Energy generating system

Energy generating system that generates energy from an external source includes a frame having two vertically spaced apart supports and at least one rod extending therebetween. An electromagnetic power generating arrangement is between the supports and includes a movable power generating coil, a first stationary power generating coil that interacts with the movable coil at an upper position in an upward path of movement of the movable coil, and a second stationary power generating coil that interacts with the movable coil at a lower position in a downward path of movement of the movable coil to generate electricity which is conveyed through a cable to an electricity processing system. The movable coil is connected to each rod, and the movable coil is lifted from the lower position to the upper position along each rod, ideally through energy from an external source.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an energy generating system that is used to generate energy, specifically electricity, at least in part from one or more external energy sources, e.g., sun power, wind power or wave power.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Power generation from renewable energy sources (e.g., wave energy, solar power, wind power, hydroelectric power, biomass, etc.) continues to grow. However, many of these renewable energy sources (e.g., solar power, wind power) are intermittent and unpredictable, limiting the amount of electricity that can be delivered to the grid from intermittent renewable energy sources.

Accordingly, there is a need for improved system to capture electricity generated by renewable energy sources when available for predictable delivery to the electrical grid. As used herein, the electrical grid is an interconnected network for delivery of electricity from producers to consumers and spans a large geographical region, including cities, states and/or countries.

U.S. Pat. Appln. Publ. No, 20230184229 (Pedretti) addresses this issue and describes an energy storage and delivery system that includes an elevator cage operable to move one or more blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy (e.g., via the potential energy of the block in the higher elevation) and operable to move one or more blocks from the higher elevation to the lower elevation (e.g., by gravity) to generate electricity (e.g., via the kinetic energy of the block when moved to the lower elevation). The blocks are moved between the lower elevation and the higher elevation by an equal vertical distance.

U.S. Pat. No. 11,619,202 (Nydegger) describes systems and methods for controlling machines that generate electricity using a source of renewable energy, namely gravity. An electro-magnetic subsystem of the machine harvests kinetic energy of a buoyant shuttle as it falls through air and into a bi-level tank. The shuttle is then arrested in the bi-level water tank and returned, by virtue of the shuttle's buoyancy, to its start point for a subsequent duty cycle. The return of the shuttle is made possible by a hydro-pneumatic subsystem of the machine that overcomes the potential energy needed to raise and lower the upper water level in the bi-level tank to compensate for a transit of the shuttle through the tank. The hydro-pneumatic subsystem does this by cyclically maintaining the required difference in water levels in the bi-level tank.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide new and improved energy generating and/or storage system.

It is an object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide new and improved energy generating and/or storage system that generates energy, specifically electricity, at least in part from one or more external energy sources.

It is another object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide new and improved energy generating and/or storage system that generates energy, specifically electricity, at least in part from one or more passive external energy sources when available to generate energy for use when they are not available.

It is an object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide new and improved energy generating and/or storage system that is capable of storing energy during a period of availability for use when no longer available.

It is an object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide new and improved energy storage system that is capable of storing energy during a period of relatively inexpensive generation and output the stored energy during a period of more expensive generation to capture the difference in cost based on the time differential.

In order to achieve one or more of these objects, and possibly others, an energy generating system that generates energy from an external source includes a frame having a first support, a second support spaced apart from the first support and at least one rod extending between the first and second supports. The system also includes an electromagnetic power generating arrangement between the first and second supports, which includes a movable power generating coil, a first stationary power generating coil that interacts with the movable power generating coil at an upper position in an upward path of movement of the movable power generating coil, and a second stationary power generating coil that interacts with the movable power generating coil at a lower position in a downward path of movement of the movable power generating coil to generate electricity which is conveyed through a cable to an electricity processing system. The movable power generating coil is connected to each rod, and the movable power generating coil is lifted from the lower position to the upper position along each rod.

In one embodiment, there are a pair of rods, in which case, there is advantageously a sleeve bearing on each rods and a bracket connecting the movable power generating coil to the sleeve bearings. A weight is preferably provided on the brackets. There may be springs between the first and second stationary power generating coils and the frame.

The structure that provides the lifting of the movable power generating coil, i.e., lifting means, includes an electrically-powered lifting coil extending between the first and second stationary power generating coils. The lifting coil extends through the movable power generating coil and interacts with the movable power generating coil to contribute to raising of the movable power generating coil from the lower position to the upper position.

Alternatively, the lifting means may include a wind-based system that deploys a blade or sail when the upward movement of the movable power generating coil is desired.

