Accurate bouyancy control in pools, lakes and ocean and to maintain frequency to generate clean AC electrical power

Abstract

The present invention relates to a more precise control of buoyancy lifting heavy load, not exclusively, for attachment to large structures being lower, lifted, positioned and transported off ocean floor, but also generating AC electrical power. A rigid cylinder with dome shaped top and a sealed piston and shaft in the said cylinder with the bottom open ended is operated to increase or decrease buoyancy while displacing the water in the cylinder with a sealed shaft attached to a sealed piston is operated through the sealed dome in the cylinder. The present invention further relates to generating clean electrical power with aid of buoyancy in swimming pools, lakes and ocean with precise buoyancy control and weight simultaneously and operated uniformly by displacing torque on a lever arms that is reciprocating making buoyancy and gravity variable mechanically and hydraulically to regulate accurate frequency required to generate AC electrical power continuously.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a more precise control of buoyancy, but not exclusively, for attachment to large structures being lower, lifted, positioned and transported on the ocean. The present invention relates to controlling the depth and motion of a structure underwater. The invention generally applies to offshore floating structures used in the exploration and production of offshore minerals, such as semi-submersible vessels, tension leg platform and spur type platforms, more particularly to offshore floating structures having vertically spaced buoyancy capsules enclosed within an open cross-braced jacket framework or truss support structure including large floating offshore windmills. This invention further relates to generating clean electricity with the aid of buoyancy in pools, lakes and ocean, with precise buoyancy control and gravity to regulate accurate frequency required to generate AC power continuously.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Firstly there are many way of lifting and transporting a heavy structures in the ocean with certain amount buoyancy control, of these are pressurized air or gas inflated balloons and barges but non with a more precise control and rapid response in slowing down the lifting as the structure comes to the surface or maintaining a level float on the ocean surface.

Secondly there are many way to generate electricity today, among these are nuclear power, coal power, and gas power. However none of them is clean or reusable energy, these non-reusable fossil fuel resources such as liquefied natural gas, coal nor oil which will inevitably run out. Furthermore the fossil fuels environmental impact is causing serious cultural, socio-economic and climate crisis around the globe, not to mention the safety and costs of the nuclear power. Therefore, many domains that use fossil fuel are gradually adding reusable energy to curve the environmental impact such as solar energy wind power. However, with limitations and restrictions such as topography, climate and geographical locations, causes inconsistencies in power generation, additionally wind power and solar power has high construction, upkeep and power transport costs (power lines).

Thus to overcome the abovementioned problems of prior art, the present invention has provided practicability after deliberate design, calculations evaluation and experience, developed and design to combine the related art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the present invention mainly provides repeated buoyancy control and generating AC electrical power continuously maintaining required rpm/frequency to the generator constantly.

The present invention concerns an apparatus which generates electrical power from a combination of gravity forces and inherent buoyancy forces of a hollow body immersed in fluid, preferably water and control of weights sliding on a main lever arm. This is accomplished through a combination of switches and valves controlled by computer and hydraulic pump. The apparatus is mounted on the platform elevated above the ground which contains main shaft with a one way clutch assembly, the said shaft is extended to the gearbox/transmission thereby generator, furthermore the said one way clutch is fixed at midpoint to the main lever arm that reciprocates as a seesaw. The buoyancy force and the gravity forces simultaneously act on the said main shaft in a one way rotational direction. The main lever arm is mounted with a two hydraulic cylinder at one end of the said main lever arm. The said hydraulic cylinders rods are combined with a common block that is fixed to a gear rack on roller bearings that slides thus as the said gear rack slides thereby operate the small involute gear. This said involute gear turns thereby turns the larger sprocket gears in turn smaller sprocket gears as the sprocket chain transports the mass weights back and forth as a conveyer. The said hydraulic cylinders piston rods operate simultaneously thereby turning a sprocket gears mounted directly above the said gear rack. The lower main active hydraulic cylinder's hydraulic pipes are connected to a control valve (controlled by the computer) to a hydraulic pump whereby the hydraulic tank. The top hydraulic cylinder is a slave cylinder filled with hydraulic fluid to operate the buoyancy hydraulic cylinder filled with hydraulic fluid mounted on a steady structure located at variable buoyancy chamber to displace water in the pool or to take in water. As the sprocket gears rotates the sprocket chains follows on both side of the involute gear driven by the gear rack thus moving the attached weights that are fixed to the said chain. The said weights are on bearing running on the main lever arm from midpoint of the said main lever arm to other outer end of the said main lever arm, at the same time the buoyancy hydraulic cylinder is operated by the slave hydraulic cylinder to displace water or taking in water in the variable buoyancy chamber.

