WO2015033020A1

WO2015033020A1 - Apparatus and method for energy production

Info

Publication number: WO2015033020A1
Application number: PCT/FI2014/050667
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pekka ALAOLLITERVO
Original assignee: RANTAPÄÄ, Markku
Priority date: 2013-09-05
Filing date: 2014-09-02
Publication date: 2015-03-12
Also published as: FI129095B; FI20135895L

Abstract

An apparatus for energy production utilizing buoyancy caused by fluid (150) and gravity is disclosed, the apparatus comprising: a first belt (100) which comprises teeth (102) on a second surface thereof and is arranged to travel in a first closed cycle, the cycle being determined by at least a first upper guide element (104) and a first lower guide element (106), and in which the first belt (100) is arranged to travel so that the teeth (102) of the first belt (100) are in direct fluid contact on a part of the first closed cycle, the teeth (102) being subjected to buoyancy caused by the fluid (150) on this part of the closed cycle, the buoyancy thus determining a direction of rotation for the first belt (100); insulation means arranged to insulate a tooth (102) from the direct fluid contact when the tooth (102) is brought to a point of the closed cycle where the buoyancy caused by the fluid (150) starts to act on the tooth (102), thus reducing the opposing effect of the hydrostatic pressure on the tooth (102); and at least one energy transmission element (118) arranged to transmit energy from the apparatus on the basis of the rotation of at least one belt (100, 120) of the apparatus.

Description

Apparatus and method for energy production

Field

[0001] The invention relates to energy production. Background

[0002] It is known in the art to produce basic energy using fossil fuels or nuclear power. A gas turbine, for example, may be used as a power generating machine. Combustion engines are an example of smaller power machines. Basic power refers to energy, such as electricity, fuel, etc. used by people every day. In addition, water power, for example, may be used together with basic power to balance power fluctuations in consumption. Solar and wind power alone are not effective enough for producing basic energy for everyday use on a large scale. Energy for traffic is mainly obtained from fossil fuels. Consequently, there is a need to develop a new energy production apparatus.

Brief description

[0003] In an embodiment the objectives of the invention are implemented by means of an apparatus disclosed in independent claim 1.

[0004] In an embodiment the objectives of the invention are implemented by means of a method disclosed in independent claim 14.

Brief description of the figures

[0005] The invention is now described in closer detail in connection with preferred embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 to 3 disclose some embodiments of the apparatus;

Figure 4 illustrates a method according to an embodiment; and Figures 5A and 5B depict grooves on the teeth of a belt.

Description of embodiments

[0006] Current forms of energy production, such as nuclear power, coal power, solar power, wind power or water power, require complex and expensive constructions or technology to work. For some, such as nuclear power, the use also involves a risk element. Moreover, current methods of energy production generate numerous emissions harmful for the environment. Emissions are generated in energy processing, transfer and use. The overall effi- ciency of the current type of energy production chain is low. A very large portion of energy potential is lost because of low operating efficiencies of power machines.

[0007] At least for the above reasons it is important to develop a novel energy protection apparatus that solves the problems mentioned above. The disclosed apparatus/engine is used for producing energy by making use of gravity and buoyancy. The disclosed apparatus is an engine operating on gravity and buoyance, and the power produced by it is proportional to the magnitude of the displaced fluid mass. The idea is to use two different media to take advantage of the relative weight difference between two pieces of an equal mass by mechanically coupling the pieces together into an endless chain. The first medium may be any fluid, such as water. The second medium may be any gas, such as air. The second medium may also be something else, provided that its density is lower than that of the first medium so that the buoyancy caused by the first medium is greater than that of the second medium.

[0008] Let us examine an embodiment of the apparatus with reference to Figure 1. The apparatus for energy production utilizing gravity and buoyancy caused by fluid comprises at least a first belt 100 with teeth 102 on a second surface thereof. In other words, the teeth 102 are interconnected mechanically be means of the belt 00. The belt may be of rubber or some other durable material. The shape of the teeth 102 does not have to be triangular or quadratic (Figures 2 and 3) but it may be freely selected, taking into consideration, however, how a tooth 102 is going to be brought under the influence of buoyancy, how liquid-proofing is to be carried out, etc., as will be disclosed below. The tooth 102 is therefore to be understood as a piece protruding from the belt 100. The material of the teeth 102 may be freely selected (plastic, metal). In an embodiment, the material of the tooth 102 is lighter than the fluid, such as water, to be used. In another embodiment, the material of the tooth 102 is heavier than the fluid. The density of the teeth may thus be freely selected. An advantage of light teeth/pieces/parts is that the apparatus will be lighter. However, all the teeth in the apparatus may have an equal density. The distance between successive teeth 102 is chosen, among other things, on the basis of how a tooth 102 is to be brought under the influence of buoyancy, how liquid- proofing is to be carried out, etc. In an embodiment, the other side of the belt 100 does not comprise teeth. In other words, the back of the belt is smooth. [0009] The belt 100 is arranged to travel in a first closed cycle, which is defined by at least a first upper guide element 104 and a first lower guide element 106, as is shown in the figures. Hence the first closed cycle comprises a left side and a right side. Naturally, more than two guide elements may also be provided. Since the lower guide element 106 is further down than the upper guide element 104, the closed cycle travelled by the belt 100 is, in an embodiment, substantially vertically oriented. This may mean that the cycle travelled by the belt comprises at least one side substantially parallel with the buoyancy caused by the fluid. The closed cycle may also be slanted, yet in a way that allows buoyancy to act on the teeth 102 of the belt 100 so that they rise. In the figures, the direction of rotation of the closed cycle is shown by arrows in the guide elements 104 and 106.

