US3194008A

US3194008A - Positive buoyancy prime mover

Info

Publication number: US3194008A
Application number: US271345A
Authority: US
Inventors: Baumgartner Emil
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-04-08
Filing date: 1963-04-08
Publication date: 1965-07-13
Anticipated expiration: 1982-07-13

Description

July 13, 1965 E. BAUMGARTNER POSITIVE BUOYANCY PRIME MOVER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 8, 1965 A in FIG. 3

u R Y mm NA R G O ww T mA n w. om

July 13, 1965 E. BAUMGARTNER POSITIVE BUOYANCY PRIME MOVER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 8, 1963 FIG. 4

INVENTOR.

EMIL BAUMGARTNER ATTORNEY July 13 1955 E. BAUMGARTNER 3,194,008

POSITIVE BUOYANCY PRIME MOVER Filed April 8, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 7 jj@ 14a a y I im. I l Jg mun@ I Igi- 144 M l A j# I|l f- INVENTOR.

EMIL BAUMGARTNER ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,194,008 PQSITIVE BUOYANCY PRIME MOVER Emil Baumgartner, 125 Woodfieid Road, West Hempstead, NY. Filed Apr. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 271,345 3 Ciaims. (Cl. 6ft-ZZ) This invention relates to prime movers and particularly to such devices deriving their motive power from the positive buoyancy of a body immersed in a fluid medium.

The need has long existed for eiiicient prime movers which are not dependent upon combustible fuels for their operation. Such devices would have wide application in a variety of uses. One well known form of prime mover is the water wheel. For eiicient operation, the water wheel requires a large head of water, and this frequently presents a serious problem. Preferably, the water Wheel should be in close proximity to the water source and, in addition, a constant ow of water must be maintained.

The present invention derives its power from that inherent property in a body, buoyancy, that permits it to float to the surface of a liquid medium. Therefore, it may be said that the present invention utilizes the upward force exerted on an immersed body by the supporting fluid medium. This upward force, independent of the weight of the immersed body and dependent upon the volume of fluid displaced by the body, is converted to a rotary motion by the structure of the present invention whereby it may be utilized by a variety of devices coupled thereto.

A feature of this invention is that -it converts the buoyant property of a body submerged in fluid to usable power.

Another feature is that the fluid may be an inexpensive one such as water.

An additional feature is that the present invention merely requires an initial input of compressed gas, such as air, and conventional means to seal the container to prevent fluid and gas leaks.

Still another feature of the invention is that it is basically rugged `and capable of operation with a minimum of maintenance.

A further feature of the present invention is the provision of a positive buoyancy prime mover whose rotational speed is self-regulating.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of speed regulating means.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will, in part, be pointed out with particularity and will, in part, become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the drawing appended hereto.

In the various figures of the drawing like reference characters designate like parts.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1A schematically illustrates the operating principles of the present invention.

FIG. 1B schematically illustrates the self-regulating principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational side view in sect-ion of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates an arrangement of a plurality of devices constructed in accordance with the features of FIG. 2. i

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 and illustrates an alternative arrangement.

FIG. 6 is another view similar to FIG. 4 and illustrates still another alternative arrangement.

ICC

FIG. 7 is a side elevational View of the embodiment of FIG. 6.

Referring now to FIGS. 1A and 1B, there is shown the present invention in schematic form. As is well known, positive buoyancy exists when the weight of a body submerged in a uid is less than the weight of the volume of fluid displaced by the body. For purposes of illustration, a series of hollow float members 12a-12L are linked to a common axle 14 by means of rigid spokes 16. submerged in a fluid 18, such as water. Since buoyancy is a function of the weight of the uid displaced, it is envisioned within the scope of the present invention to use fluids other than water. The greater the fluid density, Y

the greater will be the power output. It will be seen then that mercury with a density of 13.60 gm./cm.3

(848.64 lbs./ft.3), as opposed to water having a density of 1.00 gm./cm.3 (62.4 lbs./ft.3), will -be even more effective. Oother iluids, such as chloroform (density 1.53), glycerine (density 1.26), with densities in between the two extremes of water and mercury, mayk satisfactorily be used. It is presently contemplated to use chloroform, because of its volatility, in only small sealed instruments.

