US3860355A

US3860355A - Force converting device

Info

Publication number: US3860355A
Application number: US352727A
Authority: US
Inventors: Billy Clyde Dell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-04-19
Filing date: 1973-04-19
Publication date: 1975-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 1992-01-14

Abstract

A device for converting force includes an air pump which pumps air of a wheel separated into chambers by radial vanes and mounted in a body of water. Air is pumped successively into the spaces in a lower quadrant of the wheel to render the same bouyant, and the water and then the air escape therefrom as this quadrant turns upwardly, at the same time exerting a thrust in the direction of rotation. Flaps are provided to permit the rapid inflow of water when the chambers are in the upper quadrants.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Dell [ FORCE CONVERTING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Billy Clyde Dell, 1411 Azalea St.,

Waycross, Ga. 31501 [22] Filed: Apr. 19, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 352,727

[52] US. Cl 415/7, 60/496 [51] Int. Cl F03b 17/02 [58] Field of Search 415/7; 417/61, 337, 331; 60/496 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 211,143 1/1879 Fogarty 415/7 3,360,926 I/1968 Parr 415/7 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 9,802 5/1899 Great Britain 60/496 Jan. 14, 1975 Primary Examiner-C. J. Husar Assistant Examiner-L. J. Casaregola [57] ABSTRACT A device for converting force includes an air pump which pumps air of a wheel separated into chambers by radial vanes and mounted in a body of water. Air is pumped successively into the spaces in a lower quadrant of the wheel to render the same bouyant, and the water and then the air escape therefrom as this quadrant turns upwardly, at the same time exerting a thrust in the direction of rotation. Flaps are provided to permit the rapid inflow of water when the chambers are in the upper quadrants.

1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN 1 43975 SHEET 1 OF 2 HGURE 3 'FI6URE 2 FIGURE 4 FIGURE 1 FORCE CONVERTING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a device having a mechanical advantage, that is a device for converting rapid movement with low power to slower movement with higher power.

2. The Prior Art Many devices have been suggested for getting power from a rapidly running motor to slower rotation with substantially greater power. However, none of these is really efficient where the mechanical advantage sought is quite large.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a wheel formed of two spaced discs is divided into compartments or chambers by radial vanes. A pump is arranged to supply air through a control system to chambers located in one of the lower quadrants of the wheel. The buoyancy in this compartment then produces turning of the wheel. The water and then the air are permitted to escape from the compartment under pressure as the compartment approaches the upper quadrant of the wheel, and finally flaps are provided which in the uppermost position of the wheel allow the water to enter the compartment quickly so that there is no buoyancy on the downgoing side of the wheel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows in side elevation a wheel used in the device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is atop plan view of a part of the wheel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section on an enlarged scale of the central portion of FIG. 2 on the line 5-5 thereof;

FIG. 6 is a view on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, there is shown a container 2 for water, although the invention is applicable in any standing body of water. A shaft 4 mounted in bearing 6 supports spaced end discs 8 which are keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft. Between the end discs 8 extend radial vanes 10 running from the shaft to the periphery of the discs, forming segmental chambers 12. Adjacent the outer ends of the vanes 10 are openings 14.

Beginning at the periphery of each of the vanes 10 and extending in a curve are U-shaped plates having portions 16 extending completely across the space between the end discs and extensions 18 which have between them a gap 20. Hinged at 22 on the opposite wall of the chamber from the portions 16 are curved flaps 24 whose width is at least wider than the width of the gaps 20 and whose length is such that the free ends overlap under the parts 16. These are movable then from the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2 to that shown in broken lines, the latter position being adjustable by set screw 26.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 to 7, a pump 28 (FIG. 1) pumps air into a pipe 30 which enters a passage in a block 32 mounted on the machine frame 34. This passage includes an inlet section 36 and an outwardly radially extending portion 38 opening into a peripherally arranged groove 42 in the inner face of the block 32. The end of the shaft 4 adjacent the block 32 has a plurality of inwardly extending passages 44 extending parallel to the shaft axis and ending in the outwardly turned sections 46 opening in the periphery of the shaft. The openings 44 are at the same distance from the shaft axis as the groove 42. Openings 46 lead to outwardly opening check valves 48 opening into each of the chambers 12.

In operation, the pump is started and pumps air through

passages

30, 36, 38, 42, 44 and 46 and check valves 48 into the chamber in the lower right quadrant of FIG. 2. This produces a buoyancy in this compartment which causes it to rise and thus produce rotation of the shaft 4. At the same time, the water driven from the compartments escapes through holes 14 and exerts a thrust in the direction of rotation. As the compartment rises further, air begins to escape through the openings 14, but is for the main part trapped by the position of flap 24 against the

parts

16, 18. As the compartment approaches its uppermost position, the flap will drop to the broken line position shown in FIG. 2, and the chamber will fill rapidly with water. Thus there is no buoyancy remaining to interfere with the movement of the downwardly moving side of the wheel.

I claim:

1. A device for converting force comprising a wheel immersed in a liquid mounted to turn about a horizontal axis and having spaced end walls and radially extending partitions between said end walls dividing the same into a plurality of chambers, and means to supply gas under pressure to the chamber in a lower quadrant of the wheel, whereby buoyancy imparts an upward movement to said chamber, causing the wheel to rotate, said partitions having openings therein adjacent the periphery of the wheel to permit water and gas under pressure to escape as the partitions into which the gas has been pumped turn upwardly, flap means hinged in each of said compartments on the partition adjacent the periphery of the wheel part at a point closer to the center than said openings, and stop means for limiting outward swinging of said flap means while substantially preventing the escape of fluid past such flap means.