Abstract:
A mechanical/electrical generator system may include a piston ball with an anode and a cathode in the piston ball. A source of DC power may be connected to the anode and cathode. An AC generator may be configured to be rotated through alternating flotation and sinking of the piston ball resulting from electrolysis of salt water.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61503295 filed on Jun. 30, 2011. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to systems generating electrical power using sea water. More particularly the invention relates to combining electrolytic gas generation and mechanical motion of flotation devices to generate electrical power. 
         [0003]    Electrical power requirements are continually increasing. Many power generating systems that are used to meet these increasing demands depend upon combustion of organic fuels as a source of energy. Combustion of such fuels results in undesirable release of carbon dioxide into the earth&#39;s atmosphere. 
         [0004]    As can be seen, there is a need for a system of producing and storing electrical power without releasing carbon dioxide into the earth&#39;s atmosphere. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one aspect of the present invention, a mechanical/electrical generator system comprising; a piston ball immersible in sea water; an anode and a cathode in the piston ball; a source of DC power connected to the anode and cathode; a cable connecting the piston ball via an anchored pulley to an AC generator; and the AC generator configured to be rotated through alternating flotation and sinking of the piston ball resulting from electrolysis of the sea water. 
         [0006]    In another aspect of the present invention, a system for generating electrical power may comprise: an electrolysis reaction chamber submerged in sea water; a plurality of hydrogen collection cups arranged on a conveyor chain so that each cup passes the electrolysis reaction chamber; and a hydrogen collection unit positioned above a surface of the sea water to collect hydrogen from the cups for use in a hydrogen burning electrical generator. 
         [0007]    In still another aspect of the invention, a method for generating electrical power may comprise the steps of: filling a piston ball with sea water; submerging the piston ball in sea water while pulling a cable attached to the piston ball; extracting mechanical power from the pulled cable, via an anchored pulley, with an AC generator to produce AC electrical power; and applying DC electrical power to a cathode and electrode in the piston ball to produce gas by electrolysis and to expel the sea water from the piston ball. 
         [0008]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a flow chart of a system for generating AC electrical power in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0010]      FIGS. 2 through 5  are schematic views of operational aspects of an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 6 and 7  are schematic diagrams of operational aspects of an automatic valve in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of piston ball in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view of operational aspects of a third embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0015]    Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
         [0016]    Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide electrical generators driven by electrolytic generation of gas and mechanical motion of flotation devices to amplify the total power output from stored energy sources. 
         [0017]    Referring to the Figures, it may be seen that an exemplary embodiment of a mechanical/electrical generator system  10  may comprise a battery charger  12 , a battery  14 , a voltage regulator  16 , a piston ball  18 , a cathode  20 , an anode  22 , a 3 phase, high-voltage electrical generator  30 , a sea water source  34 , a pulley  36  anchored to a bottom, conductive cabling  38  for lift and power, and an automatic valve assembly  40 . 
         [0018]    In operation, the piston ball  18  may be submerged in sea water  24 . Electrical power may be applied to the cathode  20  and anode  22  through the cable  38 . The electrical power may be provided from a green energy source (not shown) such as solar cells, or wind turbines and may be delivered to the cable  38  through the battery charger  12 , the batteries  14  and the voltage regulator  16 . The electrical power may cause the cathode  20  and anode  22  to produce an electrolytic separation of the sea water  24  into a gaseous mixture  26  of hydrogen and oxygen. As the gas mixture  26  is produced in the ball  18 , it may displace the sea water  24  from inside the ball  18  through openings  58 . As the sea water  24  is displaced, buoyancy of the ball  18  may increase and the ball  18  may begin to rise. 
         [0019]    As the ball  18  rises (See  FIG. 2 ), an upper portion  38 - 1  of the the cable  38  may be pulled downwardly around the pulleys  36 . This downward motion of the cable  38  may be translated into rotational motion of the generator  30  (see  FIG. 5 ) thereby producing 3 phase electrical power. 
         [0020]    The ball  18  may continue to rise until it reaches a surface  24 - 1  of the sea water  24 . At this point, the automatic valve assembly  40  may release the gas mixture  26  from the ball  18  (see  FIG. 3 ). After the gas mixture  26  is released, sea water  24  may re-enter the ball  18  through the openings  58 . The buoyancy of the ball  18  may decrease and the ball  18  may sink into the sea water  24  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
         [0021]    As the ball  18  sinks, the upper portion  38 - 1  of the cable  38  may be pulled upwardly around the pulleys  36 . This upward motion of the cable  38  may be translated into rotational motion of the generator  30  (see  FIG. 5 ) thereby producing 3 phase electrical power. The generator  30  may be provided with a clutch and gear power input system (not shown) which may produce a rotational motion in one direction irrespective of whether the cable  38  is moving up or down. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , it may be seen that an exemplary embodiment of the automatic valve  40  may comprise a flotation ball  42 , a sealing member  44  and a spring  46 . The spring  46  may be attached to the sealing member  44  and the inner surface of the piston ball  18 . The spring  46  may have a spring force less than a buoyancy force of the flotation member  42 . 
         [0023]    When the ball  18  is below the surface  24 - 1  of sea water  24 , the flotation ball  42  may exert an upward force to hold the sealing member  44  against an inner surface of the ball  18 . When the ball  18  rises to a position near the surface  24 - 1 , the flotation ball  42  may no longer exert upward force on the sealing member  44 . The spring  46  and gravity may pull the sealing member away from the inner surface of the ball  18 , thus releasing gas  26  from the ball  18 . 
         [0024]    In an alternate embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 8 , the ball  18  may be constructed with a membrane  50  separating a hydrogen chamber  18 - 1  from an oxygen chamber  18 - 2 . The cathode  20  may be positioned in the hydrogen chamber  18 - 1  and the anode may be positioned in the oxygen chamber  18 - 2 . When the ball  18  reaches the surface  24 - 1  (see  FIG. 3 ), the hydrogen may be released separately from oxygen. 
         [0025]    In still another embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 9 , a series of cups  52  may be arranged to be transported past an electrolysis reaction chamber  56  on a conveyor chain  62 . The chamber  56  and a portion of the chain  48  may be immersed in sea water. Hydrogen  60  may enter the cups  52  as they pass the chamber  56 . Hydrogen  60  may then be transported to a collection unit  28  for delivery to a hydrogen burning generator (not shown). The generator  30  may also be driven be flotation action of the cups  52 . 
         [0026]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.