Patent ID: 8713933
Filing Date: 2014-05-06
Classification: F03B,F03G,F05B,Y02E

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for capturing energy from gravitational and buoyancy forces, said apparatus comprising: a moving vessel capable of sinking through water under a gravitational force, and capable of receiving gas such that the gas creates a buoyancy force in the moving vessel, causing the moving vessel to rise through the water, where said buoyancy force has a first component and a second component; a force transfer means attached to the moving vessel, said force transfer means capable of transferring the first component of the buoyancy force generated by the moving vessel; a gas compression means disposed externally to the moving vessel, said gas compression means connected to the force transfer means and capable of receiving said first component from the force transfer means and using said first component to compress gas; a conduit capable of receiving compressed gas from the gas compression means and retaining said compressed gas for discharge into the moving vessel; and a force recovery means capable of recovering the second component of the buoyancy force and transferring said second component to an energy conversion means; wherein the conduit comprises a priming valve for introducing a priming charge of compressed gas into the conduit during periodic maintenance of the apparatus.