Abstract:
The uninterrupted battery operated generator system  50  of the present invention generates electrical and kinetic energy without using fossil fuel or external energy sources to recharge. It uses two sets of energy storage means  11, 12  alternatively, to power a rotational torque generating means  15 . The rotational torque generating means  15  drives the rotational movement of a flywheel  31  coupled to gyroscopes  35 , which store and multiply kinetic energy. An alternator  16  is driven by the rotational torque generating means to convert this kinetic energy into electrical energy. The flywheel  31  can also be fitted with a rail  42  engaging with a transmission roller  43  to transfer the kinetic energy via a transmission shaft  44  to a receiving system such as a vehicular or machinery transmission system. Some of the electrical energy generated can be used to recharge the energy storage means  11, 12 , which have a charging time shorter than the operating time. A controller  10  connected to load sensor  19 , voltage sensor  13 , and frequency sensor  14  controls the power supply to the rotational torque generating means  15 , thereby enhancing the energy efficiency, thus creating an uninterrupted battery operated generator system  50.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to an uninterrupted battery operated generator system that utilises a flywheel and gyroscopes to store and multiply kinetic energy, which is then converted into electrical energy. The uninterrupted battery operated generator system of the present invention also generates kinetic energy from electrical energy. The uninterrupted battery operated generator system of the present invention provides means for generating electrical and kinetic energy for application in various machinery and electrical appliances including electric vehicles, motorbikes, boats, aeroplanes and the like. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Arts 
         [0004]    There are several conventional methods of power generation, each with different cost structures, project lead times, advantages and disadvantages. Conventional methods of power generation include thermal plants, gas turbines and hydroelectric power stations. Thermal plants use fossil oil or coal as feedstock but the burning of fossil fuel emits pollutants. Gas turbines have much shorter lead time from planning, commissioning to operation, but both the capital cost per MVA and the operating cost are relatively high. Again, there are environmentally polluting emissions from the combustion of gaseous hydrocarbon such as methane or the like. In power generation using hydroelectric power, lead time is lengthy and capital cost enormous, due to the colossal size of projects of this nature which involve substantial civil engineering works in generally remote areas. In Malaysia, there are limited sites with consistent ten-year hydrology data that support feasibility of planting hydropower stations except in the state of Sarawak. Another shortcoming of hydropower plants is that they are generally located in remote jungles, necessitating long transmission lines in delivering loads to distant load centres, which add to costs. 
         [0005]    Alternatively, environmentally friendly sources of power such as wind and solar power may be exploited. The adoption of photovoltaic technology to convert solar energy into electricity is hampered by the high cost of photovoltaic arrays. The use of wind power to generate electricity is also not feasible in some locations. Wind mapping must first be carried out to determine if a location is suitable for harnessing wind power. The locations found suitable to harness wind power may not coincide with the location where power is required. 
         [0006]    Various electrical generators are known in the prior art. Conventional gasoline or diesel power generators require the use of fossil fuel, which has a negative environmental impact. When in operation, conventional power generators also cause air and noise pollution due to fuel combustion, thus compounding the environmental problems associated with such generators. Battery operated generators have been invented to solve some of these problems. For example, US 2007/0216247 A1 patent disclosed an automatic motor-generator charger that includes a motor-generator and a circuit unit integrated together in a case. The motor-generator in said invention receives electric power from a battery. The circuit unit selectively supplies this electric power to a motor winding of the motor-generator. The batteries are charged in accordance with the electricity generating operation of the motor-generator. This cited invention does not require the use of fossil fuel but requires continuous electrical energy supply from the battery to its motor-generator. It does not provide kinetic energy to drive vehicular transmission and other machinery. It also does not provide means for the input energy to be multiplied and thus has limited energy efficiency. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is the objective of the present invention to provide a power generation system that does not utilise fossil fuel or gaseous hydrocarbon, thereby avoiding emissions of pollutants into the environment. 
