Abstract:
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided systems and method for generating electrical energy that includes a resilient member having an original shape with a cruciform cross-section. A bulwark is connected to the resilient member. A system is provided to selectively apply a torsional force to the resilient member using capillary forces to rotate the resilient member with respect to the bulwark. This places the resilient member in a deformed shape. The system also selectively terminates the capillary forces allowing the resilient member to return to the original shape. An electrical generator subsystem having a rotor and a stator is included. The rotor is coupled to the resilient member to spin in response to the resilient member changing from the deformed shape to the original shape.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The current invention relates electrical generators. More particularly the current invention relates to a system that produces electrical energy. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The human race has long sought to ease the labor involved with movement of bodies. Arguably it can be asserted that the nascent of this labor saving technology began with the wheel and has evolved into many types of vehicles including automobiles, ships, aircraft and rockets. Key to the advancement of this technology is the generation of energy to move the same. Domestication of animals produced some of the earliest implementations of energy required for early transports, e.g., oxen, bulls and horses, followed by harnessing of the terrestrial forces of the earth to move ships across bodies of water. 
         [0003]    Progress resulted in the human race abandoned commercial use of relatively benign sources of energy in favor of destructive sources that typically involved a combustion process. Long used to generate heat for warmth the relatively archaic practice of consuming wood to heat water brought about the steam engine. Originally invented by the ancient Greeks some four thousand years ago, modern implementations of steam power resulted in steam-powered ships, trains and automobiles. Realizing the limitations of wood, coal soon became a primary source of combustible material and competed vigorously with another source of combustible material, crude oil. Coal lost favor due to the pollution it produced. The steam engine has been provided a brief respite using nuclear fission as the source of heat. The enormous amounts of crude oil required to construct nuclear power plants and dispose of nuclear waste coupled with the pollution generated thereby makes this form of energy generation inefficient and caustic. Today crude oil is the dominant resource used to generate energy. 
         [0004]    There is a need, therefore, to produce new techniques to generate energy that avoids the consequences of current energy producing techniques. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In accordance with embodiments, there are provided systems and method for generating electrical energy that includes a resilient member having an original shape. A bulwark is connected to the resilient member. A system is provided to selectively apply a torsional force to the resilient member using capillary forces to rotate the resilient member with respect to the bulwark. This places the resilient member in a deformed shape. The system also selectively terminates the capillary forces allowing the resilient member to return to the original shape. An electrical generator subsystem having a rotor and a stator is included. The rotor is coupled to the resilient member to spin in response to the resilient member changing from the deformed shape to the original shape. These and other embodiments are described more fully below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a simplified plan view of an electrical generator in accordance with the present embodiment; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is detailed side view of a potential-kinetic energy (PKE) sub-system shown in  FIG. 1 , in accordance with one embodiment; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a resilient member, shown in  FIG. 2 , taken along lines  3 - 3 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a body shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a partial bottom up view of the body shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a detailed side view of one end of a resilient member shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view of a rotor of an electrical system, shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the rotor shown in  FIG. 7 , taken along lines  8 - 8 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a detailed side view of one end of a resilient member shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the one end of the resilient member, shown in  FIG. 9 , taken along lines  10 - 10 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is a simplified plan view showing the spatial relationship between the cross-section views shown in  FIGS. 8 and 10  upon the rotor seated upon the resilient member, in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  is a detailed side view of the (PKE) sub-system, shown in  FIG. 1 , in accordance with a second embodiment; 
           [0018]      FIG. 13  is a top down view of a journal member shown in  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 14  is a detailed side view of the (PKE) sub-system, shown in  FIG. 12 , in accordance with an alternate embodiment; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 15  is a simplified top down view of the system shown in  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an example of a generator  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention that includes a potential-kinetic energy (PKE) sub-system  12  and an electrical generator sub-system  14  coupled to PKE sub-system  12 . PKE sub-system  12  selectively stores potential energy and generates kinetic energy. The kinetic energy generated by PKE sub-system  12  is transferred to electrical generator sub-system  14 . In response to the kinetic energy to which electrical generator sub-system  14  is exposed, an induced electromotive force EFM is produced based upon well known principles of Faraday&#39;s law and generating electricity using alternators. To that end, electrical generator sub-system  14  includes a stator  16  and a rotor  18 . In this present example, rotor  18  is magnetic and stator  16  includes electrically conductive wire wound around an insulator defining windings  20 . Movement of rotor  18  produces a time-varying magnetic flux that induces EMF in windings  20 , as is well known in the art that may be transmitted to systems (not shown) that operate on electrical power using conductive wires  22 . 