[0010] In an embodiment, the guide elements 104, 106 (similarly as the guide elements 124, 126) are smooth pulleys that rotate when the belt 100 is moving and are mounted on bearings to their respective rotation shafts. The guide elements 104, 106, 124, 126 may be supported at their rotation shafts (shown in the figures by a small circle in the middle of the guide elements).

[0011] The disclosed apparatus may also comprise support structures for supporting the apparatus, although these are not shown in the figures. The support structures may comprise structures enabling the guide elements 104, 106, 124, 126 to be placed on desired points of the apparatus. The distance between the pulleys 104 and 106 (and, correspondingly, the pulleys 124 and 126) is important so that the belt 100 (and, correspondingly, the belt 120) can be tensioned tight around the pulleys. The support structures may also comprise means for supporting the apparatus to the disclosed vertical position. The support structures may comprise e.g. screws, nuts, bars, etc. The support structures may be manufactured of plastic or metal, for example. The support structures may also enable the apparatus to be fastened in relation to some other object. The support structures in the apparatus may fasten to the bearings on which the rotation shafts of the rotating apparatuses (such as the guide elements) are mounted or to the container 108, to name only a few examples.

[0012] The belt 100 of the apparatus is arranged to travel so that the teeth 102 are in direct fluid contact with a part of the first closed cycle, i.e. in direct contact with the first medium 150. The teeth 102 are thus subjected to buoyancy caused by the fluid in this part of the closed cycle, the buoyancy thus determining the direction of rotation of the first belt 100. The effect of buoyancy is depicted in the figures with arrows pointing to the teeth 102 (and 122). Naturally all the teeth 102 in the fluid are subjected to buoyancy because the hydrostatic pressure experienced by an object (a tooth 102) is higher on the underside of the object than on its upper side, but for the sake of simplicity the figures show only some teeth 102 of the belt 100 and only some arrows depicting buoyancy. Since the object becomes "lighter" by the effect of buoyancy in the fluid on one side of the closed cycle and the teeth 102 on the other side of the closed cycle are in the air, for example, or in some other medium 152 that causes buoyancy which is very small compared to that caused by the first medium 150, the belt 100 starts to move in the direction of the buoyancy and, consequently, to rotate in the closed cycle determined by the guide elements 104, 106. In other words, the total force acting on the teeth 102 of the belt 100 in the fluid changes in relation to the teeth travelling in the non-fluid and thus determines the direction of rotation of the belt 100.

[0013] In an embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a second belt 120 comprising teeth 122 on one surface thereof and arranged to travel in a second closed cycle, the cycle being determined by at least the second upper guide element 124 and the second lower guide element 126. The second belt 120 is arranged, similarly to the first belt 100, to travel so that its teeth 122 are in direct fluid contact on a part of the second closed cycle, the teeth 122 being thus subjected to buoyancy caused by the fluid, the buoyancy thus determining the direction of rotation of the second belt 120. The second belt 120 may thus be similar or operate similarly as the belt 100, although in an opposite direction of rotation, as will be seen below. An advantage of using the second belt 120, or several belts, is that more energy can be obtained from the apparatus. On the other hand, the second belt 120 may be useful for liquid- proofing or when it comes to subjecting a tooth 102 of the belt 100 to the influence of buoyancy without great energy losses. It is also to be noted that a tooth 120 may similar to a tooth 102, and that what is stated on the belt 100 or the teeth 102 is also valid for the belt 120 and the teeth 122. However, the use of the second belt 120 is not essential.

[0014] The amount of energy produced by the apparatus depends on how much lifting force caused by the buoyancy of the fluid is available, i.e. on the amount of fluid displaced. Consequently, the more teeth 102 subject to buoyancy there are underneath the water, the more energy and the higher the torque to be obtained from the apparatus. Often a problem with energy production apparatuses employing buoyancy is how to expose the object to buoyancy. It should be noted that at the moment when an object is being brought through the bottom of a fluid tank, for example, the fluid causes a hydrostatic pressure of p^top=pgh to the upper surface of the object, p being the density of the fluid, g an acceleration of free fall 9.81 /s2 caused by gravity, and h is the depth where the object is. This pressure p^top presses the object back down because a corresponding force (buoyancy) acting on the underside of the object is not yet present at the moment when the object is entering the fluid tank. At the moment when the fluid comes also in contact with the underside of the object, the hydrostatic pressure p**⁰*⁰™ acting on the underside is greater than p^top because the underside is deeper down in the fluid than the upper side, and this allows buoyancy to lift the object upward. On the other hand, if the object is brought downward in the fluid, the lifting force of the buoyancy opposes to the downward action.

[0015] Hence a problem arises from how to manage to bring an object (in this case a tooth 102) into the fluid without using all the energy produced by the buoyancy during this action. On the other hand, a problem arises from how to bring the object into the fluid in a liquid-proof manner so that the fluid cannot flow out of the tank and the level of the fluid surface does not change.

