus moving away the possible application of these devices in a generalized environment.

With the device of the present invention, the aforementioned drawbacks are resolved, presenting other advantages that will be described.

In the classification of the devices oriented to the use of the energy contained in seas and oceans, a distinction is made between two large families, taking into account the different origins of energy. Tidal energy, which is produced by the tides, can be easily harnessed by channeling water through turbines, either by taking advantage of the water entrance when the tide is at its highest level and dropping it, or by taking advantage of the flows or currents which are produced by interaction of gravitational attractions and coastal profiles.

The second type refers to the use of wave energy, which is what the waves accumulate and through them is transported by the oceans to the coasts, where their dissipation occurs. Although there are hundreds of inventions concerning this second type of device, although very few have become the object of commercial exploitation, practically all of them are likely to be grouped into three categories:

one.

Appliances anchored to the bottom and with a buoy attached to it with a cable. The buoy movement is used to move a generator. Another variant would be to have the machinery on land and the buoys stuck in a well connected to the sea.

2.

Floating apparatus of articulated parts that obtain energy from the relative movement between their parts. They are commonly known as "sea snakes."

3.

Apparatus consisting of a well or container with the hermetic upper part and the lower one connected to the sea. The air, water or hydraulic fluid that is pressed by the waves moves a turbine that generates electricity.

The present invention can be framed in the category of devices that take advantage of wave energy in a broad sense, since it is also able to take advantage of the energy produced by the tides as soon as it causes a movement or sinking of the same that results in some type of variation of its potential energy that manifests as kinetic or pressure energy.

As for the group to which it belongs, this invention cannot be strictly ascribed to any of the three above in particular, by presenting some concordance with the three and discrepancies with all of them. Thanks to its distinctive features it can act on the surface or submerged, and the mobile elements that make it work can remain hidden inside the device. A distinctive feature of this invention is that while other devices use the displacement of some elements or fluids through chambers to transmit thrust forces that can be exploited by means of turbines, rotors or some other type of power take-off, in The apparatus presented in this invention the displacement of actuating elements or fluids is used to encourage or intensify the movement of an element that responds primarily to an inertial impulse of the same sign, and which is affected by a configuration that induces it to oscillate. or move repeatedly in imbalance. Therefore, one could speak of a new group, which could be defined in accordance with the intrinsic characteristics of the present invention, such as that of inertial apparatus sensitive to both variations in kinetic energy and variations in pressure.

The element that deals with the conversion of these energies into electricity, which could be called the generator in the strict sense and which will repeatedly refer to the description of this invention as a generator

linear to dry, it is actually an asynchronous or induction electric generator that produces alternating current and receives the nickname of linear because the reciprocal movement that generates the electric current takes place in a straight or curved line, without any rotation of any of its parts.

The linear alternator, whose discovery refers to the annals of the history of electromagnetism, is specially adapted to the magnitudes of the forces at play in the conversion of the energy contained in seas and oceans. When the magnetic component of the alternator moves relative to the winding component, the magnetic flux that passes through the coils changes inducing electric currents. In essence, these types of generators can also be used as linear motors of high or low acceleration, and vice versa, a great advantage when you definitely want to act on them through some type of control. Thus, models such as those proposed by Faraday (1831), Maxwell (1861) and Lorenz (1892) or others can be chosen for configuration as appropriate, and principles such as Stirling free piston linear motors (1816) can be incorporated into them. , or the opposite piston of Stelzer (1964).

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The generating device of the present invention is characterized by the features indicated in claim 1.

According to this claim, the driving force generating device of the present invention is characterized by the fact that it comprises:

-

a tight body provided with means sensitive to the pressures exerted abroad;

-

a linear generator comprising a displacement element of said mobile element of said linear generator inside said housing, whose movement is driven by alterations in the gravitational attraction of the earth, by pressure differences, and / or by induced kinetic forces.

mobile

that may travel in he inside from a

accommodation;

Y

by

the less a actuator that provokes he

Additional optional features are described in the dependent claims, such as that:

-

said linear generator is located outside the sealed body;

-

said mobile element is a magnet;

-

said housing comprises at least one coil disposed around it; - said housing comprises stop elements that limit the movement of said mobile element;

at least one of said stops is disposed at the end of said at least one actuator;

said pressure sensitive means are at least one elastic membrane; - said pressure sensitive means are linked to said at least one actuator;

said or each actuator is a lever arm, a hydraulic piston, a magnetic actuator or a piezoelectric element;

-

said or each actuator comprises at one of its ends a spherical magnet with diametral magnetization.

It should be noted that the movement of said actuator mechanism and that of the mobile part of the generator can be attenuated by both direct and electro-mechanical physical action, constituting a mass-spring system in which the mass imbalance contributes to the

oscillation of the generator system, and at the same time the whole becomes less vulnerable to sudden movements and unexpected forces.