         [0022]    Referring to both  FIGS. 1 and 2 , PKE  12  operates in accordance with Hooke&#39;s law in which potential energy is produced as a result of applying a force to deform a resilient member  24  included therewith. Resilient member  24  may be fixedly attached to a bulwark  26  or integrally formed therewith. Resilient member  24  extends from bulwark  26  along an axis  28  terminating in an end  30 . In the present embodiment resilient member  24  is a torsional spring to which torsional forces are selectively applied to twist resilient member  24  causing regions thereof to rotate about axis  28 , placing resilient member  24  in a deformed shape. In the absence of torsional forces, resilient member  24  has an original shape. Upon termination of torsional forces resilient member  24  returns to the original shape. As a result, it is desired to form resilient member  24  from material that maintains adequate structural memory to return to the original shape after be placed in the deformed shape. Examples of materials from which resilient member  24  may be fabricated include stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, polymers, metallic alloys and the like. 
         [0023]    Referring to both  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in the present example resilient member  24  has a cruciform cross-section defining a plurality of shoulders, shown as  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38 . Each of shoulders  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38  includes a surface  33 ,  35 ,  37  and  39 , respectively. One or more of surfaces  33 ,  35 ,  37  and  39  is spaced-apart from one or more bodies, shown as body  40  spaced-apart from surface  33 . Specifically, body  40  includes a surface  42  that is spaced-apart from surface  33 , defining a volume  44  therebetween. 
         [0024]    A supply  46  of fluid  48  includes an egress  50  positioned to deposit a portion  52  of fluid  48  into volume  44 , using any known techniques to create a flow through egress, e.g., positive pressure applied to volume supply  46 . The viscosity of portion  52  and dimensions of volume  44  are established so that upon application of portion  52 , to one or both surfaces  33  and  42 , capillary action occurs pulling surface  33  and  42  closer together, reducing the distance therebetween. Body  40  may be coupled with respect to bulwark  26  so that a distance between axis  28  and surface  42  may be controlled, e.g., by direct attachment to bulwark (not shown for the sake of clarity) or by being fixedly attached to another body (not shown), the position of which is fixed with respect to bulwark  26 . With this configuration, the capillary action results in the movement of surface  33  toward surface  42 . This is believed to occur as a result of intermolecular forces between the molecules of portion  52  and surfaces  33  and  42  that subjects resilient member  24  to a torsional force τ, which is in a direction away from body  40 . 
         [0025]    Torsional force τ 1  causes twisting of resilient member  24  about axis  28 , deforming resilient member  24 . Deformation of resilient member  24  produces a restoring force F R  in accordance with Hooke&#39;s law and which is in a direction away from surface  42 . After completion of rotational movement, resilient member  24  is in a deformed state. In the deformed state, restoring force F R  and torsional force τ are substantially at equilibrium, i.e. no further movement of resilient member  24  occurs. In this manner, resilient member  24  stores potential energy. 
