Abstract:
An underwater air or gas powered apparatus utilizes the buoyant force of water to generate power in the form of work or electricity. Air bags are spaced circumferentially around the perimeter of a rotary member immersed in water and are alternately inflated and deflated in a sequence enabling buoyant forces to rotate the rotary member. A generator is coupled to the rotary member for generating power in response to rotation of the rotary member.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/448,747, filed Mar. 3, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an underwater air powered apparatus utilizing the buoyant force of water for generating power in the form of work or electricity. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various methods and devices have been utilized to generate power in the form of electricity or mechanical work by rotating a wheel and/or an axle. The windmill is one such device which collects air in the form of wind in its paddles, rotating one or more structural elements to produce work or store the work as electricity in a storage battery. Similarly, a waterwheel, positioned near a running water source, collects water in its paddles, rotating one or more structural elements to produce work or electricity. Both apparatus and methods take advantage of natural, renewable energy sources and depend upon placement dictated by natural resources. In the case of windmills, large open areas of land in wind-dominant climates are required. The windmills render the land upon which they are situated, and surrounding land, unsuitable for development. Water wheels are similarly hampered by the dictates of their power source. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention strives to overcome the inherent problems with windmills and related apparatus by utilizing buoyancy to rotate a wheel assembly in a limited environment, such as underwater. Tests show that a gallon container of air contains sufficient buoyancy to lift approximately seven and one half pounds in water. By utilizing the buoyancy of air in water to move and thereby rotate a wheel assembly, natural and unlimited renewable resources may be directed to energy production. Furthermore, the apparatus does not rely upon running water for power, overcoming the shortcomings of certain prior art water-powered power generating devices. 
     Advantages of the invention over the prior art include the ability to size the generator for multiple and suitable tasks, low cost construction, simple operation and easy maintenance. The device conserves land resources and opens up a wider range of water-based resources to generate work and power. In one form, the invention comprises two wheels situated in tandem, with a connecting axle, establishing the wheel assembly. 
     Between the wheels of the assembly are platforms. Through these platforms are protruding hollow air-tight tubes at a proximal and distal point on the wheel assembly. These tube-ends are connected to air chambers in the form of gas bags or air bags. Flaps are hinged onto the wheel assembly over the platforms and are biased by a spring into an open position. Air bags or air chambers are fastened under the flaps holding a quantity of compressed air. Wheels with ball-bearings are included to reduce friction during a depression phase while air is transferred from one air bag or air chamber into a counterpart air bag or air chamber located at an opposite side of the wheel assembly. These ball-bearing wheels are located on an upper part of the flaps. 
     A flap-depressing surface is situated adjacent a portion of the outside edge of the wheel assembly, such that as the wheel assembly rotates, the flap-depressing surface depresses the spring-biased flaps toward a closed position. This manner of flap-mounting or positioning allows the air bags or air chambers to press against the underside of the flaps to set and keep the wheel assembly in motion. 
     Operation of the invention is initiated by introduction of an appropriate quantity of compressed air into the tube assembly through a series of valves. This value or quantity of supplied air is sufficient to extend a distal air chamber or air bag upon compression of a proximal air chamber or air bag. Alternatively, gas deposits located below the ocean floor or other appropriate geographic location may serve as a supply for expanding an air chamber or air bag of the assembly. The compressed air is directed to, and expands the air chamber or air bag fitted over a proximal tube end, thereby extending a respective flap. Air contained within a series of such expanded air chambers or air bags provides buoyancy within the water, thereby rotating the wheel assembly. As each flap approaches the top of the rotating assembly, the flap-depressing surface contacts the ball-bearing wheels, thus depressing the flaps. As a flap is depressed, air is expelled from the corresponding air chamber or air bag into the proximal tube end and through its respective tube, to the distal tube end and into a second air chamber or air bag at the bottom of the rotating assembly, thereby extending its flap and providing buoyancy to enable continued rotation of the wheel assembly. The springs connected to the flaps assist in moving the flaps during the opening procedure. 
