Abstract:
Tide change apparatus and methodology for converting tidal energy into usable mechanical and electrical energy using wedge-hinge assemblies. Electricity is generated by transfer of mechanical energy from both incoming and outgoing tidewaters to an electrical generator. A pair of wedge-hinge assemblies mounted atop semi-submersible barges to enable water to alternately flow into and out of a retention pond relative to a corresponding main body of water in accordance with natural tidal flow.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority based upon Provisional U.S. Application Ser. No. 61/026,389 filed Feb. 5, 2008. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for converting tidal energy into usable mechanical and electrical energy using a wedge-hinge apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Modern society is heavily dependent on electricity and each year brings new devices which enable individuals to take digital photographs, listen to digital music, and stay in constant communication without a pen ever touching paper. As new devices and capabilities develop, demand for electricity will continue to grow to unprecedented levels. Already, the need for energy has sparked global conflicts, started a renewable energy movement, and forced energy producers to invest millions of dollars exploring renewable energy generation methods. 
     The two most common renewable electricity production methods are those utilizing solar and wind power. For hundreds of years, man has used the movement of the wind to move ships and pump water from the ground. Recently, advances in solar cell technology and a renewed interest in renewable energy have resulted in increased private and corporate use of solar cell arrays. Both solar and wind energy technologies have matured to a point where individuals can install and operate self-sufficient electricity generation facilities. However, neither solar or wind power provide reliable, continuous electricity generation. Solar cells only provide electricity during clear sunny days and wind turbines only provide electricity when the wind is blowing. A calm night or overcast day can result in a substantial electrical shortfall for individuals relying solely on solar and wind energy. 
     The present invention enables transformation of abundant tidal energy into mechanical and electrical energy, thereby providing a reliable, supplemental energy source for domestic energy requirements. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an apparatus and methodology for transforming naturally occurring tidal energy into mechanical and electrical energy. While naturally occurring tidal forces are referenced herein, it should be clearly understood that the present invention contemplates the instant tide change apparatus as being applicable to any environment where water flows repeatedly from a level of higher potential energy to a level of lower potential energy. Unlike solar and wind energy, tidal energy is nearly constant, relying only on the motion of Earth&#39;s moon. Tides occur twice daily everywhere on Earth, each approximately six-hours in duration, but are most evident along coastal regions. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pair of wedge-hinge devices are mounted atop semi-submersible barges, each barge being located at the tidal entrance of a retention pond thereby blocking water flow into and out of the retention pond. Each wedge-hinge device comprises four wedge-hinge assemblies having curved water blades functioning as remote weights. As the tide moves inland, the barges block the flow of water into the retention pond. One of the wedge-hinge devices mounted atop a barge permits the otherwise obstructed tidewater to flow past a series of water blades and into the retention pond thus turning the wedge-hinge assembly crankshaft, which, in turn, rotates the shaft of an electrical generator. The other wedge-hinge device permits water to flow out of the retention pound as the tide recedes. It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that wear normally manifest on connective chains and sprockets can be minimized by connecting generators/dynamos to each end of the wedge-hinge devices as will be described in detail hereinafter. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following specifications and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  depicts a simplified side view of a wedge-hinge transmission apparatus, with one of a plurality of wedge-hinge assemblies disposed at the top center of the plates thereof. 
         FIG. 1B  depicts a simplified side view of a wedge-hinge transmission apparatus, with one of a plurality of wedge-hinge assemblies disposed off-center of the plates thereof. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a simplified front view of a wedge-hinge device mounted atop a semi-submersible barge positioned within a concrete retaining wall. 
         FIG. 3  depicts a simplified top planar view of wedge-hinge assemblies mounted atop a pair of barges which control the flow of water into and out of a retention pond. 
         FIG. 4  depicts a simplified front view of wedge-hinge assemblies connected to an electrical generator. 
         FIG. 5  depicts a simplified side view of a seaside embodiment of the present invention wherein a semi-submersible barge rises as the sea level rises. 
         FIG. 6  depicts a simplified top view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with braking surfaces engaged. 
         FIG. 7  depicts a side view of the braking system depicted in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  depicts a front view of the braking system depicted in  FIG. 6 , wherein the wedge-hinge assemblies have been removed. 