The structure that connects the movable power generating coil to the rod(s) may be at least partly buoyant, in which case, the lifting means include a wave-based system wherein a wave causes the upward movement of the connecting means and thus the movable power generating coil. The structure that connects the movable power generating coil to the rod(s) may also be at least one coil, and a bracket connecting each coil to the movable power generating coil. In this latter case, the lifting means include an electrically-powered lifting coil arranged around each rod and inward of the coil of the connecting means. Each lifting coil interacts with the coil of the connecting means to contribute to raising of the movable power generating coil connected to the coil from the lower position to the upper position. As mentioned before, a weight on each bracket is advantageous.

Another embodiment of an energy generating system that generates energy from an external source includes a central axle, a circular cover having an opening on one side through which the axle passes into an interior of the cover, at least one bearing for mounting the cover to the axle to enable rotation of the axle relative to the cover, and an electromagnetic power generating arrangement in the interior space of the cover. The electromagnetic power generating arrangement includes a movable power generating coil arranged on the axle, a first stationary power generating coil that interacts with the movable power generating coil at an upper position in a circular rotational path of movement of the movable power generating coil, and a second stationary power generating coil that interacts with the movable power generating coil at a lower position in the circular rotational path of movement of the movable power generating coil to generate electricity which is conveyed through a cable to an electricity processing system. Structure is provided to assist in rotational movement of the movable power generating coil from the lower position to the upper position, referred to as lifting means.

In one embodiment, there are struts extending radially from the axle, in which case, the movable power generating coil is connected to one of the struts. A weight may be connected to the movable power generating coil. The lifting means may include an electrically-powered lifting coil arranged in the interior space of the cover on a side at which the movable power generating coil is in an upward rotational path and which interacts with the movable power generating coil and contributes to continued upward rotational movement of the movable power generating coil to the upper position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein the same reference numbers refer to the same or similar components, an energy generating system10in accordance with the invention is shown inFIGS.1and2and includes a frame12having a base14, an upper frame part16and one or more directional poles or vertical rods18extending between the base14and the upper frame part16. As shown inFIG.1, the energy generating system10has two vertical rods but any number of vertical rods can be used in various embodiments of the invention. The base14may be considered a first support and the upper frame part16may be considered a second support, or vice versa, with the base14being spaced apart from the upper frame part16as shown inFIG.1, whereby the rod(s)18thus extend between the first and second supports.

A power (electricity) generating arrangement20is arranged between the upper surface of the base14and the lower surface of the upper frame part16, and includes a movable power generating coil22and two stationary power generating coils24. The movable power generating coil22and two stationary power generating coils24cooperate during the downward movement of the movable power generating coil22to generate electricity which is conveyed through a cable46from the lowermost stationary power generating coil24to an electricity processing system26that processes the generated electricity (seeFIG.1). The manner in which two coils, with one moving relative to the other, generate electricity is well-known to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. The movable power generating coil22in its lowermost position is shown in dotted lines inFIG.1.

The electricity generated is dependent on the difference in height between the location of the movable power generating coil22when at its uppermost position at least partly around the uppermost stationary power generating coil24and the location of the movable power generating coil22when at its lowermost position at least partly around the lowermost stationary power generating coil24. The difference is potential energy (PE) which is a function of the mass of the movable power generating coil22, the height of the object and gravity.

The movable power generating coil22is connected to each sleeve bearing28that slides along a respective one of the vertical rods18by connecting means, which as shown include a respective transverse connecting bracket30, although other means for connecting the movable power generating coil22to the vertical rods18are possible and contemplated by the inventor herein. The vertical rods18therefore guide the downward movement of the movable power generating coil22. The connecting brackets30may be weighted, and to this end have a weight32at the end adjacent and connecting to the movable power generating coil22. The vertical rods18may be solid and rigid. Suitable bearings or lubricants are optionally provided between the vertical rods18and the sleeve bearings28that move along the vertical rods18.

The power generating arrangement20also includes two springs34that each connect the stationary power generating coils24to the base14or upper frame part16. The spring34below the lower stationary power generating coil24is useful since it can provide a return force aiding in the upward movement of the movable power generating coil22.

To enable repeated operation, the movable power generating coil22must be raised to its uppermost position. This upward movement is started by the return force provided by the spring34below the lower stationary power generating coil24but this is often insufficient. As such, a lifting coil36is provided, extending between the upper and lower stationary power generating coils24, and interacts with the movable power generating coil22to raise the movable power generating coil22slowly to its uppermost position.

Electricity to power the lifting coil36can come from the electricity generated during the downward movement of the movable power generating coil22, via the electricity processing system26. However, additional power can be used to raise the movable power generating coil22upward along the lifting coil36. As such, an external, renewable source of energy is provided. This energy source is depicted generally as38and may be a solar power system on the frame12, or elsewhere. Construction, installation, and use of such a solar power system is well-known in the field to which this invention pertains, and additional details are not necessary. The schematic of a solar power system conveys the presence of one or more solar panels or other type of system that use solar energy to generate electricity of the connection of the energy source38to the lifting coil36conveys the ability to transfer the generated electricity to the lifting coil36to enable it to lift the movable power generating coil22upward as a result of solar-generated energy.

