WO2014087384A1 - A machine utilizing the buoyancy of a liquid - Google Patents

A machine utilizing the buoyancy of a liquid Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2014087384A1
WO2014087384A1 PCT/IB2013/060705 IB2013060705W WO2014087384A1 WO 2014087384 A1 WO2014087384 A1 WO 2014087384A1 IB 2013060705 W IB2013060705 W IB 2013060705W WO 2014087384 A1 WO2014087384 A1 WO 2014087384A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
machine
variable volume
buoyancy
main shaft
machine elements
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2013/060705
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Ferenc NYIKOS
Original Assignee
Nyikos Ferenc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Nyikos Ferenc filed Critical Nyikos Ferenc
Publication of WO2014087384A1 publication Critical patent/WO2014087384A1/en

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
    • F03B17/00—Other machines or engines
    • F03B17/02—Other machines or engines using hydrostatic thrust
    • F03B17/04—Alleged perpetua mobilia
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2250/00—Geometry
    • F05B2250/02—Geometry variable
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/20—Hydro energy

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a machine utilizing the buoyancy of a liquid, capable of producing electricity when immersed in a liquid and connected to a generator.
  • the Pelton turbine is a tangential flow impulse turbine, the water flows along the tangent to the path of the runner. Nozzles direct forceful streams of water against a series of spoon-shaped buckets mounted around the edge of a wheel. As water flows into the bucket, the direction of the water velocity changes, the water is decelerated and flows out the other side of the bucket at low velocity. The momentum of the water is transferred to the turbine and this impulse does work on the turbine. Often two buckets are mounted side-by-side, this balances the forces on the wheel by the symmetry, and helps to ensure smooth, efficient momentum transfer between the stream of water and the turbine wheel. The Pelton turbine achieves the best efficiency with large waterfalls.
  • US Patent No. 4,950,130 for example, relates to a further developed version of the Pelton turbine.
  • US Patent No. 4,737,070 relates to a water powered device extracting energy from a moving water stream to generate electricity.
  • the essence of the invention is that a water wheel equipped with blades is positioned afloat in a stream of moving water, and is moored at a fixed point.
  • US Patent No. 3,918,827 relates to a machine for generating electricity that does not use any electricity or oil for running, only the surrounding water pressure.
  • the machine is submerged to the bottom of a sea or ocean, its frame supports cog wheels around which a chain travels, and the chain has collapsible buckets mounted therearound.
  • the aim of the invention is to provide a machine capable of converting the buoyancy of a liquid into kinetic energy, and of producing electricity when connected to a generator.
  • buoyancy in liquids and gases acts on objects of different volumes to different extents.
  • the invention is based on the recognition that when objects having a controllably variable volume are immersed in a liquid, and the objects of variable volume are arranged along the circumference of a circle, connected to a shaft, and the possibility of rotational motion around the shaft is also provided for the objects of variable volume, then the buoyancy acting on the objects sets and keeps the structure in motion.
  • the invention relates to a machine utilizing the buoyancy of a liquid, comprising a main shaft, machine elements of variable volume connected to the main shaft, arranged symmetrically along the circumference of a circle, moving in pairs symmetrically, and a control unit controlling the volume variation of the machine elements of variable volume.
  • the machine elements of variable volume comprise a fixed element portion and a movable element portion, connected to each other.
  • the control unit can be mechanical and electro-hydraulic.
  • control unit In the mechanically controlled solution the control unit consists of a control track and control arms.
  • the fixed element portion of the machine elements of variable volume is connected to a rotating arm, and the movable element portion to a control arm.
  • the rotating arms fix the machine elements of variable volume to the main shaft, the control arms on the one hand connect the machine elements of variable volume to the main shaft, and on the other hand travel along the control track.
  • the volume variation of the machine elements of variable volume is determined by the control track in such a way that the control arms control the volume of the machine elements of variable volume by travelling along the control track, and thereby varying the volume of the machine elements of variable volume by moving the movable element portion.
  • the symmetrically arranged machine elements of variable volume are connected to the main shaft by hollow rotating arms in such a way that the interiors of the rotating arms and the main shaft form a single space.
  • the control unit is directly connected to cylinders in the machine elements of variable volume, controlling the volume of the machine elements of variably volume by means of sensors.
  • Figure 1 a side sectional view of the mechanically controlled machine utilizing the buoyancy of a liquid according to the invention, showing one pair of machine elements of variable volume;
  • Figure 2 a side sectional view of the electro-hydraulically controlled machine utilizing the buoyancy of a liquid according to the invention, showing one pair of machine elements of variable volume.