In the present invention the following is complete operating cycle of each long main arm as it reciprocates as a seesaw transferring rotational force in one direction to the gearbox/transmission thereby the generator. As the hydraulic control valve controlled by the computer directs hydraulic fluid that's pumped to the (lower) active hydraulic cylinder on the main lever arm when the main lever arm's position (on the weights side of the said arm) is lifted and (on the variable buoyancy chamber side) is lower, gradually the hydraulic piston rod of the said main active hydraulic cylinder pushes outwards along with the top slave hydraulic piston rod that operating simultaneously since said both rods are attached to the gear rack that is on roller bearing. There two vital actions taking place simultaneously as the two hydraulic cylinders piston rods are pushed out on the main lever arm;

Firstly as the gear rack on bearings is pushed outwards turning the involute gear and larger sprocket gear since they are rotating as a unit. The lower track portion of the sprocket chain on the sprocket gears is clamp with a dead weight sliding on bearings from the midpoint to the outer end of the main lever arm as a conveyer, this action is caused by the sliding of the gear rack moving back and forth as the sprocket gears rotate clockwise or counterclockwise changing the location of the dead weights as the sprocket chain moves on the sprocket chain route back and forth. By applying gravity force on the main lever arm when weights are extended outwards thus the positive action of the one way clutch at midpoint on the main lever arm is turning the apparatus main shaft thereby the gearbox shaft whereby the generator and when the dead weights are withdrawn to the center to tilt the main lever arm in opposite location since there is no drive shaft load on the main lever arm at this point and the weight on buoyancy side of the main arm has increased due to water entered the buoyancy chambers and the excess weight on buoyancy side of the main lever arm, thus resetting the main lever arm.

Secondly as the two hydraulic cylinder piston rods on the main lever arm that is operating simultaneously since both are tied together. As the (lower) main active hydraulic cylinder piston rod pushes out the fluid in the top hydraulic cylinder piston forces into the buoyancy hydraulic cylinder, this action is taking place because the top hydraulic slave cylinder and the buoyancy hydraulic cylinders are full of hydraulic fluid causing each other to displace hydraulic fluid, the sealed disc/diaphragm in the variable buoyancy chamber to displace water or take in water by the buoyancy hydraulic cylinder thus applying buoyancy force repeatedly on the main lever arm.

The two vital actions as explained earlier apply enormous force at both end of the main lever arm transferring these forces at mid-point thus turning the main shaft. By attaching additional unit of the main lever arms to the main shaft operated in sequence completes the 360 degrees continuous rotation with constant turning force on the main shaft to the gearbox whereby the generator. To maintain a constant turning torque force and maintain specified rpm within generator tolerances at the said generator end the computer can control each valve separately to each main active hydraulic cylinder thereby applying constant turning force thus to keep up and maintain the required torque and maintain rpm at the generator end as demand for power increases or decreases, thus this apparatus can be used for many application other than generating electrical power.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is better understood by reading the following Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing figures.

FIG. 1 a depicts an overall view of the electrical generator mechanism with aid of a pool buoyancy, proportionally larger capacity units could be built

FIG. 2. a perspective view of embodiment of several buoyancy modules in a pool and a variable gravity control mechanism on reciprocating arms to generate electricity.

FIG. 3. depicts a section view of an electricity generating system with aid of the buoyancy and weight control to overcome the enormous torque created by the generator.

FIG. 4. depicts a longitudinal section view of an electricity generating system.

FIG. 5. depicts a section view of the buoyancy cylinder in operation

FIG. 6. depicts an elevation detail of moving weights, lever arm and a vertical column.

FIG. 7. depicts a view of sprocket and chain assembly on main lever arm.

