Abstract:
An apparatus and process for capturing mechanical work from the kinetic energy of a downward moving weighted vessel. The apparatus comprises an elevated downward-moving weighted vessel, a point of impact, a force transfer means to harness the impact, and a post-impact diversion means of the weighted vessel for unobstructed continuation of the process. In use, as the point of impact and force transfer means optimally aligns at the top of their upstroke, the sensor-initiated synchronized release and acceleration of the elevated weighted vessel results in downward movement, generating an exponentially multiplied weight force upon impact due to the accelerated kinetic force it acquires while descending. At the impact point, the kinetic energy force is transmitted from the moving vessel to the energy transfer means. The post-impact weighted moving vessel is then diverted out of the impact area to make way for the unobstructed continuation of the energy transfer cycle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Public awareness has been increasing regarding environmentally friendly energy sources, also called alternative or renewable energy sources. Most renewable alternative energy sources suffer from poor efficiency and are unable to deliver power in the quantity or potency that would serve as a viable alternate to other traditional energy sources, such as fossil fuels. Renewable alternative energy sources, such as solar panels or windmills, depend on certain environmental conditions for their processes to function properly and lack the potency of power necessary to compete with traditional energy sources in an economical manner. One of the main reasons alternative energy sources cannot compete well with traditional industrial energy sources is that they provide relatively little concentrated power compared to the explosive power produced by combustion-based-fuel energy sources. Although the energy from wind, solar, hydro, gravity, or buoyancy is free, their energy provision is weak when compared to their competition. Their competition is traditional fossil fuels which essentially provide their energy by means of an explosion. Harnessing these explosions makes the per-unit cost of coal, gas, oil, diesel, nuclear, or other non-renewable fuel based energy sources still much more competitive than their “free” competition because they are exponentially more potent. Wind, solar, hydro, gravity and buoyancy are expensive to harness and the output from the best harnessing mechanisms is extremely low compared to the cost of building the mechanism itself, resulting in a poor return on investment and a relatively expensive output of “free” energy. Although the fuel is “free”, the harnessing mechanism is very costly, making the comparative overall cost more. Compared with combustible fuel on the other hand, which neither has free fuel, nor a free harnessing mechanism, the powerful output of energy produced is much greater, making up for the fact that the fuel is not free. One of the most common and enduring of energy sources is the internal combustion engine. This reliable invention has been used for over a century and is well known for being a system capable of providing reliable energy for machinery and electricity. Examples of such systems are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,801. However, this and other similar systems depend on a costly combustible fuel to provide an amount of explosive force sufficient to drive the system and generate the energy, as taught therein. Still, other inventions that seek to utilize “free” energy such as the weak forces of wind, solar, hydro, gravity or buoyancy, utilize these forces in a way that is weak and unable to compete with the explosive forces of combustion engines. Examples of such systems are shown in Patents and Publication Nos. W02004064221A8, US20100126804A1, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,683,720A and 8,516,812B2. The present invention seeks to overcome those limitations by delivering a system and process for providing a similar force as the explosive energy of fossil fuels by utilizing the free impact force produced by kinetic, momentum, and gravitational forces. Velocity exponentially maximizes the force found in gravity alone. When the gravitational force of a weight is combined with momentum and velocity, these forces can exponentially multiply the power given with the force of gravity alone by a multiple of up to several thousands of times, though it is only for a very short period of time upon impact. Such bursts of exponentially multiplied force can be seen in the velocity of a bullet slug exiting a rifle, or a simple 7-ounce hammer used to drive a nail into wood. This invention seeks to exploit the dynamic of kinetic velocity and impact for producing energy, while reducing, or even eliminating, the need for a non-renewable source of fuel. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present apparatus and process are capable of delivering useable power or mechanical work by using gravitational and kinetic force to drive an apparatus or means for transferring energy. The main driving forces in the apparatus are the kinetic and gravitational forces of an accelerating descending moving weighted vessel expelled from an elevated position for the purpose of producing a brief moment of explosive impact upon the head of an apparatus or means for converting that energy. After the descent of the moving weighted vessel produces an impact-induced useable energy, the moving weighted vessel diverts out of the impact area to make way for the unobstructed continuation of the energy transfer cycle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  is a cross section view of a basic embodiment of the apparatus, showing three hypothetically placed weighted vessels  115 ; one elevated up in the staging area moving toward the sensor triggered release  201  and the downward propulsion accelerator force  207 ; the second descending and about to impact the head  105  of the energy transfer means, and another that has just finished impact and is fully diverted post-impact.  