Back to results
US 4,030,300 AGranted
Power generating system
OwnerWilliam C. Thompsoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electric power generating system in which solid material is caused to flow by gravity from an upper level to a lower level onto a wheel or a series of wheels which are caused to rotate by the weight of the material on blades spaced along the periphery of the wheels. The wheels are interconnectable and in a system which drives electrical generators to produce power.
Claims21
A gravity flow power generating system, comprising:
- means for supplying solid material for gravity flow from a predetermined upper level;
- a first wheel mounted for rotation on a substantially horizontal axis below said upper level for receiving said material flowing from said means;
- peripheral pockets in said first wheel being open to the periphery thereof for carrying said material,
- said material in said first wheel providing weight adjacent the periphery thereof to cause it to rotate,
- said pockets when rotated to a predetermined lower level adapted to gravity discharge said material;
- and
- material receiving means closely adjacent said first wheel to receive said material therefrom and to be driven by the rotation thereof,
- said material receiving means being adapted to gravity discharge said material.
5 more elements
A gravity flow power generating system, comprising:
- means for supplying solid material for gravity flow from a predetermined upper level;
- a wheel mounted for rotation on a substantially horizontal axis below said upper level for receiving said material flowing from said means;
- peripheral pockets in said wheel being open to the periphery thereof for carrying said material,
- said material in said wheel providing weight adjacent the periphery thereof to cause it to rotate, and
- sealing means on the periphery of said wheel to hold the material in said pockets until rotated to a low level of the wheel where the material is gravity discharged.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.