[0016] As a solution to the above problem, the apparatus may comprise insulation means (i.e. an insulator or a separator) arranged to insulate the tooth 102 from direct fluid contact when the tooth 102 is being brought to a point 154 of the closed cycle where buoyancy caused by the fluid starts to act on the tooth 102, thus reducing (or even cancelling) the opposing effect of the hydrostatic pressure on the tooth 102 being brought. In other words, the insulation means insulate the tooth 102 from fluid contact on at least a portion of that part of the closed cycle where the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid would oppose the movement of the tooth 102 in the direction of travel of the belt 100. The insulation means may comprise various solutions, as shown in Figures 1 to 3. The insulation means may also be arranged to make the tank bottom liquid-proof. Let us first examine Figure 1 A in greater detail.

[0017] The apparatus in the embodiment of Figure 1 comprises a fluid tank 08 for fluid (such as water), the first (and the second) closed cycle of the tank being partly arranged through the fluid tank 108 to cause buoyancy on the teeth 102/122 travelling in the fluid. This makes it possible to cause the belts 100, 120 to move in a desired direction of rotation. The shape of the fluid tank 108 is insignificant. The height of the tank 108 may be selected according to the amount of power that the apparatus should deliver.

[0018] In the embodiments of Figures 1A to 1 D the insulation means comprise a first cogwheel 110. In an embodiment, the rotation shaft (shown by a small circle in the middle of the cogwheels 110 and 130) of the first cogwheel is arranged substantially at the bottom level of the fluid tank 108. In accordance with Figure 1A, the teeth 102 of the first belt 100 are arranged to interleave with the teeth of the first cogwheel 110 at least at the point where the tooth 102 in question of the belt 100 enters the fluid tank 08. As a result, hydrostatic pressure caused by the fluid does not act on the upper surface of the tooth 102 when the tooth 102 enters the tank 108, but a tooth of the cogwheel 110 above the tooth 102 of the belt 100 receives this pressure. As the cogwheel 1 0 rotates about its rotation shaft, the tooth 102 of the belt 100 moves into the tank 108 in a slot between the teeth of the cogwheel 110. The tooth 102 thus gets into the tank 108 with little energy and without the pressure p^top acting on the upper surface of the tooth 102. In other words, the fluid does not oppose the rotation at the point where the tooth 102 enters the tank. When the tooth 102 has moved into the tank 108, buoyancy (= the difference between the pressures p^top and p^bottom acting on the under surface and upper surface, respectively) starts to lift the tooth 102, thus causing the belt 100 to rotate. The point 154 on the closed cycle where the tooth is brought in the manner disclosed above, without the effect of hydrostatic pressure, may substantially correspond to the point where the tooth 102 has its highest potential energy, which it releases under the influence of the buoyancy as it rises upward in the fluid.

[0019] It is to be noted that since the cogwheel 110 is supported at its rotation shaft and the hydrostatic pressure always acts perpendicularly to the surface, the hydrostatic pressure is mainly directed to the supported rotation shaft, i.e. to the bearing point. In the figures, hydrostatic pressure has been depicted by short broken lines directed towards the cogwheel. It should be noted that although the teeth on the left-hand side of the cogwheel 110, for example, are subjected to hydrostatic pressure that opposes the movement of the cogwheel 110 and is not perpendicular to the rotation shaft, the teeth on a substantially equal horizontal level on the right-hand side of the same cog- wheel 110 are subjected to hydrostatic pressure that increases the movement of the cogwheel 110 to a desired direction. The total effect of these forces is substantially zero. Consequently, the cogwheel 110 in the horizontal level is substantially equipotential as regards effects of pressures. Because of this, the fluid in the tank "sees" the cogwheel 110 in practise as a smooth wheel surface in which the rotation shaft receives the total effect of the hydrostatic pressure.

[0020] An additional advantage of this type of cogwheel solution is that the first cogwheel 110 acts at the same time as a sealing structure at the interface between the tooth surface of the first belt 100 and the entry point of the fluid tank 108. This is realized by arranging the teeth 102 of the belt to sink in a liquid-proof manner into the slots between the teeth of the cogwheel 110. In addition, the interface between the teeth 102 and the cogwheel 110 may be provided with a sealing material, such as rubber, to ensure liquid-proofing. The cogwheel 110 at this point thus corresponds to a smooth wheel.

[0021] Moreover, as shown in Figure 1A, the insulation means of an embodiment may comprise a second cogwheel 130 acting in a similar manner in relation to the second belt 120 as the cogwheel 110 acts in relation to the first belt 100. This makes it possible to bring also the teeth 122 of the second belt 120 one by one into the tank 108 without hydrostatic pressure p^top acting on the upper surface of the tooth 122 before the tooth 122 is already in the tank 108 and hydrostatic pressure "⁰*"" can act also on the under surface of the tooth 122 (see point 156 in Figure 1). Similarly as the first cogwheel 110, the second cogwheel 130 acts at the same time as a sealing structure at the interface between the tooth surface of the second belt 120 and the entry point of the fluid tank 108. The cogwheels 110 and 130 may be equal or differ in size.

[0022] In addition, the apparatus may comprise a sealing structure 112, 132 for sealing the interface between the fluid tank 108 and the belt 100, 120. The sealing structure 112, 132 may comprise sealing elements, such as rubber seals, that seal the interface between the bottom of the tank 108 and smooth back of the belt 100, 120. The sealing elements 112 and 132 may be fastened to the bottom/wall of the tank so that the moving back of the belt 100, 120 is against the sealing element 112, 132. The entry of the belts 100, 120 into the tank can thus be made watertight with the help of the cogwheels 110, 130 and the sealing structures 112, 132. It is to be noted that this type of sealing does not resist significantly the travel of the belt 100, 120. According to an embodiment, the sealing structure further comprises sealing elements (not shown) arranged to seal the interfaces between the fluid tank 108 and the side surfaces of the cogwheels 110, 130, thus preventing the fluid from escaping from the fluid tank 108.

