WO2019240600A1

WO2019240600A1 - High torque output electromechanical apparatus and method to generate electricity

Info

Publication number: WO2019240600A1
Application number: PCT/PH2019/000008
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rene GIANAN
Original assignee: Gianan Rene
Priority date: 2018-06-13
Filing date: 2019-06-11
Publication date: 2019-12-19
Also published as: PH12018000162A1

Abstract

Disclosed is an electro-mechanical apparatus for generating electrical energy which utilizes the leverage of the mechanical devices and the force of gravity on heavy drive weights to produce high torque from the pair of drive weights alternately falling and automatic resetting on rotatable longitudinal levers to drive the electric generators in clockwise rotation. The drive weights and the heavier counterweights were unbalanced at the output shafts of the worm gearbox to facilitate the use of smaller electric motor and for faster reset. The two pairs of drive weights disposed on the longitudinal levers are rotatable for reset in counterclockwise motion. The worm gearboxes were rigidly mounted at the distal end of every rectangular metal frame rotor. The driven smaller electric generator will supply power to the small reset AC motors.

Description

HIGH TORQUE OUTPUT ELECTROMECHANICAL APPARATUS AND METHOD TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY

Specification I. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electro-mechanical apparatus and method to generate electrical energy. More particularly, it relates to an apparatuswhich utilizes the leverage of the mechanical devices and the force of gravity on rotatable heavy drive weights to produce high torque that alternately falls down and resets automatically. The heavier counterweights are disposed to one end of the longitudinal lever so that the cycle continues in a rotating motion to drive electric generators by means of the main center shaft and chain drive system. The two heavier counter weights hanging on the rotor ends in either side of the invention were positioned in equal distance from the main center shaft for balancing purposes.

II. Background of the Invention

There are a few weight driven electric generators with granted patents. Some are small that require human energy to reset the weight to the top by lifting or by flipping the whole gadget, and some are big with no news about them. A hydro-electric power plant is one example of a weights driven electric generator using the weight of falling water to produce pressure to drive the turbines connected to an electric generator. The water wheel can become a gravity wheel due to the fact that water flows from a higher ground going to a lower ground.

1. One example of a small apparatus is the“gravity-powered electrical energy generators” with US patent No. 8950889 issued on August 2012. The commercial name of this invention is gravity light. This invention requires human energy to lift the 10 kilograms of sand in a bag to reset the gravity light apparatus that powers a super bright white LED.

2. US Patent No. 8516812 issued on July 2010 entitled“power production employing buoyancy, gravity and kinetic energy”. This invention uses buoyancy to reset the weights to the top.

3. US Patent No. 8901785 issued on December 2014 entitled“gravity powered electricity generator". This invention uses solar or wind energy to reset the weights to the top.

l 4. US Patent No. 9670910 issued on June 2017 entitled“gravity-driven power generation (GPG) system”. This invention uses a gravity wheel with linear extending and retracting arms with fluid pump and tank.

5. US Patent No. 5905312 filed on May 1997 entitled“gravity generating system”. This invention uses a water pump for reset.

III. Summary of the Invention

This much better next generation continuously renewable source of electric power is a rotatable electro-mechanical apparatus with two pairs of alternately falling and alternately resetting drive weights on long levers that produces high torque to drive electric generators in clockwise rotation. The two suspended heavier counterweights of either rotor A or rotor B were strategically positioned to balance with each other and let the drive weights do the work in driving the electric generators. The suspended heavier counterweight is unbalanced with the drive weight on long lever at the output shaft of the worm gearmotor for an easy, low energy and fast automatic reset. This new electro-mechanical apparatus also comprises of a main center shaft on two roller bearings, the left and right rectangular metal frame rotors, the dual A-frame steel base, the chain drive system, the self-locking 4:1 worm gearmotor with built-in variable frequency drive as the reset actuator, the latching hall effect sensors with relay drives, the adjustable south pole magnets with the preferred position at 5 o’clock and 11 o’clock that will trigger the latching hall effect sensor to reset the drive weights back to the top and the adjustable north pole magnets with the preferred position at 1 o’clock and 7 o’clock that will trigger the stop and lock of gearmotor at the 1 o’clock start position of the drive weights as shown in Figures 1 , 2 and 7.