         [0008]    It is another objective of the present invention to provide a cost effective power generation system to supply power to remote areas with dispersed load centres, particularly where the infrastructure cost of bringing power to the load centre, whether power plant or transmission system, is economically unjustifiable. 
         [0009]    It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a power generation system that would supply power reliably without outages. 
         [0010]    It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a power generation system involving the use of gyroscopes to increase the rotational torque on a rotating flywheel to store and multiply kinetic energy, which can be converted into electrical energy. 
         [0011]    It is also an objective of the present invention to provide a power generation system whereby said system can replace conventional electric generators for supplying power to a variety of electrical appliances, including vehicles. 
         [0012]    It is also an objective of the present invention to provide a power generation system to generate kinetic power for use in vehicular transmission systems or other machinery. 
         [0013]    The objectives above can be achieved by using the uninterrupted battery operated generator system of the present invention. The uninterrupted battery operated generator system comprises at least two energy storage means, a rotational torque generating means, a flywheel, a plurality of gyroscopes, a rail, a plate, a transmission roller, an alternator, a voltage sensor, a load sensor, a frequency sensor, a charging means, a controller, a set of switches and an on-off switch. The rotational torque generating means is driven by the energy storage means to rotate the flywheel and gyroscopes, which store and multiply kinetic energy. This kinetic energy is translated into the rotation of the rotor of the alternator to generate electrical power. Since the gyroscopes increase the inertia force of the flywheel while the gyroscopes and flywheel are in motion, this will increase the rotational speed of the flywheel and thus increase the amount of kinetic energy that can be translated to the rotor of the alternator. This enables the reduction of the amount of chemical energy consumed in the energy storage means to power the rotational torque generating means. Therefore, a key feature of the invention is the flywheel coupled with gyroscopes, which enable the rotational frequency of the flywheel to be multiplied when it is in motion. A rail fixed to the rim of the flywheel transfers the kinetic energy of the rotating flywheel to a transmission roller, which then transfers the kinetic energy to a receiving system such as a car transmission system. When the first energy storage means is exhausted after a period of operation, the second energy storage means will take over to supply energy to the rotational torque generating means. In the meantime, the power of the first energy storage means is restored by the charging means drawing power from that produced by the alternator. Therefore, another key feature of the invention is that the energy storage means has a charging time that is much shorter than the operating time. A controller is incorporated for controlling the operation of the uninterrupted battery operated generator system. The controller controls the switching between energy storage means and enabling of the charging means through the opening and closing of a set of control switches. The controller also controls the on-off supply of energy from the energy storage means to the rotational torque generating means as and when needed. The voltage sensor, the load sensor and the frequency sensor provide the necessary signals for the controller on switching logic decision. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The features and usefulness of the invention will be more readily understood and appreciated from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the uninterrupted battery operated generator system. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of the uninterrupted battery operated generator system. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the energy generator, including means for transferring kinetic energy to a receiving system. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the energy generator, including an alternative means for transferring kinetic energy to a receiving system. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the flywheel and gyroscopes when the flywheel is at rest, including means for transferring kinetic energy to a receiving system. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the flywheel and gyroscopes when the flywheel is in motion, including means for transferring kinetic energy to a receiving system. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the flywheel and gyroscopes, including means for transferring kinetic energy to a receiving system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing. In accordance with the present invention, it is provided an uninterrupted battery operated generator system  50 . 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the uninterrupted battery operated generator system  50  comprises an alternator  16 , a rotational torque generating means  15  to drive the rotor of the alternator  16 , energy storage means  11 ,  12  to provide electrical input to the rotational torque generating means  15 , a voltage sensor  13  to monitor the voltage across the energy storage means  11 ,  12 , a frequency sensor  14  to measure the rotational speed of the rotor of the alternator  16 , a charging means  17  for charging the energy storage means  11 ,  12 , a load sensor  19  to detect load condition, a controller  10  for controlling the operation of the uninterrupted battery operated generator system  50  together with the attendant operation control switches  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25  and  26  and an on-off switch  30  for the user to switch on and off of the uninterrupted battery operated generator system  50 . 
