Water Relocation Apparatus
A water relocation apparatus is provided which uses water as a means for transferring energy from the wind and sun into electricity. Wind and the sun may be used to displace water from a water container means. The water container means has a water container member which may be partially submerged in a water supply or reservoir, or it may be connected remotely. The water container means also has a water transport member connected to it, through which water from the water reservoir may move into the water container member. The water from the supply or reservoir will move into the water container member as the water displacement process begins. A conventional windmill system may be used to mechanically displace the water, or an evaporation system utilizing one or more lenses may be used to evaporate the water. An electric generator means may be operatively connected to the water container means in such a manner that the movement of the water through said water transport member may be used to generate electricity. In an alternate configuration, a water condenser means may be connected to the water container means in such a manner that the evaporated water may be transformed back into liquid form and returned to the reservoir or collected for possible residential, commercial, or industrial uses. The various components of the water displacement means and electricity generation means, along with the water condenser means, may also be used in various combinations to displace larger amounts of water.
This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/658,964, filed Feb. 17, 2010, which itself is Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/186,352, filed Jul. 21, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,677,042, which issued on Mar. 16, 2010. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/186,352, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,677,042, is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/667,584, filed Sep. 22, 2003, which is now U.S. Pat. No. 6,920,757, issuing on Jul. 26, 2005. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/667,584 is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/232,263, filed Aug. 29, 2002, which is now U.S. Pat. No. 6,651,435, issuing on Nov. 25, 2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to a liquid displacement apparatus which has a displacement means for displacing or relocating liquid contained within a liquid filled container member. The liquid filled container member may be surrounded by a supply or reservoir of liquid, or may be connected remotely. Preferably, the liquid utilized by the apparatus is water. As the liquid or water is removed from the container member, water from the water supply or reservoir will move into the container member through an inlet means, thus replenishing the displaced water. This movement of the water from the container may be used to turn an electric generator, and therefor generate electricity. The relocation or displacement of water may be caused by different methods, including removal by a conventional windmill system, or an evaporation system consisting of a lens. Water is thus being used as a means for transferring energy from the wind and sun to an electric generator. Water evaporated from the water container by an evaporation system may be let into the surrounding atmosphere, or may be channeled through a condenser so that it may be converted back into liquid form and collected for possible residential, commercial, or industrial use. Water displaced by the windmill system and the evaporation system may be returned to the supply or reservoir for re-use when an electric generator is utilized.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTIONIt is the object of this invention to provide a water relocation apparatus which may provide an inexpensive and clean way of producing electricity. The main purpose of this application is to demonstrate an apparatus which performs the stated function, and to demonstrate the many options and configurations this apparatus may take on.
Briefly stated, the apparatus that forms the basis of the present invention comprises basically a frame structure means, a water displacement means, a water container means, and an electricity generating means. The water displacement means may be a conventional type of windmill system, or an evaporation system using a lens or set of lenses. Accompanying the evaporation system may be a water condenser means for converting evaporated water back into liquid form. The water displacement means and the water container means may all be mounted upon the frame structure means. The electricity generating means and a water condenser means may also mount upon the frame structure means. However, it may be possible to mount the water displacement means, the water container means, the electricity generating means, and the condenser means, upon individual frame structure means, or upon one another.
The design of the apparatus is such that the water displacement means removes water from the water container means, causing water to flow from the water supply or reservoir into the water container member through an inlet means. The inlet may be connected to a water rotation means which is operatively connected to an electricity generating means, so that this water movement into the water container means generates electricity. Similarly the water rotation means and the electricity generating means may connect to an outlet means of the water container means, so that water exiting the water container member may be used by the water rotation means and the electricity generating means to generate electricity. In either case, the water displaced by the apparatus may be used to generate electricity in a very clean and efficient manner.