During the 1 o’clock to 5 o’clock falling period of rotor A drive weights (as shown in Figure 5), the long lever arms are locked with the rectangular metal frame rotor via the deactivated self-locking worm gearmotor. Upon reaching the 5 o’clock position, automatic reset is initiated by the latching hall effect sensor with the south pole magnet to activate the rotary actuator worm gearmotor for a fast and stable angular upward motion (as shown in Figures 6, 7, 8.1 and 8.2).

IV. Technical problem and solution The main problem of the existing gravity powered electric generators is how to automatically reset quickly and continuously the drive weights back to the top after the weights have gone down to the lower position.

A much better solution is to use multiple pairs of alternately falling drive weights on rotatable and lockable longitudinal levers that is able to automatically reset alternately by means of the dedicated heavier counterweight and the heavy duty worm gearmotor as the rotary actuator mounted on the distal ends of the rectangular metal frame rotors. This solution uses balanced multiple heavier counterweights on dual seesaw like structure in criss-cross configuration and is unbalanced with the drive weights for low energy automatic reset with the selflocking worm gearmotor with built-in variable frequency drive, activated and deactivated by the latching hall effect sensors using south and north pole magnets and relay switches as shown in Figures 6, 7 and 10.

V. Advantages of the Invention

The best advantage of this safe new electro-mechanical apparatus is the continuous renewable source of electric power thru the alternating fall drive and automatic reset of the heavy drive weights on longitudinal levers that creates high torque to drive electric generators that will supply the future energy needs of mankind.

Large electric power plants using this technology can be built near residential, commercial and industrial sites. Electric substations can be eliminated, no more need of very long transmission wires and transmission charges in electric bills.

This invention overcomes the disadvantages of previous gravity powered electric generators, intermittent solar and wind powered generators. This invention may also stop the dangerous radioactive nuclear powerplants.

This invention is industrially applicable and can be built inside a house or buildings for protection against the sun, dirt and rain.

This invention can be made small for mobile applications such as emergency power requirements and built-in mobile chargers for parked electric vehicles. No more air, noise and heat pollutions, there will be more oxygen for humans and not for internal combustion machines. A remedy for climate change.

Small units of this invention can power water pumps from far away rivers to irrigate farm lands on mountain slopes and other agricultural purposes on a 24/7 basis. No more storage batteries needed for night time use. All products that uses electricity from this invention for production will cost lower. No more rotating brownouts and no more energy crisis. No more dangerous radiation and heat producing nuclear power plants. No more power rate hikes and price increases due to oil price increases. We will have a more stable and prosperous economy.

VI. Brief Description of the Drawings

The drawings show the preferred embodiments of the invention and the reference numbers in the drawings are used consistently throughout. The drawings are made simple to avoid hidden parts and make the presentation easy to understand. Reference numbers with the letter A at the end means that it is part of rotor. A reference numbers with the letter B at the end means that it is part of rotor B.

Figure 1 is the side view elevation of the invention with rotor A in front and rotor B at the back supported by roller bearings on dual A-frame steel base.

Figure 2 is the front view elevation of the invention with rotor A at the left side of the invention and rotor B at the right side of the invention. The main center shaft, the electric generators and the chain drive system is located at the middle.

Figure 3 is the enlarged side view of the rotor B.

Figure 4 is the enlarged front view of the rotor A.

Figure 5 is the fall and drive mode that starts at 1 o’clock position going down to the 5 o’clock position.

Figure 6 is the reset mode of the drive weights in counter clockwise upward motion actuated by the gearmotor and made faster by heavier counterweights while the rectangular metal frame rotor continuously rotate clockwise from 5 o’clock position to 7 o’clock position due to fall and drive mode of the other rotor drive weights. The resetting of drive weights also contributes to clockwise torque.

Figure 7 illustrates the locations of north pole and south pole magnets to trigger the latching hall effect sensors and control the activation and deactivation of the gearmotors. The locations of the permanent magnets are adjustable for timing.

Figure 8.1 and 8.2 illustrates the simultaneous fall drive mode of rotor A and the reset mode of rotor B and vice versa.

Figure 9 is the sectional side and front view of the 4:1 worm gearmotor with self-locking feature when deactivated.