FIG. 2  is an elevation view of only the weighted vessel  115  used to create the impact to the impacted head  105  of the apparatus or means of energy transfer by utilizing its kinetic and potential energy.  FIG. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7  are basic side views of the lower section of the apparatus that show the movement of the weighted moving vessel through its cycle of descent at its various stages throughout the embodiment of the apparatus, each figure being at a stage that is a split-second further along than the previous figure.  FIG. 8  is a cross section of one embodiment of the weighted vessel apparatus  115 .  FIG. 9  is an elevation view of one embodiment of the apparatus, showing one weighted vessel  115  in the waiting area  151 , and a second weighted vessel in expulsion position  152  to be expelled and awaiting its sensor triggered release  201  and propulsion accelerated  207  gravity powered descent.  FIG. 10  is an alternative version of  FIG. 1 , with the weight diversion surface  103  being a tipping apparatus and therefore needing a rounded corresponding diversion guiding system  120  which is triggered by the guiding system redirector  211  in a manner conducive to the weight being tipped in order to divert it away from the impacted head.  FIG. 11  is another alternative version of  FIG. 1 , with the weight diversion mechanism being a hinged version of the impact head that collapses immediately after impact as triggered by the diversion surface  103  in order to quickly make way for the recoiling energy transfer means or impacted head  105  as it circles around the reaches its upstroke again. Shortly thereafter, the diversion guiding system  120  re-elevates the weighted vessel  115   
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    With reference to the drawings, the invention will now be described with regard for the best mode and the preferred embodiment. In general, the invention is an apparatus and a process of producing mechanical work and useable energy by recovering and converting kinetic and momentum forces produced by a moving weighted vessel  115  combined with gravitational and other accelerant forces and causing a point of impact which is to be converted into a more convenient energy form. The embodiments disclosed herein are meant for illustration and not limitation of the invention. An ordinary practitioner will understand that it is possible to create many variations of the following embodiments without undue experimentation. The critical driving component of the apparatus and process is the kinetic force generated when an elevated moving weighted vessel  115  descends and causes impact to the impacted head  105  of a driving mechanism  101  which results in energy transfer to a more usable means of harnessing energy that is left undefined in this patent because it can take on many forms such as a crankshaft, turbine, gear, lever, pump, or compression chamber. The force utilized for causing the impact is the force of gravity combined with downward momentum as the moving weighted vessel  115  is dropped or expulsed from an elevated position  152 . A downward propulsion accelerator force  207 , such as a spring, lever, compression, or other form of force can be utilized as a means to accelerate the descending speed of gravity on the moving weighted vessel, can be used at the beginning of the cycle in conjunction with the sensor triggered release  201  or along the path of the descent of the moving weighted vessel as well. The moving weighted vessel could be made of any weighted material, and in most applications the weight will be some form of dense material such as metal or concrete. The apparatus is capable of driving the head of a mechanism of one or more pistons, levers, pumps, or other energy transferring mechanisms, in a synchronized manner precisely timed with the sensor triggered release  201  of the weighted vessel. After descent and initial impact of the weight  400 , all kinetic force is transferred or dissipates and the remaining gravitational force of the weighted vessel continues to drive the impacted head  105  downward toward the bottom of the down stroke  500 , gradually diverting by means of a diversion surface  103  the impacting head  111  of the weighted vessel away from the impacted head  105  of the driving mechanism  101  before it reaches the fulcrum of its down stroke  600 . The moving weighted vessel moves out of the way of the recoiling impacted head  105  of the driving mechanism so that more subsequent weights can be dropped, continuing the cycle indefinitely. The weight can be re-elevated, restoring its potential energy. The necessary re-elevation method is not specified in this patent and will typically employ buoyancy mechanisms or leveraged lifting mechanisms in order to lift the weights back up to the staging position efficiently, such as the elevation method describe in patent U.S.&lt;buoyancy lifting patent. 
         [0005]    It is anticipated that either an expanded network of impact heads, such as a crankshaft with multiple piston heads, will be utilized in order to keep the cycle moving along smoothly, or a large amount of weights are necessary to adequately supply the frequency of needed dropping in order to keep a continuous cycle, such as if only one piston is driving the energy production method. 