[0023] The sealing structure of the apparatus further comprises seals for sealing the rotation shafts of both the cogwheels and the guide elements in relation to the wall/bottom of the tank 108. These sealing structures are depicted in Figure 1 B, which is a top view of the embodiment of Figure 1A. The sealing structures may also comprise bearings, etc., for making the rotation of the rotation shafts possible.

[0024] In an embodiment, the cogwheels 110, 130 are side by side at the bottom of the tank 108 or on the wall so that, when rotating, the teeth of the cogwheels 110, 130 interleave against one another at point 158, thus rendering this part of the wall or bottom of the fluid tank 108 watertight. In other words, the cogwheels 110 and 130 are in tooth contact, i.e. they mesh. Hence the gap between the (two or more) cogwheels is liquid-proof. This liquid-proof gap is achieved when the teeth set tightly against each other. The tightness may be increased by a suitable surface material of the teeth, such as rubber or silicone, but this not indispensable. The liquid-proofing may be useful to prevent fluid from escaping from the tank 108. It should also be noted that the disclosed type of meshing of the cogwheels does not consume much energy because the fluid does not cause a high torque on the cogwheels 110, 130. Gear pumps, for example, with meshing gears, may have a high efficiency of over 90% even. Fluid as the medium 1 may act in a similar manner on both the cogwheels.

[0025] Figure 1B is a top view of the embodiment of Figure 1A. Figure 1B assumes that the first belt 100 and the guide elements 104, 106 and the cogwheel 110 associated with it are on the left-hand side, while the second belt 120 and the guide elements 124, 126 and the cogwheel 130 associated with it are on the right-hand side. The (first) belt 100 on the left has teeth 102 that are marked with dotted boxes. The (second) belt 120 on the right has teeth 122 that are marked with boxes having a diagonal brick pattern. The rotation directions of the belts 100, 120 are depicted with arrows drawn with dotted lines.

[0026] As already stated, in an embodiment the second belt 120 is disposed of. An example of this type of embodiment is shown in Figure C, with only the first belt 100 and the first cogwheel 110 that set tightly against one another at the point of the closed cycle where the belt 100 enters the tank 108. This allows, as stated, hydrostatic pressure p^top to be cancelled from the upper surface of an entering tooth 102. Moreover, in this embodiment the interface between the cogwheel 110 and the tank 108 may be sealed by a sealing cogwheel 140A, the teeth of which interleave with the teeth of the cogwheel 110 and which is placed to a side wall of the tank 108. In addition, the apparatus may have other sealing cogwheels 140B to 140N, whose number may depend on the level of the water in the tank 108. The teeth of each sealing cogwheel 1 0A to 140N interleave with an adjacent cogwheel/s, thus sealing these parts of the side wall. The diameters of the sealing cogwheels 140A to 140N may be smaller than that of the cogwheel 110 so that the teeth of the sealing cogwheels 140A to 140N do not hit/touch the teeth 102 of the belt 100 or even interleave with the teeth 102 of the belt 100. In addition, this embodiment may have sealing elements, such as rubber seals, that seal the sides of the cogwheels 110, 140A to 140N in relation to the bottom or wall of the tank. It is to be noted that the sides are typically smooth, so liquid-proofing is relatively easy to accomplish by rubber gaskets, for example.

[0027] The cogwheels 140B to 140N of Figure 1C could also be replaced by the second belt 120, as is in fact shown in Figure 1 D. This type of embodiment produces added power because buoyancy can act also on the teeth 122. The embodiment may be considered similar to that of Figure 1A, with the exception that the cogwheel 130 has been lifted to the wall of the tank 108 and the belt 120 enters the tank through the wall. A sealing element 142 may be used to seal the interface between the lower guide element 126 and the wall of the tank 108. Also in this embodiment the size of the cogwheel 130 and that of the guide elements (the pulleys) 124 and 126 may be such that the teeth of the cogwheel 130 and the teeth 122 of the belt 120 do not touch the teeth 102 of the belt 100.

[0028] An embodiment, shown in Figure 1 E, corresponds otherwise to that of Figure 1 A except that in this embodiment the cogwheels 110 and 130 are replaced by belt arrangements 111 and 131 comprising guide elements and teeth on the second sides of the belts. The teeth in the belt systems 111 and 131 interleave against one another on one of their sides, thus making the point in question watertight. In addition, the teeth in the belt system 111 interleave with the teeth 102 of the belt 100, similarly as the teeth of the cogwheel 110 interleave with the teeth 102 in Figure 1A. The belt and the teeth of the belt system 111 thus act as special means for the teeth 102 when the teeth 102 enter the tank 108. The belt system 131 works correspondingly in relation to the belt 120 and the teeth 122. The apparatus may also be provided with sealing elements (depicted with wave-patterned boxes) that provide liquid- proof interfaces between the backs of all the four belts and the tank.

[0029] The apparatuses of Figures 1A to 1 E do not need to be submerged in the fluid, but the required fluid is poured into the tank 108. The parts of the closed cycles not travelling in the fluid may travel in the air, for example.