Figure 10 is the wiring diagram of the gearmotor, variable frequency drive, relay switch and the latching hall effect sensor with relay driver.

Figure 11 is the electrical block diagram of the invention.

Figure 12 is the basic and conservative sample computation of power input from alternating fall of heavy drive weights on longitudinal levers to create a very high torque using 2000 Kg drive weights on 10 meters of radius and the average speed of 30 rpm with power transmission using chain drive system to drive an electric generator.

VII. Detailed description of the Invention

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which from a part thereof and which illustrates several embodiments of the present invention. Reference numbers with a capital letter A at the end means that it is a port of rotor A. Reference numbers with a capital letter B at the end means that it is a part of rotor B. The drawings and the preferred embodiments of the invention are presented with the understanding forms and, therefore, other embodiments may be utilized and structural and operational changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The drawings show the preferred embodiments of the invention and the reference numbers in the drawings are used consistently throughout the figures.

Figure 1 illustrates the start position and the side view of the invention where the drive weights (100A)(100B) are made of high density concrete which are mounted on the distal end of the longitudinal levers (101A)(101 B), the longitudinal levers are mounted on the outboard output shafts of the gearmotor (106A)(106B), the gearmotors are mounted at the distal ends of the rectangular metal frame rotors (103A)(103B). The drive weights alternately going down which can produce a very high torque due to gravity and leverage. The heavier reset counterweights (301A)(301 B) are also made of high density concrete were unbalanced with the drive weights (100A)(100B) at the output shafts of the worm gearmotor (106A)(106B) for a very low energy but fast reset of drive weight back to the top, controlled by built-in variable frequency drive (VFD) in terms of speed, safe acceleration and deceleration rate.

The starting of the electro-mechanical prime mover machine is to raise one of the drive weight using a lifting hoist, when the drive weights is at the start position or at 1 o'clock position, the drive weight is disengaged with the lifting hoist and the machine will rotate automatically due to position sensors that will trigger the relays to start the reset motors to make the drive weight go back to the start position and the reset motor will stop due to another position sensor that triggers the stop relay to disengage the electric power of the reset motor.

The electro-mechanical prime mover will drive a fixed electrical load matched with the electric generator and the prime mover as shown in the sample computation figure of drawings to rotate at specified safe speed.

The reset motors will be powered by the UPS for a few seconds until the electric generator is able to supply the 220VAC to the UPS input.

The two pairs of drive weights alternately fall down to drive the generator and automatically reset to start position due to counterweights and the self-locking worm gearmotor for safe acceleration and deceleration.

Figure 2 illustrates the front view of the invention showing the left rotor A and the right rotor B supported by a main center shaft (118) and two pillow block roller bearings (1 15A)(115B) on a dual A-frame steel base with stairs (116).

A pair of rectangular metal frame rotor (103A)(103B) in criss-cross configuration were fixed at the two ends of the main shaft (1 18) for clockwise rotation.

The counterweight housing (301A)(301 B) is hanged unto the inboard side of the worm gearmotor, equipped with roller bearings (305A) to keep it under the gearbox with respect to the rotary motion of the invention. The counterweights (301A)(301 B) are suspended using stainless steel wire rope (304A)(304B) going thru a pair of pulley (302A)(302B) and mounted to the short lever wire rope mount pulley (108A)(108B). The self-locking 4:1 worm gearmotors (106A)(106B) are the rotary actuators for the reset of the drive weights (100A)(100B) in counter clockwise upward motion from the 5 o’clock and 11 o’clock position of the rectangular metal frame rotors (103A)(103B). The latching hall effect sensors with relay drivers (109A)(109B) were located at the main center shaft (118) aligned with the rectangular metal frame rotor (109A aligned with 103A) (109B aligned with 103B) near the pillow block bearing housing (115A)(115B) where the trigger south pole magnets (107A-S)(107B-S) were attached at 5 o’clock and 11 o’clock position, as shown in Figures 2 and 7.

The deactivation of the worm gearmotor at 1 o’clock position by the latching hall effect sensor will lock the longitudinal levers (101A)(101 B) with the rectangular metal frame motors (103A)(103B) during fall and drive period from 1 o’clock to 5 o’clock as shown in Figures 5, 7 and 8. When the latching hall effect sensor with relay driver module (109A)(109B) passes by the north pole magnets (107A- N)(107B-N) at the 1 o’clock and 7 o’clock position, the worm gearmotor stops and self blocks.

