A BUOYANT PLUNGER SYSTEM

Abstract: The invention concerns a buoyant plunger system, which comprises an open tube (3) rotating in bearings in a water tank (1), inside of which tube there is a unit consisting of two buoyant plungers (5) with weights (6) and rods (7) attached to them. An apparatus according to the invention can be used, for example, to raise water to a higher level.

Description: A buoyant plunger system This invention concerns a buoyant plunger system and in particular such a system that is intended to produce energy, for example to raise water to a higher level, from Is 5 where it can be made to flow again down to a lower level, producing energy on the way. According to the state of the art, many attempts to apply the invention's basic principle are known, but all of them have, for one reason or another, proven impracticable. 10 The intention of this invention is to produce an apparatus that works and meets the demand, which has long existed in the field, for an apparatus of this type. The above mentioned and other advantages of the invention have been achieved 15 in the manner characterized in the accompanying claims. The invention is described in greater detail in what follows, with reference to the accompanying schematic diagram, which shows a 'transparent' side-view of an apparatus according to the invention. 20 The apparatus is meant to operate in water and is based on the fact that materials that are lighter than water rise in water. In order to be entirely submerged, the apparatus is set in, for example, a water tank. The apparatus comprises an open tube 3, set in bearings in a fixed frame 2, the tube being free to rotate around bearing 25 stubs 4. Inside the tube, there is an essentially symmetrical buoyant plunger system, which includes two buoyant plungers 5, two weights 6 and a connecting rod 7 between them. The connecting rod may be a single rod, which runs through the whole system, or it may be composed of several separate components. I. 30 According to the basic principle of the invention, there are several tube-like components 3 with suitable other parts, and they are synchronized with one another in such a way that they rotate in different stages. In this embodiment, the extension of connecting rod 7 is equipped with a wheel 8, which, when wheel 8 strikes the opposing surface 9, is intended to press against opposing surface 9 and cause a movement of the rod 7 and the weights 6, in relation to buoyant plungers 5. Thus, when the apparatus rotates, it comes to a stage in which wheel 8 begins to press against opposing surface 9, which, on account of its shape, forces rod 7 and the weights 6 attached to it to move at an angle upwards in tube 3. The weights/rod lock into the upper position and the entire rotation stops in more or less a vertical position. In this case, the buoyant plungers 5, which are arranged to move easily in relation to tube 3, move upwards to the upper position, due to their buoyancy. As the movement continues, the locking of the rods/weights is released and opposing surface 9 once again pushes the rods and weights contained in the next tube upwards. When the rods in the apparatus begin to continue rotation from the more or less vertical position, the position of the weights 6 and rod 7 in relation to the buoyant plunger 5 is such that the mass is further from the rotation axle 4 in relation to buoyant plunger 5 than that of the weight on the other side of the axle in relation to its respective buoyant plunger. Thus, the apparatus receives its rotational energy from the aforesaid change. As stated, once the locking (which is not described in detail) is released, the entire system rotates in such a way that the next buoyant plunger-weight unit 5, 6, which is in another tube 3 at an angle to the previous tube, is able to execute the working stage described above. In this way, the apparatus continues through the working stages, one tube 3 at a time. The aforementioned locking may be arranged on axle 4, for example, or to components that move on the circumference of the apparatus. Any conventional solution, many of which are known in various fields, can be used for the locking. The energy produced by an apparatus according to the invention can be extracted especially from axle 4 of the apparatus, in any manner whatever. Because the apparatus rotates extremely slowly, it would be suitable, for example, to arrange a water pump on the axle, to raise water to a higher level. The water thus raised could be made to produce energy in a manner that is, as such, known, when, for example, it returns to tank 1. On the other hand, it is possible to use a water-raising device that operates, for example, on the crankshaft principle, instead of a pump. It is also possible to arrange for the buoyant plungers 5 to be tightly sealed in the tubes 3 to push a column of water in front of them, which is then applied to a useful purpose at a higher level. There are numerous alternative embodiments of the system according to the invention. It is also possible to create an arrangement, in which the units of the apparatus rotate as two or more assemblies of units, when the flows will be evened out. Other variations within the scope of protection of the accompanying Claims are certainly also possible. For example, fine-tuning can take place in practice by arranging the opposing surface in such a place and as such a shape that maximum benefit is obtained from it.

Claims: Claims 1. A buoyant plunger system, especially to move a liquid, characterized in that it consists of an open tube (3) set in bearings to rotate in a water tank (1 ), inside of which tube there is a unit composed of two buoyant plungers (5), two weights (6) and a rod arrangement (7). 2. A system according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the system includes devices for stopping the movement of the tube (3) in essentially a vertical position. 3. A system according to Claim 1 , characterized in that there are several units formed by a tube (3) and buoyant plunger system (5, 6, 7), and that they are at different stages of rotation on a common axle. 4. A system according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the buoyant plunger-weight unit comprises a symmetrical construction consisting of two buoyant plungers (5) with weights (6) set symmetrically in relation to them, in which case the buoyant plungers and weights are connected to each other by a rod (7). 5. A system according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the buoyant plungers (5) are set in the tube (3) in such a way that they act as the pistons of a pump and raise water. 6. A system according to Claim 1 , characterized in that a pump, or other device for raising water, is connected to it. 7. A system according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the combination of rods (7) and weights (6) moves in relation to buoyant plunger (5). 8. A system according to Claim 7, characterized in that the rod (7) is equipped with an extension, at the end of which there is a wheel or corresponding member (8) for pushing against the opposing surface (9), which on account its shape forces the rod (7) to move in relation to the tube (3).

Inventors: KORHONEN JAAKKO JUHANI, KORHONEN, JAAKKO, JUHANI
Applicants: KORHONEN JAAKKO JUHANI, KORHONEN, JAAKKO, JUHANI
Application year: 1996
Main classification: F03B17
IPC codes: F03B17