         [0026]    The potential energy stored in resilient member  24  may be released by disturbing the aforementioned equilibrium. This may be achieved in any convenient manner. For example, a mechanical force may be applied to body  40  causing a distance between body  40  and axis  28  to increase, i.e., applying a pulling force F P  that moves in a direction away from body  40 . Pulling force F P  is of sufficient strength to overcome the intermolecular forces that exist between portion  52  and surface  33  and  42 , referred to as release of intermolecular force, i.e., release. Specifically, the combination of restoring force F R  and pulling force F P  acting in opposite directions disrupts the aforementioned equilibrium and degrades the capillary action of portion  52 . In response, resilient member  24  returns to the original shape by undergoing rotation about longitudinal axis  28 . Resilient member  24  produces kinetic energy as it transforms between the deformed shape to the original shape. Upon reaching the original shape, resilient member  24  ceases rotating and once again defines volume  44 , at which point both the potential energy and kinetic energy of resilient member  24  returns to zero. With restoring force F R  and pulling force F P  operating synergistically to terminate torsional force τ, it is not necessary that pulling force F P  have a magnitude that is commensurate with either restoring force F R  or torsional force τ. Pulling force F P  need only be sufficient to disrupt the equilibrium that exists when restoring force F R  is produced in response to resilient member  24  being subjected to torsional force τ. In one example, pulling force F P  is applied manually with the use of one or more levers (not shown) that may be attached to either resilient member  24  and/or body  40 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 , to facilitate capillary action, body  40  may include a surface  42  that is featured. In this configuration surface includes a plurality of recessions  51  defining a plurality of spaced-apart protrusions  53 . As shown recessions associated with a first subset  55  of recessions  51  extend parallel to each other along a first direction. Recessions associated with a second subset  57  of recession  51  extending parallel to one another along a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction. In this manner, protrusions  53  have a rectangular cross-section and are spaced-apart from an adjacent protrusion  53  a distance  61 . It is desired in this configuration that surface  33  have a substantially smooth, in not planar profile. Additionally, it is desired that an apex surface  59  of each of protrusions  53  lie in a common plane that extends parallel to a plane in which surface  33  lies, defining a depth  63  for each recession  51 . It should be noted that capillary action may be achieved satisfactorily upon reversal of the patterned in smooth surfaces such that surface  33  is patterned as discussed above with respect to surface  42  and surface  42  having the profile of surface  33 . In an alternative embodiment, both surfaces  33  and  42  may be substantially smooth, if not planar. In this configuration, however, it is desired that surface  33  extend parallel to surface  42 . The present configuration is discussed with respect to surface  42  being patterned and surface  33  being smooth. 
         [0028]    The magnitude of the capillary action provided by portion  52  is directly related to the  52  number of surface interactions between the molecules included in portion  50  and surfaces  42  and  33 . To that end, it is desired that spacing  61  and depth  63  be established with respect to the size of molecules in portion  52  to provide rapid capillary action when surface  42  is disposed proximate to surface  33 , with the exact dimensions being dependent upon the desired rate of capillary action. One example, provide spacing  61  and depth  63  with dimensions on the order of tens of nanometers to several 100 nanometers with the molecules in portion having dimensions smaller that either spaced  61  and/or depth  63 . Additionally, portion have very low viscosity to provide rapid filling of volume  44 , which includes recessions  51 . An example of a low viscosity fluid is formed from isobornyl acrylate (IBOA) and n-hexyl acrylate (n-HA). An example of a composition of portion  52  comprises approximately 70 to 75% IBOA and 25-30% n-HA by weight which is believed to provide a viscosity in a range 2 to 10 Centipoises. 
         [0029]    In an alternate configuration shown in  FIG. 6 , pulling force F P  is applied through implementation of a secondary body  54 , which may be attached to bulwark as discussed above with respect to body  40 . Secondary body  54  has a surface  58  that is in juxtaposition with surface  42  and is spaced-apart therefrom, defining a volume  60  therebetween upon restoring force F R  and torsional force τ reaching equilibrium. Volume  60  has dimensions sufficient so that an additional portion  62  of fluid  48  may be disposed therein creating capillary action so that surface  58  moves toward surface  42  a sufficient distance to provide pulling force F P  with a desired magnitude. It is believed that the kinetic energy produced by resilient member  24  may be attenuated during release and that the magnitude of attenuation may be inversely proportional to the rate at which the capillary action between portion  52  and surface  33  and  42  is degraded and/or abrogated. This is believed to be proportional to the magnitude of pulling force F P  and the rate at which pulling force F P  is applied to body  40 . In the present configuration pulling force F P  is applied as instantaneous as possible with the result being that the magnitude of attenuation of the kinetic energy produced by rotation of resilient member  24  from the deformed shape to the original shape being inversely proportional to the magnitude of pulling force F P . The kinetic energy produced by resilient member  24 , shown in  FIG. 1 , is transferred to rotor  18  by coupling rotor  18  to an end  30  of resilient member  24  disposed opposite to bulwark  26 , shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  7  and  8 , it is desired that rotor  18  be allowed to spin freely with respect resilient member  24  in at least one direction. To that end, surface  62  of rotor  18  facing end  30  has a profile that is partially complementary to the profile of end  30 . Surface  62  includes a projection  63  and a centrally disposed hollow that extends from a radially symmetric bearing surface  64  and defining a circumferential surface  66 , terminating in an opening  67  within projection  63 . Circumferential surface  66  is substantially smooth. Regions of projection  63  extending from opening  67  form a cruciform profile having four serif portions  68 ,  69 ,  70  and  71 . Each serif portion  68 - 71  includes an oblique surface  72  extending from opening  67  and terminating in a transverse side  73 . Opposed sides  74  and  75  extend from transverse side  73 , parallel to one another and transversely to transverse side  73 , terminating in adjacent serif portions  69 - 71 . Oblique surface  72  extends from side  75 , forming an oblique angle φ with respect to a plane  77 , terminating spaced-apart from opposing side  74  defining a shoulder  80 . In this configuration plane  77  extends parallel to surface  62  and orthogonally to axis  28 . 