The built-in variable frequency drive may be adjusted to determine the final correct speed of the gearmotor such that the proper reset of drive weights is at 1 o’clock position.

Electric power from the uninterruptible power supply inside power center utility box (120) will provide constant power supply for the invention from the initial start position as shown in Figure 1 , as the metal weights (100A) falls to drive the electric generators (111 A)(111 B), electric power from the battery is disconnected and ac power from the electric generator (1 11 A) is used to power up the gearmotors, variable frequency drives, and the latching hall effect sensors with relay drivers.

Figure 2 illustrates a front view of the invention showing how the left and right rectangular metal frame rotors (103A)(103B) supports the rotatable metal weights (100A)(100B), the longitudinal levers (101A)(101 B), the short levers (303A)(303B) thru the rotary actuators self-locking 4:1 worm gearmotor (106A)(106B). A main center shaft (118) is supported by two roller pillow block bearings (115A)(1 15B) mounted at the pedestal that serves as the axis of rotation together with the chain drive system (110) at the middle. The chain drive system transmits mechanical power to rotate the electric generator (111 A)(111 B). Electric generator 111A will supply power to the gearmotors (106A, 106B) and its controllers, while the electric generator 111 B will supply power to the consumer applications.

The power center utility box (120) contains a circuit connection of the battery starter uninterruptable power supply or UPS, an ac-dc converter voltage regulator, voltmeters, ammeters, circuit breakers and a transformer.

Figure 3 is an illustration of the side view of rotor B in reset mode which shows the rectangular metal frame rotor (103B) rigidly mounted to the main shaft (118), the rotatable and lockable longitudinal levers (101 B) mounted on the outboard side of the gearmotor’s (106B) output shaft, the pair of pulleys (302B) inside the counterweight housing (102B), the heavier counterweight (301 B) is unbalanced with the drive weight (100B) for fast reset, the longitudinal lever (101 B) thru the short lever (303B) has an offset of 15 degrees, the stainless steel wire rope (304B) mounted at the short lever wire rope mount pulley (118B) and the 4:1 selflocking worm gearmotor (106B) as the axis of rotation for automatic reset of the drive weights (100B).

Figure 4 illustrates the front view of rotor A which shows the two output shafts of the rotary actuator self-locking 4:1 worm gearmotor (106A). These output shafts self-locking during the falling drive period and rotates during the activation to guide the drive weights (100A) for fast reset upward in counter clockwise motion.

Said counterweight (301A) is suspended via the stainless steel wire rope (304A), thru a pair of pulleys (302A) and mounted on the short lever (303A) using cable wire fittings to mount around the rope mount pulley (108A). The counterweight is inside the steel frame housing (102A) with stabilizer weights at the bottom to keep it from swinging due to reset and drive modes. The counterweight housing (102A) is hanging on the flanged bushing (306A)(365B) at the inboard side of the gearmotor via roller bearings (305A)(305B). The ideal weight ratio of the drive weight and the heavier counterweight is about 1 :8, due to the longitudinal lever’s weight, proper additional counterweight to counteract the downward momentum of drive weight and for faster reset. The longitudinal lever (101 A)(101 B) is four times the length of the short lever (303A)(303B).

Figure 5 illustrates the fall drive mode of rotor A drive weights, starting at 1 o’clock position to 5 o’clock position with the movements of the counterweights.

Figure 6 illustrates the reset mode of rotor B drive weights, starting at (A) 5 o’clock position to (B.) 6 o’clock position of the rectangular metal frame rotor to (C.) 7 o’clock position or the start position which is also the 1 o’clock position.

Figure 7 illustrates the rotor A or rotor B adjustable trigger magnet locations and the control sequence of worm gearmotor activation when the latching hall effect sensor senses the south pole magnet and deactivation when the latching hall effect sensor senses the north pole magnet.

Figure 8.1 illustrates the fall and drive mode of the rotor A drive weights (100A) in clockwise rotation with the rectangular metal frame rotor (103A), and the reset mode of rotor B drive weights (100B) in counter clockwise rotation against the clockwise rotation of the rectangular metal frame rotor (103B).

