Patent Publication Number: US-11022091-B2

Title: Plankz buoyancy engine

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
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     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
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     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is in the field of power generation. More specifically, this invention captures lift energy due to buoyancy and transfers it to mechanical rotation. The mechanical rotation can be used to power various devices including electrical generators. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The buoyancy forces on objects submerged in liquids is significant and utilized in day to day events like sailing ships and flotation devices. However, to date, attempts to transform buoyancy forces to dynamic power generation has not been successfully demonstrated. 
     A common approach is typified in a 1929 U.S. Pat. No. 1,708,807 as well as in a more recent US Patent 2008/0028760. The approach described in these patents utilize a connected chain of flotation devices passing through a liquid column, with a sealing device at the bottom of the column to reduce liquid loss. Difficulties in these designs are due to high forces on floats entering at the bottom of liquid column that slowed the connected floats and effectively neutralized energy capture. Liquid loss at the seal also contributed to energy inefficiency, and the systems required liquid replenishment for continuous operation which negatively impacted commercial feasibility. 
     Another approach typified by a 1938 U.S. Pat. No. 2,135,110 and a more recent 1980 U.S. Pat. No. 4,326,132 utilize a connected chain of buckets submerged in liquid. A stream of air is injected into a bucket at the lowest point in the chain to provide lift. Difficulties in this approach is the cost of providing the compressed air and the rate at which air can injected into the buckets to obtain a net energy gain from the device. 
     The invention described in this application utilizes an innovative seal system to introduce floats at the bottom of a liquid column, but utilizes independent floats that drives a belt system to capture the buoyancy forces. This design captures the buoyancy forces from all the floats without losses incurred when introducing a new float into the liquid column. The seal system proposed, that is integrated with the floats, also ensures a high rate of float introduction that is essential for high power generation. This invention additionally includes a liquid recovery system that harnesses gravity to recycle liquid losses from the seal and significantly reduces the need for virgin liquid replenishment. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a system that captures the buoyancy forces from rising floats in a liquid column and transfers it to mechanical motion of a continuous belt, which can be captured to drive other equipment, or for power generation. 
     In one aspect of the invention, a special seal system introduces floats into the bottom of a liquid column. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the floats rising in the liquid column are captured by a continuous belt system. The buoyancy forces of the rising floats cause the continuous belt to move, turning support Drive Wheels that retain the continuous belt. The movement of the rotating belt provides power that can be used to drive equipment or generators. 
     In another aspect of the invention, liquid losses through the seal system are recovered with the assistance of gravity. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  gives an trimetric view of the working components of the invention. Support members, cowling, sensing and control elements are not shown so as to provide an unobstructed view of the mechanisms being described. Portions of the walls of liquid containers are cut-away for the same reason. 
         FIG. 2  shows a trimetric detail of the Float Return Valve, also with a cut-away to show internal components. 
         FIG. 3  shows an isometric illustration of the liquid recovery system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The PLANKZ BUOYANCY ENGINE™ is a machine that captures buoyancy forces on floats submerged in a liquid column, to move a continuous belt. The motion of the continuous belt causes the Drive Wheels supporting the continuous belt to turn. The rotational motion of the supporting Drive Wheels can be used to power other devices and to generate electricity. 
       FIG. 1  shows an overview of the components of the invention. The invention can be sub-divided into three functional areas A, B and C with A being the Drive System, B the Float Return System and C the Liquid Recovery System. 
     The Drive System consists of a continuous belt made up of a series of connected bridges  2 , supported on Drive Wheel Assemblies  3 . Floats  1  are spherical balls that fit on  2  and maintained in position by guides, not shown in the drawing. The path of the continuous belt is designed such that it picks up floats at the bottom of the Liquid Column  4 . Floats exert an upward force on the bridges, causing the continuous belt to move in the direction D. In operation of the machine, the Floats will move along the Continuous Belt until it reaches the position E, where the Floats fall into the Float Return System. 
     The Float Return System is contained in the Overflow Tank  6 . Floats leaving the Drive System, move along the Feed Tube  7 , into the Float Return Valve  5 .  FIG. 2  gives details of the Float Return Valve. The outer body of  5  is a 90-degree bend  8  fitted with an Inlet/Outlet Connector  9 . Integral to the operation of  5  are the four seals S 1 , S 2 , S 3  and S 4 . To explain the operation of  5 , we start at the position illustrated in  FIG. 2 , which shows three Floats B 1 , B 2  and B 3  in place, with the all four seals pressing against the mating Float, and liquid filling the space on top of B 1 , as well as the space between B 1  and B 3 . The next sequence of operation of  5  is as follows:
         I. The seal of S 1  is released causing B 1  to rise into Liquid Column because of its buoyancy, where it pushes against the Bridges of the Continuous Belt.   II. S 1  is restored to the seal position.   III. S 2  is released causing B 2  to rise due to buoyancy forces, where it is stopped by S 1  which is in the seal position.   IV. S 2  is restored to the seal position so that B 2  is now sealed between S 1  and S 2 .   V. The liquid between B 2 , (now held between S 1  and S 2 ), and B 3  (which is sealed by S 3  and S 4 ), is exhausted through  9 .   VI. S 3  is released causing B 3  to roll into the curved portion of  8 .   VII. S 3  is restored to the seal position.   VIII. S 4  is released allowing a new Float from 7 to stop against S 3 .   IX. S 4  is restored to the seal position.   X. The space between B 2  and the new Float sealed between S 3  and S 4  is filled with liquid.       

     At this stage,  5  is restored to the condition at the start of the above sequence and the process can be repeated. 
     The liquid lost in sequence V described above is recovered by C illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The port P 2  is connected to  6 . The port P 1  is connected to the liquid supply by valve V 3 . Port P 3  is connected to  4 . Port P 4  is connected to a vacuum. Port P 5  is open to the atmosphere. C utilizes the principle of gravity where a liquid column in vacuum, would rise the equivalent of atmospheric pressure. A series of valves V 1 , V 2 , V 4 , V 5  and flow sensors F 1  and F 2 , would detect liquid levels and control movement of liquid from 6 and return it to  4 . V 9  is a fluid gas separator to restrict liquid flow to the vacuum. Where the liquid column is higher than an atmospheric column, multiple units of C can be used to move liquid to refill  4 . 
     The machine will additionally be fitted with support, safety, esthetic and control elements as well as varying mechanisms to capture energy and transfer power. 
     The advantages of the present invention, without limitation, are:
         a) It provides a pollution free source of power that is constant, reliable and comparatively inexpensive. Other green energy solutions like Solar and Wind are highly variable in output due to environmental conditions.   b) The PLANKZ BUOYANCY ENGINE™ can be used in any location on earth as well inside buildings. Other green energy solutions like Solar and Wind have limitations based on climatic conditions and require outdoor placement.   c) It does not require fuel for its operation as is the case for back-up generators based on the internal combustion engine.   d) The liquid medium expelled during cycling of the machine is largely recovered with the assistance of gravity, so that the machine shows a net positive energy output. Liquid lost is limited to evaporative losses.   e) In cases where the utilities offer power buy-back programs, the PLANKZ BUOYANCY ENGINE™ can generate revenue.       

     While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.