  • Figure 1 shows the main parts of the mechanical solution according to the invention and their arrangement: the machine elements of variable volume 1 fixed to the main shaft 2, and the control unit 5, as well as the parts of the control unit 5: the control track 6 and the control arms 4.
  • the figure shows one pair of machine elements of variable volume 1, one part of the machine element of variable volume 1 is the fixed element portion 7, and the other is the movable element portion 12.
  • the fixed element portion 7 of the machine element of variable volume 1 is fixed to the main shaft 2 by a rotating arm 3.
  • the movable element portion 12 of the machine element of variable volume 1 is connected to a control arm 4.
  • the control arm 4 is connected to the main shaft 2, the other end travels along the control track 6.
  • the control track 6 is connected to a frame 10 by fixing elements 1 1.
  • the main shaft 2 is fixed by a machine stand 16 formed of a U-shaped profile.
  • the two ends of the main shaft 2 are fixed to the machine stand 16 by bearings 8, at one end of the main shaft 2 the inner ring of the bearing 8 is fixed by means of an eccentric ring 9, at the other end of the main shaft 2 the bearing is not firmly fixed, to allow the axial movement of the main shaft 2 due to possible thermal expansion.
  • a rotating arm fixing element 14 is fixed on the main shaft 2, providing connection between the rotating arms 3 and the main shaft 2.
  • the rotating arms 3 are steel pipes.
  • the machine elements of variable volume 1 are connected to the other end of the rotating arms 3 in an unreleasable manner in such a way that there is a pipe elbow on each rotating arm 3, and an externally threaded pipe end is mounted on this pipe elbow.
  • the interior of the rotating arms 3 is hollow.
  • the rotating arm 3 At the other end of the rotating arm 3, close to the main shaft 2, there is a hose connector through the pipe elbow for a flexible pipe 19.
  • the flexible pipe 19 connects the rotating arms 3 located opposite to each other.
  • the rotating arms 3 are connected to the main shaft 2 by the rotating arm fixing element 14.
  • the rotating arms 3 are in the same plane, this plane is perpendicular to the main shaft 2, and the externally threaded pipe ends are parallel with the main shaft 2.
  • the rotating arms 3 fix firmly the fixed element portions 7 of the machine elements of variable volume 1.
  • the machine elements of variable volume 1 located opposite to each other form a pair, and have a common space provided by the flexible pipe 19. From the machine elements of variable volume 1 forming a pair one is equipped with a valve.
  • the control arm 4 extends beyond the machine element of variable volume 1, and its end is equipped with a plastic roller.
  • the end of the control arm 4 equipped with a plastic roller travels along the control track 6.
  • control arms made of steel pipes with longitudinal weld, are connected to the main shaft 2 by means of hinged supports 13.
  • Each hinged support 13 is in the same plane with the rotating arm 3 belonging to it.
  • the control arm 4 is supported by a support arm 17.
  • the support arm 17 supporting the control arm 4 is connected to the rotating arm 3 in an unreleasable manner.
  • the support arm 17 is supported in two planes in such a way that the support arm 17 is fixed in three directions: one end of the support arm 17 is fixed to its own rotating arm 3, the other end is connected to the previous rotating arm 3 (not shown), and the middle of the support arm 17 is supported by a support arm fixing element 20 connected to its own rotating arm 3.
  • the function of the support arm 17 is to prevent the movement of the control arm 4 perpendicularly to the shaft.
  • the control track 6 made of flat steel, is fixed to a metal frame 10 defined by the edges of a rectangular solid.
  • the plane of the control track 6 is perpendicular to the main shaft 2.
  • the control track 6 is a curved, discontinuous element consisting of two parts not lying in the same plane. The curves are as follows: the curve of the lower dead point section and a side curve connected it, and the curve of the upper dead point section and a side curve connected it. The two parts of the control track 6 are not in the same plane.
  • the lower dead point section is the curve which supports the control arms 4 to the right and to the left of the vertical shaft at a 18 degree angle (assuming five pairs of machine elements of variable volume 1) in such a way that the machine element of variable volume 1 to the right of the vertical shaft is forced into the minimum, while the one to the left into the maximum volume state, providing a stepless transition.
  • the size of the volume of the machine element of variable volume 1 is determined by the control track 6.
  • the curve of the upper dead point section is of the same length, but it is in the opposite direction.
  • the curves connecting the two dead point sections support the control arms 4 to the left of the shaft from the inside, and the control arms 4 to the right from the outside.