Floats 12a-12e in quadrants III and IV will, because of their buoyant property, tend to float upwardly to the top -of the fluid medium. Since the floats are rigidly secured to axle 14 by means of radial spokes 16, t-he axle Vwill be rotated clockwise, as shown by the -arrow in FIG. 1A. Rotation of the axle will cause rigidly secured iioats 12g-12k in quadrants I and II to move clockwise. Floats 12g-12k pass through a plenum formed by shroud 20 which,` for purposes of explanation, is to be accepted as being maintained uid-free by having compressed air pumped into it through conduit 22. An externally located compressor supplies conduit 22 through a constant pressure control valve. -From the foregoing'description, it is seen that successive oats are passed from the fluid-free air lock, wherein there are no upward buoyant forces exerted, into the fluid medium wherein the buoyant forces set up clockwise moments about a central axis.

A practical embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.` The apparatus is contained within housing 30 having -a removable cover 32 aixed thereto by means of fasteners 34. The housing and cover are provided with

flanges

30a and 32a, respectively, between which is positioned a gasket 36 for the purpose of sealing the interior of the housing which is partially filled with liquid 38. Transverse shaft 40 is rotatably journaled in bearings 42 `affixed to the side walls of housing 30 and has rigidly secured thereto a pair of spaced support members 44. Equally spaced support rollers 46a, 46h and 46c are rotatably journaled at their end portions in support members d4 and frictionally engage the inner diameter of a hollow buoyancy ring 50.

Ring 50 is circular in shape and hollow in cross section. As will be explained hereinafter, the side walls and inner and vouter diameter faces may be relatively thin. Compartments 52 are formed inside and are interconnected by means of small apertures 54 in radial walls 56. As previously stated, buoyancy is independent of the weight of the immersed body but dependent upon the volume of displaced uid. Therefore, ring 50 could conceivably be made of almost any formable material, the prime limitations being the environment in which it is disposed. However, in order to minimize the inertial properties the buoyancy would have to overcome, the embodiments herein illustrated show a relatively thin walled hollow wheel. Valve means 58 is provided flush with the side wall so that the compartments may be filled with a gals. This will prevent the walls from collapsing and permit the Approximately three-quarters of the apparatus is ring to withstand the pressures external thereto attendant.

with submersion inthe liquid medium.

As ring S rotates about support rollers 46a, 46b vand Y' 46c, Ait will frictionallyvdrive Vthe'rollers.l To-facilitate this action and also to guide the ringV in a true path, the rollers are providedwith flanges 60 which straddlek the inner and outer ring Walls. It should befunderstood that separate rollers having integral ypulleys free to-rotate oni Y transverse shaft 4tlintermediate members 44, transfer the rotation ofthe ring to the shaft by means of an endless belt dptrainediabout all three pulleys. -V Y Y l Closely spaced about ring Si? is a plenum in the form of shroud 70 which is substantially semicircular in .shape Vand conforms closely incross section to the cross sectionalconguration of ring 50 (FIG. 3). YThe shroud isrsecured'to stepped down portions 44a of support members 44 as yby welding. Conduit '72, communicating with the interior portion ,of shroud 79, maintains a supply of air in theshroud from an externally located compressorr l 3,194,0oe

` Referring now to FIG. 1B wherein schematically Vshown shroud Ztl (comparable to'shroud70 ofY FIG. 2 and FIG. 3) is angularly displaced` corresponding to the action occurring Whenfloat members 12 (comparable to ring r50 of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3)V are rotated at greater than the desired speed, it willfbe noted that a float in quadrant II will exhibit positive buoyancy in a counterclockwise direction. This will, in effect,V work oppositely to the buoyant force of the remainder' of the immersed floats and therefore cause the ring and .hence the output shaft and governorV4 to slow down to the desired speed. YThe desired 74 the output of which isregulated by a constant pressure valve '76. As a further 'safeguard against admission of fluid into, theplenum,V sealing member 7'7 yis provided Y about the immersed, open end of shroud 70. This does not impede the rotation of ring Sil. It may be seen thenV that the air pressure Within the shroud may readilybe maintained at a substantially higher level thanthe uid pressurerwithin the housing. Thusthe portion of the ring within the air lock is noty subject to a buoyant motion. The portion of the ring'outside the air lock is submerged in the fluid medium andV exhibits buoyant characteristics causing each point on the ring to float upwardlyV thus turning the ring clockwise (FIG. 2.) Within the plenum and also about frictionally `engaged rollers '46a and 46b. By varying the air pressure, fluid mayV be. introducedY into or displaced from the shroud and the-speed of the rotation may be varied. Y