Alternatively, instead of using the lifting coil36, a system may be provided to lift the movable power generating coil22. Such a system may be a wind-based system that deploys a blade or sail when the upward movement of the movable power generating coil22is wanted (and sufficient wind is present) to cause the wind to raise the movable power generating coil22.

Instead of the lifting coil36, the movable power generating coil raising system may be implemented by a wave-based system wherein the brackets30are made to be buoyant so that in the absence of a wave at the location of the energy generating system10in the region between the stationary power generating coils24, the movable power generating coil22would drop by the effect of gravity, but when a wave is present the buoyancy of the brackets30would cause the raising of the movable power generating coil22.

Thus, the manner in which movable power generating coil22is raised is not critical to the invention, although ideally it should be effected through a renewable power source.

FIGS.3and4show another embodiment of an energy generating system40in accordance with the invention wherein the lifting coil36is not in the center of the system as in the embodiment ofFIGS.1and2, but rather is on both sides of the energy generating system40. Each lifting coil42is around a respective directional pole or vertical rod18and connected by a sleeve bearing44to the movable power generating coil22. The movable power generating coil22is in its lowermost position is shown in dotted lines inFIG.3. The sleeve bearings44are electromagnetic coils so that electricity is directed to the lifting coils42to interact with the sleeve bearings44and cause the lifting of the movable power generating coil22connected thereto.

Both energy generating systems10,40function in almost the same way in that they generate electricity during the downward movement of the movable power generating coil22. The electricity is based on the realization that the potential energy of the movable power generating coil22and weighted brackets30is greater when the movable power generating coil22and weighted brackets30are adjacent the upper frame part16than when the movable power generating coil22and weighted brackets30are adjacent the base14, and also that the velocity at which the movable power generating coil22and weighted brackets30are lowered from the uppermost position to the lowermost position is greater than the velocity at which the movable power generating coil22and weighted brackets30are raised from the lowermost position to the uppermost position. Assuming constant mass, the different velocities result in different kinetic energies (kinetic energy equal mass times velocity squared divided by two or mv2/2).

As mentioned above, the energy used to raise the movable power generating coil22and weighted brackets30from the lowermost position to the uppermost position may be provided, at least in part, by the system10,40. However, to supplement or replace this energy, solar panels (not shown) may be attached to the upper frame part16to generate electricity used to raise the movable power generating coil22and weighted brackets30from the lowermost position to the uppermost position.

In one embodiment, the systems10,40are positioned to enable wave energy to lift the movable power generating coil22and weighted brackets30from the lowermost position to the uppermost position. That is, ocean water subject to wave motion is guided into engagement with the movable power generating coil22and weighted brackets30and as the tide rises or waves rise, the movable power generating coil22and weighted brackets30is lifted. The lowering of the movable power generating coil22and weighted brackets30thus converts the upward wave or tide-derived energy into electricity.

FIGS.5and6show another energy generating system50wherein the same concept of raising a weighted movable power generating coil at least partly by external means, such as solar power, wind power or wave power, and lowering it to cause interaction between the movable power generating coil and a stationary power generating coil to generate electricity. In this embodiment, instead of linear movement of the movable power generating coil, there is circular movement.

FIG.5shows the energy generating system50including a circular cover52around a rotatable central axle54, the central axle extending to one side of the cover52and passing through an opening on one lateral side of the cover52. The axle54rotates, in this embodiment, clockwise, to cause a portion connected thereto and inside of the cover52to rotate within the interior space of the cover52. One or more bearings56is/are attached between the cover52and the axle54to enable the cover52to be maintained in a stationary state relative to the axle54, the cover52being connected to one part of the bearing56with the other part being connected to the axle54. The construction of such bearings is well-known to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains.

Inside an interior space defined by the cover52, there are two stationary power generating coils58, one at the top of the interior space in the cover52and the other at the bottom of the interior space in the cover52(seeFIG.5). The power generating coils58have a U-shaped cross-section (seeFIG.6).

A movable power generating coil60is connected to one of the struts62, three being shown but this number is not limiting, which struts62extend radially from a portion of the axle54inside of the interior space of the cover52. A weight64is preferably connected to the movable power generating coil60, inside of the strut62that supports the movable power generating coil60, or formed integral with the strut62that supports the movable power generating coil60. Movement of the power generating coil60during its rotation about the axle54causes electricity to be generated as it passes by the stationary power generating coils58. This electricity is conveyed through cables70to an electricity processing system66that processes the generated electricity (seeFIG.5). As mentioned above, the manner in which two coils, with one moving relative to the other, generate electricity is well-known to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains.