  • the side curves of the control track 6 are in two different planes that are perpendicular to the main shaft, and the two planes are connected by the upper dead point section and the lower dead point section.
  • the main shaft 2 is fixed to a machine stand 16.
  • Rotating arms 3 and control arms 4 are connected to the main shaft 2, and five pairs of machine elements of variable volume 1 are connected to the main shaft 2 symmetrically by the rotating arms 3.
  • the machine elements of variable volume 1 have a common space in pairs, provided by a flexible pipe 19.
  • the control track 6 is fixed to a frame 10, and the frame 10 can be covered with a waterproof material to make it leak-tight, thereby the frame 10 forms a tank with the cover. At the main shaft 2 the leak-tightness of the tank is ensured by a seal ring.
  • the rotational motion of the invention is started in such a way that the machine elements of variable volume 1 are positioned by the fixed control track 6, which means that in this embodiment those to the right of the vertical shaft take up the minimum, while those to the left the maximum volume.
  • the rotating arm 3 is a hollow pipe that has a dual function: on the one hand it fixes the machine elements of variable volume 1 to the main shaft 2 in an unreleasable manner, and on the other hand allows air to flow between the pairs of machine elements of variable volume 1 through the flexible pipe 19.
  • the tank is filled with a liquid, preferably water.
  • a liquid preferably water.
  • the volume of the machine elements of variable volume 1 varies symmetrically according to the design of the control track 6.
  • the volume of the machine elements of variable volume 1 varies between the maximum and the minimum volume, depending on at which point of the rotational motion they are, but at a given point they always take up the same volume.
  • the buoyancy acting on the machine elements of variable volume 1 taking up the maximum volume is greater than the buoyancy acting on the machine elements of variable volume 1 on the opposite side, taking up the minimum volume.
  • the volume of the machine elements of variable volume 1 is varied by sliding the moving element portion 12 into the fixed element portion 7.
  • control track 6 Due to the design of the control track 6 volume variation occurs at the lower and upper dead points during the rotational motion, and the resultant of the volume variation and other resistances is smaller than the resultant of the buoyancy forces, thus the machine utilizing the buoyancy of water is set and kept in rotation.
  • the speed of the rotation can be controlled by the height of the liquid level, or built-in brakes.
  • Figure 2 shows the electro-hydraulically controlled embodiment of the invention.
  • the movable element portions 12 are connected to the fixed element portions 7 of the machine elements of variable volume 1 at the two ends by means of sleeves 28.
  • the hollow rotating arms 3 are fixed to the main shaft 2 in such a way that the hollow interior of the main shaft 2 and the interior of the rotating arms 3 form a common space.
  • the fixed element portion 7 of the machine elements of variable volume 1 is fixed to the other end of the rotating arm 3.
  • the cylinder 21 is fixed to the movable element portion 12 in such a way that one end is connected to one side surface of the movable element portion 12, the other end, the piston rod 26, to the other side surface of the movable element portion 12.
  • variable volume 1 From the pair of machine elements of variable volume 1 shown in the figure, the upper machine element of variable volume 1 is at the minimum volume, while the lower one is at the maximum volume.
  • Each cylinder 21 is equipped with two hydraulic lines 22 that run inside the rotating arm 3 and the main shaft 2, and are connected to a control unit 5 located outside the frame 10.
  • the control unit 5 is an electro-hydraulic unit.
  • the end of the main shaft 2, where the hydraulic lines 22 exit, is equipped with a packing gland 23.
  • a sensor 24 is located at both the lower and the upper part of the frame 10, fixed to the frame 10 close to the location where the volume variation of the machine elements of variable volume 1 occurs.
  • the electrical wiring 25 of the sensors 24 is connected to the control unit 5.
  • the sensors 24 sense the position of the machine elements of variable volume 1 by means of a magnet 29 mounted on the machine elements of variable volume 1.
  • the electro-hydraulically controlled embodiment has ten machine elements of variable volume 1, arranged symmetrically around the main shaft 2.
  • the machine elements of variable volume 1 the rotating arms 3 of which are located along the same straight line, form a pair.
  • the movement of the cylinders 21 of the machine elements of variable volume 1 forming a pair is symmetrical, thereby their volume variation is also
  • variable volume 1 While in rest state, the volume of the machine elements of variable volume 1 is set by means of the cylinders 21 controlled by the control unit 5 in such a way that from a pair of machine elements of variable volume 1 one is at the minimum, while the other is at the maximum volume.