Additionally, the apparatus can house control elements or conversion of the generated current such as diodes, capacitors or accumulators, as well as

elements

consumers connected to the circuit such how

lights,

resistances, emitters or receivers from radio,

electro-magnets

or servomotors.

The device of the present invention has several advantages over existing devices:

-

it balances the kinetic, gravitational and electromagnetic forces, minimizing resistance, and admits various orientations and extremely diverse operating scenarios;

it allows various positions, on the surface, at indicated working depths, or under these, being able to avoid the effects of extreme adverse conditions;

it allows the storage of energy in the device itself or the evacuation of it from the device in the best way indicated.

In addition, the present invention does not present some of the drawbacks of existing designs: - avoids the need for sophisticated seabed or foundation on the seabed. avoids the presence of trajectories or mobile joints sensitive or exposed to the outside; -presence of baffles and other accessories to direct or concentrate the flow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For better understanding of how much has been exposed, some drawings are attached in which, schematically and

Only by way of non-limiting example, several practical cases of realization are represented.

The

figure one is a view in section of the

device

from the Present invention, according a first

realization;

The

figure 2 is a view in section of the

device

from the Present invention, according a second

realization;

The

figure 3 is a view in section of the

device

from the Present invention, according a third

realization;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the device of the present invention, according to a fourth embodiment; Y

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the lower part of the device of the present invention, according to an alternative in said fourth embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The device of the present invention, according to the first embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, comprises a spherical shaped body 1, whose upper volume is occupied by low density inorganic foam in order to ensure a positive buoyancy, effectively neutralizing its weight whether it floats in the sea or if it is submerged.

Said watertight body 1 contains an electric generator of linear type 2 arranged in a horizontal position, comprising a mobile element or piston 2a that moves inside a housing 2b. This mobile element, according to this first embodiment, is formed by one or more permanent magnets. The fixed part, or stator, of the generator contains one or more coils (not shown) wrapped around said housing 2b through which the movable element 2a slides. It should be noted that said coil (s) has not been represented for reasons of simplicity.

At both ends of this housing 2b there are stops or seals 3 that delimit the movement of the piston 2a. These stops 3 are preferably directly subjected to the effect of one or more actuators 4, which are each constituted, in the case of this first embodiment, by an arm coupled to an elastic membrane 5 subjected by its external face to the external pressure. and by its internal face to that of the pressurized chamber of the sealed body 1.

The passage of the wave through the device produces several effects. An effect is a change of seat that directly alters the gravitational attraction on the mobile element 2a of the piston and causes its movement. This effect is also accompanied by a compression / depression of the membranes 5 of the pressurized chamber, produced both by the direct incidence of the mass of moving water and by the changes in the height of the water column that periodically covers the device The present invention.

By means of the lever mechanism of the actuator arm 4, the pulsating effects are transmitted to the stops 3 delimiters of the movement of the piston 2a, which in this way is compelled again and again to modify its position with respect to the housing, a movement that generates electricity.

In the second preferred embodiment of Figure 2 a variation is presented that allows a different use of the inertial impulses that is of particular interest in high power configurations.

It should be noted that in this second embodiment the same numerical references are used as in the first embodiment to designate equivalent elements, adding a number 1 in front. Thus, the sealed body defined in the first embodiment with the numerical reference 1, is indicated in the second embodiment with the numerical reference 11.

In this second embodiment, the sealed body 11 is designed primarily as a buoyancy reserve that will be subjected to structural requirements. The incorporation of a joint or lever mechanism 16 allows the location of the linear generator 12 outside the sealed body 11. In this way, a response is achieved in direct relation to inertial impulses in which the pressure variations are also used, since they can be redirected to seat changes by means of the mentioned joint. In this case, the stops 13 can be driven by the pressure that originates in the displacement of one or more actuators 14, which in the embodiment shown in Figure 2 are hydraulic pistons.

Similar to the previous case, an elastic membrane 15 is also used to seal the floating body, although here its usefulness is to a greater extent to provide a seal, rather than to react to variations in external pressure.

The mobile element 12a of this embodiment is also a magnet that travels inside a housing 12b, which may be filled with coolant. The movement of the mobile element 12a is limited by a pair of stops 13, placed at the two ends of said housing 12b.

Also in this case, one or more coils are arranged around the movable element 12a, which are not represented for simplicity.

In the third preferred embodiment of Figure 3, the basic approach is the autonomous power of a low power equipment, illustrated here as a

waterproof body 21 in the form of a castor or buoy with light.

Also in this case, it should be noted that in this third embodiment the same numerical references are used as in the first embodiment to designate

5 equivalent elements, adding a number 2 in front. Thus, the sealed body defined in the first embodiment with the numerical reference 1, is indicated in the second embodiment with the numerical reference 21.

Being relatively low energy the

10 which is to be obtained, a simpler form of a linearly arranged linear generator 22 is used, which is sufficient to be driven from one of the ends, while at the opposite end a rubber stop 23 is provided which dampens and contributes to the change of travel.

