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US 7,802,657 B1Granted
Gravity actuated torque generator
OwnerRonald D. Irvinginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gravity actuated torque generator for generating torque to run a generator by continually adding weights to the apparatus. The gravity actuated torque generator includes a support assembly, a drive assembly being supported by the support assembly, and a weight assembly being engagable to the drive assembly while moving downwardly due to gravitational forces for generating torque.
Claims12
A gravity actuated torque generator comprising:
- a support assembly;
- a drive assembly being supported by said support assembly, said drive assembly including a drive shaft being rotatably depending from said support assembly, said drive assembly also including a track securely attached to and depending from said support assembly and being spaced about and away from said drive shaft;
- and
- a weight assembly being engageable to said drive assembly for generating torque, said weight assembly including a plurality of weight members being rollably, separately, and spatially placed upon said track at a top thereof and being removably and securely disposed about said drive shaft and being urged downwardly upon said track by gravity, said weight assembly further including a plurality of rollers being mounted to said weight members and being movably and removably positioned upon said track at said top thereof, and also including a plurality of wheels being mounted to said weight members and being engageable to said drive shaft to rotate said drive shaft as said weight members move downwardly upon said track and about said drive shaft.
1 more element
A gravity actuated torque generator comprising:
- A support assembly;
- A drive assembly being supported by said support assembly, said drive assembly including a drive shaft being rotatably depending from said support assembly, said drive assembly also including a track securely attached to and depending from said support assembly and being spaced about said drive shaft;
- and
- A weight assembly being engageable to said drive assembly for generating torque, said weight assembly including a plurality of weight members being rollably, separately, and spatially placed upon said track at a top thereof and being removably and securely disposed about said drive shaft and being urged downwardly upon said track by gravity, each of said weight members including more than one section being hingedly attached to one another and also being fastenable to each other about said drive shaft to allow said weight member to be movably positioned upon said track and about said drive shaft.
1 more element
A method of using gravity to generate torque including the steps of:
- providing a rotatable drive shaft having upper, middle and lower portions with said middle portion having a larger perimeter than that of either said upper and lower portions, and providing a track being spirally disposed about said rotatable drive shaft, and also providing a plurality of weight members;
- positioning one of said weight members upon said track about said rotatable drive shaft;
- gravitationally moving said weight member upon said track without engaging said upper portion said rotatable drive shaft;
- said weight member engaging and rotating said drive shaft at said middle portion thereof thus generating torque;
- and
- said weight member disengaging said drive shaft at said lower portion thereof and dropping of said track at a bottom thereof.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.