  • the main shaft 2 In a tank filled with a liquid, the main shaft 2 is set in motion by the machine elements of variable volume 1 through the rotating arms 3. The volume of the machine elements of variable volume 1 is controlled by the control unit 5 through the sensors 24.
  • the control unit 5 detects the signal of the sensors 24, and as a result makes hydraulic oil flow into the proper hydraulic line 22, thereby operating the cylinder 21.
  • the upper or lower sensor 24 senses a machine element of variable volume 1 by means of the magnet 29, sends a signal to the control unit 5.
  • the volume of the machine element of variable volume 1 varies on the basis of the instruction given by the control unit 5 to the cylinder 21 of the machine element of variable volume 1.
  • the main shaft 2 After the positioning of the cylinders 21, the main shaft 2 is set in rotation due to the difference in the buoyancy acting on the machine elements of variable volume 1.
  • the volume of the machine elements of variable volume 1 arranged around the main shaft 2, rotating clockwise, is controlled in such a way that at the upper dead point the machine element of variable volume 1 is at the minimum volume, while at the lower dead point it is at the maximum volume, and the machine elements of variable volume 1 are in the minimum volume state while they move from the upper dead point to the lower dead point, and in the maximum volume state while they move from the lower dead point to the upper dead point.
  • the main shaft 2 accelerates until the desired rpm is reached. After reaching the desired rpm the torque on the main shaft 2 can be utilized, by connecting the main shaft to a generator, electricity can be produced.
  • the movable element portions 12 of the machine elements of variable volume 1 are connected to the inside of the fixed element portions 7.
  • a solution using a pneumatic cylinder 21 is similar to the electro-hydraulic embodiment.
  • variable volume 1 can be of rigid construction, as in the case of hydraulic control, of semi-rigid construction, as in the mechanically controlled solution, and of flexible construction, when the whole volume portion is made of a flexible material.
  • control track 6 can be double-walled, then the plastic roller parts of the control arms 4 are embedded between the double walls.
  • a further advantage of the solution according to the invention is that more than one blocks can be connected to one main shaft, thereby the performance of the invention is greatly increased.

Abstract

Machine utilizing the buoyancy of a liquid The invention relates to a machine utilizing the buoyancy of a liquid, capable of producing electricity when immersed in a liquid and connected to a generator. The invention comprises a main shaft (2) providing rotational motion, machine elements of variable volume (1) connected to the main shaft (2), arranged symmetrically along the circumference of a circle, moving in pairs symmetrically, and a control unit (5) controlling the volume variation of the machine elements of variable volume (1). The solution according to the invention can be mechanically or electro-hydraulically controlled.

Description

A MACHINE UTILIZING THE BUOYANCY OF A LIQUID
The invention relates to a machine utilizing the buoyancy of a liquid, capable of producing electricity when immersed in a liquid and connected to a generator.
There are many known solutions that convert the energy of moving water into mechanical energy.
This is the basis of the operation of water wheels, water turbines.
The Pelton turbine is a tangential flow impulse turbine, the water flows along the tangent to the path of the runner. Nozzles direct forceful streams of water against a series of spoon-shaped buckets mounted around the edge of a wheel. As water flows into the bucket, the direction of the water velocity changes, the water is decelerated and flows out the other side of the bucket at low velocity. The momentum of the water is transferred to the turbine and this impulse does work on the turbine. Often two buckets are mounted side-by-side, this balances the forces on the wheel by the symmetry, and helps to ensure smooth, efficient momentum transfer between the stream of water and the turbine wheel. The Pelton turbine achieves the best efficiency with large waterfalls.
US Patent No. 4,950,130, for example, relates to a further developed version of the Pelton turbine.
US Patent No. 4,737,070 relates to a water powered device extracting energy from a moving water stream to generate electricity. The essence of the invention is that a water wheel equipped with blades is positioned afloat in a stream of moving water, and is moored at a fixed point.
These known solutions are well-suited for the production of electricity. Their advantage is that they use renewable energy. Their disadvantage is that a moving stream of water is necessary for their operation.
US Patent No. 3,918,827 relates to a machine for generating electricity that does not use any electricity or oil for running, only the surrounding water pressure. The machine is submerged to the bottom of a sea or ocean, its frame supports cog wheels around which a chain travels, and the chain has collapsible buckets mounted therearound.
The disadvantage of this solution is that it should be implemented preferably at the bottom of a sea or ocean.
The aim of the invention is to provide a machine capable of converting the buoyancy of a liquid into kinetic energy, and of producing electricity when connected to a generator.
It is known that buoyancy in liquids and gases acts on objects of different volumes to different extents.