         [0006]    If a network of impact heads is used, then a re-elevation of the same moving weighted vessel can be employed such as  FIG. 11  shows. 
         [0007]    A surplus of weights in a waiting area  151  provides a time cushion between the weights being dropped and the weights in transit at the re-elevation area. In this instance, it is preferable that there be one weighted vessel  115  engaged in impact, one weighted vessel waiting in the expulsion position  152  to be expelled, and one or more weights in the waiting area  151  behind the expulsion position  152  weight to rapidly take its place once it is dropped. In addition, there can be a large amount going through the re-elevation process, which likely takes longer than the dropping process depending on the process. The force supplied for the re-elevation process is not specified as a component of this patent but can be any number of elevating methods described in other patents such as &lt;buoyant elevator patent&gt;. 
         [0008]    Once the weight is fully re-elevated and has made its way through the waiting area  151  to the expulsion position  152 , it is now ready to be released and expelled or propelled downward. That process is as follows: As the piston head transfer or driving mechanism  101  passes by the fulcrum of its down stroke, there is a first timing sensor  205  and second timing sensor  203  which are adjustable sensory mechanisms utilized for the synchronizing of the release trigger  201 . The sensory mechanisms can be in the form of several means, such as an electronic sensor or proximity switch or a chain reaction mechanism. There is one, or if needed, multiple timing sensors  205 ,  203  for the purpose of gauging the speed at which the head transfer or driving mechanism  101  is moving by programmatically measuring the amount of time it takes for the driving mechanism to move from one sensor to the other, which will result in a more synchronized release  201  of the weighted vessel  115  and a maximized impact set into motion as early as at the bottom fulcrum of the down stroke  600 . This synchronizing mechanism of two timing sensors  205 ,  203  triggers the release  201  of the next weight in the expulsion position  152  to be dropped so it will descend down the vertical guiding system  119  and make impact of the weight  400  at the precise time. 
         [0009]    Upon impact of the weight  400 , the kinetic and potential energy is spent and transfers from the impacting head  111  into the impacted head  105  and through to the driving mechanism  101  such as the piston, lever, or pump. In many applications the driving mechanism  101  will employ some type of flywheel to maintain the momentum for a smooth cycle that is less sporadic. 
         [0010]    The cycle can be stopped by not releasing the trigger  201  to drop the weight that is in position to be dropped in the expulsion position  152 . Restarting the cycle will typically require different timing adjustments of the trigger release  201  by the two timing sensors  205   203  in order to gradually build up momentum in the overall machinery, depending on the energy transfer apparatus. The overall apparatus will require periodic service and maintenance as required by the particular application and environmental conditions. More frequent maintenance may be required where the system operates in harsh conditions, such as in a desert or in a humid environment. 
         [0011]    As a specific example of a moving weight embodiment, the moving weighted vessel  115  comprises a single weight unit made of lead or some other dense material, having a weight of about 2,000 pounds which will drop from an elevation of 20 feet. This particular weighted vessel has wheels  117  fixed to its apparatus that are useful for remaining engaged with the upper guiding system  121 , the vertical guiding system  119  and the lower diversion guiding system  120 . Its descent will be kept on course by a guiding system, such as a rail, track, lever, or similar vertical guiding system  119 . If no accelerants are used and gravity is the only force of descent, the impact of the falling weighted vessel will have a velocity of 23.1 miles per hour upon impact of the weight  400 . If the impact point of the impacted head  105  is exactly 20 feet below the sensor triggered release  201 . Increasing the elevation of the release will increase the velocity at impact in a reverse inverse-squared ratio. For example, to double the velocity to 46.2 miles per hour, the release point must be four times higher, or 80 feet above the impact. 
         [0012]    A 2,000-pound weight hitting a point of impact at 23.1 miles per hour will provide ≈50,000 pounds of total force during the first ˜0.01 seconds of impact, providing an explosive force to drive the head of the piston, lever, pump, or other energy transfer mechanism. When this velocity of added speed is incorporated with the 2000 lb. moving weighted vessel dropped at a height of 20 feet and reaching 23.1 MPH (based on 9.8 m/ŝ2), the resulting force is ≈50,000 pounds for a brief period immediately upon impact of the weight  400  with the impacted head near the top of the up stroke and =2,000 pounds near the bottom of the down stroke  500 . The positioning of the impacted head  105  in conjunction with the timing of the elevated weight sensor triggered release  201  will ensure maximized percentage of transferred energy at impact. 
