US20040247459A1

US20040247459A1 - Device and method for converting gravitational force to energy

Info

Publication number: US20040247459A1
Application number: US10/457,602
Authority: US
Inventors: Steven Elliott
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-06-09
Filing date: 2003-06-09
Publication date: 2004-12-09
Also published as: TW200427924A; JP2007501358A; TWI252276B; EP1633977A1; WO2004111447A1; CN1806120A; RU2005141106A

Abstract

A device for converting gravitational force to energy. The device comprises a rotor. The rotor comprises an upper portion, a lower portion and a casing. A lower cavity and an upper cavity are provided in flow communication with each other. A piston is slidably received in the casing between the lower cavity and the upper cavity. When the piston slides in the casing towards the lower cavity displacement fluid exits the lower cavity and enters the upper cavity thereby causing the upper portion to be heavier than the lower portion. A pivot is provided wherein the rotor can rotate such that the upper portion becomes lower than the lower portion. A shaft is provided which is parallel to the pivot and capable of rotating with the rotor. A generator is coupled.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device, and method, for converting gravitational force to usable energy. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device, and method, for converting gravitational energy to rotational energy whereby the rotational energy can be harnessed for beneficial purposes.

Energy generation is vital to the survival and advancement of civilization. There is a continual desire to harness energy from non-depletable resources such as wind, tidal fluctuations and gravitational force. This desire will continue until the use of depletable resources, such as fossil fuels, is substantially reduced.

Harnessing energy from tidal fluctuations has been explored for many years. This method is limited by proximity to an ocean and by the corrosive nature of sea water. It is apparent to those of skill in the art that reducing mechanical losses, such as friction, is critical to efficient energy conversion. The corrosive nature of sea water is contrary to this desire.

The use of wind energy is widely used. This method is limited by the variability of wind. The unpredictable nature of wind requires that any wind based energy generation system have a supplemental energy source. With high winds a wind based energy generation system must be able to respond to the wind, typically by rotation, without generating the maximum amount of power. This is often referred to in the art as spilling. This non-energy producing rotation causes the various components to wear unnecessarily.

Harnessing energy from gravitational pull would be of great advantage. Gravitational pull is relatively constant at all times and in all conditions. This would allow energy generation systems to be virtually universal without regard for terrain, weather, or other uncontrollable events such as those related to geography and political systems. Harnessing gravitational pull would greatly benefit mankind.

Attempts to capture gravitational pull have met with limited success. Unbalanced rotating systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,363,804; 5,921,133 and 4,333,548. The large number of moving parts and engaged gears reduces the efficiency of these systems. It is a desire to reduce the number of moving parts to increase efficiency of the overall system. A system based on fluid flow is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,028,727. A method utilizing a threaded rod turned by a descending weight is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,394.

It has been an ongoing desire to harness gravitational forces efficiently. This goal has been achieved with the present invention

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is object of the present invention to provide a method of harnessing energy from gravity.

It is another object of the present invention to harness energy efficiently and without the necessity for auxiliary power.

A particular feature of the present invention is the simplicity of the inventive device and the minimal number of moving parts required to achieve the stated objects.

Another particular feature is the ability to utilize the present invention in any location without regard for geography or environmental concerns.

These and other advantages, as would be realized to one of ordinary skill in the art, are provided in a device for converting gravitational force to energy. The device comprises a rotor. The rotor comprises an upper portion, a lower portion and a casing. A lower cavity and an upper cavity are provided in flow communication with each other. A piston is slidably received in the casing between the lower cavity and the upper cavity. When the piston slides in the casing towards the lower cavity displacement fluid exits the lower cavity and enters the upper cavity thereby causing the upper portion to be heavier than the lower portion. A pivot is provided wherein the rotor can rotate such that the upper portion becomes lower than the lower portion. A shaft is provided which is parallel to the pivot and capable of rotating with the rotor. A generator is coupled.