The invention is based on the recognition that when objects having a controllably variable volume are immersed in a liquid, and the objects of variable volume are arranged along the circumference of a circle, connected to a shaft, and the possibility of rotational motion around the shaft is also provided for the objects of variable volume, then the buoyancy acting on the objects sets and keeps the structure in motion.
Thus the invention relates to a machine utilizing the buoyancy of a liquid, comprising a main shaft, machine elements of variable volume connected to the main shaft, arranged symmetrically along the circumference of a circle, moving in pairs symmetrically, and a control unit controlling the volume variation of the machine elements of variable volume. The machine elements of variable volume comprise a fixed element portion and a movable element portion, connected to each other.
The control unit can be mechanical and electro-hydraulic.
In the mechanically controlled solution the control unit consists of a control track and control arms.
The fixed element portion of the machine elements of variable volume is connected to a rotating arm, and the movable element portion to a control arm. The rotating arms fix the machine elements of variable volume to the main shaft, the control arms on the one hand connect the machine elements of variable volume to the main shaft, and on the other hand travel along the control track.
The volume variation of the machine elements of variable volume is determined by the control track in such a way that the control arms control the volume of the machine elements of variable volume by travelling along the control track, and thereby varying the volume of the machine elements of variable volume by moving the movable element portion.
In the electro-hydraulically controlled solution the symmetrically arranged machine elements of variable volume are connected to the main shaft by hollow rotating arms in such a way that the interiors of the rotating arms and the main shaft form a single space. The control unit is directly connected to cylinders in the machine elements of variable volume, controlling the volume of the machine elements of variably volume by means of sensors.
The invention is described in more detail with reference to the following figures:
Figure 1 : a side sectional view of the mechanically controlled machine utilizing the buoyancy of a liquid according to the invention, showing one pair of machine elements of variable volume;
Figure 2: a side sectional view of the electro-hydraulically controlled machine utilizing the buoyancy of a liquid according to the invention, showing one pair of machine elements of variable volume.
Figure 1 shows the main parts of the mechanical solution according to the invention and their arrangement: the machine elements of variable volume 1 fixed to the main shaft 2, and the control unit 5, as well as the parts of the control unit 5: the control track 6 and the control arms 4.
The figure shows one pair of machine elements of variable volume 1, one part of the machine element of variable volume 1 is the fixed element portion 7, and the other is the movable element portion 12.
The fixed element portion 7 of the machine element of variable volume 1 is fixed to the main shaft 2 by a rotating arm 3. The movable element portion 12 of the machine element of variable volume 1 is connected to a control arm 4.
One end of the control arm 4 is connected to the main shaft 2, the other end travels along the control track 6. The control track 6 is connected to a frame 10 by fixing elements 1 1. The main shaft 2 is fixed by a machine stand 16 formed of a U-shaped profile. The two ends of the main shaft 2 are fixed to the machine stand 16 by bearings 8, at one end of the main shaft 2 the inner ring of the bearing 8 is fixed by means of an eccentric ring 9, at the other end of the main shaft 2 the bearing is not firmly fixed, to allow the axial movement of the main shaft 2 due to possible thermal expansion.
A rotating arm fixing element 14 is fixed on the main shaft 2, providing connection between the rotating arms 3 and the main shaft 2. The rotating arms 3 are steel pipes. The machine elements of variable volume 1 are connected to the other end of the rotating arms 3 in an unreleasable manner in such a way that there is a pipe elbow on each rotating arm 3, and an externally threaded pipe end is mounted on this pipe elbow. The interior of the rotating arms 3 is hollow.
At the other end of the rotating arm 3, close to the main shaft 2, there is a hose connector through the pipe elbow for a flexible pipe 19. The flexible pipe 19 connects the rotating arms 3 located opposite to each other. The rotating arms 3 are connected to the main shaft 2 by the rotating arm fixing element 14. The rotating arms 3 are in the same plane, this plane is perpendicular to the main shaft 2, and the externally threaded pipe ends are parallel with the main shaft 2.
The rotating arms 3 fix firmly the fixed element portions 7 of the machine elements of variable volume 1.
The machine elements of variable volume 1 located opposite to each other form a pair, and have a common space provided by the flexible pipe 19. From the machine elements of variable volume 1 forming a pair one is equipped with a valve.
There is a control arm holding element 15 on the movable element portion 12 of the machine element of variable volume 1, to which the control arm 4 is fixed in an unreleasable manner. The control arm 4 extends beyond the machine element of variable volume 1, and its end is equipped with a plastic roller. The end of the control arm 4 equipped with a plastic roller travels along the control track 6.