When a conventional windmill system is used to displaced water, energy from the wind is used to mechanically displace water. As with most conventional windmill systems, the system may utilize a type of wind vane so that it rotates to engage the wind in whatever the direction the wind is blowing. When an evaporation system is used, a lens or series of lenses may be used to direct and concentrate beams from the sun to heat water inside the water container means. As the water inside the water container means heats up, the evaporation process will begin to occur, and the evaporated water will move out of the water container means through an opening or outlet means. In both systems, the water container means may have an inlet submerged in, or connected to, a water supply or reservoir. As the water inside the water container means begins to be displaced, water will begin to move into the water container means through the inlet, thus turning the electric generator.
When an evaporation system is used, the evaporated water may be channeled through a conventional water condensation means, so that the evaporated water may be converted back to a liquid form. The water may be returned to the water supply or reservoir, or it may be captured and treated for possible residential, commercial, and industrial uses. There may also be many other uses for the water displacement apparatus, which will be obvious for someone in a similar industry.
As mentioned previously, the basic function of this apparatus is to use water as a means for transferring energy from the sun and wind to an electric generator. Areas which have a sufficient amount of sun, wind, and water, such as the gulf coast region, can utilize the apparatus as a clean and inexpensive way of generating electricity. And in the case of the evaporation system, the apparatus may be utilized to purify water.
Other objects, features, and advantages for this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and the appended claims, references being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts of the several views.
Before explaining in detail the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction or arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description, and not limitation.
As best can be seen by references to the drawings, and in particular to
As may been seen in
As may be seen in
As may be seen in
The conventional windmill system which may be used to pump the water may be comprised of a reciprocating displacement pump system commonly used throughout the world. It may include a typical piston submerged in a water filled pipe, which displaces water from the bottom of the pipe upward, as the piston moves upward and downward. The piston itself may have a type of check valve which allows water to move through the piston on the downward stroke, but is retained above the piston on the upward stroke. Water may re-enter the pipe through a second check valve located on the pipe inlet, which opens as the piston moves upward, and closed as the piston moves downward. This allows water to enter the pipe from a water reservoir as the piston moves upward,
but keeps the water from exiting out the inlet as the piston moves downward. Water moves through the check valve and into the pipe through the action of atmospheric pressure. The reciprocating action of the piston is created by the windmill through a crank mechanism which is mounted to the rotating member at one end, and to the top of the piston rod at the opposite end. As mentioned, this type of reciprocating displacement pump system is very common, and has been used successfully to displace water upward for many, many years.
When a conventional windmill system is used as a water displacement means, it is also possible to construct the apparatus so that the flow of water through the apparatus is opposite of what is shown. For example, the inlet of the water container member may be connected directly to the water supply, while the outlet of the water container member may be connected directly to the water rotation means. In this configuration, the water will then flow out of the water container member directly to the water rotation means, with the water rotation means emptying the displaced water to the water supply. Water flow will occur as long as some part of the apparatus is open to the atmosphere. In still another scenario, the apparatus may be supplied with enough water so that the water supply is not necessary, at least until a later date. The outlet of the water container member may connect to the inlet of the water rotation means, while the outlet of the water rotation means may connect to the inlet of the water container member. This closed loop type of configuration will work as long as the water is exposed to the atmosphere at some point, and water is occasionally supplied back to the apparatus since some water loss is bound to occur. In all three instances, water is removed from the water container means by the water displacement means. It then flows through the water rotation means, and then returns back into the water container member. The only difference is the stage in which the water supply is used. Also in all three instances, atmospheric pressure is what pushes water into the water container member.
As may be seen in
The water condenser means 70 may also serve as a type of heat exchanger. This concept may be used to transfer heat from the sun to a type of manufacturing process which utilizes steam. Heat from the condenser tube 75 may be transferred to some other type of system as a primary or supplemental source of heat energy.
As may be seen in
As shown in
As mentioned previously and shown in the figures, the water rotation means of the water container means is needed only when the electricity generation means is part of the apparatus. It does not need to be part of each water container means when multiple units are connected together, as shown in
Many variations of the water displacement apparatus exist, along with the configurations described above. While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation, and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.