         [0024]    The energy storage means  11 ,  12  are preferably DC battery banks of predetermined rating or capacity in ampere hour. More particularly, the DC battery banks are of the type with much shorter recharge time than the operating time. The energy storage means  11 ,  12  may also be other devices capable of storing electrical energy or charges such as ultra-capacitor, super-capacitor and the like. The energy storage means  11 ,  12  provide the electrical input for the operation of the rotational torque generating means  15 . 
         [0025]    The voltage sensor  13  is connected across the energy storage means  11 ,  12 , via the input voltage across the rotational torque generating means  15  to monitor the voltage across the first or second energy storage means  11  or  12 . The preferred embodiment of the voltage sensor  13  is an under voltage relay. The rotational torque generating means  15  may be a DC motor or an AC motor complete with an inverter. 
         [0026]    The frequency sensor  14  measures the rotational speed of the rotor of the alternator  16 . The load sensor  19  measures the load current drawn by load  18 , excluding the load drawn by the charging means  17 . The load sensor  19  may be a current transformer. 
         [0027]    The outputs of voltage sensor  13 , the frequency sensor  14  and the load sensor  19  are connected to the input ports of the controller  10  to provide inputs for the controller  10  to determine the command to be sent to the appropriate devices to control operation of the uninterrupted battery operated generator system  50 . 
         [0028]    With the signals received on the input ports, the controller  10  controls the operation of the uninterrupted battery operated generator system  50  by executing the necessary commands to the closing and opening of various switches as will be described later. The controller  10  has one input port electrically connected to an on-off switch  30  that receives command from the user with respect to turning on and off of the uninterrupted battery operated generator system  50 . The controller  10  has three input ports electrically connected to receive the outputs of the voltage sensor  13 , the frequency sensor  14  and the load sensor  19  respectively. The controller  10  is adapted to monitor and compare the voltage as measured by the voltage sensor  13  against a predefined under voltage condition designed or pre-programmed into the controller  10 . The controller  10  is also adapted to monitor and compare the rotational speed as measured by the frequency sensor  14  against a predefined frequency condition designed or pre-programmed into the controller  10 . The controller  10  is further adapted to monitor and compare the current as measured by the load sensor  19  against a predefined current condition designed or pre-programmed into the controller  10 . The controller  10  can be a discrete digital circuit, a discrete analogue circuit, a hybrid discrete analogue and digital circuit, a digital microprocessor or a digital microcontroller. The controller  10  includes a comparator to compare the voltage as measured by the voltage sensor  13  to a predefined under voltage condition. The controller  10  has a plurality of output ports to control the opening and closing of the switches  21  to  26 . The controller may have an internal power source such as DC battery or may derive power source to operate the controller  10  from the energy storage means  11 ,  12 . 
         [0029]    The energy storage means  11 ,  12  are connected in parallel to the input terminals of the rotational torque generating means  15  via supply switches  21 ,  22  respectively. The supply switches  21 ,  22 , which are controlled by the controller  10 , are designed or pre-programmed to interlock with one another, preferably electrically, so that the energy storage means  11 ,  12  will not be connected simultaneously to the rotational torque generating means  15 . The shaft  40  of the rotational torque generating means  15  is mechanically coupled to the rotor of the alternator  16  by a belt and pulley transmission system or gear driven system. One end of the shaft  40  of the rotational torque generating means  15  is preferably fixed to the top of a confinement  41  enclosing the uninterrupted battery operated generator system  50  such as to provide stability when the uninterrupted battery operated generator system  50  is in operation. This connection between the shaft  40  of the rotational torque generating means  15  to the confinement  41  may include the use of bearings to act as a pivot point for the axis of rotation of the flywheel  31  and to allow the rotary motion of the shaft  40  of the rotational torque generating means  15  when the uninterrupted battery operated generator system  50  is in operation. The second end of the shaft  40  of the rotational torque generating means  15  may be fixed to the bottom of the confinement  41  in a similar manner or any other manner such as to provide stability and allow the rotary motion of the shaft  40  of the torque generating means  15 . 
