WO2014161025A1

WO2014161025A1 - A generator

Info

Publication number: WO2014161025A1
Application number: PCT/AU2014/000323
Authority: WO
Inventors: Erol VOLKAN
Original assignee: Volkan Erol
Priority date: 2013-04-02
Filing date: 2014-03-27
Publication date: 2014-10-09

Abstract

A generator is described including: a support; a rotor; the rotor is coupled to the support by way of a pivot mechanism; the pivot mechanism includes a rotating portion which rotates about a fixed centre of rotation; the pivot mechanism allows translational movement of the rotor with respect to the rotating portion during rotation of the rotor to thereby modify the effective centre of rotation of the rotor; and a control arrangement for controlling the effective centre of rotation of the rotor; the control arrangement being configured to control the centre of rotation to cause the rotor to be rotated under the influence of gravity.

Description

A GENERATOR

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of energy generation, and particularly to electrical energy generation.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a generator including: a support; a rotor; the rotor is coupled to the support by way of a pivot mecha.nism;the pivot mechanism includes a rotating portion which rotates about a fixed centre of rotation; the pivot mechanism allows translational movement of the rotor with respect to the rotating portion during rotation of the armature to thereby modify the effective centre of rotation of the rotor; and a control arrangement for controlling the effective centre of rotation of the rotor; the control arrangement being configured to control the centre of rotation to cause the rotor to be rotated under the influence of gravity.

The rotor may be slidably mounted to the pivot mechanism.

The control arrangement may include a rack and pinion arrangement.

The rotation of the rotor may drive a hydraulic pump which is used to drive the control arrangement.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a generator;

Figure 2 is a side view of the generator of figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows the guide rail of figure I with its associated mounting;

Figure 4 is a side view showing engagement of guide wheels with the guide rail of figure I ;

Figure 5 shows an option gearbox for use with the generator of figure 1 ; Figures 6, 7 & 8 illustrate a second embodiment of a generator employing a hydraulic control arrangement. Detailed Description

Referring to figure I , a generator 10 is shown including a support in the form of frame 1 1 and a rotor 12 comprised of a beam 14 with weights 16, 18 affixed at opposite ends of beam 14. Beam 14 may be of approximately 9 metres in length and weights 16, 18 may be of approximately 1,500Kg.

Rotor 12 is coupled to stand 1 1 by way of a pivot mechanism in the form of carriage 20 which is mounted by way of fixed pivot 21 to stand 1 1 and to which are mounted four mounting wheels 22 which engage with the edges of beam 14 and allow sliding movement of beam 14 with respect to carriage 20 (see figure 2).

The sliding movement of beam 14 with respect to carriage 20 is controlled by a control arrangement in the form of steel guide rail 30. Referring to figure 3, guide rail 30 is shown in further detail. It is mounted to stand 11 by way of a metal framework 32 which is fixed by way of bracket 34 which is attached to frame 11. The metal framework 32 and bracket 34 are omitted from figure 1 for ease of illustration.

Guide rail 30 cooperates with two pairs of guide wheels 24, 25 which are mounted approximately one third of the distance along lire length of beam 14. So, for a beam of length 9 metres, each of the pairs of guide wheels 24, 25 are be mounted at a point about 3 metres inwardly from each of weights 16, 18. Referring to figure 4, guide wheels 24 engage on either side of the guide rail 30. With the guide wheels 24 engaged, the shape of the guide rail controls changes in the effective centre of rotation of rotor 12 by creating sliding movement of beam with respect to carriage 20 as rotor 12 rotates as will be described.

Guide wheels 24 may be mounted on sprung supports to engage smoothly with guide rail 30. Guide wheels 24 may be mounted on shuttles which are rotatable and spring loaded to their normal position with respect to beam to accommodate changes in the gradient of the guide rail as the guide wheels travel along the guide rail.

Referring again to figure 1 , a sequence of operation of generator 10 will be described. In figure 1, the rotor 12 is shown in two positions indicated by reference numerals 12 and 12' where it is shown in dotted outline.

Commencing at the position shown of the rotor 12, weight 16 is in an elevated position, guide wheels 24 are engaged with guide rail 30 and the beam is positioned with respect to carriage 20 so that the distance of weight 16 from the centre of rotation located at a distance of approximately 3 metres from the centre of rotation 21.

Therefore, it is evident that the turning moment about pivot point 21 caused by gravity acting upon weight 16 exceeds the opposiing turning moment of weight 18. This causes clockwise rotational movement and acceleration of rotor 12.

