Patent ID: 8344527

Claim:
An optimized apparatus for converting momentum into useful work, the apparatus comprising: a plate assembly, said plate assembly comprising: a hinge pivotally coupled to one end of a plate; at least one retention device coupled to the opposite end of said plate, wherein said retention device impedes said plate's upward travel beyond substantially even to said hinge; and at least one transmission arm, said transmission arm coupled to the bottom of said plate; a frame, said frame comprising a plurality of mounts, wherein said plate assembly is coupled to a top of said frame such that said plate can pivotally rotate into said frame up to a predetermined distance; at least one upward force device coupled to one or more of said mounts, said upward force device delivering force sufficient to overcome the weight of said plate; an input shaft assembly coupled to at least one of said mounts, said input shaft assembly comprising: an input shaft; at least one pulley-clutch assembly coupled between said input shaft and said transmission arm, wherein said pulley-clutch assembly rotates said input shaft in only one direction in response to the movement of said transmission arm; and an input shaft pulley coupled to said input shaft; an output shaft assembly coupled to at least one of said mounts, said output shaft assembly comprising: an output shaft; a flywheel, said flywheel coupled to said output shaft; a first output shaft pulley, said first output shaft pulley coupled to said output shaft, wherein said first output shaft pulley is coupled to said input shaft pulley via at least one belt or an intervening shaft assembly and the gear ratio between said input shaft pulley and said first output shaft pulley causes said output shaft to rotate at a higher velocity than said input shaft; and a second output shaft pulley, said second output shaft pulley coupled to said output shaft; a generator coupled to at least one of said mounts, said generator coupled to said second output shaft pulley via at least one belt.