         [0031]    Referring to both  FIGS. 9 and 10 , end  30  includes shaft  90  that has a cross-sectional shape complementary to the shape of the hollow in rotor  18 , which is to receive shaft  90 . To that end, shaft  90  has a cross-section that is radially symmetrically disposed about axis  28 . Extending radially outwardly at one end of shaft  90  are serif regions  91 ,  92 ,  93  and  94 . Each of serif regions  91 ,  92 ,  93  and  94  includes a crown surface  95 , described with reference to serif  93 . Crown surface  95  extends from shaft  90 , terminating in a transverse side  97 . Opposed sides  99  and  101  extend from transverse side  97 , parallel to one another and transversely to transverse side  97 , terminating in adjacent serif regions  91 - 94 . Crown surface  95  extends from side  99 , forming an oblique angle σ with respect to a plane  103 , terminating spaced-apart from opposing side  101  defining a shoulder portion  102  may form an interference with shoulder  80  in one direction, shown in  FIG. 11 . Oblique surface  72  and crown surface  95  allow substantially free movement between rotor  18  and resilient member  24  in the opposite direction. 
         [0032]    In operation, kinetic energy is transferred from resilient member  24  to rotor  18  by the contact between shoulder portion  102  with shoulder  80 . Oblique angles φ and σ formed by oblique surface  72  and crown surface  95  allow rotor  18  to continue spinning substantially freely about axis  28  after resilient member  24  has released substantially all potential energy in response to the release. Additionally, the shape of oblique surface  72  and crown surface  95  facilitate movement of resilient member  24  in response to torsional force τ 1 , while reducing, if not avoiding movement of rotor  18 . In this manner, the rotation of rotor  18  may be controlled so as to occur in a single direction, e.g., clockwise or counter-clockwise. 
         [0033]    Referring to both  FIGS. 12 and 13 , in a second embodiment, capillary action with body  40  occurs by implementing a journal member  110  that includes a trunk  112  having a throughway  514  and a detent  116  extending from trunk  112 . Throughway  514  defines a surface  518  having a profile complementary to a profile of a region of resilient member  24  around which trunk  112  is positioned. In the present example, trunk  112  is disposed to be in superimposition with a region of resilient member  24  having the cruciform cross-section. Surface  518  defines four serif recesses  519 ,  520 ,  521  and  522 , each of which is to receive a portion of one of projections  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38 . The relative dimensions of throughway  514  and resilient member  24  are established so that rotation of journal member  110  about axis  28  produces torsional force τ 1  on resilient member  24 . To that end, detent  116  includes a surface  117  that faces surface  42  so that capillary action may be generated therebetween, as discussed above. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 14 , in another embodiment the potential energy stored in resilient member  24  may be augmented by disposing a plurality of journal members, shown as  110 ,  210 ,  310  and  410  along different portions of resilient member  24 . Each journal members  210 ,  310  and  410  includes the features described above with respect to journal member  110 . As such a plurality of detents  116 ,  216 ,  316  and  416  are situated at about axis  28  at different distances from bulwark  26 , as are a plurality of corresponding bodies  40 ,  140 ,  240  and  340 . Each of bodies  40 ,  140 ,  240  and  340  includes a surface located at a different angular position with respect to axis  28  and may have a spatial position with respect to bulwark  26  that is fixed, as discussed above with respect to body  40 . Body  40  includes surface  42 , bodies  140 , includes surface  142 , body  240  includes surface  242  and body  340  includes surface  342 . 