         FIG. 9  depicts a close-up view of a singular spring depicted in  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference is made herein to the figures in the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like components. Now referring to  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B, and  4 , there are depicted side and front views of a modified wedge-hinge device  10 , described more fully in U.S. Pat. No. 5,146,798 and fully incorporated herein by reference. The original end-weights of each wedge-hinge assembly have been replaced by a plurality of water blades, a single such water blade A connecting two similarly aligned control arms  24  being depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , comprising a curved surface which generates a downward force upon crank C as water flows past, plunging each water blade in turn deeper into the water. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, wedge-hinge assemblies having a 2:1 ratio enable water to flow with half the force which would otherwise be required to turn crankshaft  30 . Such reduction in force requirements enables relatively small, but nearly constant water flow to power an electrical generator. Inherent resistance provided by the electrical generator further dampens wedge-hinge assembly motion thereby lowering mechanical wear thereupon. The size and depth of water blade A is determined by the average depth of tidal changes in the coastal region of installation. 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B, and  4 , as water flows from east to west, pushing water blade A in the process, crank C is pulled down and connection rod G transfers kinetic energy to plate point F. A controlled timing device (not shown) minimizes energy loss as crank D reverses direction in preparation for additional rotational cycles. 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , there is depicted crank C connecting cascading wedge-hinge assemblies, each offset by 90 degrees. As is known to those skilled in the art, an offset crank enables continuous rotation around a central axis as force is applied sequentially to each control arm. Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention is configured with four water blades, wherein each water blade is fixedly connected to a similarly aligned pair of control arms  24 , it is further contemplated that each control arm of a wedge-hinge assembly may be equipped with a separate water blade thereby allowing a total of eight water blades per wedge-hinge device  10  which is comprised or four wedge-hinge assemblies. 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , each member of the water blade plurality is fixedly connected to a wedge-hinge assembly by a control arm  24  thereby maximizing surface area exposure to oncoming water which flows over semi-submersed barge L 1  through opening R 1 . The submerged portions of barge L 1  function as a dam blocking undesired tidal water flow. Barge L 1  rises and falls with the water level present in ocean channel  50 . Conversely, barge L 2  rises and falls with the water level present in retention pond P. Concrete sealing walls T 1  and T 2  keep barge L 1  and L 2 , respectively, perpendicularly aligned with oncoming water. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 4 , there is depicted an embodiment of the present invention mechanically interconnected with electrical generator  40 . Crankshaft  30  is rotatably mounted on a pair of vertical supports  22  by a corresponding pair of ball bearing rings or similarly effective mounting method disposed at opposing ends of crankshaft  30 . As water pushes past the water blades, crankshaft  30  rotates thereby rotating output gear  31  and providing input torque to the rotor of electrical generator  40 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 4 , a pair of sprockets  25  are fixedly mounted to opposing ends of crankshaft  30  and disposed left of said pair of ball bearings. Chain assemblies  27  and  28  mechanically interconnect sprocket pairs  25  and  26 , respectively, with driveshaft  20  which is rotatably supported by bearing ring pair  23  fixedly mounted at the upper ends of vertical support pair  22 . As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, driveshaft  20  may optionally be connected to another instance of the present invention by way of drive shaft extension  29  thereby enabling serially connected embodiment of the present invention thereby increasing the mechanical energy available for rotating output gear  30  and producing additional electricity without requiring additional electrical generators. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-9 , there is depicted the preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein retention pond P is tidally interconnected with an ocean, gulf, or similarly large body of water. As the tide moves inland, barge L 1  is held in place by a pair of locking channels Q 1 , which are configured to receive barge protrusion members E 1  and E 2 , and concrete sealing wall T 1 . Preferably, the pressure of incoming water and the presence of a sealing membrane such as concrete sealing wall T 1  at the retention pond side of barge L 1  prevent water from entering retention pond P except by way of opening R 1 . As the tide moves outland, barge L 2  is held in place by a pair of locking channels Q 2 , which are configured to receive barge protrusion member E 3  and E 4 , and concrete sealing wall T 2 . The pressure of outflowing water and the presence of a sealing membrane such as concrete sealing wall T 2  at the ocean channel side of barge L 2  prevent water from entering ocean channel  50  except by way of opening R 2  (not shown). As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a minimum hydrostatic pressure is often required to achieve efficient power generation. In the present invention, hydrostatic pressure is achieved by employing a braking mechanism. Still referring to  FIGS. 2-9 , there is depicted a preferred braking system comprising a pair of corrosive resistant wedges and a plurality of springs  65  mounted on the lateral sides of concrete sealing wall T 1  and a singular corrosive resistant wedge and a plurality of springs mounted atop barge L 1 . The springs having a spring constant such that the wedges fall flat when a hydrostatic force approximating one-foot of water is present. If the requisite hydrostatic force is not achieved, or the wedge-hinge assembly starts to reverse rotation, the aforementioned wedges extend, thereby limiting wedge-hinge assembly movement. 
     As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the preferred braking system creates a one-way flow channel. Barge L 1  allows water into retention pond P as the tide rises and barge L 2 , configured nearly identically to barge L 1 , is positioned to allow outflowing water to flow into ocean channel  50  thus moving the water blades associated with barge L 2 . Using the barges in such a fashion allows for smaller retention ponds because only enough water to drive one wedge-hinge device  10  is required at any one time. There is only a brief period of time, when the tide is not rising or falling, that electricity is not being generated by one of the wedge-hinge assemblies. 
     The following is a tabulation of the components depicted in the drawings: 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Components List 
               