The control arms 4, made of steel pipes with longitudinal weld, are connected to the main shaft 2 by means of hinged supports 13. Each hinged support 13 is in the same plane with the rotating arm 3 belonging to it.
The control arm 4 is supported by a support arm 17. The support arm 17 supporting the control arm 4 is connected to the rotating arm 3 in an unreleasable manner. The support arm 17 is supported in two planes in such a way that the support arm 17 is fixed in three directions: one end of the support arm 17 is fixed to its own rotating arm 3, the other end is connected to the previous rotating arm 3 (not shown), and the middle of the support arm 17 is supported by a support arm fixing element 20 connected to its own rotating arm 3. The function of the support arm 17 is to prevent the movement of the control arm 4 perpendicularly to the shaft.
In the figure one member of the pair of machine elements of variable volume 1, which are of semi-rigid construction, is shown in the maximum, while the other in the minimum volume state.
The control track 6, made of flat steel, is fixed to a metal frame 10 defined by the edges of a rectangular solid. The plane of the control track 6 is perpendicular to the main shaft 2. The control track 6 is a curved, discontinuous element consisting of two parts not lying in the same plane. The curves are as follows: the curve of the lower dead point section and a side curve connected it, and the curve of the upper dead point section and a side curve connected it. The two parts of the control track 6 are not in the same plane.
The lower dead point section is the curve which supports the control arms 4 to the right and to the left of the vertical shaft at a 18 degree angle (assuming five pairs of machine elements of variable volume 1) in such a way that the machine element of variable volume 1 to the right of the vertical shaft is forced into the minimum, while the one to the left into the maximum volume state, providing a stepless transition. The size of the volume of the machine element of variable volume 1 is determined by the control track 6. The curve of the upper dead point section is of the same length, but it is in the opposite direction.
The curves connecting the two dead point sections support the control arms 4 to the left of the shaft from the inside, and the control arms 4 to the right from the outside.
The side curves of the control track 6 are in two different planes that are perpendicular to the main shaft, and the two planes are connected by the upper dead point section and the lower dead point section.
In the shown mechanical embodiment the main shaft 2 is fixed to a machine stand 16. Rotating arms 3 and control arms 4 are connected to the main shaft 2, and five pairs of machine elements of variable volume 1 are connected to the main shaft 2 symmetrically by the rotating arms 3. The machine elements of variable volume 1 have a common space in pairs, provided by a flexible pipe 19. The control track 6 is fixed to a frame 10, and the frame 10 can be covered with a waterproof material to make it leak-tight, thereby the frame 10 forms a tank with the cover. At the main shaft 2 the leak-tightness of the tank is ensured by a seal ring.
The rotational motion of the invention is started in such a way that the machine elements of variable volume 1 are positioned by the fixed control track 6, which means that in this embodiment those to the right of the vertical shaft take up the minimum, while those to the left the maximum volume.
The rotating arm 3 is a hollow pipe that has a dual function: on the one hand it fixes the machine elements of variable volume 1 to the main shaft 2 in an unreleasable manner, and on the other hand allows air to flow between the pairs of machine elements of variable volume 1 through the flexible pipe 19.
The tank is filled with a liquid, preferably water. As the level of the liquid rises, the rotational motion of the main shaft 2 starts. During the rotational motion the volume of the machine elements of variable volume 1 varies symmetrically according to the design of the control track 6. The volume of the machine elements of variable volume 1 varies between the maximum and the minimum volume, depending on at which point of the rotational motion they are, but at a given point they always take up the same volume. The buoyancy acting on the machine elements of variable volume 1 taking up the maximum volume is greater than the buoyancy acting on the machine elements of variable volume 1 on the opposite side, taking up the minimum volume. The volume of the machine elements of variable volume 1 is varied by sliding the moving element portion 12 into the fixed element portion 7.
Due to the design of the control track 6 volume variation occurs at the lower and upper dead points during the rotational motion, and the resultant of the volume variation and other resistances is smaller than the resultant of the buoyancy forces, thus the machine utilizing the buoyancy of water is set and kept in rotation.
The speed of the rotation can be controlled by the height of the liquid level, or built-in brakes.
Figure 2 shows the electro-hydraulically controlled embodiment of the invention. In this solution the movable element portions 12 are connected to the fixed element portions 7 of the machine elements of variable volume 1 at the two ends by means of sleeves 28.
