NL2025101B1

NL2025101B1 - A rotary machine for conversion of a flotation force into a driving force

Info

Publication number: NL2025101B1
Application number: NL2025101A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Santana De Souza Uiles Jr
Original assignee: Holland Baby Europe B V
Priority date: 2020-03-11
Filing date: 2020-03-11
Publication date: 2021-10-19
Also published as: WO2021182955A1

Abstract

A. rotary Inachine (l) for conversion. of a flotation force into a driving force, comprising a receptacle (2) 5 holding a fluid (3) and a flotation body (4) received in the receptacle (2) and embedded. in the fluid (3), wherein the flotation body (4) is movable back—and—forth in the receptacle (2) and is provided with an extension piece (5) engaging a stationary surface (7) receiving the driving force exerted by 10 the flotation body (2) through said extension piece (5) on said stationary surface (7).

Description

A rotary machine for conversion of a flotation force into a driving force The invention relates to a rotary machine for conversion of a flotation force into a driving force.

There is a worldwide need to provide alternative energy sources that avoid spoiling the environment by expelling C02, fine dust, exhaustion of natural resources and other harm to the environment. In the European Union and omission exists to have a zero balance of CO2 output in the year 2050. Among experts there is a consensus that this ambition cannot be realized by application of only windmills and direct conversion of solar energy into electrical energy, especially not because after Fukushima major countries in the EU wish to avoid further use of nuclear energy.

It is an object of the invention to provide an alternative source of energy which will not exhaust or burden the environment.

According to the invention a rotary machine for conversion of a flotation force into a driving force is proposed, comprising a receptacle holding a fluid and a flotation body received in the receptacle and embedded in the fluid, wherein the flotation body is movable back-and-forth in the receptacle and is provided with an extension piece engaging a stationary surface receiving the driving force exerted by the flotation body through said extension piece on sald stationary surface.

The invention indirectly makes use of gravity. Gravity 1s the cause of the pressure exerted by the column of alr acting on the surface of the earth. The inventor believes that when the flotation body is placed in the receptacle and embedded in the fluid in the receptacle, the flotation body will be forced upwards in correspondence with the volume of fluid displaced by the flotation body (Archimedes principle), and this upwardly directed force is made to act on the stationary surface. Of course any explanation is superfluous and not relevant for the appended claims and their scope of protection, and the applicant explicitly excludes this explanation as part of the intended scope of protection.

- 2 = The force acting on the stationary surface can be converted into effective labour by arranging that the extension piece is provided with a wheel distant from the flotation body, wherein said wheel engages the stationary surface. Of course this is only one example of how the force can act on the stationary surface, not excluding other means that could be applied such as but not limited to a magnet. When applying a magnet it is possible to act on the stationary surface without frictional engagement in case also the stationary surfaces comprised with one or more magnets. Thus, when the receptacle is mounted in a rotatable frame, and at least over part of its area the stationary surface is provided with an increasing distance with reference to a center of rotation of the rotatable frame, the flotation force acting on the stationary surface will cause rotation of the receptacle around an axis of rotation. When the receptacle is equipped with a physical axle at the axis of rotation, the axle can be used as a driving axle providing an effectively available net power at this driving axle.

For effective operation of the rotary machine of the invention it is preferable that the receptacle is connected with containers for liquid, which containers, when the receptacle is in its lowermost position, are upwards extending from below the receptacle and on opposite sides of the receptacle.

Suitably the containers for liquid are embodied as a tube or tubes that are closed in itself and are encircling the receptacle. In this manner it can be assured that the receptacle is always filled with liquid, when the flotation body 1s to be subjected to an upwardly directed flotation force.

Clearly the driving force derived from the flotation of the flotation body in the receptacle is only effective when there is a net vertical component acting on the flotation body, which through the extension piece can act on the stationary surface, i.e. when the receptacle is horizontal, the effective driving force acting on the stationary surface is nil.

Moreover, to support continuous motion, further

- 3 = features are required, one of which is that the flotation body is connected with a force exerting portion that provides the flotation body with a preferential position distant from the stationary surface when the receptacle is vertical. The term preferential position means that when no other forces are acting on the receptacle, it automatically assumes the preferential position. Accordingly the flotation body can be brought back to its original departing position, distant from the stationary surface, when the receptacle is vertical and the flotation body is preferably way down in the receptacle. Evidently this means that without further features, the rotary machine requires other forces of energy to bring it further after a rotation over 90° wherein the receptacle has arrived in the horizontal position. Such other forces of energy are also required to continue the rotation from 90° to 270°, wherein the receptacle goes from a first fully horizontal position to an upside down position, and further to a second fully horizontal position which is opposite to the first fully horizontal position. Also the last part of rotation from 270° to 360°, which is back into the starting position absorbs energy.

