POWER GENERATOR UTILIZING BUOYANCY OF A BODY IN A LIQUID

Abstract: Power generating apparatus which derives its motive power from the buoyancy of a body immersed in a liquid medium. The apparatus includes an endless, flexible, spiral pipe (22) trained about respective upper and lower sprockets (18, 20), the pipe positioned so that a portion of it passes vertically through a column of liquid medium (12) in a container (10) The pipe (22) is lighter in weight than the weight of the liquid medium (12) displaced by the pipe so that the buoyancy of the pipe (22) causes the pipe (22) to travel and rotate the upper and lower sprockets (18, 20). Sealing means (36) are provided at the lower end of the container (10) of liquid medium (12) to prevent loss of the liquid medium (12) from the container (10) while permitting passage of the spiral pipe (22) vertically therethrough.

Description: Description Power Generator utilizing Buoyancy of a Body in a Liquid Technical Field This invention relates to an apparatus which de¬ rives its motive power from the buoyancy of a body immersed in a liquid medium. Background Art Numerous devices have been proposed which make use of the buoyancy of a body immersed in a body of liqud to de¬ rive power therefrom. U.S. Patent No. 29,149 discloses an endless chain of buckets traveling about suitable pulleys, the buckets immersed in a body of water. Steam is introduced into the buckets below the surface of the water to displace the water therefrom and render the buckets buoyant so as to give motion to the chain of buckets. Grondahl, U.S. Patent No. 2,037,973, discloses a series of floats positioned on an endless belt which travels through a column of water, the buoyancy of the floats causing the belt to rotate. Platt, U.S. Patent No. 2,135,110, discloses an endless chain to which buckets are attached, the chain trained around upper and lower sprockets immersed in a body of water. Means are provided to inject air under pressure into the buckets during the time they are inverted in the water to give them suffi¬ cient buoyancy to drive the chain. Baumgartner, U.S. Patent No. 3,194,008, discloses a buoyant ring partially submerged in a body of liqud, the buoyant ring having a series of indi- vidual sealed compartments. The buoyant force of the sealed compartments causes the ring to rotate. Gilmore, U.S. Patent No. 3,857,242, discloses use of hollow, closed tanks to ef¬ fect movement of a pair of conveying belts by both gravity and buoyancy. Conn, U.S. Patent No. 3,918,827, makes use of collapsible buckets connected to an endless chain submerged in a lake or sea. Diamond, U.S. Patent No. 3,934,964, dis¬ closes placing buoyant cylinders on one side of a rotatable member and sinking cylinders on the opposite side. Disclosure of Invention It is a primary object of this invention to pro vide 'a power apparatus making use of the buoyancy of member immersed in a liquid to move an endless belt. It is another object of this invention to provid a power apparatus making use of an endless buoyant belt par tially immersed in a body of liquid, the buoyant belt verti cally entering the body of liquid through a rotatable seal. Another object of this invention is to provide power apparatus utilizing an endless, flexible, spiral hol low column of foamed polystyrene or other material as buoyant member. These and other objects are accomplished by use o a power generator apparatus comprising a container holding column of liquid medium, upper and lower rotatable shaft above and below the container, pulleys journaled on the up per and lower shafts, an endless, flexible, spiral buoyan member passing around the upper and lower pulleys and posi tioned such that a portion thereof passes vertically throug the column of liquid medium in the container so that th buoyancy of the spiral member causes it to travel upwardl through the column and rotate the upper and lower pulleys Sealing means are provided at the lower end of the containe of liquid medium to permit passage of the spiral member ver tically therethrough into the container of liquid mediu while preventing loss of the liquid medium. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the power generat ing apparatus of this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of th container holding the liquid medium, the rotatable seal a the lower end of the container and the spiral buoyant membe passing therethrough; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view along sectio line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and O ~ Fig. 4 is a partial view of the spiral member il¬ lustrating the manner in which it may be hinged to allow it to bend about the upper and lower sprockets; and Fig. 5 is a partial view of the spiral member il- lustrating the manner in which it may be connected to allow one section of the spiral member to pivot relative to an adjoining section. Best Mode of Carrying Out the Invention Referring to the drawings, particularly Fig. 1, the power generating apparatus disclosed includes a contain¬ er 10 of any desired form holding a liquid medium 12. The liquid medium is generally water; however, other liquids may be used. The greater the density of the liquid the greater the buoyancy, since buoyancy is a function of the weight of the fluid displaced by the buoyant member. Shafts 14 and 16 are provided above and below the container 10 as illustrat¬ ed. Sprockets 18 and 20 are journaled, respectively, to the upper and lower shafts. An endless, flexible, spiral belt 22 is trained around the upper and lower sprockets which are disposed one above the other so that a portion of the belt passes through the column of liquid 12 in the container 10. The spiral buoyant member 22 causes the endless belt to travel and rotate the upper and lower shafts 14,16 and sprockets 18,20. Preferably the buoyant member 22 is a flexible, hollow spiral column of foamed polystyrene, al¬ though other foamed plastics and other flexible materials may be used. It may be necessary to hinge the buoyant member at predetermined intervals as illustrated in Fig. 4 to allow the sections of the buoyant member 22 to bend relative to one another about the top and bottom sprockets 18,20 or to connect sections of the buoyant member together at spaced intervals so that one section is free to rotate relative to the adjoining section as illustrated in Fig. 5. The hinge 24, as illustrated in Fig. 4, allows the buoyant member to separate about the pivot point of the hinge. Preferably the hinge is flush with the exterior surface of the member 22 OMPI and concealed so as not to create any undue friction as th buoyant member travels upward through the sealing member a the lower end of the column of liquid 12, as will be discus sed. The ends 26 of the hinge which are exposed on bendin of the buoyant member 22 at the hinge 24 are sealed to pre vent entry of the liquid thereinto. Illustrated in Fig. is an alternative means of connecting the sections. Pins 2 are inserted in the ends of the respective sections so tha the adjoining sections are free to rotate relative to th Pin. Sealing means are provided at the lower end of th container 10 where the spiral buoyant member 22 enters th fluid medium. The sealing means functions to permit th spiral buoyant member 22 to enter the liquid 12 without los of liquid from the container 10. The sealing member is bes illustrated in Fig. 2 and comprises a plate 28 resting o bearing 30, preferably an air bearing, for rotation of th plate relative to the container 10. The outer periphera edges of the plate 28 are closely fitted against the inne walls of the container 10 so as to prevent any leakage o liquid from the container^ If necessary, an O-ring 32 ma be used to seal the gap between the plate 28 and inne surface of the container wall. The plate includes an arcu ate opening 34 as illustrated in Fig. 3, which permits th spiral buoyant member 22 to pass vertically through th plate 28 into the column of liquid 12 in the container 10 The radius and size of the opening in the plate 28 is chose to fit the particular design of the spiral buoyant membe used. Desirably, the buoyant member should not contact th side walls of the plate 28 as it moves through the openin into the column of liquid 12 in the container 10. A flex ible seal 36 of rubber or other suitable material is fitte over the opening and secured thereto by rivets 38 or othe means to effect sealing against liquid loss. The seal 3 skirts the exterior surface of the spiral buoyant member 2 as it moves vertically into the column of liquid 12 to pre vent loss of liquid from the container 10. Movement of th buoyant member 22 upwardly through the opening in the plat O /., V V// 28 causes the plate to rotate relative to the container. The sealing assembly is sufficiently light in weight and flexible so that the weight of the liquid ^ in the container seals the edges 40 of the sealing member 36 against the exterior surface of the spiral, buoyant member 22 moving into the column of liquid so that there is minimal loss of liquid. It may be necessary to locate an idler roll 42 on the lower surface of plate 28 as illustrated in Fig. 2 to guide it into the opening in the plate.