Another embodiment is provided in a device for converting gravitational force to energy. The device comprises a rotor. The rotor comprises a first end and a second end. A first cavity is in the first end and a second cavity is in the second end. The second cavity is in flow communication with the first cavity. A piston, between the first cavity and second cavity, slides in response to gravity towards the first end causing a displacement fluid to exit the first cavity and enter the second cavity. The shift in mass causes the rotor to be heavier on the second end. The rotor can rotate on a pivot such that the second end rotates to a position lower than the first end in response to gravity. A shaft capable of rotating with the rotor, is coupled to a generator.

Yet another embodiment is provided in a rotor for converting gravitational force to rotational energy. The rotor comprises a first end and a second end. A first cavity is in the first end and a second cavity is in the second end. The second cavity is in flow communication with the first cavity. A central pivot point is between the first end and the second end. A piston is between the first end and the second end. The piston has a fixed piston center of gravity and said rotor has a variable rotor center of gravity. When the piston moves between the first end and the second end the piston center of gravity and the rotor center of gravity are on opposite sides of the central pivot. A shaft is parallel to the central pivot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention prior to the response to gravity. [0015]
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 after the response to gravity and prior to conversion of the response to energy. [0016]
FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a single rotor coupled to a generator. [0017]
FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the present invention wherein multiple devices are coupled sequentially to a generator. [0018]
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention. [0019]
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a drive mechanism of one embodiment of the present invention. [0020]
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred rotor of the present invention. [0021]
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred rotor of the present invention. [0022]
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a preferred rotor of the present invention. [0023]
FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of a system of the present invention. [0024]
FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of a system of the present invention. [0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The inventor of the present application have developed, through diligent research, a device capable of efficiently harnessing energy from gravitational pull. The inventors have also developed a method for incorporating such an inventive device in a system for generating energy from gravitational pull. [0026]
The invention will be described with reference to the figures forming a part of the present application. In the various figures similar elements are numbered accordingly. [0027]
A cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention is provided, and will be described with reference to, FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention prior to the response to gravitational pull. For the sake of clarity gravitational force will be in the direction of the bottom of each figure. [0028]
In FIG. 1, the rotor, generally represented at [0029] 1, comprises an outer shell, 2, and an inner piston, 3. The piston is slidably displaceable within the outer shell. Between the outer shell and piston are variable chambers with select pairs having correlated volumes. A pair of outer chambers, 4 and 5, are connected via a transport column, 6. An outer displacement fluid, 7, freely moves between the first outer chamber, 4, and second outer chamber, 5, through the transport column, 6. A pair of inner chambers, 8 and 9, are connected via a flow channel between the first inner chamber, 8, and second inner chamber, 9. A counter fluid, 11, freely moves between the first inner chamber, 8, and second inner chamber, 9, via a flow channel, 10. The displacement fluid has a higher density then that of the counter fluid.
In the orientation illustrated in FIG. 1, the rotor has the first outer chamber, [0030] 4, filled with displacement fluid while the second inner chamber, 9, is filled with counter fluid. Due to gravitational pull the piston will move downward causing displacement fluid to move from the first outer chamber, 4, through the transport column, 6, to the second outer chamber, 5. When the piston has moved to its furthest extent downward, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the second outer chamber, 5, contains displacement fluid while the second inner chamber is essentially collapsed. The first outer chamber, 4, is essentially collapsed and the first inner chamber, 8, contains counter fluid as shown in FIG. 2. Due to the higher density of the displacement fluid relative to the counter fluid the rotor is heavier at the top than at the bottom. By allowing free rotation the rotor will naturally turn around a centrally located couple, 12. Upon reaching the fully inverted position the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 is re-established with the first inner chamber and first outer chamber on the top.
The inner chambers are in flow communication with each other and the outer chambers are in flow communication with each other. It would be apparent that the inner chambers are not in flow communication with the outer chambers. An optional, but preferred, seal, [0031] 13, is provided to separate the inner chambers from the outer chambers. The seal may be a ring around the piston as commonly employed for separating chambers above and below a piston.
An embodiment of the present invention is further described in reference to FIG. 3. The rotor, [0032] 1, and collar, 12, as described previously, are attached to a drive shaft, 14, which rotates in correlation with the rotation of the rotor. The drive shaft, 14, is in turn coupled to a generator, 15, which generates energy in response to the rotation of a shaft coupled thereto. Leads, 16 and 17, transport the energy to a location of choice.