[0030] Let us then examine a second embodiment of the invention, which is shown in Figure 2. This embodiment has a first and a second belt 100, 120 and, in them, teeth 102 and 122. Correspondingly, the belts 100, 120 rotate in closed cycles that may be determined by at least guide elements 104, 106, 124, 126. In this embodiment, separate cogwheels or additional belts, such as those in Figures 1A to 1E, are not necessarily needed. In this embodiment, the apparatus is entirely or partly submerged into fluid and therefore the support structures of the apparatus may further comprise means for fastening the apparatus at least partly under the surface of a fluid tank or a natural fluid reservoir (such as an ocean, river or lake). In an embodiment shown in Figure 2, the apparatus is completely submerged in the fluid. In another embodiment, the apparatus may be only partly in the water. In Figures 2 and 3, for example, as depicted by line 109, the bottom part of the apparatus may be in a medium 1 (such as water) and the part of the apparatus above line 109 in a medium 2 (such as air).

[0031] The insulation means of the embodiment of Figure 2 comprise said second belt 120. The insulation may be arranged so that the teeth 102, 122 of the first belt 100 and the second belt 120, respectively, interleave against one another when a tooth 102 or 122 is brought to a point 160 where buoyancy caused by the fluid starts to act on the tooth 102 or 122. Since the teeth 102, 122 become engaged at the upper part of the apparatus and disengage at the lower part, hydrostatic pressure is not able to act between the teeth 102, 122 on this part of the closed cycle. In other words, the first belt 100 acts as an insulation means for the teeth 122 of the second belt 120, while the second belt 120 acts as an insulation means for the teeth 102 of the first belt 100. Similarly as in the other embodiments, the insulation means insulate the tooth 102/122 from fluid contact at least on a part of those portions of the closed cycle where the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid would otherwise oppose the movement of the tooth 102/122 in the direction of travel of the belt 100/120.

[0032] It is to be noted that in this embodiment the direction of rotation of the belts is opposite to that in Figures 1A to 1 D. The reason for this is that when the first and the second belts 100, 120 meet at the centre of the apparatus, the teeth 102, 122 interleave in a liquid-proof manner. In other words, a tooth 102 presses tightly against the adjacent teeth 122 above and below the tooth 102. The teeth of the belt mesh, i.e. enter into tooth contact. The backs and sides of the belts 100 and 120 thus form a sealed, substantially vertical "pillar" in the fluid. Hence no hydrostatic pressure can act e.g. on the tooth 102 of the belt 100 as it is protected by the teeth 122 of the belt 120. This allows the tooth 102 to be brought to the lower part of the apparatus without the effect of hydrostatic pressure (in this case buoyancy) opposing the movement in this part of the closed cycle. In other words, the teeth 102, 122 "weigh" more on the engaged portion of the centre pillar than the outer pieces/teeth on a corresponding horizontal level, because buoyancy cannot act on the centre pillar. This weight difference in relation to the outer pieces causes a torque on the wheels 104, 106, 124 and 126, and the torque may be taken out of the rotation shaft of one of the rotating guide elements.

[0033] It is to be noted that since both sides of the closed cycle of the first belt, for example, travel (at least partly) in fluid, buoyancy would otherwise oppose movement on the side of the closed cycle where the teeth 02 are coming downward. By cancelling the effect of the hydrostatic pressure on the downward moving teeth 102, a tooth can be brought to the maximum potential energy point with lesser energy than what is released by the teeth 102 going up. It is also to be noted that the teeth 102 around the guide elements 104, 106 are subjected to, on the one hand, an effect assisting the buoyancy motion but also, on the other hand, an effect opposing the buoyancy motion. However, since the teeth 102, when examined in the horizontal plane, are substantially equipotential, a lifting force caused by buoyancy and to be achieved on the long vertical side may correspond to the power that can be taken from the apparatus and thanks to which the belts move in the desired direction. Small pressure difference may naturally be also around the guide elements when examined in the horizontal plane, for example if the teeth 102 are not ful- ly symmetrically around the guide element 104, 106, but such differences are extremely small in relation to the energy released by the teeth 102 as they travel upward assisted by buoyancy on the long vertical side of the closed cycle.

[0034] The embodiment of Figures 3A and 3B is otherwise similar to that of Figure 2, except that the apparatus of Figures 3A and 3B comprises a liquid-proof insulation tank 116 added to the apparatus of Figure 2. Figure 3A is a side view of the apparatus, while Figure 3B shows a view from above. The tank 116 may be manufactured of any liquid-proof material, such as plastic, metal, etc. The tank 116 may be fixedly fastened to the support structures of the apparatus, although this is not shown in the figures. The insulation tank 116 may be arranged to let the belts 100, 120 in from the upper part thereof and out from its lower part. The tank 116 is arranged to the apparatus so that the teeth 102, 122 of the first belt 100 and the second belt 120, respectively, that interleave against one another travel at least partly in the insulation tank 116 without contact to the fluid around the tank 116. In this manner the tank 116 also contributes to cancelling the effect of the hydrostatic pressure on the teeth 102, 122 currently inside the insulation tank 116. An advantage of this embodiment may reside in that, in comparison with the embodiment of Figure 2, the teeth 102 and 122 in the embodiment of Figures 3A, 3B do not need to be interleaved in a liquid-proof manner against one another. This is because the insulation tank 116 acts as an insulation means, and inside the tank 116 the teeth 102/122 can be brought to the bottom part of the apparatus without being subjected to the opposing effect of the hydrostatic pressure. This provides flexibility to the designing of the shape of the teeth 102/122, for example, because the teeth do not have to press against one another in a fully watertight interleaved manner.