Figure 8.2 illustrates the reset mode of rotor A drive weights (100A) in counter clockwide rotation against the clockwise rotation of the rectangular metal frame rotor (103A), and the falling drive mode of rotor B drive weights (100B) in clockwise rotation with the rectangular metal frame rotor (103B).

Figure 9 illustrates the cut away side view and front view of the self-locking 4:1 worm gearmotor with two output shafts.

Figure 10 illustrates the wiring diagram for the gearmotor, the variable frequency drive, the relay switch and the latching hall effect sensor with relay drive module. When the latching hall effect sensor passes by the north pole permanent magnet, the relay switch is turned OFF indefinitely, but the relay switch turns ON indefinitely when sensor passes by the south pole permanent magnet.

Figure 11 illustrates the electrical block diagram of the invention. The variable frequency drives are integrated with the gearmotors (106A)(106B). The latching hall effect sensors with relay drivers (109A)(109B) is located on the main center shaft (118) near the magnets (107A)(107B) on the outboard side of the housing of the pillow block roller bearings (115A)(115B). The main circuit breakers, the voltmeters, the ammeters, the battery for starting in the uninterruptible power supply and the transformer is located at the power center utility box (120). Two slip rings with metal brushes (114) is located at the main center shaft (1 18) to facilitate electrical power transfer from stationary electric generator (111 A) to the rotating electrical power transfer from stationary electric generator (11 1 A) to the rotating electrical loads of the invention.

Figure 12 illustrates the conservative power output sample computation. The input torque is from the alternately falling of drive weights on longitudinal levers at 30 rpm using 2000 Kg drive weights with 10 meters of radius including the rotor. The counterweights are approximately 16000 Kg each suspended by stainless steel wire rope mounted on the 2.5 meters short levers. The power output of 615 kilowatts is more than enough to drive a 30 rpm, 300 kilowatts 3-phase electric generator thru a chain drive system or a direct drive system having the main center shaft common with the electric generator’s shaft.

At 90% efficiency, 260 kilowatts electric generator (1 1 1 B) will be used for consumer applications and about 10 kilowatts electric generator (1 1 1 A) will be used for the gearmotors and controllers in reset mode. A dynamometer test will indicate the true power output of the invention due to additional torque from the reset mode of the rotor B drive weights and the other rotor A drive weight near the gearbox.

One embodiment of an electro-mechanical apparatus for utilizing multiple alternately falling and automatic resetting of drive weights on longitudinal levers with reset counterweights and rotors to create high torque for driving electric generators continuouslyhaving a method of producing electricity, comprising the steps of: (a) resetting the two pairs of heavy drive weights on longitudinal levers and rotors to produce high torque in driving electric generators, (b) locking the longitudinal levers with rectangular metal frame rotor via the deactivated worm gearmotor, (c) controlling the worm gearmotor by the variable latching hall effect sensor with relay driver module, (d) triggering the latching hall effect sensor by the south pole magnet to deactivate the gearmotor and the north pole magnet to activate the gearmotor for reset of drive weight, (e) suspending the heavier counterweights on the short levers to help the worm gearmotor to reset the drive weights back to the 1 o’clock start position, (f) positioning the suspended counterweights under the gearmotor via the pulley inside it’s housing to balance with the other suspended counterweight on the same rectangular metal frame rotor; and (g) mounting the rectangular metal frame rotors on both ends of the shaft in criss-cross configuration to harness the alternate fall drive modes of rotor A and rotor B, thereby producing the continuous high torque needed to drive electric generators via the chain drive system or direct drive system.