         [0035]    Referring to both  FIGS. 14 and 15 , using detent  116  as a starting point, the angular position of surfaces  119 ,  121  and  123  form angles α, β, and γ, respectively, with respect to surface  117 . In this manner, surfaces are arranged about axis  28  at different angular positions. Angle β is greater than angle α and less than angle γ, with γ being the largest angle. The relative angular position of surfaces  117 ,  119 ,  121  and  123  are established to produce torsional forces τ 1 , τ 2 , τ 3  and τ 4  on resilient member  24 . To that end, surface  117  is in juxtaposition with and spaced-apart from surface  42  of body  40 , defining volume  144  therebetween. Egress  50  of supply  46  is positioned to deposit a portion of fluid  48  into volume  144  so that upon application thereof on one or both surfaces  117  and  42  capillary action occurs pulling surfaces  117  and  42  closer together, as discussed above. This produces first torsional force τ 1  that causes rotation of resilient member  24 . As discussed above, restoring force F R1  and torsional force τ 1  reach equilibrium, i.e. no further movement of resilient member  24  as a result of first torsional force τ 1 . 
         [0036]    Angle α is established so that upon restoring force F R1  and torsional force τ 1  reaching equilibrium a second volume  244  is generated between a surface  119  of detent  118  and surface  142 , which is in juxtaposition with and spaced-apart therefrom. The dimensions of volume  244  are established so that capillary action may occur between a portion of fluid  48  deposited therein and surfaces  119  and  142 . This produces a second torsional force τ 2 . It is desired that second torsional force τ 2  be greater than first restoring force F R1  in order to increase deformation of resilient member  24  and, therefore, increase the potential energy stored therein. To that end volume  244  is established to be greater than volume  144 . For a given fluid  48  this may be achieved by providing greater areas of surfaces  119  and  142  that are in juxtaposition, when compared to the areas of surfaces  42  and  117  with the understanding that the distance between surfaces  119  and  142  are the same as the distances between surfaces  119  and  142  when capillary action occurs. Alternatively, volumes  144  and  244  may have common dimensions the fluid (not shown) deposited between surfaces  119  and  142  may be a different fluid the portion of fluid  48  between surfaces  117  and  42  such that a intermolecular forces with surfaces  119  and  142  is generated. To that end, a second supply of fluid (not shown) may be included to provide the different fluid. In the present embodiment egress  50  and/or supply  46  may move with respect to resilient member  24  to deliver fluid  48  in the appropriate volumes, e.g.,  144 ,  244 ,  344  and  444 . In response to being subjected to torsional force τ 2 , resilient member  42  undergoes further deformation increasing the restoring force, referred to as a second restoring force F R2 . Deformation, and therefore movement, of resilient member  42  ceases upon torsional force τ 2  and second restoring force F R2  reaching equilibrium. 
         [0037]    Angle β is established so that upon second restoring force F R2  and second torsional force τ 2  reaching equilibrium a second volume  344  is generated between a surface  121  of detent  120  and surface  242 , which is in juxtaposition with and spaced-apart therefrom. The dimensions of volume  344  are established so that capillary action may occur between a portion of fluid  48  deposited therein and surfaces  121  and  242  to produce a third torsional force τ 3 . It is desired that third torsional force τ 3  be greater than second restoring force F R2  in order to increase deformation of resilient member  24  and, therefore, increase the potential energy stored therein. To that end volume  344  is established to be greater than volume  244 , which may be achieved as discussed above with respect to volumes  144  and  244 . In response to being subjected to third torsional force τ 3 , resilient member  42  undergoes further deformation increasing the restoring force, referred to as a third restoring force F R3 . Deformation, and therefore movement, of resilient member  42  ceases upon third torsional force τ 3  and third restoring force F R3  reaching equilibrium. 