         [0030]    The alternator  16  can be a single-phase or three-phase alternator or permanent magnet alternator with its rotor coupled to the shaft  40  of the rotational torque generating means  15  through a suitable transmission system including a belt and pulley transmission system or a gear driven system. Further, the rating of the rotational torque generating means  15 , in horse power, is relatively smaller than that of the alternator  16 . 
         [0031]    The charging means  17  is connected to the output of the alternator  16  via a charging switch  26 . The opening and closing of the charging switch  26  is controlled by the controller  10 . The controller  10  sends a command to open the charging switch  26  when a full load is needed. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  5  and  6  the rotational torque generating means  15  is coupled to the flywheel  31  by the shaft extending vertically out of the rotational torque generating means  15 . The flywheel  31  comprises a plurality of spokes  32  attached to a rim  33 . At least two brackets  34  are fixed symmetrically opposite on the rim  33 . Each bracket  34  is coupled to a gyroscope  35 . The gyroscope  35  comprises a wheel  36  attached to the end of a gyroscope shaft  37  and a roller  38  attached to the opposite end of the gyroscope shaft  37 . 
         [0033]    The gyroscope shaft  37  is mounted on a bearing in the slot of the bracket  34 . The bearing in the slot of the bracket  34  is provided with suspension means for positioning the gyroscope  35  for balancing, rotary and ascending/descending movements of the gyroscope  35 . The preferred embodiment of the suspension means for positioning the gyroscope  35  is a pair of pins connecting the housing of the bearing to the bracket  34 . When the flywheel  31  is stationary, the wheel  36  rests at an angle no more than 10° below the horizontal axis, thus lifting the roller  38  to rest against the stationary plane  39 . The balancing of the wheel  36  thus is important to ensure the proper functioning of the gyroscope  35 . 
         [0034]    A rail  42  may be fixed to the rim  33  of the flywheel  31 . The rail  42  engages with a transmission roller  43 , whose axis of rotation intersects with that of the rail  42 , preferably at 90°. A transmission shaft  44  is coupled to the transmission roller  43  via a bearing and connects the uninterrupted battery operated generator system  50  to a receiving system such as a vehicular or machinery transmission system, e.g. car transmission system. 
         [0035]    The operation of the uninterrupted battery operated generator system  50  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 7 . 
         [0036]    To start the uninterrupted battery operated generator system  50  running, the user actuates an on-off switch  30  on the controller  10 . Before the on-off switch  30  is actuated, the energy storage means  11 ,  12  are fully charged. When the on-off switch  30  is actuated, the controller  10  closes the supply switch  21  or  22 , depending on the programming mode set into the controller  10 . 
         [0037]    For convenience in the description, we assume that supply switch  21  has been set to close initially. The closing of the supply switch  21  is followed instantly by the closing of motor switch  25  and charging switch  24  by the controller  10 . On receiving power supply, the rotational torque generating means  15  is energised, converting electrical energy input from the energy storage means  11  into kinetic energy on the output, namely the rotation of the shaft  40  of the rotational torque generating means  15 . The rotation of the shaft  40  of the rotational torque generating means  15  causes the flywheel  31  to rotate. The rotation of the flywheel  31  causes the roller  38  resting against the stationary plane  39  to rotate, resulting in the rotation of the gyroscope  35 . As the gyroscope  35  rotates, the wheel  36  rotates and lifts, thus forcing the roller  38  to descend and disengage from the stationary plane  39 . The rotation of the wheel  36  provides the flywheel  31  with greater momentum during its rotary movement, which enables the flywheel  31  to multiply kinetic energy. The storing and multiplying of kinetic energy enables the uninterrupted battery operated generator system  50  to produce a power output higher than the power input from the energy storage means  11 ,  12 . 