     As the wheel assembly rotates, it generates work which may be transferred to an axle, a power generating device or into storage for later use. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a partially diagrammatic, elevational cross-sectional view of an apparatus constructed and shown operating in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of component parts of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a partially diagrammatic, elevational cross-sectional view of another apparatus constructed and shown operating in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of a component part of the apparatus of  FIG. 3 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a partially diagrammatic top plan view of further component parts of the apparatus of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is a side view of an apparatus  10  constructed in accordance with the present invention. A first wheel  12  and a second wheel  15  are situated in tandem, with a connecting axle  20  and a platform  55  placed between the wheels  12  and  15 , comprising a wheel assembly  100 . Situated between the wheels are hollow air-tight tubes  25  mounted in the platform  55  which is located between the wheels  12  and  15  of the assembly  100 , each tube  25  lying intermediate the wheels  12  and  15  of the wheel assembly  100  and having a proximal exit point  25 ′ and distal exit point  25 ″ on the wheel assembly  100 . At each exit point  25 ′ is mounted a hinged flap  30  of an air chamber or air bag  35  suitable for holding a quantity of gas, here in the form of compressed air. At the outer edge of each flap  30  is mounted a friction-reducing means in the form of ball-bearing flap wheels  40 , and a spring  60  biases the flap  30  radially outwardly. 
     A flap-depressing surface  45  is situated adjacent to and extending along a portion of the outside edge of the wheel assembly  100  such that, as the wheel assembly  100  rotates, the flap-depressing surface  45  engages the ball-bearing flap wheels  40  and depresses the spring-biased flaps  30 . Thus, the flap-depressing surface  45  and the ball-bearing flap wheels  40  comprise a drive assembly in which each ball-bearing flap wheel  40  serves as a driver for collapsing each air bag  35 . 
     The apparatus is at least partially submerged in water  200 . 
     Operation of the invention is initiated by the introduction of a quantity of compressed air into the tube assemblies through a series of valves  50 . The compressed air is directed to, and expands the air bag  35  fitted over its respective tube end  25 ′ or  25 ″, thereby extending its respective flap  30 . Air contained within a series of expanded air bags  35  provides buoyancy within the water  200 , thereby rotating the wheel assembly  100  in the clockwise direction indicated by arrow  65 . As each flap  30  approaches the top position of the rotation cycle, contact between the flap wheels  40  and the flap-depressing surface  45  depresses the flap  30 . As the flap  30  is depressed, air is expelled from the corresponding air bag  35 , into the proximal tube end  25 ′ and through its respective tube  25 , to the distal tube end  25 ″ and into a second air bag  35  at a position at the bottom of the rotation cycle, thereby extending its flap  30  and providing buoyancy to enable continued rotation of the wheel assembly  100 . 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the apparatus  10 . Shown are the first wheel  12  and the second wheel  15  situated in tandem, with the connecting axle  20  and the intermediate platform  55 , comprising the wheel assembly  100 . Situated between the wheels  12  and  15  are the hollow air-tight tubes  25 , each tube  25  lying intermediate the wheels  12  and  15  of the wheel assembly  100  and having a proximal exit point  25 ′ and an opposite distal exit point  25 ″ on the wheel assembly  100 , as seen in  FIG. 1 . Each of the spring-biased hinged flaps  30  is placed over an air chamber or air bag  35  suitable for holding a quantity of compressed air. At the outer edge of each flap  30  are mounted the ball-bearing flap wheels  40 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 3 through 5 , another apparatus constructed and operating in accordance with the present invention is shown at  300  and is seen to include a rotary member  310  mounted on an axle  312  for rotation about a axis of rotation  313 , while immersed in a liquid, preferably in the form of water  314 . Rotary member  310  has a perimeter  316  spaced radially from the axle  312 , and from the axis of rotation  313 . 
     A plurality of chambers are shown in the form of collapsible gas bags and are illustrated as air bags  320  spaced circumferentially from one-another along the perimeter  316  of the rotary member  310 . Axle  312  is oriented in a substantially horizontal orientation so that rotation of the rotary member  310  about the axle  312  moves the air bags  320  between an uppermost elevation  322  and a lowermost elevation  324 . Each air bag  320  is located relative to a counterpart air bag  320  such that upon an air bag  320  reaching an upper location  330 , adjacent to and preferably at the uppermost elevation  322 , as illustrated by the position of air bag  320 U, the counterpart air bag  320  is placed at a lower location  332 , adjacent to and preferably at the lowermost elevation  324 , as illustrated by the position of air bag  320 L. In the preferred construction, each air bag  320  is located diametrically opposite a corresponding counterpart air bag  320 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3  wherein every air bag  320  has an opposite counterpart air bag  320  spaced circumferentially away by 180°. 