Claims: Claims 1. A power generating apparatus, comprising: a container holding a column of a liquid medium; upper and lower rotatable shafts above and below t container; pulleys journaled on the upper and lower shafts; an endless, flexible, spiral member passing around t upper and lower pulleys positioned such that portions there pass vertically through the column of liquid medium in the co tainer, the buoyancy of the member causing it to travel a rotate about the upper and lower pulleys; and sealing means at the lower end of the container liquid medium permitting passage of the spiral member vertical therethrough into the container while preventing loss of t liquid medium. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the member is hollow, spiral column of foamed polystyrene. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the member hinged at predetermined intervals along its length to allow it bend as it passes over the top and bottom pulleys. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the member sectioned with the respective sections pivotally joined. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sealing mea includes a plate having an opening therein through which t spiral member passes upwardly, the plate positioned across t lower end of the container of liquid medium and mounted for r tation relative to the container so that as the spiral memb moves vertically the plate is free to rotate, the plate having flexible sleeve contacting the exterior surface of the memb passing through the opening preventing passage of liquid medi between the member and the sleeve. 6. The apparatus of claim 5 including an idler wheel mounted on the lower surface of the plate to guide the spiral member into the opening. 7. The apparatus of claim 5 including a column of buoyant material having a specific gravity less than that of water secured to the upper surface of the plate to reduce friction between it and the container. 8. A power generating apparatus utilizing the buoy¬ ancy of a body immersed in a liquid medium to derive its power, comprising: a container holdling a column of liquid medium; upper and lower rotatable shafts above and below the container; sprockets journaled on the upper and lower shafts; an endless, flexible, spiral, hollow column of foamed polystyrene passing around the upper and lower sprockets and positioned such that a portion thereof passes vertically through the column of liquid medium in the container, the buoyancy of the foamed polystyrene column causing the column to travel up¬ wardly and rotate the upper and lower sprockets; a plate positioned across the lower end of the con¬ tainer holding the column of liquid medium having an opening therein through which the spiral polystyrene column can pass upwardly, the plate being free to rotate as the spiral column moves vertically through the container of fluid medium; and a flexible sleeve member fitted over the opening and contacting the exterior surface of the spiral column as it moves vertically into the column of liquid medium to prevent passage of the liquid medium from the container. 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the liquid medium is water. 10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the spiral column is sectioned with the respective sections connected so that each is free to rotate relative to the adjoining section. O ΓI . 7/IPO ' 11. The apparatus of claim 8 including an idler wh mounted on the lower surface of the plate to guide the col into the opening. OM

Inventors: NEUFELD N
Applicants: NEUFELD N
Application year: 1980
Main classification: F03C5
IPC codes: F03B17