15 The utility has been proven that the driven end has a magnetic actuator 24 of the same sign as that of the magnet that forms the mobile element 22a of the linear generator 22 that travels inside the housing 22b. Elastic membrane 25 takes the form

2 O of dome or bell and its sealing is done by means of an adjustable closure 26. The adjustment contributes to the fact that the mobile element 22a of the generator 22 is by default in the central area of the coil. The inertial and pressure impulses affect the masses separately causing

25 imbalance Also in this case, one or more coils are arranged around the mobile element 22a, which are not represented for simplicity. It should be noted that, in any case, the

The orientation of the device is not relevant, as long as the mobility of the linear generator is arranged so that it is affected by the passage of the wave.

If the third embodiment of Figure 3 explains how to drive the effects of pressure and gravity to the same drive, in the fourth embodiment

Figure 4 is intended to show how it is also possible to use them separately.

Also in this case, it should be noted that in this fourth embodiment the same numerical references are used as in the first embodiment to designate equivalent elements, adding a number 3 in front. Thus, the sealed body defined in the first embodiment with the numerical reference 1, is indicated in the fourth embodiment with the numerical reference 31.

In this fourth embodiment, the sealed body 31 comprises a linear generating element 32 disposed in the actuation plane of the membranes 35, having stops 33 that are each moved by an actuator 34, which is a mechanical or piezoelectric element .

In figure 5 a

alternative

to the quarter realization, in the which, by

reasons

from simpli city, be sample only entity its part

lower.

In this figure 5, a tilting root 36 is shown, which can interact with the elastic membranes 35 without physical contact and even at a distance, if electromagnetic actuators 37 are used.

Due to their special characteristics, such as their self-alignment capacity, the actuators 34 comprise spherical magnets with diametral magnetization at their ends 38. The utility of having a combined effect from differentiated sensors is the possibility of obtaining greater control. of the induction of the current, reason why this configuration is preferred in those cases where the starting budget is the one of precision of operation, as in the cases for example in which the generation, conversion and recovery of the energy is required. This fourth embodiment can also use

the electromagnetism to promote the movement of the piston 32a of the generator, depending on its orientation. Figure 4 shows how to take advantage of the effects separately even if they act in orientation planes

5, on the one hand, moving the mobile element 32a, which is a magnet, inside the housing 32b by reaction to pressure impulses, while on the other it acts in response to inertial impulses.

Also in this case, around the mobile element 10a one or more coils are arranged, which are not represented for reasons of simplicity.

Although reference has been made to a number of specific embodiments of the invention, it is apparent to one skilled in the art that the device

The described one is susceptible of numerous variations and modifications, and that all the mentioned details can be replaced by other technically equivalent ones, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.

Claims (13)

1. Driving force generating device, characterized by the fact that it comprises:

-

a tight body (1; 11; 21; 31) provided with means (5; 15; 25; 35) sensitive to the pressures exerted abroad;

a linear generator (2; 12; 22; 32) comprising a mobile element (2a; 12a; 22a; 32a) that can be moved inside a housing (2b; 12b; 22b; 32b); Y

-

at least one actuator (4; 14; 24; 34) causing the movement of said mobile element (2a; 12a; 22a; 32a) of said linear generator (2; 12; 22; 32) inside said housing (2b; 12b; 22b; 32b), whose movement is triggered by alterations in the gravitational attraction of the earth, by differences in pressure, and / or by induced kinetic forces.

2.

Device according to claim 1, wherein said linear generator (2; 12; 22; 32) is located outside the sealed body.

3.

Device according to claim 1, wherein said movable element (2a; 12a; 22a; 32a) is a magnet.

Four.

Device according to claim 1, wherein said housing (2b; 12b; 22b; 32b) comprises at least one coil disposed around it.

5.

Device according to claim 1, wherein said housing (2b; 12b; 22b; 32b) comprises stop elements (3; 13; 23; 33) that limit the movement of said mobile element (2a; 12a; 22a; 32a ).

6.

Device according to claim 5, wherein at least one of said stops (3; 13; 23; 33) is disposed at the end of said at least one actuator

(4; 14; 24; 34). 7. Device according to claim 1, wherein said pressure sensitive means (5; 15; 25; 35) are at least one elastic membrane. Device according to claim 1 or 7, wherein said means (5; 15; 25; 35) sensitive to the 5 pressures are linked with said at least one actuator (4; 14; 24; 34). 9. Device according to claim 1, wherein said or each actuator is a lever arm (4). 10. Device according to claim 1, wherein said or each actuator is a hydraulic piston (14). 11. Device according to claim 1, wherein said or each actuator is a magnetic actuator (24). 12. Device according to claim 1, wherein said or each actuator is a piezoelectric element (3. 4) . 13. Device according to claim 9, wherein said or each actuator (34) comprises at one of its ends at least one spherical magnet with magnetization 20 diametral (38).