A system utilizing the present invention is provided in FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, a multiplicity of rotors, [0033] 1, are arranged inline linearly and attached to a generator, 15. The generator transports energy through leads, 16 and 17. Each rotor, 1, is preferably in a different rotational orientation from at least one other rotor. A secondary drive shaft, 20, transfers the rotational motion from the assembly of rotors to the generator. An optional, but preferred, shaft intermediate, 18, is provided. The shaft intermediate, 18, may comprise a slip clutch whereby rotation of the primary drive shaft, 21, is only correlated in one rotational direction with the opposite rotation being free rotation. The primary drive shaft, 21, may be a continuous shaft passing through the series of rotors, 1, or a series of shafts with each shaft transferring rotational energy to the next shaft in the series towards the generator. The primary drive shaft, 21, and secondary drive shaft, 20, may be a continuous shaft.
The number of rotors in a series is dependent on the size of each rotor and the cycle time required for mass transfer. In one embodiment the rotors rotate independently with each rotor imparting rotation to the drive shaft independently through a slip clutch or similar device. Independent rotation is desired due to the increased control afforded thereby. In one embodiment the shaft intermediate, [0034] 18, comprises a shaft tachometer whereby the rate of rotation of the shaft can be monitored. A controller in the shaft intermediate can control a rotor controller, 22, for each rotor, 1, through communication linkages, 23. Each rotor controller, 22, comprises a suppressor, 24, capable of suppressing rotation of the rotor preferably by engaging physically with a surface of the rotor. The rotor controller can delay release of each rotor to insure complete mass transfer within the rotor and to optimise the efficiency of the system. The rotor controller and rotor suppressor are preferably controlled electrically yet mechanical control utilizing cam shafts is within the bounds of the present invention. Electrical control is preferred, in part, due to the increased control available through standard digital control methods and the lower number of moving parts required. The rotors in a rotor assembly can all be the same size or the size may vary for increased flexibility and control.
The rotors are preferably controlled based on system parameters and energy demand. In a preferred embodiment each rotor is coupled to a drive shaft with a slip clutch or similar device. The rotor can either be configured such that the rotation is near constant thereby reducing the necessity of a controller. It is more preferred that the controllers delay each rotor independently to insure complete mass transfer. Each rotor represents a non-diminishing potential energy source at full mass transfer. With multiple rotors the potential energy can be released on demand to respond to energy demand. Based on the teachings herein one of ordinary skill in the art could determine the optimum control based on the application. [0035]
An embodiment of the present invention is provided in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, the rotor, [0036] 1, comprises a first outer chamber, 4, and a second outer chamber, 5. Each outer chamber is contained within a collapsible bladder, 30. The outer chambers are in flow communication with each other through transport columns, 6. The inner chambers, 8 and 9, are in flow communication through the inner cavity, 31, of the shell, 2. Optional vents, 33, in the shell, 2, allow fluid to readily exchange with the environment. Vents are particularly suitable when the counter fluid is air. The shaft, 21, and slip clutch mechanism will be more fully described with reference to FIG. 6.
A suitable slip clutch is illustrated in FIG. 6. The drive shaft, [0037] 21, comprises at least one ratchet cam, 34. A pin, 35, reversibly received in a recess, 37, engages the drive face, 36, of the ratchet cam to rotate the shaft. If the shaft is rotating faster than the rotor or if the rotor is idle the cam face, 36, persuades the pin into the recess, 37, as it rotates and the drive shaft and rotor are decoupled. A spring, 38, persuades the pin to protrude to a drive face engaging position. The term “slip clutch”, as used herein, is used in accordance with the description common in the art. Particularly preferred is a reversibly engageable couple and more preferably the couple is unidirectional wherein rotation in one direction couples the two components while reversing one of the components decouples the rotation.
An embodiment of a rotor of the present invention is illustrated in cross-sectional, partial cut-away view in FIG. 7. In FIG. 7, the rotor, generally represented at [0038] 1, comprises an outer casing, 40. The shape of the outer casing is not particularly limiting. Cylindrical is a preferred shape due to the simplicity of manufacture. Secured to the interior of the outer casing are two working chambers, 41 and 42, and an optional centrally located guide chamber, 43. The working chambers are preferably of substantially identical volume. The piston, 44, comprises a pair of compression plates, 45 and 46, which force displacement fluid from one working chamber to the other in accordance with the operation of the rotor as set forth herein. A centrally located weight, 47, slides in the guide chamber, 43, in response to gravitational force as described previously. A transfer tube, 48, connects the working chambers and allows displacement fluid to traverse from one working chamber to the other in response to the lower chamber being compressed by the compression plate due to the force of gravity on the piston. The two compression plates and weight are connected one to the other preferably by the transfer tube. The guide chamber and that portion of each working chambers which is interior to the compression plate are preferably connected by tubes, 49. The tubes allow free flow of counter fluid between the inner portions of the working chamber and the guide chamber to avoid restricting travel of the piston due to counter fluid compression, turbulence, boundary flow restrictions or any condition which would cause the flow of the counter fluid to limit mass transfer. A drive shaft, 50, preferably attached to the outer casing, 40, couples to a generator as described previously. An idler axle, 51, parallel to the drive shaft provides a support for the rotor.
