Gravity and buoyancy driven power generators
OwnerRobert W. Willmouthinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus which generates electrical power from a combination of gravity forces and the inherent buoyancy of a hollow body immersed in a fluid is disclosed. The apparatus includes a long chain having a plurality of hollow buoyant elements attached thereto. The chain extends around a pair of sprockets and the buoyant elements are immersed in a fluid along the portion of the chain moving against gravity and the buoyant elements pass through an airspace along the portion of the chain moving with gravity. The combination of buoyancy and gravitational forces cause movement of the chain to thereby rotate the sprocket gears which are used to drive an electrical power generator. Also disclosed is a housing including a hatch assembly for the apparatus and a valve unit and an insulator for use with the apparatus.
Claims23
A bouyancy and gravity actuated apparatus for generating electrical power, said apparatus comprising:
- a housing divided into first and second chambers by a partition which extends to the top of said housing and is spaced a predetermined distance from the bottom of said housing, said housing containing a liquid therein;
- a further vertical chamber located within said first chamber;
- means for producing pressure within the housing, the amount of liquid within the chamber being of sufficient volume such that, when a pressure is produced in the chamber, said vertical chamber is filled to the top thereof and the overall level of the liquid within the housing is above the bottom edge of said partition;
- an endless flexible carrier extending vertically through the liquid contained in said vertical chamber, through the partition, vertically through an air space defined in said second chamber above the liquid and beneath the partition through the liquid contained at the bottom of the housing;
- a plurality of buoyant elements spaced along the length of said flexible carrier;
- means for mounting said flexible carrier so as to permit movement thereof in response to said bouyant elements rising due to their bouyancy in said chamber and falling by gravity in said air space;
- and
- means responsive to the movement of said flexible carrier for generating electricity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.