To supply these additional sources of energy, the rotary machine of the invention is equipped with a series of receptacles, each receptacle holding a fluid and a flotation body received in such receptacle and embedded in the fluid, wherein the flotation body is movable back-and-forth in such receptacle and is provided with an extension piece engaging a stationary surface receiving the driving force exerted by the flotation body through said extension piece on said staticnary surface, and that in the series of receptacles, each receptacle is shifted over a predetermined angle with reference to the remaining receptacles in the series of receptacles. In this manner each of the receptacles in the series of receptacles can sequentially add in accordance with the phase shift over the predetermined angle act as a source of energy for rotation of the combination of receptacles embodied in the series of receptacles. Accordingly one could for instance use four receptacles, eight, 16, 20, 40 etc.

The invention will hereinafter be further elucidated

- 4 - with reference to a schematic drawing of an exemplary embodiment of a rotary machine according to the invention that is not limiting as to the appended claims.

This means that whenever in the following a specific construction is shown, this does not imply that the shown construction is the only feasible construction, or that the appended claims should be considered restricted to the shown construction.

As an example it is remarked that in the following reference is made to a wheel provided at an extremity of the extension piece.

The wheel could also be replaced by another constructional item, such as a magnet.

In the drawing: — figure 1 shows a rotary machine of the invention in a side view; — figure 2 shows the rotary machine of the invention in a perspective view.

Whenever in the figures the same reference numerals are applied, these numerals refer to the same parts.

Figure 1 and figure 2 show a rotary machine 1 for conversion of a flotation force into a driving force.

The rotary machine 1 comprises a receptacle 2 holding a fluid 3 and a flotation body 4 received in the receptacle 2 and embedded in the fluid 3. The flotation body 4 is movable back-and-forth in the receptacle 2 and is provided with an extension piece 5 engaging a stationary surface 7 receiving the driving force exerted by the flotation body 4 through said extension piece 5 on said stationary surface 7. For this purpose the extension piece 5 is preferably provided with a wheel 6 distant from the flotation body 4, wherein said wheel 6 engages the stationary surface 7. Figure 2 depicts that the machine 1 is equipped with a series of receptacles 2, each provided in an individual layer 8, wherein each layer 8 comprises a construction as elucidated in the previous paragraph with reference to figure 1, that is to note a receptacle 2 holding a fluid 3 and a flotation body 4 received in such receptacle 2 and embedded in the fluid 3, wherein the flotation body 4 is movable back-and- forth in such receptacle 2 and is provided with an extension piece 5 engaging a stationary surface 7 receiving the driving

— 5 = force exerted by the flotation body 4 through said extension piece 5 on said stationary surface 7. Figure 2 further shows that in the series of receptacles 2, each of the four shown receptacles 2 is shifted over a predetermined angle (in this particular case 90° or a multiple of 90°) with reference to the remaining receptacles in the series of receptacles 2. As already mentioned hereinabove the invention should not be seen as restricted to the application of four receptacles in series. It is also possible to use for instance six, seven, 14, 23 or 64 receptacles, or any other of the appropriate number to secure a smooth operation of the rotary machine, or to generate a desired power output.

It is remarked that the respective receptacles 2 are mounted in a rotatable frame. This is not explicitly shown in the drawing for clarity purposes. The manner in which this can be implemented is however completely clear for the skilled person.

Turning back to figure 1 it is shown that at least over part of its area the stationary surface 7 is provided with an increasing distance with reference to a center of rotation of the rotatable frame. This means that over another part of its area this stationary surface 7 must have a decreasing distance with reference to a center of rotation of the rotatable frame in order to close the loop.

Figure 1 further schematically shows that the receptacle 2 is connected with containers 9 for liquid, which containers 9, when the receptacle 2 is in its lowermost position, are upwards extending from below the receptacle 2 and on opposite sides of the receptacle 2. Suitably the containers 9 for liquid are embodied as a tube or tubes that are closed in itself and encircle the receptacle 2. The level of fluid applied in the receptacles should be tailored to the circumstances, so there is no specific hard and fast rule. The only thing one can say is that best results are expected to be achieved when the flotation body is fully submerged in the fluid that is provided to the receptacles.

