Patent WO-2011034347-A2 (WO)
Title: Power-generating apparatus using buoyancy and gravity
Inventor: KWON YOUNG HO
IPC: F03B13/00
Filed: 2010-09-15
Abstract: The present invention relates to a power-generating apparatus using buoyancy and gravity. In detail, a weight which moves in the upward and downward directions is arranged in a watertight manner in a driving body arranged in a water reservoir such that the weight moves downwardly by means of the weight thereof and blocks an opening of the driving body to form an empty chamber in the driving body, and high-pressure gas is introduced in the thus-formed empty chamber via an inlet pipe to generate buoyancy. When a plurality of thus-configured driving bodies move in the upward direction by means of buoyancy and then move in the downward direction, the residual air in each driving body is pushed upwardly by the movement of each weight and gas inlet ports of the driving bodies are blocked by the respective weights, and water (liquid) fills the driving bodies via respective openings thereof, thus generating gravity. As described above, buoyancy is generated during the upward movement of the driving bodies and gravity is generated during the downward movement of the driving bodies, thus generating power by means of the gravity and the buoyancy. The clean energy supply and demand problem has been regarded as a significant issue as industrial society develops. Therefore, global concerns about the development of clean natural energy are increasing, and a wide variety of power-generating apparatuses using gravity and buoyancy have been developed under such circumstances. However, actual circumstances are that such power-generating apparatuses may not be put into practical use as they are disadvantageous in terms of equipment costs and operating expenses. The present invention is produced to solve the above-described problems, and the technical features of the present invention relate to a power-generating apparatus in which a chain is connected between a driving chain gear installed in an upper driving body group and a no-load chain gear installed in a lower driving body group in a water reservoir, the plurality of driving bodies are connected to the chain at regular intervals, a high-pressure gas circulation hose is arranged outside the driving bodies, and inlet pipes are connected to the respective inlet ports formed in the respective upper portions of the driving bodies such that the weight arranged in the bottom driving body moves in the downward direction to block the opening formed at the bottom of the bottom driving body to form an empty chamber in the driving body when the bottom driving body moves in the upward direction. Here, high-pressure gas is introduced into the closed empty chamber of the bottom driving body through the inlet port connected to the high pressure gas circulation hose to generate buoyancy which serves as rotating force. In addition, when the top driving body moves in the downward direction, the air in each driving body is pushed upwardly by the movement of each weight and water (liquid) fills the driving bodies via respective openings thereof, thus generating gravity. The driving bodies move gradually in the upward and downward directions by the thus-generated gravity, and the buoyancy and the gravity generated by each of the driving bodies generate power. The power-generating apparatus of the present invention generates power by repeating the above-described upward and downward movement of the driving bodies, and when the air pressure is consumed during operation, air pressure is discharged, by the operation of a sensor valve, from an auxiliary air tank connected to the inlet pipes, in order to replenish the consumed air pressure.