Electricity: single generator systems – Automatic control of generator or driving means – Fluid pressure including wind
Patent
1991-02-11
1994-02-22
Hickey, R. J.
Electricity: single generator systems
Automatic control of generator or driving means
Fluid pressure including wind
307 84, 310104, 403DIG1, H02K 718, F21S 904
Patent
active
052891062
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to an electrical supply system for low current loads and particularly, but not exclusively to such an electrical supply system for use with low current loads disposed in hazardous areas.
When an electrical supply system is disposed in a hazardous area, there is always numerous cables, junction-boxes and glands and the like disposed within the hazardous area. During failure of such electrical equipment, for example during an emergency, each of these cables, junction-boxes and glands are susceptible to primary and/or secondary means of sparking. Such sparking can be particularly dangerous in hazardous areas and therefore conventional electrical supply means can provide a relatively high potential risk to the user.
It is desirable that electrical equipment used in a hazardous area should be disposed within a flameproof enclosure. Such an enclosure should be able to withstand, without damaging the equipment, an explosion of flammable gas or vapour. Such explosions may occur in hazardous areas and it is desirable that the equipment should operate to its usual rating in such conditions. The flameproof enclosure should also prevent the transmission of flame such as would ignite flammable gases or vapours in the surrounding atmosphere. It is also desirable that the flameproof enclosure should be ventilated by a purging stream of dry air or inert gas to provide a plenum of safe atmosphere.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical supply system which obviates or mitigates at least one of the aforementioned problems.
This is achieved by providing an electrical supply system (a.c. or d.c.) from a local source in response to mechanical energy from a fluid medium supplied from a remote pressure source.
In one embodiment electrical energy for fluorescent lighting is provided by an alternator, the rotor of which is coupled to and driven by an impeller. Compressed air from a remote source is fed to the blades of the impeller causing the impeller to rotate and provide kinetic energy to the rotor. Several lights are connected in parallel.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an electrical supply system for supplying electricity to a low current load, said electrical supply system comprising compressor means for generating pressure in a fluid medium a housing coupled to said compressor means by flow and return conduits, said housing containing energy conversion means for converting energy of said fluid medium to electricity, said energy conversion means including a rotatable impeller for receiving said fluid medium and for converting energy in said fluid medium into rotational energy, first magnet means coupled to said impeller, second magnet means spaced apart from said first magnet means, said first and said second magnet means being spaced apart along, and rotatable about, a common axis of rotation, said first and second magnet means forming a magnetic coupling whereby said rotational energy of said impeller is transferred to said second magnet means, and an alternator coupled to said second magnet means for converting the rotational energy of said second magnet means into electrical energy for supply to said low current load.
Conveniently said fluid means is compressed air.
Alternatively said fluid medium is a compressed or pressurised gas. Alternatively also said fluid medium is a compressed or pressurised liquid.
Preferably said compressor means is located remotely from said low current load. Conveniently said conduits provide a path through which said medium is supplied to the blades of said impeller and a path through which said medium is returned to said compressor.
Preferably at least one fluid medium control element is mounted on each of the flow and return conduits. Conveniently said conduits are made of stainless steel or plastic.
Preferably said low current load is a light source. Conveniently said light source is a fluorescent light tube. Preferably also a plurality of said low current loads are connected in parallel.
Accor
REFERENCES:
patent: 3353028 (1967-11-01), Braikevitch et al.
patent: 3683255 (1972-08-01), Schroeder
patent: 3921052 (1975-11-01), Milano
patent: 4208592 (1980-06-01), Leibow et al.
patent: 4304534 (1981-12-01), McCoy
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