Patent ID: 8307640

Claim:
An apparatus for generating power comprising: (a) a wheel assembly including a wheel, an axle, a ring gear, and a plurality of paddles extending outwardly from the wheel; (b) a liquid-based material which flows throughout the apparatus, the liquid-based material comprising a suspension solution that includes particulates; (c) a housing for delivering the liquid-based material from a storage tank to the paddles, the housing including an arcuate portion and an inlet portion, (i) the arcuate portion being positioned around an arcuate segment of the wheel, the arcuate portion having an open inlet, an open outlet, and a substantially tubular curved inner surface having a middle section which is dimensioned for close fitment about the paddles when the wheel assembly rotates and the plurality of paddles passes through the arcuate portion; (ii) the inlet portion of the housing including a hollow conduit having an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end being secured to the storage tank and the outlet end being secured to the arcuate portion, such that the inlet portion delivers the liquid-based material from the storage tank to the arcuate portion of the housing; (d) the storage tank having an interior chamber for housing the liquid-based material, and an outlet for exiting the liquid-based material from the storage tank, the outlet being secured to the inlet portion of the housing, the storage tank including means for mixing the liquid-based material to maintain a substantially homogenous consistency throughout the liquid-based material in the storage tank; (e) a holding tank positioned below the wheel assembly and the housing for collecting the liquid-based material which has passed through the housing and exited the outlet of the arcuate portion; (f) at least one pump assembly which includes a mechanical pump, means for driving the mechanical pump, and a conduit extending from the mechanical pump to a position outside of the holding tank; (g) wherein the liquid-based material which is stored in the storage tank passes into the housing, applies a force against the plurality of paddles and rotates the wheel assembly, falls out through the bottom of the housing into the holding tank, and is then pumped out of the holding tank by the pump assembly.