Another embodiment of the rotor is illustrated in cross-sectional view in FIG. 8. In FIG. 8, the rotor comprises an outer casing, [0039] 40. Interior to the outer casing is a piston comprising a pair of compression plates, 45 and 46, equidistant from an optional weight, 47. The compression plates and weight are preferably attached by a transfer tube, 48. Additional stabilizing rods, 52, may be employed for stability if necessary. The central weight, 47, comprises bleed devices, 53, such as exterior grooves or holes through the weight to avoid any resistance which could be caused by counter fluid. Bladders, 54 and 55, between each compression plate and the end cap, 56, form a continuous chamber with the transfer tube, 48, allowing displacement fluid to transfer therebetween. It would be apparent from the descriptions elsewhere herein that as one bladder is compressed the other bladder expands proportionally. The shape of the weight is not limiting. Shapes which minimize contact with the interior of the outer casing are preferred to decrease friction. A drive shaft, 50, and idler shaft, 51, allow the rotor to be rotatably suspended in bearings or similar friction reducing means as known in the art.
A preferred rotor is illustrated in FIG. 9. In FIG. 9, the rotor, [0040] 1, is elongated parallel to the drive shaft, 14. A rotor which is elongated parallel to the drive shaft is preferable since the amount of rotation required to have the center of balance sufficiently offset to initiate rotation is minimized. The longer, and narrower, the rotor the better up to the limit of restricting mass movement of the piston and fluids in a timely manner.
The rotor of the present invention can be used singularly, wherein a single rotor turns a generator, or in multiples wherein multiple rotors turn a generator. An embodiment of a the present invention comprising multiple rotors is illustrated schematically in FIG. 10. In FIG. 10, a multiplicity of rotor assemblies, [0041] 63, each with a drive shaft, 65, attached thereto, is coupled to a coupler, 60. The coupler, 60, receives rotational energy from the rotor assemblies, and transfers the combined rotational energy to a single secondary driveshaft, 61, which is in turn coupled to a generator, 15. Another embodiment is provided in FIG. 11 wherein the generator receives rotational energy from multiple rotors. It is well within the skill of one of ordinary skill in the art to configure a coupler to multiple rotating shafts for a common shaft output. A rotor assembly may comprise one or more rotors.
The function of the piston is to displace fluid from a lower chamber to the upper chamber. The weight of the piston must therefore be more than the weight of the volume of compression fluid. An excessive weight is neither necessary nor desired since the higher the weight of the piston the more friction will be created in the rotation mounting. By necessity the weight of the piston is shifted towards the lower portion of the rotor as rotation initiates therefore the piston is a counterbalance to the displacement fluid. For this reason, it is most desirable that the mass of the piston be centrally located such that the mass shift is as close as possible to the rotation axis. The aspect ratio, or height over cross-sectional area, of the rotor, and piston, is not limiting and is selected based on the system demands including space, power required, number of rotors, etc. [0042]
The displacement fluid and counter fluid are not limiting except that the total weight of displacement fluid displaced is higher than the weight of counter fluid displaced. Both the displacement fluid and the counter fluid are preferable selected from materials which flow well. Heavier displacement fluids are preferred. The fluid may include various ingredients known in the art including stabilizers, surfactants, etc. Particularly suitable displacement fluids include water, mercury, and low viscosity high density organic solvents. Water is the most preferred displacement fluid due to, among other things, cost and availability. Particularly suitable counter fluids are gases, particularly air. [0043]
The generator is any device suitable for converting rotational energy to a usable energy form. Particularly preferred generators produce electricity or pressure. Electrical generators are well known and further elaboration herein is not necessary. Pressure generators are known to include fluid pumps such as water pumps, hydraulic pumps, air pumps and the like wherein the moving fluid is further used to accomplish a task. An electrical generator is most preferred. [0044]
Bladders are not limited by their material of construction with the exception of the flexibility which must be sufficient for the bladder to expand and extract without hindering the mass transfer. The manner in which the bladder is attached is also not critical to the present invention. [0045]
Flow communication, in the context of the present invention, is specific to a mechanism for transferring fluid from one vicinity to the other. In general, the area containing fluid has a fixed volume within complimentary regions wherein one contracts concurrently with one expanding and the flow communication is a preferably fixed volume region there between. [0046]
The invention has been described with particular emphasis on the preferred embodiments. It would be realized from the teachings herein that other embodiments, alterations, and configurations could be employed without departing from the scope of the invention which is more specifically set forth in the claims which are appended hereto. [0047]

