Power plants – Pressure fluid source and motor – Utilizing natural energy or having a geographic feature
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-14
2001-08-07
Nguyen, Hoang (Department: 3748)
Power plants
Pressure fluid source and motor
Utilizing natural energy or having a geographic feature
C290S042000, C290S043000, C290S053000, C290S054000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06269636
ABSTRACT:
This invention refers to a method for the production of electric energy using the forces of sees waves. Even though the waves of the sea are an inexhaustible energy resource, up to now no method witch could be put to industrial use, both economically and practically applicable, has been announced. Efforts have been made, but the practices witch were applied, proved to be too complex, very expensive and difficult in their use. The systematic study of the principles and the problems involved, led to the invention of a new method.
The new method, witch is presented here, offers many advantages. It is simple in its construction. It does not require any configuration and or preparation of the seabed. It is simple and inexpensive in its operation. It does not require big waves in order to function. The transfer and conversion of the vertical motion of the surface of the sea, upwards-downwards to a rotational motion, is based on a simple mechanical system. The electric current output is direct, without any need for intermediate energy storage of any form. It is possible and easy to place a number of energy units, in a series, in order to form group of units and groups of units. This allows mass economical production.
The waves of the sea move a float vertically, up and down. Thus, the float rises to the crest and descends to the hollow of the wave, in a vertical upwards-downwards recalling motion. If the sea wave crashes against a pier, jetty or breakwater, then the reflection increases proportionally the potential of the wave—i.e. the quantity of the work a force can produce. With the transfer and conversion device we invented, this vertical motion is transferred and converted to a rotational motion, along a horizontal shaft, which finally activates the generator.
This transfer and conversion device, consists of the following components (drawings
1
-
2
).
1. The float (
1
) 2. The vertical metal beam witch is incorporated into the float (
2
). 3. The metal biparallel lever which transfers the up-down vertical movement of the float to the other end of the lever (
3
). 4. The lever's support mounting, which acts as a fulcrum (
4
). 5. The saw, a vertical metal beam, turned in its two points at 90 degrees (
5
). 6. The two gear chains, like those used in a bicycle, which are attached to the ends of the above mentioned beam, witch we have named a saw, and witch are taut with the assistance of special stretchers and give the impression of a vertically moving saw, with the chains in the place of the metal dented blade (
6
). 7. The two gears on which the chains act, converting the linear vertical motion (
7
).
The gears, like the gears used in a bicycle, can move producing action towards one direction and freely towards the other. 8. The shaft (
8
) on which the above mentioned gears are fitted, two per transfer system. Special bases (bearings) support this shaft (
9
). All these components form one unit. More than one unit, placed in parallel and side by side, form groups of units (
FIG. 9
) which act on the same shaft in the manner a petrol engine piston would. This device offers many advantages compared to a petrol engine. The most significant of these are the following: First, the length of the vertical stroke of the floater is not of any importance. Second, no matter whether the floaters move simultaneously. Thirdly, while in the case of four stroke engines, the piston is only active in one out of four movements, remaining passive during the other three, here all the movements are active and utilize the force transferred by the floaters in their upwards-downwards potion in its entirety.
Construction and function of each main component of the unit. The floater (
1
) is an empty plastic sphere, in a material such as used for the construction of buoys. The spherical form gives the smallest resistance to the motion of the water, however other forms may be used as well. The diameter of the spherical floater depends on the unit's desirable potential. The floater has an opening in one of its poles (
10
), which is used for the injection of a quantity of concrete such as to allow the floater to stay afloat, half-immersed in the water. The vertical metal beam (
2
) also passes from this opening, the lowest part of which with its metal latest endings (
12
) is fitted on the bottom of the floater. The floater has similar plastic endings in its bottom (
13
) allowing beam, concrete and floater to become one body. Thus (for example) if the spherical floater has a diameter of 1.25 m. with a ballast which half immerses it, it will go up and down following the waves with an impulsive force of approximately 500 kilograms, i.e. the weight of the displaced water. The rest of the gap in the interior of the floater is filled with light waterproof material in grains as felisol (
14
). This material, soaked in a special adhesive fluid, is compressed in order to become a compact body. This way, there is no room left for the water, which could otherwise possibly get into the floater from some crack. The opening is sealed with an extra plastic cap to become entirely watertight. The ballast also helps to maintain the vertical position of the beam.
The vertical metal beam forms part of the biparallel lever, which with its knuckle joints, fitted in the entire transfer system, carries the floater's vertical upwards-downwards motion to its other end, the saw, and then the saw carries it to the chains. The length of the vertical beam is convertible, so that the distance of the floater from the lever can be modified to conform to the tidal changes of the sea surface level. The lever has made biparallel, because this is the only way the floater's metal beam on one end and the saw on the other can move vertically and in parallel. Furthermore, the biparallel lever can be fortified and may, as required by the prevailing conditions, become stronger with three parallel beams (triparaliel). The two chains are fitted to the two ends of the saw and with the use of the four stretchers (
16
) and pressure exercised on the gears is regulated so that these gears will neither be loose to get out of position, nor be in danger of breaking. The interposed springs absorb any vibrations from the sudden changes of the direction of the floater, particularly in cases of rough waves. When the springs are halfway compressed, this is an indication that the chains are satisfactorily taut. For better security, shields (
18
) are placed on the gears, in parallel to the shaft, in order to prevent the chains from getting out of position, without impending their free movement. Still, should there be trouble in one of the units, the mechanical system is immobilized with one hydraulically operating beam (
19
) which stops the biparallel lever and leads it to immobilization on the upper end position of the floater. When one unit is immobilized, the other units can continue to operate. The system is also used when a unit has to be immobilized for its scheduled maintenance works, without interruption to the operation of the other units in the line.
The chains engage the gears (
8
), each on the diametrically opposite side. With this invention, we have always in the system's every vertical motions, dynamic energy. When the floater is going up, the saw with the chains on the other end of the lever is going down and one chain moves one gear (
20
A) towards one direction (a) with dynamic energy, while the other chain moves the other gear (B) to the opposite direction (b), moving freely (without producing work). When the floater is going down, the saw with the chains is going up. Then, one chain moves gear (B) towards direction (c) with dynamic energy, while the other chain freely moves gear (A) to the opposite direction (d). Thus, every move of the floater, whether big or small, upwards or downwards, rotates the shaft. Note is made that between the shaft and the generator, there are devices for the amplification and stabilization of the revolutions at the desired level. For an improved system performance, the floaters are restri
Hatzilakos Constantinos A.
Nguyen Hoang
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