         [0013]    Directly following the impact of the weighted vessel  400  there is a sensor  213  that triggers the guiding system redirector  211  which pushes on a hinged mechanism  215  with a rail diverter into place to divert the sub-sequent upper wheel  117  on the weighted vessel  115  down the alternate diversion guiding system  120  in order to assist in diverting the weight away from the point of impact and to allow the current cycle of the driving mechanism to remain unhindered. The concept of the diversion slide or surface  103  and related apparatuses can be duplicated in many variants, such as a tipper, a lever, a pusher, or a diverter. See  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11  for examples of alternative variations. 
         [0014]    In the piston-type embodiment of the impacted head  105  which serves as the energy transfer means, shown in  FIG. 1 , the head assembly comprises a piston cylinder which is known as the impacted head  105  having inside walls, a mechanical transfer arm or driving mechanism  101  or other energy transfer means, and a piston head or impacted head  105 , which is attached to the moving-arm driving mechanism  101  The moving arm driving mechanism  101  can represent one or more crankshafts, turbines, gears, levers, shafts or pumps and in many applications will have some sort of flywheel or momentum stabilizer. The impacting head  111  is the force transfer producer, transferring the kinetic and gravitational energy to the impacted head  105  upon impact. The impacting head  111  as well as the impacted head  105  are made of a material having a relatively high strength to weight ratio, such as carbon fiber material, steel, or some other type of metal. The piston or pump mechanism incorporates a piston head or impacted head  105 , that extends higher than typical pistons that rely on a combustion chamber. The head of the piston rises to a height that extends upward, above the inside wall  104  of the piston cylinder to a height that allows the complete cycle from down stroke to upstroke to take place without the head descending below the top of the piston cylinder walls or diversion surface  103 . This allows a sufficient impact area as well as a diversion route to exist for the weight as the piston head descends, allowing the surface area of the impacting head to divert before the piston head reaches the bottom of its down stroke. 
         [0015]    In this embodiment, the piston cylinder apparatus further comprises a diverting assistance to the weight, such as the sloped face of a diversion surface  103  or tipping point. 
         [0016]    The post-impact diversion method can embody many different setups and configurations for accomplishing the same end result. One method is to divert the weight by utilizing the sloped surface of a diversion surface  103  that uses gravity to divert the weight upon contact with the upper sloped diverting surface  113  adjacent to the weighted vessel&#39;s impacting head  111  as well as the lower parallel sloped diversion surface  103 . The upper and lower surfaces can utilize rails and rollers or wheels to reduce friction or any other friction reducing agent. The impacting head  111  and the impacted head  105  are arranged with an opposite-facing orientation so as to permit optimum transfer of power upon impact. That is, as the impacting head  111  hits the impacted head  105  and it forcefully moves from the top of the upstroke or the point of impact of the weight  400  down approaching the bottom of the down stroke  500 , the impacted head  105  drives the energy means or driving mechanism  101  by way of the explosive kinetic energy contained in the impact of the impacting head  111 . Shortly after impact, the diversion surface  103  diverts the weight over to the re-elevation area. The impacted head  105  continues in its momentum to the bottom of its down stroke. Then, when the impacted head  105  moves from the bottom of the piston cylinder, or bottom fulcrum of the down stroke  600  back up approaching the top of its upstroke  700 , the two timing sensors  205 ,  203  signals the sensor triggered release  201  of another weighted vessel from the expulsion area, and the cycle continues. 
         [0017]    Another post-impact diversion method can embody a tipping method  FIG. 10 , where the weight is diverted by utilizing an off-centered elevated point of the diversion surface  103  that interrupts the weight&#39;s decent on one side of the weight while the other side continues to fall, creating a tipping effect and diverting the weighted vessel from being obtrusive in the impact area assisted by the diversion guiding system  120 . 
         [0018]    Yet another post-impact diversion method can embody a hinged lever approach shown in  FIG. 11 , where the impact head diverts by collapsing a hinged mechanism  215  in the impacting head itself right after impact so it stays out of the way of the impacted head  105  and sent through the diversion guiding system  120  until it can be re-elevated in order to repeat the cycle. 
         [0019]    Consequently, it is understood that equivalents and substitutions for certain elements and components set forth above are part of the invention, and therefore the true scope and definition of the invention is to be as set forth in the following claims.