Ring 50 is Well supported and` runs concentrically with and in the same plane as shroud 70 by virture of the three-point suspension provided bypequally spacedrollens 46a, 46b, which were previously described, inV combination with Vroller 46c rotatably journaled in'an` enlarged localized portion 7 8 of shroud 7 0; i

The transverse shaft which is rotated by the drive sys; l tem comprised of ring 50, rollers46a and 46h together'4 with belt 66, is provided with a gear 'train 850 comprising gearZ pinned to shaft fill-to rotate therewith and mating gearV 34 fixed to output shaft'86. VThus the buoyancyV motion of ring 5d `may be converted into aimechanical output. While theoutput motion is shown ,to be rotary, Y it is possible by the inclusion of suitable gearing, such as a rack and pinion arrangement, to produce a reciprocal linear motion, intermittent linear motion as well as oscillatory motion both' linear and angular.

To control the rate of output, a conventionalifly wheel governor 9i) is secured to output shaft 86. Upon an in. crea-se in output Shaft speed, fly wheelballs 92 adjustably secured to pivoted arms 94 are thrown outwardly bycentrifugal force. This Vaction causes hinged arms 96 to slide upwardly on -shaft 86and carry with it yoke member 98.

The opposite endof yoke 98 is secured to aV rack V100V which is guided ina vertical path byguide lmembers 102, slidably positioned in ways 104 of rack 100. Guide niembers Vltlzare part ofl bracket 106 which is fixed to housing 30, asshown in FIG. 2. Rackltlt) meshes .with gear segment .10,8n which is secured to the peripheral, outside: face of shroud '70.. Any movement of the rack as caused by either anY increase ,or decrease in the speed of output shaft 86 will lcause an angular displacement of Yshroud 70. Since support'members 44 are secured to shroud 70 at stepped down portions 44a, a displacement of .the'shroud will cause acomparable displacement of supportrrollers 46514i6b and 46cthus maintaining equally spaced three speed controlr'nay be obtainedfbyproperly -setting the governor inaccordance Withusual practice. A decrease in speed will cause an equal ybut opposite reaction and will be similarly self-regulating. 1 f

Referring once again'toFIGfZQoutput shaft 86 is journaled in coupling member 110 fixed in cover member 32. Coaxial drive shaft 86a isalso journaled in member 110 which is preferably-a fluid couplingcapable of sealing and preserving theV internal pressure of the apparatus. .Thus shaft 8de, directly coupled to and governedby the rotational speed of ring.5,.may be employed to drive a utilization device. Alternatively,'a utilization device such as Vva generator 112 may be positioned inside the housing and Y either Athe housing or cover walls, suitable sealing means areV provided so thatinternal pressures, particularly'in the air lock, arefrnaint'ained. Conventional reversing mechanisms, illustrated schematically at1122, may be employed in conjunction with drive shaft 86a so that the output may be either elockwisefor counterclockwise Y.and maybe changed from oneto the other according to speciiic applications. Y Y

. FIG.Y4,Y5,' 6 and7 disclose further applications of the vpresent invention. It should be understood that the operating principles are 4the' same asy described heretofore and for simplicity, certain elements have beenromitted and theV remainder shown in outline form. ,Like Vreference charactersiare utilizedjto denote similarly functioning par-ts. f ,y

' In FIG. 4 there is shownaplural-ity of assemblies side by side on common `transverse shaft 40. The assemblies 'are Veach comprised ofV a ring 50 supported on friction rollens 46 and 4an angularly displaceable shroud 70. SupportV members 44 carrythegassemblies Vas well as gear trainSi). ,A rackddil lis provided as meansvfor speed control. Single output shaft, driven by the gear train will consequently be Vdriven with increased power. EndlessV belts 66 Ytransmit power from ring Sii to transverse shaft 4t) as` heretofore described. Y

FFIG. y5 illustrates a tandem arrangement whereby each individual assembly lcompri-sed of a ring 50 and a shroud isV provided with. its own transverse shaftV 40. The several transverse Yshafts are coupled .toeach other by vmeans' lof. a series of pulleys V13) mounted thereon, said pulleys Jbe'ing'interconnected by endless belt 132. 'A sinzgleaoutput shaft (not shown) takes its power from the sum of the rotation forces Aof the individual assemblies.

