WO1996036811A1

WO1996036811A1 - A submersible device

Info

Publication number: WO1996036811A1
Application number: PCT/FI1996/000275
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jaakko Juhani Korhonen
Original assignee: Jaakko Juhani Korhonen
Priority date: 1995-05-19
Filing date: 1996-05-17
Publication date: 1996-11-21
Also published as: AU5765596A; EP0828939A1; FI952437A0

Abstract

The invention concerns a submersible apparatus, in which a horizontal axle (1) is fitted with radially arranged arms (2) the ends of which are fitted with air containers (3, 4) with variable volume.

Description

A submersible device

This invention concerns a submersible apparatus and in particular an apparatus capable of producing energy as it revolves.

According to the state of the art, many attempts to apply the invention's basic principle are known, but all of them have, for one reason or another, proven impracticable.

The intention of this invention is to produce an apparatus that works and meets the demand, which has long existed in the field, for an apparatus of this type.

The above mentioned and other advantages of the invention have been achieved in the manner characterized in the accompanying Claims.

The invention is described in greater detail in what follows, with reference to the accompanying schematic diagram, which shows the basic principle of the invention. A simplified form of an apparatus according to the invention is shown in the diagram, from which all confusing details have been removed.

The apparatus is meant to operate in water and is based on the fact that parts subject to greater buoyancy than their own mass rise in water. Therefore, in its operating mode the apparatus is in water and operates fully submerged, except for its link to the atmosphere, as will be explained later.

According to the basic principle of the invention, all parts of the apparatus are articulated to rotate around the horizontal axle 1. The axle is, naturally, attached to suitable frame structures, which, for greater clarity, are not shown in detail here. A large number of arms 2 are attached to horizontal axle 1 in an essentially radial fashion. The arms 2 are attached essentially symmetrically, their exact number being irrelevant from the invention's viewpoint, provided there are many of them. The length of the arms is also, as such, irrelevant. It is, however, obvious that the longer the arms, the larger the circumference they describe, and due to this the number of arms and chambers, to be described later, can be increased. Two cup-like parts 3 and 4 are attached to the ends of the arms 2 and are mobile in relation to each other so that they can move (relatively) away from one another, the void between them increasing as parts 3 and 4 move away from each other and decreasing as they move towards each other. Parts 3 and 4 are sealed so that water cannot penetrate them.

The basic principle of the invention is that a large volume of air creates a large buoyancy and a smaller volume a smaller buoyancy, for which reason the volumes are adjusted according to the invention so that an apparatus according to the invention develops a rotational motion, which can be exploited in any conventional way whatever.

From the point of view of the operation of an apparatus according to the invention, it is essential to be able to make the volumes increase or decrease in a suitable manner. According to the invention, this is done with a device that guides the relative movement between parts 3 and 4. One example of a solution to this is as follows. As the apparatus begins to rotate towards the right of the group of cylinders at the top, cylinders 3 and 4, shown in the figure to the right of the axle, are in a state of a small volume, in other words cylinders 3 and 4 are inside each other. They remain in this state, until wheel 5, which is fixed in relation to part 4, hits opposing surface 6, which forces the unit formed by parts 3 and 4 towards the axle 1 , when, in the figure, inner cylinder 3 locks onto the arm and remains fixed in the position it has reached as near to the axle as possible.

However, as wheel 5 follows the form of the opposing surface 6, the other cylinder 4 slides downward due to its mass. The mass of part 4 is obviously greater than the buoyancy acting on it. Air flows to the increasing volume of parts 3 and 4 through air channel 7, which has been arranged in arm 2 and axle 1 , until the volume of air is at its greatest. Outside air is drawn in through a duct running to the outside air through axle 1. This ducting is not shown in the diagram. The air flow is advanta¬ geously free and is not driven by a blower or similar auxiliary device.

In the position of maximum volume, cylinder 4 also locks into a fixed position, the maximum volume and maximum buoyancy affecting the parts of the apparatus shown in the diagram to the left of the axle. Rotation, of course, is helped if parts 3 and 4, shown in the diagram to the right of the axle, are as far from the axle as possible. As cylinder 3 moves upwards, its locking to the arm is released and buoyancy pushes part 3 back to its minimum volume position, where it remains due to the buoyancy. Suitable guides can also be used at this stage to force part 3 to the minimum volume position. Part 4 remains locked in its position until arm 2 has again rotated to opposing surface 6. As cylinder 3 moves into cylinder 4, the volume is reduced and excess air is vented to the atmosphere through the ducting.

The apparatus can obviously be modified in many ways. Thus, the essential element is to create relative movement between parts 3 and 4, not how this movement is achieved. The apparatus can be modified, so that opposing surface 6 is in another position from that described above.

According to the invention, it is also possible to have an arrangement by which part 4 is fixed and part 3 moves. Here, an "inner" opposing element would be provided. In other words the opposing element, or other suitable guide, would influence the section of part 3 facing the axle, rather than its outward facing section, as in the diagram. On the other hand, it is, of course, also easy to generate movement using elements travelling along the sides of part 4 and fixed to part 3. In that case, opposition would be provided as shown in the diagram.

In such cases resistance would pull part 3 into the position with the maximum volume. Part 3 would lock into this position and would be freed again, in the manner described above, at about the 11 o'clock position, so that the buoyancy has time to push part 3 into the position with the minimum volume by the time it reaches the 12 o'clock position.

It is obvious that the relative positions of the parts can vary, so that part 3 is either internal or external in relation to part 4.

One example of providing support between parts 3 and 4 is a solution in which part 4 is fitted with a central axle, which is supported within arm 2, and in which the inner part 3 can correspondingly be supported by the same axle. The paths of parts three and four are restricted as wanted by suitable stops and the air space between them is suitably connected to the duct running inside arm two and continuing to the surface of the water.

An apparatus according to the invention can be constructed with very simple technical solutions to the desired size by using the right materials of the correct thicknesses to meet the proposed purpose.

In respect of the locking, insulation and ducting, an apparatus according to the invention would be built from components recognized by one versed in the art. Thus, locking, for example, is easily arranged with devices in which the operating part opens and closes depending on its position. Obviously, solutions that have already been tried and tested in corresponding situations will be sought for details of this nature.

From the point of view of the invention, the shape of parts 3 and 4 of the air container is immaterial. Regarding their sealing, however, a cylindrical shape would be recommended.

The invention is not in any way limited to the aforementioned embodiments, but can be easily adapted within the scope of protection of the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A submersible apparatus, intended to revolve on a horizontal axle (1) and consisting of arms (2) and air containers of variable capacity, characterized in that the air containers (3,4) are positioned at the ends of the arms (2) attached radially to the axle (1 ) and that the air containers consist of two elements (3,4) which are positioned within each other, are movable in relation to each other and, due to the movement, vary their volume.

2. An apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the elements (3,4) are two containers, such as cylinders, one inside the other, open at the ends facing each other.

3. An apparatus according to Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the arms (2) contain air ducts (7) which are connected to the air containers and the outside air.

4. An apparatus according to Claim 1 , characterized in that it contains an element (6) to move one or both of the parts (3, 4) in relation to each other to alter the volume of air.

5. An apparatus according to Claim 4, characterized in that element (6) is an opposing surface, intended to provide the support required to alter the volume of air.

6. An apparatus according to Claim 5, characterized in that it includes a post and wheel assembly (5) for creating support against the opposing surface (6).