Patent ID: 12209566

The figures are not exhaustive and do not limit the disclosure or the disclosed embodiments to the precise form disclosed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the technology disclosed herein are directed toward devices and methods for generating electricity from a body of water. More particularly, various embodiments of the technology disclosed herein relate to a system comprising a buoyant container designed to hold a volume of water and produce energy therefrom.

With reference to the figures, and in particular toFIGS.1-5, there is shown a system1for generating electricity from a body of water2, which may be a flowing body of water such as a river or stream, as shown. With particular reference toFIGS.1-3, the system may be configured in one embodiment to span the body of water2, with an electrical generator13on one side of the body of water2. As shown, the electrical generator13is rotatably attached to a first axle22, around which a connection member12is tightly wound. The electrical generator13is also rotatably attached to a second axle23, around which a first plug cable24and a second plug cable25are tightly wound. A second electrical generator26may be positioned on the other side of the body of water2, opposite the electrical generator13and be rotatably attached to the first axle22and the second axle23.

Electrical wires may extend from the electrical generator13and/or the electrical generator26to take electricity to the electrical grid (not shown). Electricity may be generated by rotation of the first axle22about its axis, accomplished by pulling of the connection member12. The first axle may be biased, such as by a spring inside one or both of the electrical generators, so that when tension on the connection member12is released, the first axle reverses its rotation and re-winds the connection member12. As shown inFIG.1, the first axle22and the second axle23extend substantially perpendicular to the flow of water.

Referring now toFIGS.4and5, the system1comprises an enclosure3having a first upper aperture4, a second closeable upper aperture5, and a closable lower outlet6. The enclosure3may rest on the bottom of the body of water2and be completely below the surface of the water.FIG.1shows a single enclosure3positioned approximately in the middle of the body of water2, upstream of a waterfall27. In other embodiments, multiple enclosures3may be positioned in the body of water2along the first axle22and the second axle23. In yet other embodiments, one or more enclosures3may be positioned in a portion of the body of water2that is upstream of another portion of the body of water at a lower elevation.

The system1further comprises a buoyant container7movable within the enclosure3between an upper position and a lower position.FIG.4shows the container7in the upper position, whileFIG.5shows the container7in the lower position.

The container7has an upper end8that is at least partially open and a lower end9having a closable drain10. The lower end9may be flat, as shown inFIGS.4and5, or have a floor that slopes downwardly from the sides of the container7toward the closable drain10. The system1further comprises a set of upper supports11coupled to the enclosure3and configured to support the container7in the upper position. The system1further comprises a connection member12, such as a cable or rod, coupled at one end to the container7and configured to extend through the enclosure3for connection to an electrical generator13via the first axle22.

The second closeable upper aperture5, the closable lower outlet6, and the closable drain10may be opened or closed using motors, magnets, pumps, springs, or other means for opening and closing known in the art. Similarly, the set of upper supports11may be extended or retracted using motors, magnets, pumps, springs, or other means for extending or retracting known in the art. In an alternatively embodiment, the set of upper supports11may be pivoted using motors, magnets, pumps, springs, or other means for extending or retracting known in the art. The second closeable upper aperture5, the closable lower outlet6, the closable drain10, and the set of upper supports11may be operatively connected to a controller, a computer processor, a local-area network, and/or a wide-area network (such as the Internet) for controlling the opening and closing of the aperture5, outlet6, and drain10, and for controlling the extension and retraction of the supports11.

In the embodiment shown inFIGS.4and5, the enclosure3comprises an upper wall14in which the first upper aperture4and the second upper aperture5of the enclosure3are located, at least one sidewall15connected to the upper wall14, and a lower wall16in which the lower outlet6of the enclosure3is located, the lower wall16being connected to the sidewall15. The first upper aperture4of the enclosure3is located above the container7in a central portion of the upper wall14. The second upper aperture5of the enclosure is located in a peripheral portion of the upper wall14. The system1further comprises a vertical shaft17extending downwardly within the enclosure3from the second upper aperture5of the enclosure3toward the lower wall16. The lower wall16of the enclosure3may be sloped downwardly toward the lower outlet6of the enclosure3to reduce sediment build-up within the enclosure3.