             
          
           
               
                 # 
                 Component 
                 Comments 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 A 
                 Water blade 
                   
               
               
                 B 
                 Water blade lower edge 
                   
               
               
                 C 
                 Crank 
                   
               
               
                 D 
                 Crank 
                   
               
               
                 E1, E2 
                 Barge protrusion  
                 Barge L1 
               
               
                   
                 members (pair) 
                   
               
               
                 E3, E4 
                 Barge protrusion  
                 Barge L2 
               
               
                   
                 members (pair) 
                   
               
               
                 F 
                 Plate point 
                   
               
               
                 G 
                 Connection rod 
                   
               
               
                 L1 
                 Barge 
                 Water entering retention pond 
               
               
                 L2 
                 Barge 
                 Water leaving retention pond 
               
               
                 P 
                 Retention pond 
                   
               
               
                 Q1 
                 Locking channels (pair) 
                   
               
               
                 Q2 
                 Locking channels (pair) 
                   
               
               
                 R1 
                 Opening 
                   
               
               
                 R2 
                 Opening (not shown) 
                   
               
               
                 T1 
                 Concrete sealing wall 
                 Water entering retention pond 
               
               
                 T2 
                 Concrete sealing wall 
                 Water leaving retention pond 
               
               
                 10 
                 Wedge-hinge device 
                   
               
               
                 22 
                 Vertical supports (pair) 
                   
               
               
                 23 
                 Bearing ring (pair) 
                   
               
               
                 24 
                 Driveshaft 
                   
               
               
                 25 
                 Sprockets (pair) 
                   
               
               
                 26 
                 Chain 
                   
               
               
                 27 
                 Chain assembly 
                   
               
               
                 28 
                 Chain assembly 
                   
               
               
                 29 
                 Driveshaft extension 
                   
               
               
                 30 
                 Crankshaft 
                   
               
               
                 31 
                 Output gear 
                   
               
               
                 40 
                 Generator 
                   
               
               
                 50 
                 Ocean channel 
                   
               
               
                 51 
                 Pond channel 
                   
               
               
                 52 
                 Concrete container 
                   
               
               
                 65 
                 Springs 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Other variations and modifications will, of course, become apparent from a consideration of the structures and techniques hereinbefore described and depicted. Accordingly, it should be clearly understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited by the particular features and structures hereinbefore described and depicted in the accompanying drawings, but that the present invention is to be measured by the scope of the appended claims herein.