As shown in the position 12', rotor continues to accelerate in a clockwise fashion. Weight 16 continues to move in a downward direction. At about the point shown at position 12', guide wheels 25' engage with guide rail 30. Continued rotation of rotor 12' caused by the combined momentum of weights 16, 18 and beam 14 forces sliding movement of beam 14 with respect to carriage 20 to alter the effective centre of rotation of the rotor. When the rotor is in the vertical position, the centre of rotation of the rotor is at about the midpoint along the length of beam 14. At this point, the rotor is in equilibrium, the turning moment of both weights is equal. The rotor 12 continues to rotate until the rotor comes again to the position shown at 12 (except this time, weight 18 will be in the elevated position and weight 16 will be in the downward position). Now the turning moment created by gravity acting upon weight 18 exceeds that created by weight 16, causing continued rotation of the rotor.

As each half rotation is carried out, alternate ones of the pairs of guide wheels 24 or 25 control sliding movement of beam 14 with respect to carriage 20 by forcing sliding of the beam within mounting wheels 22.

At the rear of stand 11 , art electrical generator can be attached to an output shaft attached to the pivotal mounting 21 of carriage 20. In this way, energy produced by the rotation of the rotor can be converted to electrical energy in a known fashion. A group of generators 1 1 may be constructed at a location to provide a type of power plant.

In some embodiments, generators may include pairs of rotors coupled together.

Referring to figure 5, a type of gearbox 50 is shown from above. Gearbox 50 includes a series of four intermeshed gears which are rotatably mounted in a housing 5.1. Gearbox 50 is mounted to a stand of the type 1 1 , and two of rotors 12 are mounted front and back to input shafts 52, 54. Idle gears 53 maintain fixed rotation of the two rotors which rotate in opposite directions as indicated by the arrows shown on the gears 52, 54. The two rotors may be mounted so that they are out of phase by 90 degrees from one another. Such an arrangement can smooth and balance the motion of the rotors.

Electrical generators can be connected to output shafts connected to either or both of idle gears 53.

Referring to figures 6, 7 and 8, an alternative embodiment of a generator 100 is shown. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that this generator employs a hydraulic control arrangement. In this embodiment, the carriage 120 of the pivot mechanism carries a large gear 140 which drives a hydraulic pump 141 (see figure 7). The pressurised hydraulic fluid is transported using supply 146 and return 148 lines and used to control rotation of a pinion i 21 at the centre of the carriage 120.

Referring to figure 8, carriage 120 is rotatably attached to fixed portion 122 which is mounted to a type of stand 1 1. Rotor 112 is slidably mounted to carriage 120 by way of flat support surfaces 126 and linear bearings 125. The effective centre of rotation of the rotor is controlled by way of pinion 121 cooperating with rack 122 to cause translational sliding movement of the rotor 1 12 with respect to carriage 120. Pinion 121 is mounted on a rotational hydraulic actuator which is driven by pressurised fluid from supply line 146 and returns fluid using return line 148.

The rotational position of rotor 1 12 is detected with appropriate positional sensors which provide inputs to hydraulic control system 142. This enables the required timing of the movements of pinion 121 to cause changes in the effective centre of rotation of the rotor to control a cycle of movement of the generator in the same manner as described in relation to figure 1. The generator 100 may utilise weights 1 16, 1 18 of the order of 3,000Kg. The carriage 120 is coupled to an output shaft (not shown) which is in turn coupled to an electrical generator to convert energy of the rotation of rotor 112 into electrical energy.

In the case of generator, the operational characteristics of the generator may be optimised by adjustments to the profile of guide rail 30. In the case of generator 100, the operational characteristics can be controlled by adjustment to the timing of the hydraulic operations. In this way, the speed and movement of the generator ma}' be controlled to match load requirements.

The embodiments described above were described in relation to particular sizes of rotors and weights used. It will be understood that embodiments of the invention can be scaled up or down and that the illustrative examples given are not limiting to the scope of the invention. In the embodiments described above, it was said that generators according to the invention could be coupled to an electric generator to produce electricity. Similarly, generators can be configured to drive other types of loads, such as by coupling to a pump for pumping water or other fluids.

Any reference to prior art contained herein is not to be taken as an admission that the information is common general knowledge, unless otherwise indicated.

Finally, it is to be appreciated that various alterations or additions may be made to the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A generator including:

a support;

a rotor;

the rotor is coupled to the support by way of a pivot mechanism;

the pivot mechanism includes a rotating portion which rotates about a fixed centre of rotation;

the pivot mechanism allows translational movement of the rotor with respect to the rotating portion during rotation of the rotor to thereby modify the effective centre of rotation of the rotor; and

a control arrangement for controlling the effective centre of rotation of the rotor:

the control arrangement being configured to control the centre of rotation to cause the rotor to be rotated under the influence of gravity.

2. A generator according to claim I wherein the rotor is slidably mounted to the pivot mechanism.

3. A generator according to either of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the control arrangement includes a rack and pinion arrangement.

4. A generator according to any preceding claim 3 wherein the rotation of the rotor drives a hydraulic pump which is used to drive the control arrangement.