Abstract:
This invention provides an apparatus and a method for generating power from a flowing liquid. The apparatus has three main components. The first component is a control unit for selectively directing the flowing liquid to the second component, the power unit, which is responsible for generating power. The third component, a reversing unit, is used to adjust the control unit between two control unit configurations. The method involves the manner in which the liquid is passed and directed through the apparatus in order to generate power.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to the production of power, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for generating power by utilizing the force of a flowing liquid. 
     The need to generate power in times of crisis and the need to generate power from a relatively inexpensive resource have long been felt. Inventors have tried for some time to create an apparatus and method that will generate power for little cost. The ability to generate power from an inexpensive resource when access to traditional power, namely power supplied by a power company, is not available due to power shortages or natural disasters is needed. 
     Also, in times when emergency power is not required, the ability to generate such power assists in preserving the environment by lessening the burden on power companies to provide power, and the ability to generate power would save consumers money on monthly electric bills. The need to generate power from an inexpensive resource will become of even more importance as other more expensive resources of the world dwindle and disappear over the course of time. 
     There have been attempts in the prior art to harness the kinetic energy of a flowing liquid in order to generate power. However, these attempts are either impractical, difficult to scale, difficult to distribute, awkward to use, or simply will not work. Therefore, an apparatus and method are needed that generates power from a flowing liquid. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention provides an apparatus and a method for generating power from a flowing liquid. The invention provides an apparatus comprising a control unit selectively operable between a first control unit configuration and a second control unit configuration for receiving the flowing liquid and selectively directing the flowing liquid to a first power unit aperture when the control unit is in the first control unit configuration, and selectively directing the flowing liquid to a second power unit aperture when the control unit is in the second control unit configuration; a power unit for generating power, including: (1) a power chamber having the first power unit aperture for receiving the flowing liquid from the control unit, and a second power unit aperture for receiving the flowing liquid from the control unit, (2) a power operator operable between a first power operator position and a second power operator position and disposed within the power chamber, operatively configured so the power operator becomes disposed in the first power operator position when the control unit is disposed in the first control unit configuration, and so that the power operator becomes disposed in the second power operator position when the control unit is disposed in the second control unit configuration, and (3) a power transmission linkage operatively communicating with said power operator for transmitting power as said power operator reciprocates between said first power operator position and said second power operator position; and a reversing unit to adjust the control unit configuration to become disposed in the first control unit configuration when the power operator becomes disposed in the second power operator position, and to adjust the control unit configuration to become disposed in the second control unit configuration when the power operator becomes disposed in the first power operator position. 
     The invention provides a method comprising passing the flowing liquid to a control unit selectively operable between a first control unit configuration and a second control unit configuration; directing, selectively, the flowing liquid to a first power unit aperture when said control unit is in said first control unit configuration, and selectively directing said flowing liquid to a second power unit aperture when said control unit is in said second control unit configuration; forcing a power operator operable between a first power operator position and a second power operator position and disposed within the power unit, to the first power operator position when receiving flowing liquid from the first power unit aperture and to the second power operator position when receiving flowing liquid from the second power unit aperture; transmitting power through a power transmission linkage operatively communicated with the power operator as said power operator reciprocates between the first power operator position and the second power operator position; and directing the flowing liquid to a reversing unit to adjust the control unit configuration to become disposed in the first control unit configuration when the power operator becomes disposed in the second power operator position, and to adjust the control unit configuration to become disposed in the second control unit configuration when the power operator becomes disposed in the first power operator position. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in detail below in connection with the drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of an apparatus of this invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of a power transmission linkage of this invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of an apparatus of this invention, illustrating the manner in which power is generated from a flowing liquid. 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of an apparatus of this invention, illustrating the manner in which power is generated from a flowing liquid. 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of an apparatus of this invention, illustrating the manner in which power is generated from a flowing liquid. 
     FIG. 6 is a plan view of an apparatus of this invention, illustrating the manner in which power is generated from a flowing liquid. 
     FIG. 7 is a plan view of an apparatus of this invention, illustrating the manner in which power is generated from a flowing liquid. 
     FIG. 8 is a plan view of an apparatus of this invention, illustrating the manner in which power is generated from a flowing liquid. 
     FIG. 9 is a plan view of an apparatus of this invention, illustrating the manner in which power is generated from a flowing liquid. 
     FIG. 10 is a plan view of an apparatus of this invention, illustrating the manner in which power is generated from a flowing liquid. 
     FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating a preferred method of this invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the drawings, which illustrate a preferable apparatus and method for generating power from a flowing liquid. FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. The apparatus allows a flowing liquid, represented in direction of movement by black arrows  10 , to enter the apparatus through aperture  20 , and the apparatus conveniently releases the flowing liquid through aperture  30 . The apparatus preferably comprises a control unit generally indicated by reference numeral  40 . The control unit is conveniently selectively operable between a first control unit configuration and a second control unit configuration for receiving the flowing liquid and selectively directing the flowing liquid to a first power unit aperture  50  when the control unit is in the first control unit configuration, and selectively directing the flowing liquid to a second power unit aperture  60  when the control unit is in the second control unit configuration. 