The hollow rotating arms 3 are fixed to the main shaft 2 in such a way that the hollow interior of the main shaft 2 and the interior of the rotating arms 3 form a common space. The fixed element portion 7 of the machine elements of variable volume 1 is fixed to the other end of the rotating arm 3. There is an electro-hydraulic cylinder 21 inside the fixed element portion 7, along its axis of symmetry. The cylinder 21 is fixed to the movable element portion 12 in such a way that one end is connected to one side surface of the movable element portion 12, the other end, the piston rod 26, to the other side surface of the movable element portion 12.
From the pair of machine elements of variable volume 1 shown in the figure, the upper machine element of variable volume 1 is at the minimum volume, while the lower one is at the maximum volume.
Each cylinder 21 is equipped with two hydraulic lines 22 that run inside the rotating arm 3 and the main shaft 2, and are connected to a control unit 5 located outside the frame 10. The control unit 5 is an electro-hydraulic unit.
The end of the main shaft 2, where the hydraulic lines 22 exit, is equipped with a packing gland 23.
A sensor 24 is located at both the lower and the upper part of the frame 10, fixed to the frame 10 close to the location where the volume variation of the machine elements of variable volume 1 occurs. The electrical wiring 25 of the sensors 24 is connected to the control unit 5.
The sensors 24 sense the position of the machine elements of variable volume 1 by means of a magnet 29 mounted on the machine elements of variable volume 1.
The electro-hydraulically controlled embodiment has ten machine elements of variable volume 1, arranged symmetrically around the main shaft 2. The machine elements of variable volume 1 , the rotating arms 3 of which are located along the same straight line, form a pair. The movement of the cylinders 21 of the machine elements of variable volume 1 forming a pair is symmetrical, thereby their volume variation is also
symmetrical. While in rest state, the volume of the machine elements of variable volume 1 is set by means of the cylinders 21 controlled by the control unit 5 in such a way that from a pair of machine elements of variable volume 1 one is at the minimum, while the other is at the maximum volume.
In a tank filled with a liquid, the main shaft 2 is set in motion by the machine elements of variable volume 1 through the rotating arms 3. The volume of the machine elements of variable volume 1 is controlled by the control unit 5 through the sensors 24.
The control unit 5 detects the signal of the sensors 24, and as a result makes hydraulic oil flow into the proper hydraulic line 22, thereby operating the cylinder 21.
If the upper or lower sensor 24 senses a machine element of variable volume 1 by means of the magnet 29, sends a signal to the control unit 5. The volume of the machine element of variable volume 1 varies on the basis of the instruction given by the control unit 5 to the cylinder 21 of the machine element of variable volume 1.
After the positioning of the cylinders 21, the main shaft 2 is set in rotation due to the difference in the buoyancy acting on the machine elements of variable volume 1.
The volume of the machine elements of variable volume 1 arranged around the main shaft 2, rotating clockwise, is controlled in such a way that at the upper dead point the machine element of variable volume 1 is at the minimum volume, while at the lower dead point it is at the maximum volume, and the machine elements of variable volume 1 are in the minimum volume state while they move from the upper dead point to the lower dead point, and in the maximum volume state while they move from the lower dead point to the upper dead point.
When the rotational motion starts, the main shaft 2 accelerates until the desired rpm is reached. After reaching the desired rpm the torque on the main shaft 2 can be utilized, by connecting the main shaft to a generator, electricity can be produced.
By connecting the main shaft 2 to a generator, electricity can be produced with the solution according to the invention. In the electro-hydraulic solution the energy required for varying the volume of the machine elements of variable volume 1 is significantly less than the energy generated by the torque exerted on the main shaft 2 by the machine elements of variable volume 1 through the rotating arms 3. According to another embodiment two cylinders 21 are fixed in the fixed element portions 7 of the machine elements of variable volume 1 in such a way that the piston rods 26 face the side surfaces of the movable element portions 12.
According to a further preferred embodiment the movable element portions 12 of the machine elements of variable volume 1 are connected to the inside of the fixed element portions 7.
A solution using a pneumatic cylinder 21 is similar to the electro-hydraulic embodiment.
The machine elements of variable volume 1 can be of rigid construction, as in the case of hydraulic control, of semi-rigid construction, as in the mechanically controlled solution, and of flexible construction, when the whole volume portion is made of a flexible material.
According to a further preferred embodiment in the mechanical solution the control track 6 can be double-walled, then the plastic roller parts of the control arms 4 are embedded between the double walls.
A further advantage of the solution according to the invention is that more than one blocks can be connected to one main shaft, thereby the performance of the invention is greatly increased.