         [0038]    Angle γ is established so that upon third restoring force F R3  and third torsional force τ 3  reaching equilibrium a fourth volume  444  is generated between a surface  123  of detent  122  and surface  342 , which is in juxtaposition with and spaced-apart therefrom. The dimensions of fourth volume  444  are established so that capillary action may occur between the portion of fluid  48  deposited therein and surfaces  123  and  342  to produce a fourth torsional force τ 4 . It is desired that fourth torsional force τ 4  be greater than third restoring force F R3  in order to increase deformation of resilient member  24  and, therefore, increase the potential energy stored therein. To that end, fourth volume  444  is established to be greater than third volume  344 , which may be achieved as discussed above with respect to volumes  144  and  244 . In response to being subjected to fourth torsional force τ 4 , resilient member  42  undergoes further deformation increasing the restoring force, referred to as a fourth restoring force F R4 . Deformation, and therefore movement, of resilient member  42  ceases upon fourth torsional force τ 4  and fourth restoring force F R4  reaching equilibrium. 
         [0039]    The potential energy stored in resilient member  24  may be released by disturbing the aforementioned equilibrium, as discussed above. For example, a mechanical force may be applied to any one of detents  140 ,  240 ,  340  and  440  to create pulling force F P  that moves in a direction away from resilient member  24 . It is desired that pulling force F P  have sufficient magnitude to overcome the intermolecular forces present in any one of volumes  144 ,  244 ,  344  and  444 . The combination of fourth restoring force F R4  and pulling force F P  act in opposite directions to disrupt the aforementioned equilibrium and degrade the capillary action of one or more the portions of fluids present in volumes  144 ,  244 ,  344  and  444  when one or more detents  140 ,  240 ,  340  or  440  is subjected to pulling force F P . In one example, pulling force F P  may act upon detent  440  that would result in the degradation of the intermolecular forces between the portion of fluid present in volume  444  and surface  123  and  442 . Considering that fourth restoring force F R4  is greater than any one of first torsional force τ 1  second torsional force τ 2  and third torsional force τ 3 , the kinetic energy produced by fourth restoring force F R4  would overcome the intermolecular forces in each of volumes  144 ,  244  and  344  to allow resilient member to return to the original shape. In one mode of operation pulling force F P  is provided in the manner, discussed above with respect to  FIG. 6 . To that end, an additional body (not shown) may be positioned proximate to each of bodies  116 ,  216 ,  316  and  416  to define a volume therebetween, creating a plurality of pulling volumes, of appropriate dimensions such that supply  46  may deposit a portion of fluid  28  therein. In this manner, supply  46  may be employed to sequentially deposit portion of fluids in the appropriate volumes  144 ,  244 ,  344  and  444  and one or more pulling volumes (not shown) to allow resilient member  24  to continuous deform and return to an original shape to maintain movement of rotor, shown in  FIG. 1 , at a substantially continuous velocity to generate electricity. 
         [0040]    The presence of intermolecular forces in volumes  144 ,  244  and  344  during release of molecular forces in volume  444  may result in attenuation of kinetic energy produced by resilient member  24 , as well as disrupt the angular velocity of rotor  20  when subjected to the movement of resilient member  24 . To reduce, if not avoid, these deleterious effects, it may be advantageous to release the intermolecular forces in one or more, and possibly all, of volumes  144 ,  244  and  344 , before releasing intermolecular forces in volume  444 . It is entirely possible that release of the intermolecular forces in one or more, and possibly all, of volumes  144 ,  244  and  344  may result in release of intermolecular forces in volume  444  before application of pulling force F P  to detent  122 . This may also result in attenuation of kinetic energy produced by resilient member  24  returning to the original shape. To avoid this situation one embodiment may include providing volume  444  with dimensions sufficient so that the intermolecular forces generated by the portion of fluid  48  present therein are of sufficient magnitude to maintain equilibrium with fourth restoring force F R4  in the absence of any one of first torsional force τ 1 , second torsional force τ 2 , and third torsional force τ 3 . In this configuration it is possible to release intermolecular forces in each of volumes  144 ,  244  and  344  while maintaining equilibrium with both restoring fourth force F R4  and of any one of fourth torsional force τ 4 . Thereafter, intermolecular forces in fourth volume  444  may be released by applying pulling force F P  to detent  416 . 
         [0041]    It should be understood that the description recited above is list examples of the invention and that modifications and changes to the examples may be undertaken which are within the scope of the claimed invention. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements, including a full scope of equivalents.