The embodiment of FIG.: 6 andAF-IG. 7 is in effect a i combination Vof FIG. 4 and FIG. Sfwherein several assemblies` Vare journaled about 1a singletransverse shaft 4l) )and the. housing 30 isfconstructed so as to accommodate several transverse shafts 40, yonefbehind the other, said propulsiongrneans, such as propellers 144, so that this may be a water borne vehicle. In this embodiment then,

bulkhead 146 deiines a substantially iiuid filled chamber 148 which contains the operating mechanism of the present invention. Compressor C having suitable valve con- .trol pressurizes shrouds 70. As in the previous embodiments, a plurality of rings 50 and shrouds 70 are employed to drive transverse shafts 40. Similarly, speed control means, comprised of racks 100 and gear segments 108, `are aiixed to shrouds 70. The speed control means are suitably linked to each -other and have a single control such as wheel `150 which moves the racks up and down through lead screw `152. With this arrangement, even if body 30' is a-t Ian angle with respect to the horizon, the shroud-s may be adjusted for 4optimum performance.

The description lset forth hereinabove illustrates the basic operating principles as well as several practical embodiments of the present invention. It will be seen that the :appara-tus lis relatively simple to construct, operate and maintain. Means have been provided for easy adjustment which assures a `steady predictable output. A range of power output -may be obtained by a suitable choice of iiuid medium-s, as well as determination of the most Iadvantageous size of components, the selection of which is dependent on the application.

There has been disclosed heretofore the best embodiment of the invention presently contemplated and it 'is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l1. A prime mover comprising:

(A) a body of liquid;

(B) la buoyant ring member comprising :a plurality of individual compartments sealed from the surrounding environment and having a density less than said liquid whereby the upward dot-ation of said chambers will cause said ring member to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis;

(la) said ring member being at least partially submerged in said liquid;

(C) speed control means comprising an angularly adjustable plenum chamber containing a gas, said chamber enveloping a portion of said ring extending -from the surface of said liquid to the lowermost portion thereof and maintained iixed relative -to said ring during constant speed rotation of said ring,

(a) said ych-amber being at least partially submerged in said liquid; and

`(D) output means coupled Ito said ring member whereby, upon rota-tion of said ring member, a power output is obtained.

2. The apparatus of claim -1 including speed governing means coupled to said output means, said speed igoverning means being adapted to angularly adjust said plenum chamber with respect to said ring.

v3. The apparatus of claim 1 including means to maintain the -gas pressure within said plenum chamber at a constant level.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,996,886 4/ 35 Schwarzmayr 253-20 2,03 7,973 4/ 3 6 Gronda'hl 60-22 FOREIGN PATENTS 562,83 3 1'2/57 Belgium. 739,663 11/ 32 France.

JULIUS E. WEST, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A PRIME MOVER COMPRISING: (A) A BODY OF LIQUID; (B) A BUOYANT RING MEMBER COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL COMPARTMENTS SEALED FROM THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT AND HAVING A DENSITY LESS THAN SAID LIQUID WHEREBY THE UPWARD FLOTATION OF SAID CHAMBERS WILL CAUSE SAID RING MEMBER TO ROTATE ABOUT A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL AXIS; (A) SAID RING MEMBER BEING AT LEAST PARTIALLY SUBMERGED IN SAID LIQUID; (C) SPEED CONTROL MEANS COMPRISING AN ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLE PLENUM CHAMBER CONTAINING A GAS, SAID CHAMBER ENVELOPING A PORTION OF SAID RING EXTENDING FROM THE SURFACE OF SAID LIQUID TO THE LOWERMOST PORTION THEREOF AND MAINTAINED FIXED RELATIVE TO SAID RING DURING CONSTANT SPEED ROTATION OF SAID RING, (A) SAID CHAMBER BEING AT LEAST PARTIALLY SUBMERGED IN SAID LIQUID; AND (D) OUTPUT MEANS COUPLED TO SAID RING MEMBER WHEREBY, UPON ROTATION OF SAID RING MEMBER, A POWER OUTPUT IS OBTAINED.