[0035] In an embodiment, the insulation tank 116 further comprises sealing elements146 arranged to seal the interface between the insulation tank 116 and the backs of the belts 100, 120, and the interface between the insulation tank 116 and the guide elements 106, 126 so that fluid cannot enter the insulation tank 116. The sealing element may be a rubber seal, for example, pressing against a smooth pulley 106/126 or a smooth side of the belt 100/120.

[0036] In the embodiments of Figures 2, 3A and 3B the lower guide elements 106, 126 (such as the smooth pulleys) receive the hydrostatic pres- sure to their supported rotation shafts. The rotation of the smooth pulley 106, 126 in the water does not require a great energy to overcome the friction of water. The hydrostatic pressure as such is not significant for the rotation of the pulley in the water because the pulley 106, 126 is equipotential when examined in the horizontal plane, and the total effect of the hydrostatic pressure is directed to the rotation shafts of the pulley 106, 126.

[0037] As may be seen from the different embodiments, the insulation means may thus comprise a symmetrical, rotating piece supported at its rotation shaft. The rotation shaft may thus receive the total effect of the hydrostatic pressure acting on the rotating piece. This is because of the equipotential on the different sides of the rotation piece, when examined on a horizontal plane, as discussed above. The rotating piece may be e.g. one of the following: a pulley (Figures 1 E, 2, 3A to 3B), a cogwheel (Figures 1A to 1D).

[0038] As shown by the disclosed embodiments, the sum of the forces caused by the hydrostatic pressure and acting perpendicularly to the surface of the rotating piece serving as the insulation means is directed to the rotation shaft of the rotating piece. For example, hydrostatic pressure on the upper surface of a particular tooth of the cogwheel 110/130 is cancelled, on the one hand, because on the under surface of the same tooth there is a hydrostatic pressure acting in the opposite direction, and, on the other hand, because on the other edge of the same cogwheel 110, 130 there is also a tooth that is on a substantially the same horizontal level and subjected to a force acting in the opposite direction. Consequently, the hydrostatic pressure does not have a significant effect on the rotation in water of the symmetrical piece in question (such as a cogwheel or a pulley). In that case the pieces in the fluid may have a potential energy (that the pieces may release when rising up with the buoyancy) greater than friction and other forces opposing the motion added together. This guiding of the forces caused by hydrostatic pressure to the rotation shaft is made possible by supporting the rotating piece to bearings in a symmetrical manner. Hence the force that opposes, when pieces are entered, the movement of a tooth in the direction of travel of the belt (i.e. the hydrostatic pressure on the tooth surface) is smaller than the potential energy received by the piece in the fluid.

[0039] In an embodiment, as shown in Figures 5A and 5B, the surface of the teeth 102, 122 of the belt 100, 120 comprises transverse grooves 500 on the surface that sets against the cogwheel 110, 130. These grooves may be referred to as a saw tooth pattern, for example, although the shape of the groove 500 does not necessarily have to resemble a saw. The grooves 500 may be open at least at one end. This allows the fluid to enter the grooves 500 and thus between the cogwheel 110, 130 and the tooth 102, 122 of the belt 100, 120 when the tooth 102, 122 is inside the tank 108. This is shown in Figure 5A. At 501 the grooves 500 are not surrounded by fluid but outside the tank 108 and in contact with air, for example. The bottom of the tank 108 is at the seal 132. As shown in the figure, the bottom of the grooves 500 is detached from the slots of the cogwheel 110, 130, but the peaks between the grooves 500 are in tight contact with the slots of the cogwheel 110, 130 to prevent the fluid from moving from one groove to an adjacent one and out of the tank 108. As the fluid gets between the tooth 102, 122 and the cogwheel 110, 130, it causes a hydrostatic pressure 502 that pushes the tooth 102, 122 to detach from the cogwheel 110, 130. Naturally the fluid in the tank 108 also has an effect in that it causes a force 504 that pushes the tooth 102, 122 towards the cogwheel but, depending on the density and size of the grooves 500, the difference between these forces 502, 504 is not great, so the tooth 102, 122 detaches fairly easily from the cogwheel 110, 130. As a result, part of the bottom plane of the tank 108 is in practice formed by the surface of the cogwheel 110, 130, not the back of the belt 100, 120. Figure 5B further shows that each groove 500 may have a width smaller than the height 510 of the seal 112, 132 and thus no fluid can flow out of the tank 108 through the groove 500. It is to be noted that also in Figures 5A and 5B the shape and size of the teeth 102, 122 or those of the cogwheels 110, 130 are exemplary only and do not necessarily correspond to an actual implementation.

[0040] In addition, as may be seen in the different embodiments, the insulation means rotate in the direction of travel of the first and/or the second belt 100, 120. This rotation may consist of the rotation of the cogwheel 110, 130 or that of the second belt 120. Since the insulation means rotate and thus follow the motion of the first belt 100, for example, the insulation means do not resist the movement of the belt 100. This may be important so that energy is not wasted by the insulation means.