Finally figure 1 shows that the flotation body 2 is connected with a force exerting portion 10, such as a magnet or a spring, that provides the flotation body 2 with a

- 6 — preferential position distant from the stationary surface 7 when the receptacle is vertical. Although the invention has been discussed in the foregoing with reference to an exemplary embodiment of the rotary machine of the invention, the invention is not restricted to this particular embodiment which can be varied in many ways without departing from the invention. The discussed exemplary embodiment shall therefore not be used to construe the appended claims strictly in accordance therewith.

On the contrary the embodiment is merely intended to explain the wording of the appended claims without intent to limit the claims to this exemplary embodiment. The scope of protection of the invention shall therefore be construed in accordance with the appended claims only, wherein a possible ambiguity in the wording of the claims shall be resolved using this exemplary embodiment.

Aspects of the invention are itemized in the following section.

1. A rotary machine (1) for conversion of a flotation force into a driving force, comprising a receptacle (2) holding a fluid (3) and a flotation body (4) received in the receptacle (2) and embedded in the fluid (3), wherein the flotation body (4) is movable back-and-forth in the receptacle (2) and is provided with an extension piece (5b) engaging a stationary surface (7) receiving the driving force exerted by the flotation body (2) through said extension piece (5) on said stationary surface (7).

2. Rotary machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the extension piece (5) is provided with a wheel (6) distant from the flotation body (4), wherein said wheel (6) engages the stationary surface (7).

3. Rotary machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the extension piece (5) 1s provided with a magnet distant from the flotation body (4), wherein said magnet engages one or more magnets comprised in the stationary surface (7).

4. Rotary machine according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the receptacle (2) is mounted in a

- 7 = rotatable frame.

5. Rotary machine according to claim 4, characterized in that at least over part of its area the stationary surface (7) is provided with an increasing distance with reference to a center of rotation of the rotatable frame.

6. Rotary machine according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the receptacle (2) is connected with containers (9) for liquid, which containers (9), when the receptacle (2) is in its lowermost position, are upwards extending from below the receptacle (2) and on opposite sides of the receptacle (2).

7. Rotary machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the containers (9) for liquid are embodied as a tube or tubes that are closed in itself and encircling the receptacle (2).

8. Rotary machine according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the flotation body (4) is connected with a force exerting portion (10) that provides the flotation body (4) with a preferential position distant from the stationary surface (7) when the receptacle (2) is vertical.

9. Rotary machine according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that the machine (1) is equipped with a series of receptacles (2), each receptacle (2) holding a fluid (3) and a flotation body (4) received in such receptacle (2) and embedded in the fluid (3), wherein the flotation body (4) is movable back-and-forth in such receptacle (2) and is provided with an extension piece (5) engaging a stationary surface (7) receiving the driving force exerted by the flotation body (4) through said extension piece (5) on said stationary surface (7), and that in the series of receptacles (2), each receptacle (2) is shifted over a predetermined angle with reference to the remaining receptacles in the series of receptacles (2).

Claims

- 8 - CONCLUSIONS

A rotary machine {1} for converting a driving force into a driving force, comprising a container (2) containing a liquid (3) and a floating body (4), received in the container (2) and embedded in the liquid (3 ), the float (4) being reciprocable in the container (2) and provided with an extension (5) which engages a stationary surface (7) which receives the driving force exerted by the driving force exerted by the extension (5) on the stationary surface (7).

Rotary machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the extension (5) is provided with a wheel (6) spaced from the floating body (4), the wheel (6) engaging the stationary surface (7).

Rotary machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the extension (5) is provided with a magnet spaced from the floating body (4), the magnet acting on one or more magnets in the stationary surface (7).

A rotary machine according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the holder (2) is mounted in a rotatable frame.

A rotary machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the stationary surface (7) is provided at least over part of its surface with an increasing distance relative to a center of rotation of the rotatable frame.

Rotary machine according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the container (2) is connected to containers (9) for liquid, which containers (9) when the container (2) is in its lower position. position, extending upward from the bottom of the container (2) and on opposite sides of the container (2).

Rotary machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the containers (9) for liquid are designed as a tube or tubes closed in on themselves and surrounding the container (2).

Rotary machine according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the floating body {4) is connected to

— g — a force-applying portion (10) that provides the float (4) with a preferred position away from the stationary surface (7) when the container (2) is vertical.

Rotary machine according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that the machine (1) is equipped with a series of containers (2), each container (2) containing a liquid (3) and a floating body (4) contained in such a container (2) and embedded in the liquid (3), the float (4) being reciprocable in such a container (2) and provided with an extension (5) which engages a stationary surface (7) and which receives the driving force exerted by the float (4) through said extension (5) on said stationary surface (7), and that in the series of containers (2), each container (2) over a predetermined angle is offset from the remaining containers in the series of containers (2).