The container7comprises a lower wall in which the drain10of the container7is located and a sidewall connected to the lower wall. The lower wall of the container may be sloped downwardly toward the drain10of the container7to reduce sediment build-up within the container7. The drain10of the container7is vertically aligned with the lower outlet6of the enclosure3and is located in a central portion of the lower wall of the container7. The drain10protrudes from the lower wall of the container7and is shaped to fit at least partially within the lower outlet6of the enclosure3. The drain10may have a frustum or other suitable shape.

The set of upper supports11is retractable or pivotable so as to release the container7from the upper position. The system1further comprises a set of lower supports18coupled to the enclosure3and configured to support the container7in the lower position in order to allow water to partially surround the container7and cause the container7to float back up to the upper position.

The connection member12is configured to extend through the first upper aperture4of the enclosure3for connection to the electrical generator13via the first axle22. The system1further comprises a pipe19coupled to the lower outlet6of the enclosure3and configured to drain water away from the enclosure3. The pipe19extends downwardly from the lower outlet6of the enclosure3, such that a discharge end28of the pipe19is lower than the lower outlet6. As shown inFIGS.1and3, the discharge end28is in air. WhileFIG.3shows most of the pipe19extending horizontally, in other embodiments the pipe may extend mostly or completely at angles below horizontal.

In the embodiment shown inFIGS.4and5, there are two upper apertures4and5. In an alternative embodiment, instead of the enclosure3having two upper apertures, the enclosure3may have a one upper aperture and a valve configured to divert water flowing through the upper aperture either into the container7or outside of the container7into the enclosure3.

In the embodiment shown inFIGS.4and5, the system1further comprises a plug20having an inner conduit21aligned with the first upper aperture4of the enclosure3and extending from an upper end of the plug20to a lower end of the plug20. The upper end of the plug20extends above the body of water2to allow air to flow through the inner conduit21. The plug20is movable from an upper position in which the lower end of the plug20is located above the first upper aperture4of the enclosure3to allow water to flow through the first upper aperture4, and a lower position in which the lower end of the plug20extends at least partially into the first upper aperture4of the enclosure3to allow air to flow through the first upper aperture4via the inner conduit21of the plug20. The lower end of the plug20may have a frustum or other suitable shape. As shown inFIG.5, the top of the plug20may always be above the surface of the water, even when the plug20is in the lower position, so that air can flow through the first upper aperture4via the inner conduit21.

Referring back toFIGS.1-3, the body of water2may continue to a waterfall27or other downstream water body that is at a lower elevation than the lower outlet6of the enclosure3. The pipe19extends from the enclosure3to the waterfall27or other downstream water body, such that the discharge end28of the pipe19discharges water from the enclosure3into air (e.g., behind the waterfall27, in front of the waterfall27, or above the water level of the downstream water body).

In operation, when the container7is in the upper position within the enclosure3(shown inFIG.4) and the enclosure is substantially empty of water, the drain10of the container7is closed and the first upper aperture4of the enclosure3allows water to flow from the body of water2into the container7. When the container7is at least partially filled (and preferably completely or substantially completely filled) with water in the upper position, the set of upper supports11releases the container7from the upper position so that the container7may descend from the upper position to the lower position within the enclosure3. Before the container7descends, the plug20is lowered into place within the first upper aperture4of the enclosure3so that water does not continue to enter the enclosure3and air is instead allowed to enter. When the container7descends from the upper position to the lower position within the enclosure3, water stops flowing through the first upper aperture4from the body of water2into the container7, and the container7pulls the connection member12, causing the electrical generator13to generate electricity.