Claims

Claimed is:

1. A device for converting gravitational force to energy comprising:

a rotor comprising an upper portion and a lower portion and further comprising:

a casing;

a lower cavity and an upper cavity in flow communication with said lower cavity;

a piston slidably received in said casing and between said lower cavity and said upper cavity wherein when said piston slides in said casing towards said lower cavity displacement fluid exits said lower cavity and enters said upper cavity thereby causing said upper portion to be heavier than said lower portion;

a pivot wherein said rotor can rotate on said pivot such that said upper portion becomes lower than said lower portion; and

a shaft parallel to said pivot and capable of rotating with said rotor; and

a generator coupled to said shaft.

2. The device of claim 1 comprising at least two rotors.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said at least two rotors are coupled linearly.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein said at least rotors are coupled to a coupler.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said generator is an electrical generator.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said lower cavity comprises a first bladder and said upper cavity comprises a second bladder and said displacement fluid moves between said first bladder and said second bladder as said piston slides.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said piston comprises compression plates.

8. The device of claim 7 further comprising a counter fluid between said compression plates.

9. The device of claim 8 further comprising a first inner chamber and a second inner chamber in flow communication with said first inner chamber wherein said counter fluid flows between said first inner chamber and said second inner chamber in response to said piston sliding.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said first inner chamber comprises a first bladder and said second inner chamber comprises a second bladder.

11. The device of claim 7 wherein said piston comprises a weight.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said weight is between said compression plates.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein said piston comprises a transfer tube between said upper cavity and said lower cavity.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein said rotor is coupled to said generator by a slip clutch.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein said rotor is elongated parallel to said shaft.

