GB2038955A

GB2038955A - Water Powered Chain Wheel Motor

Info

Publication number: GB2038955A
Application number: GB7846697A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Gorman V P
Current assignee: Gorman V P
Priority date: 1978-11-30
Filing date: 1978-11-30
Publication date: 1980-07-30
Also published as: GB2038955B

Abstract

A method of generating electricity comprising selectively controlling the passage of water, stored at an elevated position, into a container 13, utilising the weight of the water in the container to cause the container to move to a lower position where the water is allowed to flow therefrom and utilising the movement of the container to drive an electrical generator. The water may be stored in a reservoir at the top of a cliff and allowed to flow into the sea from the container at the bottom of the cliff and the container may comprise a plurality of buckets located as an endless conveyor arranged to drive an electrical generator. Water may be pumped from the sea into the reservoir by wave action devices. Alternatively or in addition electricity generated during an off-peak time may be utilised to pump water from the sea to the reservoir. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and Relating to the Generation of Electricity The invention relates to the generation and storage of electricity.

According to one aspect of the invention a method of generating electricity comprises selectively controlling the passage of water, stored at an elevated position, into a container, utilising the weight of the water in the container to cause the container to move to a lower position where the water is allowed to flow therefrom and utilising the movement of the container to drive an electrical generator.

The water may be stored in a reservoir at the top of a cliff and allowed to flow into the sea from the container at the bottom of the cliff.

The container may comprise a plurality of buckets located as an endless conveyor arranged to drive an electrical generator.

Alternatively the container may comprise a pair of counterbalanced lift containers or a plurality thereof.

Water may be pumped from the sea into the reservoir. Wave action devices may be utilised to perform such pumping. Alternatively or in addition electricity generated during an off-peak time may be utilised to pump water from the sea to the reservoir.

According to further aspects of the invention there are provided an electrical generating system for carrying out the above method and wave action pumps as described hereinafter.

The foregoing and further features of the invention may be more readily understood from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a cliff with shafts formed therein; Figs. 2 and 3 are each diagrammatic representations of bucket conveyor systems located in the shafts of Fig. 1; Figs. 4A and 4B are diagrammatic representations of a wave action lift pump; and Figs. 5A, 5B and 5C are diagrammatic representations of a wave action oscillatory pump.

Referring firstly ta Figs.1,2 and 3 there is shown a cliff 10 formed with shafts 11 spanned at the bottom by a chamber 12. Typically the shafts may have cross-sectional dimensions of 28 feet by 30 feet and be constructed of reinforced concrete.

Figs. 2 and 3 show two alternative endless conveyor systems having a plurality of bucket containers 13.

In use water stored in a reservoir (not shown) at the top of the cliff 10 is allowed to flow into each bucket container 1 3 as it reaches the top of the left hand shaft 11. The weight of the water in the bucket containers 13 in the left hand shaft 11 causes the conveyor to move downwardly in left hand shaft 11. The containers 1 3 tip in chamber 12 to all the water to flow into the sea and the containers 1 3 are returned to the top of cliff 10 by moving upwardly in inverted configuration in right hand shaft 11.

Movement of the conveyor causes rotation of cog wheels 14 and these are arranged to drive electrical generators via suitable step up gear trains (not shown).

The reservoir may be filled by natural means i.e. by being fed by a river which may have been diverted into such reservoir.

Alternatively, or in addition, pumps may be utilised to pump water from the sea up to the reservoir.

Referring now to Figs. 4A and 4B there is shown a wave action pump comprising an upper float member 1 5 of concrete mounted via giass fibre reinforced metal rod 1 6 to a piston 1 7 contained within an alkathene cylinder 1 8. In operation of the pump the cylinder 1 8 is located in the sea bed at a point such that float 1 5 is located to float on the sea and move up and down with wave movement to operate the pump.

Referring now to Figs. 5A, 5B and 5C there is shown an alternative wave action pump in which a member 1 9 is mounted for oscillatory movement with wave action between two supports 20 located in the sea bed, in use. Located on each support 20 are gear wheels 21 mounted to move with movement of member 1 9. Movement of each gear wheel 21 causes movement of two gear wheels 23, via a gear wheel 22. Gear wheels 23 are each connected to cause actuation of a separate double acting piston pump 24.

The table below gives typical values of power obtainable for an arrangement as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Reservoir on Cliff Top 1000 ftx 1000 ftx 10 ft=1 0,000,000 cubic feet.

1. Bucket container 13,20 ftx30 ftx7 ft=4200 cubic foot of water per ft per minute=21 days.

Cliff Cubic Foot Top of Water Tons Horsepower 20 ftx30 ftx 7 ft No.

4200 116.8 10,500 200 ft 71,400 1978 178,500 17 400 ft 155,400 4307 388,500 37 600 ft 239,400 6632 598,500 57 800 ft 323,400 8962 808,500 77 1000 ft 407,400 11,287 1,018,500 97

Claims

1. A method of generating electricity comprising selectively controlling the passage of water, stored at an elevated position, into a container, utilising the weight of the water in the container to cause the container to move to a lower position where the water is allowed to flow therefrom and utilising the movement of the container to drive an electrical generator.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the water is stored in a reservoir at the top of a cliff and allowed to flow into the sea from the container at the bottom of the cliff.

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3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the container comprises a plurality of buckets located as an endless conveyor arranged to drive an electrical generator.

4. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the container comprises a pair of counterbalanced lift containers or a plurality thereof.

5. A method as claimed in Claim 2, or 2 and 3 or 4 wherein water is pumped from the sea into the reservoir.

6. A method as claimed in Claim 5 wherein wave action devices are utilised to perform such pumping.

7. A method as claimed in Claim 5 or 6 wherein electricity generated during an off-peak time is utilised to perform such pumping.

8. An electrical generating system comprising a reservoir located at the top of a cliff, shafts formed in the cliff from upper ground level to sea ievel housing a container or containers movably located for movement up and down the shafts, an electrical generator connected to be driven by movement of a container down one of the shafts and means for selectively controlling passage of water from the reservoir into the container or containers.

9. An electrical generating system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs.1,2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

10. An electrical generating system as claimed in Claim 9 utilising wave action pumps as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 4 or 5 of the accompanying drawing.