FIG. 8. depicts a view of main equipment platform.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that the following descriptions of preferred embodiments of this invention are presented herein for the purpose of illustration and description only; it is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form described.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 shows an overall view of the electrical energy generating device with the aid of buoyancy and gravity according to the present invention. Buoyancy cylinders 16 (the upward force) are the major contributors to apply force to the long levers arms 7, on one end of the said arm thus reciprocating them to overcome the enormous torque required to turn the gearbox/transmission shaft 6, at midpoint of each main lever arms 7 with aid of a one way clutch 9. Additional force is applied at same time to the opposite side of the same said main lever arm 7 by means of sliding weights 30 applying force upon a positive downward stroke on the main lever arm 7, therefore with upward force of buoyancy cylinders 16 at one end and a downward force of the weights 30 on the other end of the same said main lever arms 7 simultaneously is aiding in overcoming the enormous torque required by the gearbox/transmission 5. By adding additional main lever arms 7 as required to turn the gearbox shaft 6 the positive sinusoidal reciprocating motion of each arm causing the generator to maintain the frequency/rpm to produce AC electrical power continuously.

Referring to FIG. 5 details of buoyancy cylinder 16 in operation, as the sealed piston/diaphragm 17 with aid of the sealed shaft/plunger rod 14 attached to a buoyancy hydraulic cylinder 15 is extended which displaces the water in the cylinder thus buoyancy forces applying pressures on the main lever arm 7 as the buoyancy cylinder's 16 and 10 vertical column sliding potion of rigid frame 11 are fixed thus operating as a unit. When the shaft/plunger rod 14 is retracted by the said buoyancy hydraulic cylinder 15 allowing the water to enter the cylinder thus gravity forces the cylinder 16 to sink. The vacuum or pressure in the sealed cylinder 16 chamber is vented above the water by a small tube not shown.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 elevation details of moving of weights 30, the reciprocating of main lever arm 7 and the vertical column 10. during the upward force of the buoyancy at the vertical column 10 and the downward force of the weights 30, this positive force is exerted to the gearbox 5. Once the main lever arm 7 reaches the bottom of the angle of operation on weight side, both hydraulic cylinders piston rod 13 is retracted thus causing the gear rack 20 to retract on roller bearing rail to turn the involute gear 19 whereby to turn large sprocket gears 23 as a unit to turn clockwise, causing the sprocket chain 24 riding on outer sprockets 23 to move the weights 30 on bearings 26 toward the center of the main lever arm 7. The slave cylinder 8 is driven by primary hydraulic cylinder 12 as both hydraulic piston rods 13 moves, thus the slave cylinder 8 supply hydraulic fluid to the buoyancy hydraulic cylinder 15 in both directions.

Referring to FIG. 8 is view of main equipment platform, the gearbox 5 input shaft is turn by the main lever arms shaft 6 and the output shaft is connected to the generator. Above the hydraulic tank 33 is hydraulic pump 34 driven by an electric motor 36 which is operated continuously to supply hydraulic pressure to all hydraulic cylinders 12 as required on the main lever arms 7 on demand, the entire operation controlled by the microprocessor in the computor.

The following are the reference number to each part in the set of drawing from FIG. 1 to 8

• 1 Pool
• 2 Ground Level
• 3 Support Structure
• 4 Generator
• 5 Transmission
• 6 Main Shaft connected to gearbox shaft
• 7 Main Lever Arm
• 8 Slave Hydraulic Cylinder
• 9 One Way Clutch assembly
• 10 Vertical Column
• 11 Rigid Frame
• 12 Main active Hydraulic Cylinder
• 13 Hydraulic Shafts Extended/Contracted
• 14 Plunger
• 15 Buoyancy Hydraulic Cylinder
• 16 Buoyancy Cylinder
• 17 Sealed Disk/piston/diaphragm
• 18 Sprocket and chain assembly that moves the weight along the main lever arm.
• 19 Involute gear
• 20 Gear rack on roller bearings
• 21 Guides for gear rack
• 22 Sliding weight assembly
• 23 Sprocket gear
• 24 Roller chain
• 25 Slave Cylinder Hydraulic lines
• 26 Weight support bracket on roller bearings
• 27 Chain lock fixed to weight support bracket
• 28 Pivot with bearings
• 29 Bracket
• 30 Dead weight
• 31 Primary Hydraulic lines
• 32 Slotted pivot guide
• 33 Hydraulic tank
• 34 Hydraulic pump
• 35 Electric Motor
• 36 Computer controlled valves for hydraulic lines
• 37 Main Electrical Distribution Panel