Claims
1. A water relocation apparatus comprising:
- a water container means comprising a water container member for containing water within, said water container member having an inlet-means for allowing water from a water supply to enter said water container member, said inlet means being located below the level of water is said water container member; and as outlet means for allowing water from said water container member to exit said water container member, said outlet means being located above the level of said, water within said water container member; and a water rotation means having a water engaging member, an inlet, and an outlet;
- a water displacement means positioned generally above said water container member; said water displacement means being a conventional windmill system, said windmill system used to displace water from within said water container member of said water container means, through said outlet of said water container member;
- an electric generator means operatively connected to said water rotatable means of said water container means and said water displacement means;
- whereby the displacement of water within said water-container member through said outlet of said water container member by said conventional windmill system produces a water flow for creating a rotation in said water engaging member of said water rotation means, such that electricity is generated by said electric generator means, thus water being used as a means to transfer energy from the water displacement means to the electric generator means.
2. The wafer relocation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said water displacement means further comprising a frame structure means having a base for supporting said water container means, a displacement support member for support said water displacement means, and a generator support for supporting said electric generator.
3. The water relocation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said electric generation means operatively connected to said engaging member of said water rotation by a closed loop connection means, such said rotation of said water engaging member cause electricity to be produced by said electricity generation means.
4. The water relocation apparatus as claimed in claim 3, said water rotation means further comprising a rotatable member mounted to said water engagement member, said electricity generation means further comprising a rotatable member mounted to an electric generator, said rotatable members connected together by a closed loop connection member such that said rotatable members rotate simultaneously.
5. The water relocation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, whereby various components of said water displacement apparatus may be operatively connected together and may utilize a common inlet means, such that larger amounts of water may be displaced simultaneously in order that the water Sow rate through said inlet means may be increased.
6. A water relocation apparatus comprising:
- a water container means comprising a water container member for containing water within, said water container member having an entrance area through which beams from the sun may pass into said water container member, an inlet means for allowing water from a water supply to enter said water container member; and an outlet means for allowing evaporated water from said water container member to exit said water container member;
- a water displacement means positioned generally above said water container member; said water displacement means being an evaporation system for evaporating water from within said water container member of said water container means, through said outlet of said water container member;
- whereby beams from the sun may pass into said water container member through said entrance area and evaporate the water from within, such that said evaporated water may move through said outlet of said water container member and through said water condenser means, with said evaporated water being sufficiently cooled as it travels through said condenser means so that it returns to a liquid form.
7. The water relocation apparatus as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a water condenser means connected to said outlet of said water container member of said water container means.
8. The water relocation apparatus as claimed in claim 7, said water displacement means further comprising a frame structure means having a base for supporting said water container means, a displacement support member for support said water displacement means, and a condenser support for supporting said water condenser means.
9. The water relocation apparatus as claimed in claim 7, said water condenser means of said water displacement apparatus further comprising a hollow coiled tube connected to said outlet of said water container member for cooling evaporated water so that the evaporated water is returned to liquid form as it travels inside; and container collection means placed at the end of said hollow coiled tube for collecting the resulting condensed liquid.
10. The water relocation apparatus as claimed in claim 6, said evaporation system comprising at least one concentrating lens for concentrating beams from the sun into the water located within said water container member, causing water within said water container member to be displaced by evaporation.
11. The water relocation apparatus as claimed in claim 10, said evaporation system further comprising an additional channeling lens for channeling beams from the sun onto said concentrating lens.
12. The water relocation apparatus as claimed in claim 6 whereby various components of said water relocation apparatus may be operatively connected together such that large amounts of water may be evaporated simultaneously and may be changed to liquid form and collected.
13. The water relocation apparatus as claimed in claim 6, said evaporation system comprising at least one fresnel lens for directing and concentrating beams from the sun into the water located within said water container member, causing water within said water container member to be displaced by evaporation.
Type: Application
Filed: May 4, 2014
Publication Date: Nov 5, 2015
Inventor: Gary Lawrence Johnston (Cowarts, AL)
Application Number: 14/269,158