     A control unit operator  70  is preferably disposed in the control unit and suitably has ports  80  and  90  disposed in and through the control unit operator. The control unit operator  70  is preferably selectively operable between a first control unit operator position  100  and a second control unit operator position  110 . Suitably, when the control unit operator is disposed in the first control unit operator position  100 , the control unit is in the first control unit configuration. Conversely, when the control unit operator is disposed in the second control unit operator position  110 , the control unit is in the second control unit configuration. Preferably, when the control unit operator is disposed in the first control unit operator position  100 , the flowing liquid is directed to the first power unit aperture  50 . Conversely, when the control unit operator is disposed in the second control unit operator position  110 , the flowing liquid is directed to the second power unit aperture  60 . Conveniently, the control unit operator can be such devices as a slide valve or a piston. 
     Preferably, the control unit  40  has a first control unit channel  120  and a second control unit channel  130 . Suitably, when the control unit is in the first control unit configuration, the flowing liquid is directed to the power unit through the first control unit channel  120  to the first power unit aperture  50 , and when the control unit is in the second control unit configuration, the flowing liquid is directed to the power unit through the first control unit channel  120  to the second power aperture  60 . Conveniently, when the control unit is in the first control unit configuration, the flowing liquid exits the power unit through the second power unit aperture  60  to the second control unit channel  130 , and when the control unit is in the first control unit configuration, the flowing liquid exits the power unit through the first power aperture  50  to the second control unit channel  130 . 
     The apparatus also preferably comprises a power unit, generally indicated by reference number  140 . The power unit suitably includes a power chamber  150  having the first power unit aperture  50  for receiving said flowing liquid from said control unit  40 , and the second power unit aperture  60  for receiving a flowing liquid from said control unit  40 . 
     Conveniently, a power operator  160  is operable between a first power operator position  170  and a second power operator position  180  and is disposed within the power chamber  150 . The power operator  160  is suitably operatively configured so the power operator  160  becomes disposed in the first power operator position  170  when the control unit  40  is disposed in the first control unit configuration. Conversely, the power operator  160  becomes disposed in the second power operator position  180  when the control unit  40  is disposed in the second control unit configuration. The power unit may suitably be a piston. 
     Preferably, a power transmission linkage, generally indicated by reference numeral  190  and herein illustrated by a rectangle representing any device used as a transmission known in the art, is operatively communicated with the power operator  160  for transmitting power as the power operator  160  reciprocates between the first power operator position  170  and the second power operator position  180 . As illustrated in FIG. 2, the power transmission linkage  190  may suitably comprise a rack and spur gear  200 , a sprocket  210 , a chain  220 , an output power shaft  230 , a timing gear  240 , and a timing belt  250 . Conveniently, a power generator  260 , herein illustrated by a rectangle representing any device used to generate power known in the art, is operatively associated with the power transmission linkage  190 . In a preferred embodiment, the power transmission linkage  190  is operatively communicated with the power operator  160  by a shaft  270 . 
     A compressed air generator, generally indicated by reference numeral  280 , may also suitably be operatively associated with the power transmission linkage  190 . As the power operator  160  reciprocates between the first power operator position  170  and the second power operator position  180 , a piston  290  operable between a first piston position  300  and a second piston position  310  and contained in the compressed air generator  280  compresses air. 
     The apparatus also preferably comprises a reversing unit  320  to adjust the control unit configuration to become disposed in the first control unit configuration when the power operator  160  becomes disposed in the second power operator position  180 , and to adjust the control unit configuration to become disposed in the second control unit configuration when the power operator becomes disposed in the first power operator position  170 . Preferably, the reversing unit  320  adjusts the control unit configuration by selectively directing the flowing liquid to the control unit  40  through a first reversing unit channel  380  to a first control unit aperture  400  when the power operator  160  is in the first power operator position  170  and through the first reversing unit channel  380  to the second control unit aperture  410  when the power operator  160  is in the second power operator position  180 . 
     Conversely, the flowing liquid exits the control unit  40  through the second control unit aperture  410  to the second reversing unit channel  390  when the power operator  160  is in the first power operator position  170 , and the flowing liquid exits the control unit  40  through the first control unit aperture  400  to the second reversing unit channel  390  when the power operator  160  is in the second power operator position  180 . Conveniently, the reversing unit  320  may be operatively communicated with the power transmission linkage  190  by a yoke  420  having a first strike  430  and a second strike  440 . 
     A reversing unit operator  330  is preferably disposed in the reversing unit  320  and suitably has ports  360  and  370  disposed in and through the reversing unit operator  330 . The reversing unit operator  330  is preferably selectively operable between a first reversing unit operator position  340  and a second reversing unit operator position  350 . Preferably, the reversing unit operator  330  adjusts the control unit configuration to become disposed in the first control unit configuration when said power operator  160  becomes disposed in the second power operator position  180 . Conversely, the reversing unit operator  330  adjusts the control unit configuration to become disposed in the second control unit configuration when the power operator  160  becomes disposed in the first power operator position  170 . Conveniently, the reversing unit operator  330  may, among other things, be a slide valve or a piston. 