     A plurality of gas passages, shown in the form of air passages  340 , extend through rotary member  310  and interconnect the interior  342  of each air bag  320  with the interior  342  of a corresponding counterpart air bag  320 , thereby providing communication between the interiors  342  of the opposite air bags  320 . As seen in  FIG. 3 , a valving system  350  includes a centrally located hub  352  having a diametric, vertically oriented conduit  354 . Hub  352  is maintained stationary while axle  312  rotates with the rotation of rotary member  310 , about axis of rotation  313 , in the clockwise direction indicated by arrow  355 . Each diametric passage  340  is interrupted by hub  352  such that only the air passage  340  that is registered with conduit  354  provides open communication between the interiors  342  of the air bags  320  connected by the registered air passage  340 . In this manner, only the interior  342  of air bag  320 U, placed at the upper location  330 , is in communication with the interior  342  of the air bag  320 L, placed at the lower location  332 , while communication between the respective interiors  342  of all of the other air bags  320  is closed. Once communication between the interiors  342  of opposite air bags  320  is closed, by virtue of a corresponding air passage  340  being out of register with conduit  354 , the deflated, collapsed one of the opposite air bags  340  will remain collapsed and the inflated, expanded one of the opposite air bags  340  will remain expanded as the rotary member  310  rotates through a cycle of operation. 
     A drive assembly  360  includes a driver juxtaposed with the upper location  330 , the driver being shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5  in the form of a lobe  362  carried by a lobed wheel  364  mounted for rotation in synchronism with the rotation of rotary member  310 , immediately above the air bag  320 U. Air bag  320 U, previously in the form of an air bag  320  having an expanded configuration, filled with a gas, preferably air, prior to reaching upper location  330 , is moved by buoyant forces to the upper location  330  where air bag  320  is engaged by lobe  362  and is deflated and collapsed, into a collapsed configuration, as shown, thereby expressing air from the interior  342 U of air bag  320 U and passing the expressed air into the interior  342 L of air bag  320 L, via interconnecting passage  340  and conduit  354 . As a result, air bag  320 L is filled with air, expanding air bag  320 L from a collapsed configuration into an inflated, expanded configuration. Thus expanded, inflated air bag  320  is raised by buoyant forces toward the upper location  330 , thereby rotating the rotary member  310  and moving the collapsed, deflated air bag  320 U to the lower location  332 . 
     Each inflated air bag  320 , in turn, reaches the upper location  330  and is engaged by a lobe  362 , to be deflated and collapsed, and moved in the collapsed configuration to the lower location  332  to be re-inflated and moved once-again to the upper location  330 , again by buoyant forces. A power generator in the form of generator  370  is coupled to rotary member  310 , through axle  312 , and generates power in response to rotation of the rotary member  310 . In the preferred construction, lobed wheel  364  is provided with multiple lobes  362  to facilitate the engagement of each air bag  320  with a lobe  362 . Each air bag  320  has a prescribed inflated configuration, here shown as being generally cylindrical, and preferably is fitted within a recess  380  having a configuration complementary to the prescribed inflated configuration of the air bags  320 . Each lobe  362  is provided with a configuration along an air bag engaging surface  382  complementary to the configuration of each recess  380  to attain a substantially fully collapsed configuration of each air bag  320  for an effective deflation of each air bag  320 U and inflation of counterpart air bag  320 L. In the preferred construction, rotation of lobed wheel  364  is effected, in the counterclockwise direction indicated by arrow  386 , by a drive motor  390  coupled to lobed wheel  364  and preferably powered by a solar panel  392 , through a motor controller  394 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 . 
     It is to be understood that the above detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention is provided by way of example only. Various details of design, construction and procedure may be modified without departing from the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.