Domestic water pressure-flow powered generator system

A fluid motor including a rotatable output shaft and a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet is provided for serial connection in a domestic water system supply pipe. A rotary electrical generator is also provided and the output shaft of the fluid motor is drivingly coupled to the generator. A bank of storage batteries is further provided and the generator includes a pair of electrical potential output conductors electrically connected to the bank of batteries through current regulating structure whereby the batteries may be recharged as a result of the fluid motor driving the generator. An auxiliary domestic electrical wiring system is provided and is electrically connected to the bank of storage batteries.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Domestic water systems are conventionally provided with water under 
approximately 70 pounds per square inch pressure and some portions of 
domestic water systems, disposed at low elevations, are supplied with 
water under pressure as high as 100 pounds per square inch. This 
reasonably high pressure delivery of water to domestic water systems is 
required in order that sufficient water pressure may be maintained at 
higher elevation portions of the system, but most domestic water users do 
not require the delivery of water at pressures approaching 70 to 100 
pounds per square inch, with the possible exception of automatic water 
using appliances. However, automatic water using appliances may be 
modified to operate efficiently under considerably less water pressure. 
In addition, there is presently great concern in this country for the 
conservation of energy and one means of reducing domestic energy 
consumption would be to find an economical and efficient way to utilize 
the excess pressure of water supplied to domestic water systems. 
Various means of generating power from the pressure of domestic water 
systems have been heretofore provided and examples of such previously 
known structures are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 344,344, 1,774,603, 
1,982,315, 2,097,166 and 2,436,683. 
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The domestic water pressure-flow power generator system of the instant 
invention utilizes a sliding vane rotary motor serially connected in the 
supply pipe of a domestic water system and the motor is drivingly 
connected to an electrical generator for recharging a bank of storage 
batteries to which an auxiliary domestic wiring system is electrically 
connected. Each time water is drawn from the domestic water system, water 
is caused to pass through the supply pipe for the system and thus through 
the fluid motor serially connected therein. Operation of the fluid motor 
results, whereby the electrical generator is driven and supplies 
electrical current to the bank of batteries of the auxiliary domestic 
electrical wiring system for the purpose of recharging the batteries. 
Although large amounts of electrical power may not be generated as a 
result of the instant invention without excessive use of domestic water, 
over the period of a month in homes where perhaps as much as 30,000 
gallons of water is used, considerable electrical protential may be 
generated and stored in the bank of batteries for use in supplying current 
to various domestic electrical appliances throughout the month. 
The main object of this invention is to provide a power generating system 
to be driven by the flow of water under pressure through a domestic water 
system. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a power generating system 
including an electrical generator for recharging a bank of storage 
batteries to which an auxiliary domestic electrical wiring system is 
electrically connected. 
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a power generating 
system which may be readily operatively connected to existing domestic 
water systems as well as incorporated in newly constructed domestic water 
systems. 
A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to 
provide a power generating system in accordance with the preceding objects 
and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple 
construction and easy to use, so as to provide a device that will be 
economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble-free in 
operation. 
These together with other objects and advantages which will become 
subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation 
as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to 
the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numberals 
refer to like parts throughout.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally 
designates a building to which water under pressure is supplied by a 
domestic water system referred to in general by the reference numeral 12. 
The domestic water system includes a supply pipe 14 including an inlet end 
portion 16 and an outlet portion 18 within the building 10. The inlet end 
portion 16 has a water meter 20 serially connected therein and the outlet 
end 18 is connected to the water supply system (not shown) within the 
building 10. 
The power generating system of the instant invention is referred to in 
general by the reference numeral 22 and includes a fluid motor referred to 
in general by the reference numeral 24 serially connected in the supply 
pipe 14 between the inlet and outlet end portions 16 and 18 thereof. 
The rotary motor 24 includes an output shaft 26 drivingly coupled to the 
input shaft 28 of an electrical generator 30 and the electrical generator 
is connected to a bank of storage batteries 32 through a current regulator 
34, whereby the current supplied from the generator 30 to the batteries 32 
through the current regulator 34 may be utilized to recharge the batteries 
32. 
The building 10 includes an auxiliary domestic electrical wiring system 36 
electrically connected to the batteries 32 and which may be utilized to 
provide auxiliary power to various domestic electrical appliances (not 
shown). 
With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 2 of the drawings, it 
may be seen that the fluid motor 24 includes a water inlet 38 to which the 
inlet end portion 16 of the pipe 14 is connected and an outlet 40 to which 
the outlet end portion 18 of the pipe 14 is connected. The motor 24 
defines a cylindrical cavity 42 in which an eccentric rotor 44 equipped 
with radially sliding vanes 46 is journaled. Accordingly, it may be seen 
that upon the passage of water through the fluid motor 24 in the direction 
indicated by the arrow 48, the rotor 44 will be caused to rotate in the 
same direction. Therefore, movement of the water through the motor 24 will 
cause the output shaft 26 thereof to drive the input shaft 28 of the 
generator 30 and the latter to supply current to the batteries 32 through 
the regulator 34 for the purpose of recharging the batteries 32. 
At any time water is drawn from the domestic water system 12 in the 
interior of the building 10, water will be caused to flow through the 
fluid motor 24 and current to be generated by the generator 34 recharging 
the batteries 32. Of course, the auxiliary domestic electrical wiring 
system 36 may be utilized intermittently to provide electrical power to 
various domestic electrical appliances. As current is drawn from the 
batteries 32 by the auxiliary wiring system 36 to power domestic 
electrical appliances, the batteries 32 gradually will be discharged. 
However, each time water is drawn from the domestic water supply system 
12, the generator 30 will be actuated to supply current to the batteries 
32 through the regulator 34 in order to recharge the batteries 32. 
It is pointed out that fluid motors other than the type illustrated at 24 
may be utilized to power the generator 30. Further, the domestic water 
supply system within the building 10 may have various automatic water 
using appliances modified to operate efficiently on reduced water 
pressures. 
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the 
invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily 
occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the 
invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and 
accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, 
falling within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims which 
follow.