         [0038]    The kinetic energy stored and multiplied by the flywheel  31  is translated via the rotation of the shaft  40  of the rotational torque generating means  15  into rotational mechanical energy of the rotor of the alternator  16 . Preferably, the shaft  40  of the rotational torque generating means  15  is coupled to the rotor of the alternator  16  by a pulley and belt transmission system. Preferably, the pulley coupled to the rotor of the alternator  16  has a diameter that is at least three times larger than that of the pulley at the rotational torque generating means  15 . The shaft  40  of the rotational torque generating means  15  can therefore rotate at a speed that is greater by the same ratio than that of the rotor of the alternator  16  so as to give the alternator  16  a greater torque. It should be obvious to persons skilled in the art that the reverse arrangement, whereby the rotor of the alternator  16  rotates at a speed faster than that of the shaft  40  of the rotational torque generating means  15 , can also be applied to the present invention, depending on the choice of alternator  16  and rotational torque generating means  15  used. The alternator  16  converts the kinetic energy from the rotor into electrical energy, which is fed to the load  18  or to the charging means  17  where appropriate. 
         [0039]    The uninterrupted battery operated generator system  50  of the present invention can also be used to generate kinetic energy. In this embodiment, the flywheel  31  is mounted with a rail  42  along the circumference of its rim  33 . The rail  42  engages with a transmission roller  43  such that the axis of rotation of the transmission roller  43  intersects with that of the rail  42 . In the preferred embodiment, the axis of rotation of the transmission roller  43  intersects with that of the rail  42  at a right angle. The rail  42  and transmission roller  43  are preferably bevel gears. A transmission shaft  44  is coupled to the transmission roller  43  via bearings. When the flywheel  31  is in motion, the kinetic energy so produced is transferred by the rail  42  to the transmission roller  43 . The rotational movement of the transmission roller  43  causes the transmission shaft  44  to rotate. The transmission shaft  44  then transfers kinetic energy produced by the uninterrupted battery operated generator system  50  to a receiving system such as vehicular or machinery transmission system. For example, the transmission shaft  44  may transfer the kinetic energy to a car transmission system. 
         [0040]    A frequency sensor  14  is mounted on the alternator  16  to monitor the rotational speed of the rotor of the alternator  16 . It should be obvious to someone skilled in the art that the frequency sensor  14  could also be mounted in the rotational torque generating means  15  to measure the rotational speed of the shaft  40  of the rotational torque generating means  15 . The output of the frequency sensor  14  is connected to an input port of the controller  10  to regulate on-off of the motor switch  25 . Thus, when the rotational speed detected by the frequency sensor  14  exceeds a stipulated value, the controller opens the motor switch  25  to de-energise the rotational torque generating means  15 . Conversely, when the rotational speed detected by the frequency sensor  14  falls below a stipulated minimum, the controller closes the motor switch  25  to energise the rotational torque generating means  15 . Hence, the input energy required for the operation of the uninterrupted battery operated generator system  50  is effectively regulated by the controller  10 , motor switch  25  and frequency sensor  14 . 
         [0041]    As time goes, the energy stored in the first energy storage means  11  will deplete and the voltage across the output of the first energy storage means  11 , as measured by the voltage sensor  13 , will drop. When voltage across the output of the first energy storage means  11  drops to a predefined voltage level, the controller  10  causes supply switch  22  and charging switch  23  to close and instantly, the controller causes the supply switch  21  and charging switch  24  to open so that the necessary power for the operation of the uninterrupted battery operated generator system  50  will be sourced from the second energy storage means  12 . As the second energy storage means  12  is connected into the system before the disconnection of the first energy storage means  11 , the power supply to the load  18  would be continuous without interruption. Instantly after closing the supply switch  22 , the controller  10  causes charging switch  26  to close, connecting the outputs of the alternator  16  to the inputs of the charging means  17 . Simultaneously, the controller  10  causes charging switch  23  to close. In this way, part of the power converted from the second energy storage means  12  is used to supply load  18  and part for the charging of the first energy storage means  11 . In this embodiment, the first energy storage means  11  are DC battery banks of the type with much shorter recharge time than the operating time. As a result, the first energy storage means  11  will be fully charged up before the power of the second energy storage means  12  is depleted. When the first energy storage means  11  is fully charged up, the controller  10  causes charging switch  26  and charging switch  23  to open. A similar process, involving supply switch  22  instead of supply switch  21  and charging switch  24  instead of charging switch  23 , takes place when the second energy storage means  12  is depleted. Thus, the energy supply to the rotational torque generating means  15  is switched between the first energy storage means  11  and the second energy storage means  12  as and when required. 