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11.-18. (canceled)

19. Apparatus for capturing buoyancy and gravity energy whereby generating electrical power, by said apparatus comprising;

a plurality of main lever arm assemblies wherein reciprocates as a seesaw in sequence;

a plurality of buoyancy chambers mechanically displacing water and taking in water thereby applying buoyant force repeatedly;

a mass weight sliding on each of said main lever arm assembly whereby applying gravity force;

a main shaft passes through each of said main lever arm assemblies whereby transferring the accumulated turning force to a transmission;

said transmission mechanism mounted on the platform connected to said main shaft whereby increasing the rotational speed of a working shaft of a generator:

the generator having a working shaft driven by said transmission output shaft whereby generating electricity:

a main active hydraulic cylinder piston rod and a slave hydraulic cylinder piston rod operate simultaneously wherein adapted to operate hydraulically, pneumatically or mechanically to relocating the said mass weight and a buoyancy hydraulic cylinder piston rod simultaneously and repeatedly thereby achieving a sinusoidal reciprocation motion on the main lever arm as a seesaw;

a hydraulic valve assembly directs working fluid at appropriate locations whereby maintain steady flow of electricity as demand fluctuates:

a one way clutch assembly behaves as a bearing thereby performing as a ratchet action inserted on the said main lever arm assemblies:

said buoyancy hydraulic cylinder filled with working fluid operated by said slave hydraulic cylinder filled with said working fluid as a common link whereby operating said hydraulic buoyancy chamber;

a mechanical pump's whereby produces pressurized working fluid;

a motor turns said pump whereby equipped to operate said apparatus;

a rotational transmission means rack linearly sliding on linear pushed and pulled by said main active hydraulic cylinder piston rod;

an involute rotational transmission means turned by said sliding rotational transmission means rack as it is pushed back and forth;

a linear guide for said rotational transmission means rack guides said rotational transmission means rack linearly as it is pushed and pulled by said means of relocating the said mass weight;

a rotational energy connecting element as a conveyer for said mass weight, said mass weight is clamp on said rotational energy connecting element at a certain point on said conveyer rotated by a first rotational transmission means, whereby said mass weight is repeatedly relocated riding on bearings in both directions of each of said main lever arm assembly:

said first rotational transmission means of a sufficient size to accommodate the travel distance of said mass weight, with the aid of said first rotational transmission means mounted on each of said main lever arm assembly is rotated by said involute rotational transmission means wherein the said first rotational transmission means and said involute rotational transmission means are all locked on a common shaft rotates as a unit mounted on bearings to maintain the specified backlash between said sliding rotational transmission means rack on linear bearing and said involute rotational transmission means;

a second rotational transmission means is mounted on bearings at far end of each of said main lever arm assembly whereby rotated by said rotational energy connecting elements that rotates around said first rotational transmission means thereby transports the said mass weight back and forth on the main lever arm assembly.

20. Apparatus for capturing buoyant and gravity energy of claim 19 wherein number of said main lever arm assemblies are added to the said apparatus to overcome the maximum torque required by the generator specification.

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

23. Apparatus for capturing buoyant and gravity energy of claim 19 wherein improvement comprising additional mechanical ratchet type assemblies are inserted on both sides of said one way clutch assembly on said main shaft wherein the main lever arm assemblies would add a more positive turning force in one direction of rotation on larger capacity said generator.

24. Apparatus for capturing buoyant and gravity energy of claim 19 wherein improvement comprises said apparatus are proportionally built to accommodate larger said apparatus whereby has an impact on the turning force on said main shaft to overcome torque required on larger capacity generator's maximum specified rating.

25. Apparatus for capturing buoyant and gravity energy of claim 19 wherein improvement comprises said apparatus is proportionally built to accommodate to suit other applications.

26. (canceled)