[0041] In addition, as shown in the top Figures 1 B and 3B, the apparatus may comprise at least one energy transmission element 118 arranged to utilize the rotation of at least one belt 100, 120 to transmit energy from the apparatus. In an embodiment, one energy transmission element 118 is a shaft fastened to at least one of the following: a guide element 104, 106, 124 and 126, a cogwheel 110, 130, 140A to 140N. According to an embodiment, the energy transmission element 118 is the rotation shaft of the guide element or that of the cogwheel. In that case the energy transmission element 118 rotates due to the rotation of the guide element and/or the cogwheel.

[0042] One of the things energy production by means of the apparatus is based on is that a weight difference caused by buoyancy between pieces of an equal mass in a closed system creates a force equal to the amount of the displaced medium (fluid) or the difference between the densities of the media (such as fluid and air). As a result, the entire weight of the displaced fluid mass becomes torque that can be taken from the apparatus almost entirely, because the losses (such as overcoming friction force) of the apparatus are small. The power produced by the apparatus/engine may be taken from a rotating shaft of the apparatus. Therefore, there is not upper limit for the engine power because the fluid mass displaced by the apparatus may be increased for example by lowering the apparatus deeper into the water and by lengthening the belts. In addition, the torque to be produced may be adjusted by changing the relative density of the media 150 and 152.

[0043] It is to be noted that, for example in Figure 1A, when one tooth enters the fluid, another one on the upper side of the belt rises from the fluid. For this reason the volume displaced by the pieces 102/122 in the medium 1 (fluid) does not vary but is constant. Consequently, the apparatus allows pieces to be brought uninterruptedly (as an endless chain) into a vessel/tank/space containing fluid without the amount of the displaced fluid changing, and the pieces may be released to become subjected to buoyancy in the fluid. In addition, the disclosed apparatus allows a tooth to be brought into a vessel without having to overcome the hydraulic pressure caused by the total height of the fluid. For the above reasons, the power corresponding to the mass of the displaced medium (fluid) may be utilized in its entirety.

[0044] The power produced by the apparatus may be used for example for generating electricity (for running a generator), for producing fuel (by means of hydrogen) or for any other desired implementation.

[0045] Examples of the advantages to be gained with the invention include the possibility to use the apparatus for emission-free (pollution-free) production of basic energy, with zero energy production costs (e.g. no fuel costs such as today) and with constant availability of the energy source pro- vided by the apparatus. In the last case it may be assumed that the apparatus producing energy is installed for example to the user's home or close to it. Moreover, as regards production of electric energy, balancing of fluctuations in consumption may be easy (due to constantly rotating reserves). Also a noteworthy aspect is that the user of the energy may produce the energy needed (with reserve energy included) always independently by converting the produced energy into the needed form (e.g. electricity, hydrogen into vehicle fuel and reserve energy, etc.) The conversion of the energy may be carried out by using methods known to a skilled professional (e.g. electric generator used to produce electricity, fuel (hydrogen) and/or mechanical energy). In addition, costs, systems or premises similar to those needed now for transferring and/or storing energy may be disposed of.

[0046] It should be noted that production of energy also comprises conversion of energy. Hence, an apparatus according to an embodiment is an apparatus for energy conversion. In that case the apparatus may convert energy into kinetic energy, for example, which is taken out through the energy transmission element.

[0047] In an embodiment, the apparatus is in an endless non-stabile state due to the influence of the buoyancy caused by the fluid, thus causing the apparatus to operate continuously. In an embodiment, no energy from outside needs to be supplied into the apparatus, gravity and the force produced by buoyancy alone being sufficient to enable to rotation of the belts of the apparatus. In an embodiment, the apparatus does not need any fuel. In an embodiment, when the apparatus is operating, the amount of energy that may be taken is greater than losses.

[0048] In an embodiment, the belt/belts of the apparatus start to move when the apparatus is at least partly submerged into fluid, or fluid is led into the tank 108. In an embodiment, energy is to be supplied into the apparatus only in order to allow the apparatus to start.

[0049] In an embodiment, energy may be supplied into the apparatus through any shaft, by means of an electric engine, for example, to allow the belts of the apparatus to rotate. In that case one of the shafts may be rotated by means of an electric motor, for example.

[0050] In an embodiment, the apparatus may be used as a gear, for example. The size of the cogwheels or that of the pulleys, for example, in relation to one another may vary, in which case the power taken from a different shaft may comprise, among other things, faster or slower shaft rotation than the shaft into which energy is supplied.

[0051] In accordance with the invention, there is also disclosed a method for producing energy by making use of buoyancy caused by fluid and gravity. As shown in Figure 4, in step 400 of the method it is possible to arrange the first belt to run so that the teeth of the first belt are in direct fluid contact on a part of the first closed cycle, the teeth being in this part of the closed cycle subjected to buoyancy caused by the fluid, the buoyancy thus determining a direction of rotation for the first belt. In step 402 the tooth is insulated from the direct fluid contact when the tooth is brought to the point of the closed cycle where the buoyancy caused by the fluid starts to act on the tooth, thus reducing the opposing effect of the hydrostatic pressure on the tooth. The insulation means may comprise e.g. a tooth belt 120, pulleys 124, 126 or a cogwheel 110. In step 404, energy originating from the rotation of at least one belt is received from the apparatus.

