FR2465900A1 - Electricity generation using animals for motive power - uses highly geared drive for alternators, with horses harnessed to rotating arm - Google Patents

Abstract

Electricity is generated by animals such as horses or cattle harnessed to a rotating arm and walking in a circle to rotate an arm of say ten metres length. Extensive gearing increases the speed of rotation to that suitable to drive alternators to generate electricity which despite frequency fluctuations due to variable speed of the animals may be directly used for heating or lighting. Alternatively the generated electricity can be used to heat a boiler which feeds a turbine driving an alternator at a governed speed in the conventional configuration.

Description

The present invention relates to the production of electrical energy without the use of fuel.

 Currently several systems for producing electrical energy are used: hydroelectric power stations, thermal power stations, solar power stations, wind turbines ... etc ... Such devices entail in some cases expensive installations, the use of fuels, and in other cases of poor and even inconsistent returns; In addition, all of these electrical energy production systems require significant infrastructure.

 The device according to the present invention overcomes certain drawbacks specific to the means currently used to produce electricity. On the one hand it does not involve the use of any fuel, and requires only relatively inexpensive installations. On the other hand, it allows to consider various possibilities of uses either in individual form by production of electricity. in the immediate vicinity of the user agent (immovable, group of dwellings, community, company, etc.), which avoids numerous and expensive installations for transporting electricity (pylons, cables, etc.); or in the form of production receipts.

 This device makes it possible to produce electrical energy by initial use of animal motive force and multiplication of the basic speed produced by the movement of 11 animals, in this case one or more horses using the juxtaposition of wheels notches of different diameters forming gears, and induction of the driving force thus obtained whose power is reduced compared to the initial force produced by the animal but whose speed of rotation is multi folded, to generators (or dynamos) the electricity of which will be used to heat a boiler for the purpose of producing steam, the said vaoror being channeled towards a (steam) turbine which in turn will actuate an alternator.

This device is composed of a main notched wheel (R1) with a diameter fixed here arbitrarily at TWENTY meters, this notched wheel being integral with its axis (A1). This axis Al rests on the ground but retains its mobility, in the direction of rotation, or relative to it by means of the interposition between its lower end and the ground of ball bearings.

Its upper end is also movably connected (this to allow rotation) at the crossing of the two upper metal beams (Pi). Thus the rotation of the axis confirms the rotation of the toothed wheel R1 .

 Also attached to this axis Al an arm with an approximate length of TWENTY meters the end of which are fixed two hooks. At one of these hooks only will be ettlé the horse (or horses), the other having to remain free in order harness the animal which will take over every hour.

Around the main wheel Rl, and diametrically opposite two by two, four secondary axes (A2) (Plate II-5)
Each secondary axis A2 being integral with two superimposed toothed wheels. A large wheel, with a diameter of TWELVE meters (wheel R2) and below, at a distance of about 20 centimeters, a small notched wheel with an aporoximative diameter of ONE meter, (wheel r2)
These two notched wheels are integral with their axis A2, while said axes A2 are movably connected in the direction of rotation to the beams P1 and Pt1 (Plate III-5J in order to allow the wheels R2 and r2 to be joined together and in solidarity with their axis to have a rotary movement.

Also fixed on the beams P1 and P'1 of the supports (B3) (Plate V-5) on which the alternators (or the dynamos) are fixed vertically. These supports 23 intended to receive the alternators are mobile as indicated in the diagrams, in order to separate an alternator from the wheel R2 (In the event of a breakdown, this makes it possible to remove an alternator and install another without stopping the operation of the assembly).

These supports B3 are mandating the operation of the device made fixed by pins (Gp)
The alternators are provided at the end of their axis with a wheel also notched with a diameter of TWENTY centimeters, said wheel being intended to form a gear with the wheel
R2.

Thus the horse while walking induces a rotary movement at the axis Al and therefore at the main wheel R1. The small secondary wheels r2 forming a gear with the wheel RI are therefore induced by this rotary movement and transmit it via the secondary axes A2 to the wheels R2 which in turn transmit it to the alternators.

 The electric current thus produced by the alternators or the dynamos can then enter directly intended for consumption, or else used to heat a boiler in order to produce steam.

 This steam is then used to operate a steam turbine and the motive force produced by this turbine is then applied to an alternator which in turn will produce electric current.

Thus the animal motive force produced by an animal (A horse preferably of Ardennes, Percheronne, or
Boulonnaise, or any other draft horse.) This force can also be brought about by a team of several horses, ox, elephants, summarizes any animal having a certain resistance and sufficient power.

The animal is equipped with a harness (Plate IV-5) comprising a strap (S) fitted at the end with a metal ring.

The ring is fixed to one of the hooks with which the pitch is fitted (ER), thus leaving the second hook free, this in order to allow the replacement of the animal being towed approximately every hour. animal to be towed for example for one hour, a second horse is then harnessed to the hook which remains free, and as soon as the second horse has started its traction, the first horse is uncoupled. This therefore allows permanent operation of the production device for electricity, without interruption for the relay of horses.

Claims (7)

Therefore with a sufficient number of horses (three) and the guarding of a single person the production of electricity can be ensured permanently day and night. CLAIMS  1 / Device making it possible to produce electrical energy from the initial use of animal driving force and multiplication of the initial speed by a gear system composed of hollow wheels of different diameters, and application of the electrical energy produced in a conventional power plant system (Boiler, steam turbine, condenser, alternator) Characterized in that it consists in precisely using the ANIMAL motive force to produce electrical energy. 2 / Device according to claim I characterized in that the number of animals harnessed to the arm responsible for inducing the rotary force to the axis AI can be variable. Furthermore, the very nature of the animal can be variable (horse, Egg, Elephant...) 3 / Device according to claim 1 characterized in that Be diameter of the toothed wheels forming gears fixed in the description which pres'de to purely arbitrary values can be variable and has no limitation.  4 / Device according to one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that any type of gear can be used In the above description, a flat type gear has been taken as a model, but the system is possible with gears by wheel and global screw, hXlicoVdaux, cylindrical, lantern, conical with hypoid teeth, conical, by worm, herringbone, hypocycloidal, pinion, rack ... etc ...) 5 / Device according to one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that this device can be designed from the use of belts. In which case of use of belts, each wheel is replaced by a superposition of grooves (one per belt) whether it acts as a round, trapezoidal, or flat type of belt.  6 / Device according to one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that this device can also be designed from the use of toothed wheels and roller chains. 7 / Device according to one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that this device can be used only incompletely (at the choice of the user) that is to say that the electric current produced by the alternators in direct connection on wheels R2, can be directly intended for the consumption of ticks without continuing the cycle described on plate II (boiler, turbine, condenser, alternator)  B / Device according to one of claims 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, characterized in that the material used for the production of notched rour is indifferent (MXtal, aluminum, wood, synthetic material. O o)  9 / Device according to one of claims 1,3,4,5,6,7,8 characterized in that this device can be used on an individual scale (immediate proximity to the consumer agent) or else in the form of large production plants.