16. The device of claim 1 further comprising a coupler between said shaft and said generator.

17. The device of claim 1 further comprising a rotor controller and a suppressor capable of suppressing rotation of said rotor.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein said shaft is coupled to said rotor by a slip clutch.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein said slip clutch is a unidirectional slip clutch.

20. A device for converting gravitational force to energy comprising:

a rotor comprising an first end and a second end and further comprising:

a first cavity in said first end;

a second cavity in said second end wherein said second cavity is in flow communication with said first cavity;

a piston between said first cavity and said second cavity wherein when said piston slides in response to gravity towards said first end a displacement fluid exits said first cavity and enters said second cavity thereby causing said rotor to be heavier on said second end;

a pivot wherein said rotor can rotate on said pivot such that said second end rotates to a position lower than said first end in response to gravity;

a shaft capable of rotating with said rotor; and

a generator coupled to said shaft.

21. The device of claim 20 comprising at least two rotors.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein at least two rotors are coupled linearly.

23. The device of claim 21 wherein said at least rotors are coupled to a coupler.

24. The device of claim 20 wherein said generator is an electrical generator.

25. The device of claim 20 wherein said first cavity comprises a first bladder and said second cavity comprises a second bladder and said displacement fluid moves between said first bladder and said second bladder as said piston slides.

26. The device of claim 20 wherein said piston comprises compression plates.

27. The device of claim 26 further comprising a counter fluid between said compression plates.

28. The device of claim 27 further comprising a first inner chamber and a second inner chamber in flow communication with said first inner chamber wherein said counter fluid flows between said first inner chamber and said second inner chamber in response to said piston sliding.

29. The device of claim 28 wherein said first inner chamber comprises a first bladder and said second inner chamber comprises a second bladder.

30. The device of claim 28 wherein said piston comprises a weight.

31. The device of claim 30 wherein said weight is between said compression plates.

32. The device of claim 20 wherein said piston comprises a transfer tube between said upper cavity and said lower cavity.

33. The device of claim 20 wherein said rotor is coupled to said generator by a slip clutch.

34. The device of claim 20 wherein said rotor is elongated parallel to said shaft.

35. The device of claim 20 further comprising a coupler between said shaft and said generator.

36. The device of claim 20 further comprising a rotor controller and a suppressor capable of suppressing rotation of said rotor.

37. The device of claim 20 wherein said shaft is coupled to said rotor by a slip clutch.

38. The device of claim 37 wherein said slip clutch is a unidirectional slip clutch.

39. A rotor for converting gravitational force to rotational energy comprising:

a first end and a second end:

a first cavity in said first end;

a central pivot point between said first end and said second end;

a piston between said first end and said second end wherein said piston has a fixed piston center of gravity and said rotor has a variable rotor center of gravity wherein as said piston moves between said first end and said second end said piston center of gravity and said a rotor center of gravity are on opposite sides of said central pivot; and

a shaft parallel to said central pivot.

40. The rotor of claim 39 wherein said first cavity comprises a first bladder and said second cavity comprises a second bladder and said displacement fluid moves between said first bladder and said second bladder as said piston slides.

41. The rotor of claim 39 wherein said piston comprises compression plates.

42. The rotor of claim 41 further comprising a counter fluid between said compression plates.

43. The rotor of claim 42 further comprising a first inner chamber and a second inner chamber in flow communication with said first inner chamber wherein said counter fluid flows between said first inner chamber and said second inner chamber in response to said piston sliding.

44. The rotor of claim 43 wherein said first inner chamber comprises a first bladder and said second inner chamber comprises a second bladder.

45. The rotor of claim 41 wherein said piston comprises a weight.

46. The rotor of claim 45 wherein said weight is between said compression plates.

47. The rotor of claim 39 wherein said piston comprises a transfer tube between said first cavity and said second cavity.

48. The rotor of claim 39 wherein said rotor is elongated parallel to said shaft.