     FIGS. 3 through 11 illustrate the manner in which a preferred apparatus and method of this invention generates power from a flowing liquid. The manner in which this preferred apparatus operates may be explained by beginning at any of FIG.  3  through FIG.  10 . For the sake of simplicity, the process is described beginning with FIG. 3, where the control unit operator  70  is disposed in the second control unit operator position  110 . The flowing liquid enters the apparatus through aperture  20  and passes through the control unit  40  and the first control unit channel  120  into second power unit aperture  60 , forcing the power operator  160  to the second power operator position  180 . Upon reaching the second power operator position  180 , the flowing liquid is directed through the reversing unit  320 , the first reversing unit channel  380 , and the reversing unit operator  330  to the second control unit aperture  410 . 
     Looking at FIG. 4, as the flowing liquid enters the control unit  40  through the second control unit aperture  410 , the control unit operator  70  begins to move towards the first control unit operator position  100 , which forces the flowing liquid through the first control unit aperture  400  to the second reversing unit channel  390 . The flowing liquid then exits the apparatus through port  30 . 
     In FIG. 5, the control unit is disposed in the first control unit configuration and the control unit operator  70  has reached the first control unit operator position  100 , forcing the flowing liquid entering the apparatus through port  20  to travel through the control unit  40  and the first control unit channel  120  to the first power unit aperture  50 . This forces the power operator  160  to begin moving towards the first power operator position  170 . As the power operator  160  moves towards the first power operator position  170 , the flowing liquid exits the power chamber  150  through the second power unit aperture  60  to the second control unit channel  130 . The flowing liquid then exits the apparatus through aperture  30 . 
     FIG. 6 illustrates the movement of the power operator  160  as the power operator is forced towards the first power operator position  170 . As the power operator  160  travels to the first power operator position  170 , the power operator forces the power transmission linkage  190  to move. This movement causes the power transmission linkage to transmit power to the power generator  260 . 
     FIG. 7 illustrates the movement of the reversing unit operator  330  towards the first reversing unit operator position  340 . The power transmission linkage  190  contacts the first strike  430  of the yoke  420 . As the power operator  160  moves towards the first power operator position  170 , the yoke  420  forces the reversing unit operator  330  towards the first reversing unit operator position  340 . The movement of the power transmission linkage  190  continues to cause the power generator  260  to generate power. 
     In FIG. 8, the power operator  160  completely moves to the first power operator position  170 , thereby causing the reversing unit operator  330  to move completely to the first reversing unit operator position  340 . As a result, the flowing liquid entering the apparatus travels through the first reversing unit channel  380  to the first control unit aperture  400 . The flowing liquid forces the control unit operator  70  towards the second control unit operator position  110 . As a result of the movement of the control unit operator  70 , the flowing liquid exits the control unit  40  through the second control unit aperture  410  to the second reversing unit channel  390 . 
     In FIG. 9, the control unit is disposed in the second control unit configuration and the control unit operator  70  is disposed in the second control unit operator position  110 . This allows the flowing liquid to travel through the first control unit channel  120  to the second power unit aperture  60 . Simultaneously, the power operator  160  moves towards the second power operator position  180 , and flowing liquid is forced to exit the power chamber  150  through the first power unit aperture  50  to the second control unit channel  130 . As the power operator  160  moves, the power transmission linkage  190  causes the power generator  260  to generate power. 
     In FIG. 10, the power transmission linkage  190  contacts the second strike  440  of the yoke  420  as the power operator  160  proceeds towards the second power operator position  180 . The movement of the power operator forces the reversing unit operator  330  towards the second reversing unit operator position  350 . At this point, the apparatus has completed one full cycle, and the cycle begins again at FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 11 illustrates a preferred method of this invention. An act is preferably passing  500  the flowing liquid to a control unit selectively operable between a first control unit configuration and a second control unit configuration for receiving said flowing liquid. Suitably, an act is directing  510 , selectively, the flowing liquid to a first power unit aperture when the control unit is in the first control unit configuration, and selectively directing the flowing liquid to a second power unit aperture when the control unit is in the second control unit configuration. 
     Conveniently, an act is forcing  520  a power operator operable between a first power operator position and a second power operator position and disposed within the power unit, to the first power operator position when receiving flowing liquid from the first power unit aperture and to the second power operator position when receiving flowing liquid from the second power unit aperture. 
     Preferably, an act is transmitting  530  power through a power transmission linkage operatively communicated with the power operator as the power operator reciprocates between the first power operator position and the second power operator position. 
     Conveniently, an act is directing  540  the flowing liquid to a reversing unit to adjust the control unit configuration to become disposed in the first control unit configuration when the power operator becomes disposed in the second power operator position, and to adjust the control unit configuration to become disposed in the second control unit configuration when the power operator becomes disposed in the first power operator position.