         [0042]    The load sensor  19  measures the load current drawn by the load  18 . As described earlier, the output of the load sensor  19  is connected to an input port of the controller  10 . When the controller  10  detects a low load current of a predetermined value, the controller  10  closes charging switch  26  and either charging switch  23  or  24  that is associated with the idling energy storage means  11  or  12 , i.e. energy storage means  11  or  12  that is not supplying energy to the rotational torque generating means  15  at the time. This enables the charging of the idling energy storage means  11  or  12  while load  18  is drawing a low load current. When the controller  10  detects a high load current of a predetermined value, the controller  10  opens charging switch  26  and either charging switch  23  or  24  that is associated with the energy storage means  11  or  12  being charged at the time, so as to provide a full capacity load to load  18 . 
         [0043]    Additionally, if any component of the energy generator as shown in  FIG. 3  fails, resulting in the overall failure of the energy generator, the controller  10  will then cause the energy supply from the energy storage means  11 ,  12  to supply energy to the load  18 , bypassing the failed energy generator. This ensures that even if the energy generator components fail, the load  18  will still receive a supply of energy from the energy storage means  11 ,  12 . 
         [0044]    The above operating sequence will be repeated to generate environmentally friendly power until a component in the uninterrupted battery operated generator system  50  reaches its useful life span and that component can be selectively replaced to put the uninterrupted battery operated generator system  50  in operation again. 
         [0045]    The above description is made with reference to two energy storage means  11 ,  12 . It is obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention can still operate if only one energy storage means is included. It is also obvious to those skilled in the art that three or more energy storage means could be included in the system to extend the operating time and service life of the uninterrupted battery operated generator system  50 . The energy storage means  11 ,  12  can be in any form of energy storage arranged in series or parallel. 
         [0046]    Although the present invention have been described in detail above with certain preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiment above without materially departing from the novel teachings of this invention. Some obvious modifications to the present invention include size, weight and form of the gyroscopes  35  and flywheel  31 . 
         [0047]    It will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that in another embodiment, the kinetic energy produced by the uninterrupted battery operated generator system  50  can also be utilised by the transmission roller  43  and transmission shaft  44  acting as a CVT transmission system, as shown in  FIG. 4 . In this embodiment, a plate  46  is fixed to the base of the flywheel  31  such that rotation of the flywheel  31  causes rotation of the plate  46 . The transmission roller  43  is in contact with the plate  46  so that the rotational movement of the flywheel  31  causes the transmission roller  43  to rotate as well. An actuator  45  coupled to the transmission shaft  44  enables the transmission roller  43  to be pushed laterally along the radius of the plate  46  towards or away from the centre of the plate  46 . As the circumference around the centre of the plate  46  is smaller than the outer circumference of the plate  46 , the speed of rotation of the transmission roller  43  is altered as it moves along the radius of the plate  46 . The kinetic energy from the flywheel  31  is thus variably transferred to the transmission roller  43  and from then on to the transmission shaft  44 . The ratio of the diameters of the flywheel  31 , transmission roller  43  and plate  46  can be adjusted to suit a variety of systems. In this way, the transmission roller  43  and transmission shaft  44  can act as a CVT transmission system for a variety of different vehicles. 
         [0048]    It will also be obvious to persons skilled in the art that the method described herein for transferring the kinetic energy produced by the uninterrupted battery operated generator system  50  is but one of many possible arrangements. For example, it is possible to mount a belt and pulley system to the shaft  40  of the rotational torque generating means  15  to transfer the kinetic energy produced by the rotational movement of the shaft  40  to a receiving system. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims or equivalent thereof.