When the container7is in the lower position within the enclosure3, the drain10of the container7may be opened to allow water to flow out of the container7and through the lower outlet6of the enclosure3. After the container7is at least partially emptied of water in the lower position, the second upper aperture5of the enclosure3allows water to flow from the body of water2into the enclosure3outside of the container7while the first upper aperture4of the enclosure3allows air to escape from the enclosure3through the inner conduit21of the plug20, causing the container7to ascend from the lower position to the upper position. After the container7ascends from the lower position to the upper position, the lower outlet6of the enclosure3opens to allow water in the enclosure3to drain out of the enclosure3.

The plug20may be raised and lowered by rotation of the second axle23about its axis, which winds and unwinds the first plug cable24and the second plug cable25as needed to raise and lower the plug. The second axle23may be rotated using motors, magnets, pumps, springs, or other means for rotation known in the art. Additionally, the axle23may be operatively connected to a controller, a computer, processor, a local-area network, and/or a wide-area network (such as the Internet) for controlling the rotation of the second axle23.

With reference toFIGS.6A and6B, there is shown a method100for generating electricity from the body of water2using the system1ofFIGS.1-5. The method100comprises a step101of providing, below the body of water2, the enclosure3having the first upper aperture4, the second upper aperture5, and the closable lower outlet6, with the pipe19coupled to the lower outlet6of the enclosure3and having the discharge end28configured to discharge water from the enclosure3into air (e.g., above the water level of a downstream water body). The method100further comprises a step102of providing, within the enclosure3, the buoyant container7movable within the enclosure3between an upper position and a lower position, the container7having the upper end8that is at least partially open and the lower end9having the closable drain10.

In step103, the container7is coupled to the electrical generator13via the connection member12, such as a cable or rod. In step104, while the enclosure3is substantially empty of water, the container7is supported in the upper position with the set of upper supports11coupled to the enclosure3. In step105, water is allowed to flow from the body of water2through the first upper aperture4into the container7when the container7is in the upper position within the enclosure3and the drain10of the container7is closed.

In one embodiment, the method100further comprises a step106of stopping the flow of water through the first upper aperture4from the body of water2into the container7before the water overflows from the container7into the rest of the enclosure3. Step106may comprise lowering the plug20into place within the first upper aperture4so that water does not continue to enter the enclosure3.

In step107, the container7is released from the upper position so that the container7may descend from the upper position to the lower position within the otherwise empty enclosure3when the container7is at least partially filled (and preferably substantially or completely filled) with water in the upper position. Step107may comprise retracting the upper supports11.

In step108, the drain10of the container7is opened to allow water to flow out of the container7and through the lower outlet6of the enclosure3when the container7is in the lower position within the enclosure3. As described above, the pipe19is coupled to the lower outlet6of the enclosure3and has its discharge end28configured to discharge water from the enclosure3into air (e.g., above the water level of a downstream water body). In step109, after the container7has been emptied of water, the drain10of the container7is closed.

In step110, water is allowed to flow from the body of water2through the second upper aperture5into the enclosure3outside of the container7after the container7is at least partially emptied of water in the lower position. The water is allowed to partially surround the container7.

In one embodiment, step110further comprises allowing air to escape from the enclosure3through the first upper aperture4when the second upper aperture5of the enclosure3allows water to flow from the body of water2into the enclosure3. In step110, the air may escape from the enclosure3through the inner conduit21of the plug20. As part of step110, the container7is allowed to ascend from the lower position to the upper position as water flows into the enclosure3outside of the container7.

In one embodiment, the method100further comprises a step111of closing the second upper aperture5of the enclosure3after the container7has ascended from the lower position to the upper position. In step112, the container7is again supported in the upper position with the set of upper supports11coupled to the enclosure3, and water in the enclosure3is allowed to drain out of the enclosure3through the lower outlet6of the enclosure3. The process may then return to step105.

It should be understood that the various features, aspects, and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described. Instead, they can be applied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more other embodiments, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present application should not be limited by any of the above-described example embodiments.

While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of one or more embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, they are not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. The various features shown and described herein may be used alone or in any combination. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the general inventive concept.