A lifting coil68is arranged on a side of the interior of the cover52in an upward path of the movable power generating coil60. In view of the clockwise rotation of the axle54and its connected structure, the lifting coil68is arranged on the left side of the cover52. The lifting coil68has an arcuate surface against the inside surface of the cover52and extends radially inward a sufficient distance to enable electrical interaction with the movable power generating coil60, but without being an obstacle to the rotational movement of the movable power generating coil60.

In operation, when the movable power generating coil60descends from engagement with the upper stationary power generating coil58(the position shown inFIGS.5and6), it passes by the lower stationary power generating coil58and continues its circular movement into engagement with the lifting coil68. The lifting coil68is energized to power the movable power generating coil60to continue its upward rotational movement to return to the uppermost position in engagement with the upper stationary power generating coil58. This cycle repeats causing electricity to be generated during the descending movement of the movable power generating coil60.

To provide electricity to the lifting coil68, in order to cause the raising of the movable power generating coil60and weight64from the lowermost position to the uppermost position, electricity generated during the descent of the movable power generating coil60may be used. This electricity may not be sufficient and in fact, an external source of electricity is preferred to energize the lifting coil68.

This external source of electricity may be provided, at least in part, by solar panels (not shown) attached to the cover52to generate electricity used to energize the lifting coil68and thereby raise the movable power generating coil60and weight64from the lowermost position to the uppermost position.

In one embodiment, the systems50is positioned to enable pre-existing rotational energy to be switched into the axle54during the upward movement of the movable power generating coil60to thereby use this pre-existing rotational movement to enable the movable power generating coil60to continue its upward movement to a position engaging with the upper stationary power generating coil58.

Energy generating system50could therefore be installed onto the axle of a motorized vehicle or manually-powered vehicle, e.g., bicycle, and the rotation of the axle of any of these vehicles switched to cause engagement of the axle54of the energy generating system50to the axle of the vehicle during the upward movement of the movable power generating coil60. A switch could be a mechanical structure that detects the upward movement of the movable power generating coil60and causes provides for a mechanical connection between the axle of the vehicle and the axle of the energy generating system50to enable transfer of rotational force. This may take the form of a gear on the axle54that is selectively moved into engagement with a gear on the axle of the vehicle, and disengaged with the axle of the vehicle once the movable power generating coil60has reached the uppermost position or close to it once it engages with the upper stationary power generating coil58.

Another use for the energy generating system10,50is as a storage of energy wherein during a period when the external source of energy is available, e.g., daylight in the event a solar powered external source is used, then the movable power generating coil22,60could be brought to its upper position during daylight and held therein. The movable power generating coil22,60is released from a stationary state at night to convert the stored potential energy into kinetic energy which results in electricity generation at night.

Providing multiple such systems could create a reservoir of energy to use when the external sources are not available. A controller would be coupled to the movable power generating coil22,60to hold it through magnetic attraction, or electromagnetic force between the movable power generating coil22,60and the upper stationary power generating coil24,58, in the upper position and only release it when power is needed.

Moreover, the energy storage could be used to use energy when it is relatively cheap to use and output the stored energy when the price is higher. Thus, electricity would be used to bring the movable power generating coil22,60to its upper state when electricity is inexpensive (whether or not derived in part or entirely from external sources) and then the movable power generating coil released to generate electricity (from the stored potential energy) when the price obtained for the generated electricity is higher. A profit can be obtained in this manner using energy generating system10,50.

The foregoing provides multiples uses for the energy generating system disclosed herein. It is important, but not critical, that at least some of the energy is sourced from external sources, and specifically renewable sources that do not require energy themselves to create potential energy. Thus, solar power, wind power, wave energy and other existing power sources are useful external sources to cause the movable power generating coil22,60to be brought or lifted to its upper state and then capable of generating useable energy during its downward path (linear or arcuate) while moving, i.e., kinetic energy.

The exact geometric form of the downward path of the movable power generating coil22,60is not limited to the linear path as shown inFIGS.1-4or the arcuate path shown inFIGS.5and6, but can take other forms. Similarly, the exact geometric form of the upward path of the movable power generating coil22,60is not limited to the linear path as shown inFIGS.1-4or the arcuate path shown inFIGS.5and6, but can take other forms. Different shapes for the downward and upward path may be employed in the embodiment.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, the absence of structure in the drawings may be, in some embodiments, considered to indicate that such structure is intentionally lacking and omitted in an engine or other arrangement disclosed herein. The absence of such structure can, in some embodiments, provide benefits. The supercharger10is not limited to use with any specific fluid, whether air or water, and to any specific use. Finally, features of the above-identified prior art can be incorporated into the supercharger of the present invention, and the supercharger of the present invention applied in the application disclosed in the above-identified prior art to the extent the resultant combination does not deviate from the objectives and novelties of the invention.