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US 4,071,114 AGranted
Motion operated power apparatus
OwnerEnos L. Schera, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shaft-driven power device, such as an electric generator or pump, is mounted on a base which is subjected to fluctuating movements, such as those of waves in a body of water or those of an automotive vehicle. An input shaft at the upper end of the power device is connected by a rigid arm to an off-center weight located just slightly above the base. The weight may be adjustable and replaceable. The power device may be spring-mounted on the base.
Claims7
In an apparatus for converting fluctuating movements into useful work comprising:
- a base adapted to rock in response to fluctuating movements;
- a shaft-driven power device supported from said base and extending above said base;
- and a rotatable input shaft extending up from said power device and operatively coupled in driving relationship to the latter;
- the improvement which comprises the combination of:
- a weight located off-center from said input shaft and closely above said base at an elevation substantially closer to the base than to said input shaft;
- a rigid coupling arm connected to said input shaft above said power device and extending laterally outward from said input shaft across the top of said power device and downward to one side of said power device, said coupling arm at its lower end carrying said weight so that the weight revolves about the axis of the input shaft and imparts rotation to the input shaft in response to rocking of the base, said weight having an unobstructed path through which it can revolve about the axis of the input shaft;
- and
- yieldable means mounting said power device on said base.
5 more elements
In an apparatus for converting fluctuating movements into useful work comprising:
- a base adapted to rock in response to fluctuating movements;
- a shaft-driven power device supported from said base and extending above said base;
- and a rotatable input shaft extending up from said power device and operatively coupled in driving relationship to the latter;
- the improvement which comrpises the combination of:
- a weight located off-center from said input shaft and closely above said base at an elevation substantially closer to the base than to said input shaft;
- a rigid coupling arm connected to said input shaft above said power device and extending laterally outward from said input shaft across the top of said power device and downward to one side of said power device, said coupling arm at its lower end carrying said weight so that the weight revolves about the axis of the input shaft and imparts rotation to the input shaft in response to rocking of the base, said weight having an unobstructed path through which it can revolve about the axis of the input shaft;
- and
- means for selectively adjusting the length of said coupling arm.
5 more elements
In an apparatus for converting fluctuating movements into useful work comprising:
- a base adapted to rock in response to fluctuating movements;
- a shaft-driven power device supported from said base and extending above said base;
- and a rotatable input shaft extending up from said power device and operatively coupled in driving relationship to the latter;
- the improvement which comprises the combination of:
- a weight located off-center from said input shaft and closely above said base at an elevation substantially closer to the base than to said input shaft;
- a rigid coupling arm connected to said input shaft above said power device and extending laterally outward from said input shaft across the top of said power device and downward to one side of said power device, said coupling arm at its lower end carrying said weight so that the weight revolves about the axis of the input shaft and imparts rotation to the input shaft in response to rocking of the base, said weight having an unobstructed path through which it can revolve about the axis of the input shaft;
- and
- means for selectively adjusting the lateral position of said weight off-center from said input shaft.
5 more elements
In an apparatus for converting fluctuating movements into useful work comprising:
- a base adapted to rock in response to fluctuating movements;
- a shaft-driven power device supported from said base and extending above said base;
- and a rotatable input shaft extending up from said power device and operatively coupled in driving relationship to the latter;
- the improvement which comprises the combination of:
- a weight located off-center from said input shaft and closely above said base at an elevation substantially closer to the base than to said input shaft;
- a rigid coupling arm connected to said input shaft above said power device and extending laterally outward from said input shaft across the top of said power device and downward to one side of said power device, said coupling arm at its lower end carrying said weight so that the weight revolves about the axis of the input shaft and imparts rotation to the input shaft in response to rocking of the base, said weight having an unobstructed path through which it can revolve about the axis of the input shaft;
- and
- said coupling arm comprising top and bottom pieces and means for adjusting said top piece along said bottom piece;
- means for detachably connecting said weight to said bottom piece of said coupling arm.
6 more elements
In an apparatus for converting fluctuating movements into useful work comprising:
- a base adapted to rock in response to fluctuating movements;
- a shaft-driven power device supported from said base and extending above said base;
- and a rotatable input shaft extending up from said power device and operatively coupled in driving relationship to the latter;
- the improvement which comprises the combination of:
- a weight located off-center from said input shaft and closely above said base at an elevation substantially closer to the base than to said input shaft;
- a rigid coupling arm connected to said input shaft above said power device and extending laterally outward from said input shaft across the top of said power device and downward to one side of said power device, said coupling arm at its lower end carrying said weight so that the weight revolves about the axis of the input shaft and imparts rotation to the input shaft in response to rocking of the base, said weight having an unobstructed path through which it can revolve about the axis of the input shaft;
- means for selectively adjusting said weight on said coupling arm;
- and coil springs mounting said power device on said base.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.