With the foregoing description, it should be understood that thisdescription is only by way of example and not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalent, rather than by the example given.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An electro-mechanical apparatus for utilizing multiple alternately falling and automatic resetting of drive weights disposed on longitudinal levers with reset counterweights and rotors to produce high torque for driving electric generators continuously, comprising:

a plurality of heavy drive weights (100A)(100B) mounted on the distal end tips of plurality of rotatable and lockable longitudinal levers (101 A)(101 B) mounted on the outboard side of the output shafts of a plurality of worm gearmotors (106A)(106B);

a plurality of second levers (303A)(303B) mounted on the inboard side of the output shafts of the plurality of worm gearmotors;

a heavier counterweight (301A)(301 B) disposed to each drive weight and each suspended inside a metal frame housing with stabilizer weights at the bottom (102A)(102B), said heavier counterweights are each suspended usingstainless steel wire rope (304A)(304B) on each lever (303A)(303B) with wire rope mountedat each pulley (108A)(108B); and

a plurality of stainless steel wire rope goes thru a plurality of pairs of pulleys (302A)(302B) inside the counterweight’s housing that is hanging on the flanged bushing (306A)(306B) at the inboard side of the worm gearboxes by means of roller bearings (305A)(305B),

wherein the plurality of worm gearmotors are mounted on both ends of each multiple rectangular metal frame rotors (103A)(103B), each rectangular metal frame is mounted on the two ends of a shaft (118) in criss-cross configuration, said shaft (1 18) is supported by two pillow block bearings (115A)(115B) on the top of a dual A-frame steel base to drive electric generators using a chain drive system or a direct drive system.

2. The electro-mechanical apparatus according to claim i , further comprising:

electrical devices to bring about the automatic reset of the drive weights comprising:

a plurality of gearmotors controlled by built-in variable frequency drives (VFD) in terms of speed, safe acceleration and deceleration rate; a plurality of latching hall effect sensors with relay drivers mounted on the shaft, and aligned with the rectangular metal frame rotor, wherein a plurality of adjustable permanent magnets installed on the gearmotor output shaft, aligned with the second lever of drive weights which triggers the latching hall effect sensors at 1 o’clock and 7 o’clock positions ith north pole magnets to deactivate the gearmotor, and at 5 o’clock and 1 1 o’clock positions with south pole magnets to activate the gearmotor;

an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) disposed inside the power center utility box and back-up power;

a plurality of relay to control the start and stop switch of ! variable frequency drive; and

a dedicated electric generator to supply power for the gearmotors, VFD controllers, sensors and the UPS.

3. The electro-mechanical apparatus according to claim , further comprises multiple units of a prime mover adopted to drive an electric generator using a common shaft with multiple chain drive system.

4. The electro-mechanical apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the length ratio of the first lever from that of the second lever is 1 :4.

5. The electro-mechanical apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of the drive weight from that of the heavier counterweight is 1 :8.

6. The electro-mechanical apparatus according to claim 1 , w derein the reset stop hall effect sensors for the one o’clock position is located on t/ .. outboard side of the worm gearboxes, aligned with the rectangular metal fra with the magnets for the hall sensor located at the outboard output shaft of the g o rbox and is aligned with the reset lever at 180 degrees apart.

7. The electro-mechanical apparatus according to claim 1 , wi .erein the counterweights are configured for easy reset, and the drive weights io .figured to pass thru the center of rotation of the main shaft, wherein the passim, u of the drive weight across the center of rotation contributes to the extended c'rve weight to drive the main center shaft in driving the electric generator.

8. The electro-mechanical apparatus according to claim 1 , - ein the drive weight starts position is from 1 o’clock to 2 o’clock position while . reset of the drive weights starts from 5 o’clock to 6 o’clock position

9. The electro-mechanical apparatushaving a method of producing electricity, comprising the steps of:

a. resetting the two pairs of heavy drive weights on longitudinal levers and rotors to produce high torque in driving electric generators;

b. locking the longitudinal levers with rectangular metal frame re or via the deactivated worm gearmotor;

c. controlling the worm gearmotor by the variable latching hall effect sensor with relay driver module;

d. triggering the latching hall effect sensor by the south pole magnet to deactivate the gearmotor and the north pole magnet to activate the ge motor for reset of drive weight;

e. suspending the heavier counterweights on the short levers , help the worm gearmotor to reset the drive weights back to the 1 o’clock start ition;

f. positioning the suspended counterweights under the gearmotor via the pulley inside a housing to balance with the other suspended counter e it on the same rectangular metal frame rotor; and

g. mounting the rectangular metal frame rotors on both ends c ^r e shaft in criss-cross configuration to harness the alternate fall drive modes oi or A and rotor B, thereby producing the continuous high torque needed to di . e electric generators via the chain drive system or direct drive system.