[0052] It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that as technology advances, the basic idea of the invention may be implemented in many different ways. The invention and its embodiments are thus not restricted to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for energy production utilizing buoyancy caused by fluid (150) and gravity comprises:

a first belt (100), which comprises teeth (102) on one surface thereof and is arranged to travel in a first closed cycle, the cycle being determined by at least a first upper guide element (104) and a first lower guide element (106), and in which the first belt (100) is arranged to travel so that the teeth (102) of the first belt (100) are in direct fluid contact on a part of the first closed cycle, the teeth (102) being subjected to buoyancy caused by the fluid (150) on this part of the closed cycle, the buoyancy thus determining a direction of rotation for the first belt (100);

insulation means, which are arranged to insulate a tooth (102) from direct fluid contact when the tooth (102) is brought to a point on the closed cycle where the buoyancy caused by the fluid (150) starts to act on the tooth (102), thus reducing the opposing effect of the hydrostatic pressure on the tooth (102); and

at least one energy transmission element (1 18) arranged to transmit energy from the apparatus by utilizing the rotation of at least one belt (100, 120).

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a second belt (120), which comprises teeth (122) on one surface thereof and is arranged to travel in a second closed cycle, the cycle being determined by at least a second upper guide element (124) and a second lower guide element (126), and in which the second belt (120) is arranged to travel on a part of the second closed cycle so that the teeth (122) of the second belt (120) are in direct fluid contact, the teeth (122) being subjected to the buoyancy caused by the fluid (150), which thus determines a direction of rotation for the second belt (120).

3. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a fluid tank (108) for the fluid (150), the first closed cycle and/or the second closed cycle being arranged to partly travel through the fluid tank (108) in a substantially vertical direction; and a sealing structure (112, 132) for sealing an interface between an entry point of the fluid tank (108) and a corresponding belt (100, 120).

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the insulation means comprise:

a first cogwheel (110), in which the teeth are arranged to interleave with the teeth (102) of the first belt (100) at least at the point of the first closed cycle where the tooth (102) of the first belt (100) enters the fluid tank (108), the interleaving of the teeth sealing at the same time the interface between the tooth surface of the first belt (100) and the entry point of the fluid tank (108).

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the insulation means further comprise:

at least a second cogwheel (130), in which the cogwheels (1 10, 130) are side by side so that, when in rotation, the teeth of the cogwheels (110, 130) set momentarily against one another in an interleaved manner, thus making also this point of the wall or bottom of the fluid tank (108) watertight.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the teeth of the second cogwheel (130) are arranged to interleave with the teeth (122) of the second belt (120) at least at the point of the second closed cycle where a tooth (122) of the second belt enters the fluid tank (108), the interleaving of the teeth sealing at the same time the interface between the tooth surface of the second belt (120) and the entry point of the fluid tank (108).

7. An apparatus according to any of claims 4 to 6, wherein the surface of the teeth (102, 122) of the belt (100, 120) comprises transverse grooves (500), in which grooves (500) the fluid is allowed to enter between the cogwheel (1 10, 130) and the tooth (102, 122) of the belt (100, 120) when the tooth (102, 122) is inside the tank (108), the fluid thus causing a hydrostatic pressure that pushes the tooth (102, 122) to detach it from the cogwheel (110, 130).

8. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the insulation means comprise said second belt (120), liquid-proofing being arranged so that the teeth (102, 122) of the first belt (100) and the second belt (120), respectively, interleave against one another when a tooth (102) is brought to the point where the buoyancy caused by the fluid (150) starts to act on the tooth (102) of the first belt (100).

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a liquid-proof insulation tank (116), which is arranged to allow the belts (100, 120) in from its upper part and out from its lower part and placed to the apparatus so that the teeth (102, 122) of the first belt (100) and the second belt (120), respectively, that interleave against one another travel in the insulation tank (116) without contact with the fluid (150) surrounding the tank (116), thus ensuring that the hydrostatic pressure does not act on the teeth (102, 122) currently inside the insulation tank (116); and

sealing elements (146) arranged to seal the interface between the insulation tank (116) and the backs of the belts (100, 120) so that entry of fluid (150) into the insulation tank (116) is prevented.

10. An apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 9, wherein the apparatus is at least partly submerged into the fluid (150) and the apparatus further comprises:

fastening elements for fastening the apparatus in place at least partly below the surface of the fluid (150).

1 . An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the insulation means comprise a symmetrical rotating piece supported at its rotation shaft, the rotation shaft receiving a total effect of hydrostatic pressure acting on the symmetrical rotating piece, the symmetrical rotating piece being one of the following: a pulley (104, 106, 124, 126), a cogwheel (110, 130).

12. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11 , wherein the insulation means rotate along a direction of travel of the first and/or the second belt (100, 120).

13. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the energy transmission element (118) is at least one shaft fastened to at least one of the following: the guide element (104, 106, 124, 126), the cogwheel (1 10, 130, 140A to 140N) and in which the energy transmission element rotates as a result of the rotation of said guide element and/or said cogwheel.

14. A method for energy production utilizing buoyancy caused by fluid (150) and gravity comprises the steps of:

arranging a first belt (100) comprising teeth (102) on one side thereof to travel in a first closed cycle so that the teeth (102) of the first belt (100) are in direct fluid contact on a part of the closed cycle, the teeth (102) thus being in this part of the closed cycle subjected to buoyancy caused by the fluid (150), the buoyancy determining a direction of rotation for the first belt (100);

insulating a tooth (102) from the direct fluid contact when the tooth (102) is being brought to a point of the closed cycle where the buoyancy caused by the fluid (150) starts to act on the tooth (102), thus reducing the opposing effect of the hydrostatic pressure on the tooth (102); and

receiving energy originating from the rotation of at least one belt

(100,120).