System for relocating and converting potential energy of water without dams

An energy converter for extracting energy from water, comprising:

• a water inlet,
• a tubular jacket arranged to receive water from said water inlet and extending down from said inlet,
• a plurality of moveable energy-receiving discs serially connected by a plurality of links of predetermined length and arranged to be moved by water entering said jacket via said inlet,
• a plurality of carriages attached to said discs and arranged to guide and hold said discs, each carriage including a plurality of arms with wheels, said wheels mounted on shafts secured at the ends of said arms, at least one of said arms further including a ratchet assembly for engaging a chain.
• means for guiding the motion of said discs,
• means for coupling the movement of said discs to a rotatable power output shaft so that said shaft rotates in response to the movement of said discs,
• said jacket containing a water outlet at a lower elevation thereon than said inlet,
• whereby when said water inlet delivers water into said jacket, said water fills said jacket and the space between said discs and urges said discs downward under the weight of said water, thereby causing said power output shaft to rotate, thereby providing rotational energy at said shaft.

A method for relocating the potential energy of a head of a body of water at one location to another location, comprising:

• providing an inlet to tap water from said body of water at said one location,
• providing a relocation conduit having an upper end at said inlet and a lower end at said other location, said lower end being at a level lower than said upper end,
• providing a riser conduit having lower and upper ends, said lower end being coupled to said lower end of said relocation conduit, said upper end being at a higher level than said lower end of said relocation conduit so that said riser can conduct said water from said lower end of said relocation conduit to said upper end of said riser conduit so that the potential energy of said water at said one location is mostly restored at said upper end of said riser conduit, whereby water will flow from said body of water into said inlet, down through said relocation conduit, and up through said riser conduit, so that its potential energy will be substantially restored at upper end of said riser conduit at said other location,
• providing an energy conversion system at said other location, said energy conversion system including:
• a jacket having an upper end with an inlet connected to said upper end of said riser conduit and a lower end with an outlet,
• a plurality of moveable discs connected by linkages and moveable within said jacket, said discs arranged to receive and be moved downward by water entering said jacket from said upper end of said riser conduit, wherein each of said discs is supported by a carriage, each carriage including at least one shaft supporting a wheel,
• a chain and an output sprocket, each disc and carriage arranged to engage a link in said chain and urge said link downward, said chain arranged to rotate said output sprocket and shaft, and
• means for connecting said discs to an output shaft and arranged to couple movement of said discs to rotate said output shaft.

In combination,

• relocation conduit means for delivering water from an upper-elevation source at one location to a riser conduit at another location,
• said riser conduit extending upward and having an upper end at almost below said upper elevation source,
• an energy-conversion system at said other location, said energy-conversion system having an inlet connected to said upper end of said riser conduit and an outlet at a lower elevation than said upper-elevation source,
• said energy-conversion system comprising a jacket containing a train of discs and having an upper end arranged to receive water from said inlet so that said discs are moved downward under the weight of said water in said jacket,
• said jacket having a lower end at said outlet for releasing said water from said jacket at a lower elevation than said inlet,
• guiding means for guiding said discs continuously through said jacket in an endless arrangement, wherein the guiding means includes:
• a raceway having a plurality of endless tracks or rails, said jacket being mounted on a portion of said raceway, said jacket having an upper end constituting said inlet and arranged to receive water from said upper-elevation source and a lower end having said outlet for discharging said water, said raceway containing and arranged to guide said train of discs around said raceway and through said jacket, such that water entering said upper end of said jacket forces the discs in said jacket down through said jacket,
• means for coupling said discs to a power output shaft when said discs move downward,
• whereby when water flows from said upper-elevation source downward through said relocation conduit means, up through said riser conduit, into said jacket and out said outlet, energy is extracted from the potential energy or weight of said water at said upper end of said riser conduit.