Patent ID: 6018947
Filing Date: 2000-02-01
Classification: F03B,Y02E

Abstract:
An apparatus for recovering energy from a compressed gas, comprising:a piston-cylinder assembly that is mounted for movement in a body of water between a first lower position and a second upper position, said piston-cylinder assembly comprisinga cylinder positioned in said tank; anda piston disposed in said cylinder and cooperating with said cylinder so as to define an expandable chamber therewith;pressure coupling means, positioned proximate to said lower position, for introducing a compressed gas into said expandable chamber; andenergy recovery means, connected to said piston-cylinder assembly, for recovering energy from said piston-cylinder assembly as said piston-cylinder assembly floats from said first position to said second position, and wherein said energy recovery means is further constructed and arranged to recover additional energy from said piston-cylinder assembly as said piston-cylinder assembly returns by sinking to said first position.