US 2019/0055915 A1Published application

Machine generator with cyclical, vertical mass transport mechanism

OwnerErnest William Townsend, IVinventor

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Abstract

A machine is provided for recycling a buoyant module, to convert potential energy of the module into kinetic energy, and to then restore potential energy for the module in another cycle. To do this, the machine requires a bi-level water tank that includes a transfer tank having a lower level water surface and a return tank having an upper level water surface. A two-valve mechanism operates during each cycle to effectively maintain these respective water levels. During a gravity phase in the cycle, the module is dropped from a launch point above the tank to develop kinetic energy for work. After this work is done, the module enters the transfer tank and decelerates. In a buoyancy phase of the cycle, the submerged module is propelled, by its buoyancy, from the transfer tank and through the return tank to the original launch point for another cycle.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A machine for running an electric generator which comprises:

a buoyant module;
a tank for holding a liquid having an upper level liquid surface and a lower level liquid surface;
a valve mechanism mounted on the tank for maintaining the upper level liquid surface above the lower level liquid surface;
a power path for the module, wherein the power path extends from a launch point above the tank and through a fall zone where kinetic energy is generated for the module, and then through an energy transfer section on the power path where kinetic energy is transferred from the module to the electric generator before the module enters the tank through the lower level liquid surface and decelerates in the tank at a deceleration point;
a return path for the module extending from the deceleration point in the tank to the launch point;
and
a transfer mechanism located inside the tank for receiving the module from the power path and positioning the module onto the return path for buoyant acceleration of the module from the tank through the upper level liquid surface of the tank and a return to the launch point.

4 more elements

A machine which comprises:

a bi-level liquid-filled tank including a transfer tank having a first opening and a second opening, and a return tank mounted above the transfer tank for fluid communication with the transfer tank through the second opening;
a valve mechanism having a first valve connected to the first opening, and a second valve connected to the second opening, wherein the mechanism alternately opens/closes and closes/opens the first and second valves simultaneously, to establish a first pressure head, h1, in the transfer tank when the first valve is open and the second valve is closed, and a second pressure head, h2, in a combined transfer tank and return tank when the first valve is closed and the second valve is open, wherein h2 is greater than h1 (h2>h1);
and
a buoyant module, wherein the module is dropped from a launch point at the beginning of a duty cycle to generate kinetic energy for doing work as the module falls before the module enters the transfer tank via an open first opening, wherein h1 is sufficient to decelerate the module in the transfer tank, and wherein the module is thereafter accelerated through an open second opening and into the return tank for exit therefrom, wherein h2 is sufficient to propel the module to its launch point for the start of another duty cycle.

1 more element

A machine which comprises:

a bi-level, liquid-filled tank including a transfer tank having a first opening and a second opening, and a return tank mounted above the transfer tank for fluid communication with the transfer tank through the second opening;
a first valve connected to the first opening;
a second valve connected to the second opening;
a buoyant module, wherein the module is dropped from a launch point at the beginning of a duty cycle to generate kinetic energy for doing work as the module falls from the launch point and into the transfer tank via the first opening, wherein the module has a displacement volume Vd;
a displacement device mounted inside the transfer tank, wherein an activation of the displacement device displaces the volume Vd of liquid in the transfer tank;
and
a control unit for maintaining the duty cycle in accordance with the sequence of a predetermined procedure wherein:
i) the first valve is open, the second valve is closed and the displacement device is deactivated as the module enters the transfer tank through the first opening;
ii) the first valve is closed, the second valve is open and the displacement device is activated while the module is submerged in the transfer tank and is being transferred into the return tank;
iii) the first valve is opened and the second valve is closed as the module leaves the return tank for travel to the launch point;
and iv) the first valve remains open and the second valve remains closed as the displacement device is deactivated and the tank is reconfigured for the next duty cycle.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.