Claims

Claims
1) A machine utilizing the buoyancy of a liquid, capable of producing electricity when immersed in a liquid and connected to a generator, characterized in that it comprises a main shaft (2), machine elements of variable volume (1) connected to the main shaft (2), arranged symmetrically along the circumference of a circle, and a control unit (5) connected to the machine elements of variable volume (1).
2) The machine utilizing the buoyancy of a liquid according to claim 1 , characterized in that the machine elements of variable volume (1) comprise a fixed element portion (7) and a movable element portion (12), connected to each other.
3) The machine utilizing the buoyancy of a liquid according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the machine elements of variable volume (1) are connected to the main shaft (2) by rotating arms (3).
4) The machine utilizing the buoyancy of a liquid according to claim 3, characterized in that the rotating arms (3) are connected perpendicularly to the main shaft (2).
5) The machine utilizing the buoyancy of a liquid according to claims 1-4, characterized in that the machine elements of variable volume (1) located opposite to each other, the rotating arms (3) of which are located along the same straight line, form a pair.
6) The machine utilizing the buoyancy of a liquid according to claims 1-5, characterized in that the control unit (5) is mechanical.
7) The machine utilizing the buoyancy of a liquid according to claim 6, characterized in that the control unit (5) comprises control arms (4) and a control track, where the control track (6) is curved and consists of two parts.
8) The machine utilizing the buoyancy of a liquid according to claims 1 -7, characterized in that the movable element portion (12) of the machine elements of variable volume (1) is connected to the main shaft (2) by a control arm (4). 9) The machine utilizing the buoyancy of a liquid according to claims 1-8, characterized in that the control arm (4) extends beyond the machine element of variable volume (1), and travels along the control track (6).
10) The machine utilizing the buoyancy of a liquid according to claims 1-9, characterized in that the rotating arms (3) of the machine elements of variable volume (1) forming a pair are connected by a flexible pipe (19).
1 1) The machine utilizing the buoyancy of a liquid according to claims 1-4, characterized in that the control unit (5) is electro-hydraulic.
12) The machine utilizing the buoyancy of a liquid according to claims 1-5 and 11, characterized in that there is a cylinder (21) in the machine elements of variable volume
(D-
13) The machine utilizing the buoyancy of a liquid according to claims 1-5 and 11-12, characterized in that the cylinder (21) is electro-hydraulic, a magnet (29) is mounted on the machine elements of variable volume (1), and sensors (24) are connected to the control unit (5).
PCT/IB2013/060705 2012-12-07 2013-12-06 A machine utilizing the buoyancy of a liquid WO2014087384A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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HUP1200716 2012-12-07
HUP1200716 HU1200716D0 (en) 2012-12-07 2012-12-07 Apparatus utilizing buoyancy

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Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE430289A (en) *
DE160493C (en) * 1904-04-22 1905-05-10 Eduard Haubrecht LIFTING MACHINE
FR2063841A5 (en) * 1970-03-26 1971-07-09 Chareyre Jacques
US3918827A (en) 1974-11-19 1975-11-11 Conn J L Fuel less water pressure machine
FR2550282A1 (en) * 1981-02-20 1985-02-08 Commins Eric Autonomous mechanical energy hydropneumatic engine
US4737070A (en) 1985-07-31 1988-04-12 Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha Water powered device
US4950130A (en) 1988-10-06 1990-08-21 Sulzer Brothers Limited Pelton turbine
WO1996036811A1 (en) * 1995-05-19 1996-11-21 Jaakko Juhani Korhonen A submersible device
EP2148086A1 (en) * 2008-07-24 2010-01-27 Angelo Giavotto Apparatus for the production of electrical energy

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE430289A (en) *
DE160493C (en) * 1904-04-22 1905-05-10 Eduard Haubrecht LIFTING MACHINE
FR2063841A5 (en) * 1970-03-26 1971-07-09 Chareyre Jacques
US3918827A (en) 1974-11-19 1975-11-11 Conn J L Fuel less water pressure machine
FR2550282A1 (en) * 1981-02-20 1985-02-08 Commins Eric Autonomous mechanical energy hydropneumatic engine
US4737070A (en) 1985-07-31 1988-04-12 Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha Water powered device
US4950130A (en) 1988-10-06 1990-08-21 Sulzer Brothers Limited Pelton turbine
WO1996036811A1 (en) * 1995-05-19 1996-11-21 Jaakko Juhani Korhonen A submersible device
EP2148086A1 (en) * 2008-07-24 2010-01-27 Angelo Giavotto Apparatus for the production of electrical energy

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