Abstract:
A facility employs a zero pollution mechanical process for generating electrical energy. The facility basically includes at least one electrically powered drive unit, a main shaft that is driven by the drive unit, and an electrical generator powered by the main shaft. Most of the electrical energy generated by the generator is distributed to an electrical grid, though some of it may be diverted to the drive unit to power it.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application derives and claims priority from U.S. provisional application 60/776,180 of Eddie K. Wilson, Sr., and Linda D. Studdard, filed Feb. 23, 2006. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH  
       [0002]     Not Applicable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     This invention relates in general to the production of electrical energy and more particularly to a mechanical process and facility—for generating electrical energy without producing pollution.  
         [0004]     Much of the electrical energy used by the United States and other countries, as well, derives from fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. But as the finite reserves of these fuels are depleted, the fuels become more difficult and expensive to extract, thus increasing the cost of producing electrical energy. Moreover, their use introduces carbon dioxide and, in the case of some fuels, other significant pollutants into the atmosphere, creating harmful conditions, such as smog and perhaps global warming. Other sources of electrical energy have their detractions as well. For example, hydroelectric projects usually include dams, which require huge capital expenditures and inundate land that could otherwise be put to productive uses. Nuclear power plants are also costly and produce radioactive wastes that are not easily or safely disposed. Wind turbines are costly and do not produce significant amounts of energy.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]      FIG. 1  is a schematic plan view of a facility that employs a zero pollution mechanical process for generating electrical energy, all in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is a section view taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1  and showing a hoist- or winch-type drive unit;  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the drive unit for the facility;  
         [0008]      FIG. 4  is a schematic plan view of an alternative facility; and  
         [0009]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ; 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0010]     Referring now to the drawings, an electrical generation facility A ( FIG. 1 ) basically includes a drive unit  2 , a main shaft  4 , a speed increaser gear box  6 , and an electrical generator  8 . The facility A utilizes mechanical process that generates electrical energy without creating pollution or consuming expensive fuels.  
         [0011]     The drive unit  2  takes the form of an electric hoist or winch, and as such has ( FIGS. 2 &amp; 3 ) a base  14 , an electric motor  16 , a gear box  18 , and a drum  20 . The gear box  18  is mounted on the base  14  and has an input shaft to which the electric motor  16  is coupled. It also has an output shaft. The drum  20  at one end is connected to the output shaft of the gear box  18  and at its opposite end is supported on a bearing that in turn is supported on the base  14 .  
         [0012]     The main shaft  4  rotates on bearings  26  that are supported in a fixed position with respect to the drive unit  2 . Indeed, it extends along the drive unit  2  with its axis parallel to the axis of the drum  20  for the drive unit  2 . It carries a sheave  28  which is secured firmly to it, so that the sheave  28  rotates with the shaft  4  and torque applied to the sheave  28  is transferred to the shaft  4 . That torque is exerted through at least one and preferably multiple endless cables  30  that wrap over the sheave  28  and over the drum  20  of the drive unit  2 . Preferably each cable  30  has several convolutions around the sheave  28  and several convolutions around the drum  20 , so that ample friction develops between the cable  30 , on one hand, and the drum  20  and sheave  28 , on the other. The drum  20  exerts line pull on the cable  30  and the sheave  28  translates that line pull into rotation of the shaft  4 . Thus, the electric motor  16  of the drive unit  2  powers the main shaft  4 .  
         [0013]     In addition to the sheave  28 , the main shaft  4  carries a flywheel  32 .  
         [0014]     The speed increaser gear box  6  steps up the angular velocity of the main shaft  4  to a velocity suitable for enabling the electrical generator  8  to generate electrical energy at a voltage and frequency acceptable for commercial and residential use. It includes an input shaft  36  and an output shaft  38 , the former of which is connected to the main shaft  4  and the latter to the electrical generator  8 . Thus, the output shaft  38  rotates at an angular velocity greater than the input shaft  36 .  
         [0015]     The electrical generator  8  includes a rotor  44  and a stator  46 . The rotor  44  is coupled to the output shaft  38  of the speed increaser gear box  6  and thus rotates with the main shaft  4 , although at a higher velocity. It revolves within the stator  46 , causing an electric potential to develop across coils in the stator  46 . When the coils are placed across a load electrical current flows through the stator  46 .  
         [0016]     That current flows on through electrical lines  52  to an electrical substation  54  that includes transformers, capacitators, and similar equipment, and the substation  54  is in turn connected into an electrical grid. Some of the electrical energy distributed from the substation  54  is diverted to the electric motor  16  of the drive unit  2  to power the drum  20  of that unit  2 . However, the motor  16 , in the alternative, may be connected to the electrical grid to derive its power from the grid.  
         [0017]     In the operation of the generation facility A, the electric motor  16  of the drive unit  2  is initially connected to a source other than the substation  54 . That source may be an electrical grid or a stand-alone generator. In any event, the electrical energy from the outside source energizes the motor  16  of the drive unit  2 , and the motor  16  turns the drum  20 . The drum  20 , being connected to the sheave  28  though the endless cable  30  turns the sheave  28  on the main shaft  4 . The shaft  4 , being secured to the sheave  28 , rotates at the velocity of the sheave  28 . The shaft  4 , acting through the speed increaser gear box  6 , rotates the rotor  44  of the electrical generator  8  at an even higher velocity; and the generator  8  produces electrical power in its stator  46 . That power is delivered through the lines  52  to the substation  54 . Some of it diverted at the substation  54  to the motor  16  of the drive unit  2  and powers the drive unit  2 . When the main shaft  4  reaches its normal operating speed, the motor  16  of the drive unit  2  is disconnected from the outside source of electricity and is powered with electrical energy derived from the substation  54 .  
         [0018]     The main shaft  4  may be powered by multiple drive units  2 , with the drum  20  of each connected to a different sheave  28  through separate cables  30 . Moreover, the shaft  4  may power multiple generators, one connected after the other along the axis of the shaft  4 .  
         [0019]     Where multiple drive units  2  are employed, they need not all be on the same side of the main shaft  4 . Indeed, they may be arranged in a pair or pairs, ( FIGS. 4 &amp; 5 ), with one unit  2  of each pair being on one side of the shaft  4  and the other unit  2  of the pair being on the other side of the shaft  4 , but with both units  2  operating through a single sheave  28  and through a single endless cable  30 . In this regard, the endless cable  30  winds around the drums  20  of both units  2  and between the units  2  winds around the sheave  28 . On the other hand, the two units  2  of the pair may transfer power to the shaft  4  through separate endless cables  30  trained over the same sheave  28  or separate sheaves  28 .  
         [0020]     Simply stated, the principle upon which the process and facility A rests is the conversion of a force, commonly referred to in the winch and hoist manufacturing industry as line pull, from the straight linear pulling by mechanical means of a line (cable) into an angular or rotating circular motion of a shaft. This is accomplished by placing one or more cables spliced together in a loop, with one end of the loop placed around the drum in the winch and the other end of the loop placed around a sheave that is mounted on the main drive shaft or on a sheave attached to a gear box that is mounted on the main shaft with other components, such as a flywheel, speed increaser gear box and an electric generator.  
         [0021]     One or multiple units of multiple sizes (line pull) can be mounted along the main drive shaft to suit the design requirements.  
         [0022]     A formula governing the amount of horse power that is produced by various line pull design is:  
         FORCE   ⁢           ⁢     (     LINE   ⁢           ⁢   PULL     )     ×   RADIUS   ×   RPM     63025       
 
         [0023]     In certain designs the flywheel may not be required.