In Which The Control Means Is Variable Patents (Class 60/503)
  • Patent number: 11920554
    Abstract: Provided with a power generator and a power generation method capable of generating electricity using water of river or the like with a simple facility without using large facilities required in a conventional hydroelectric power plant. A buoyancy power generator includes: a storage tank which is capable of storing water; an inlet port from which the water is introduced into the storage tank; an outlet port from which the water is discharged from the storage tank to an outside; an opening and closing mechanism for opening and closing the outlet port; a floating body arranged in the storage tank so as to be vertically movable; and a power generator configured to convert a vertical motion of the floating body into electricity. A buoyancy power generation method using the above described power generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Inventor: Sanao Fujisaki
  • Patent number: 10337357
    Abstract: The present application provides a power generation system. The power generation system may include a gas turbine engine, a steam turbine, and a steam turbine preheating system. The steam turbine preheating system may include a steam generator that creates a flow of steam to preheat the steam turbine from an extraction of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: George Vargese Mathai, Joseph Philip Klosinski, Sanji Ekanayake, Alston Ilford Scipio, William Theadore Fisher
  • Patent number: 9847696
    Abstract: The present invention is a system for producing energy via use of gravity and then integrating such a force into a system design of energy power generation by translating the force of gravity into potential energy then into kinetic energy and from kinetic energy back into potential energy again. This system can operate mechanically or electromechanically with the aid of a minimal amount of external energy. A mechanical sequence is introduced in the system's operation to prolong the operational functionality of motion to its working components to the point where full, or substantially full, and independent recycling of fluids takes place and in the process it generates power to run the system's electricity producing generators and supply electricity to the power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Karousos LLC
    Inventor: John A. Karousos
  • Patent number: 8132406
    Abstract: A tide activated power system has a plurality of horizontally oriented cylinders that each have a pair of chambers. The cylinders are carried on float/weight barges that are located in a lagoon. A plurality of float/weight barges each have at least two cylinders in series. Each cylinder has a chamber holding a piston movable in the chamber defining a pair of variable size chambers: a flood variable size chamber and an ebb variable size chamber. As the float/weight barge rises and falls on the tide in the lagoon, the variable size chambers vary in size and force a working fluid to a turbine generator to create electrical energy. The piston of each of the multiple cylinders of the multiple barges forces combined to move the working fluid above the turbine generator where the flow drives the turbine generator prior to returning to the cylinder. In alternative embodiments, other mechanisms convert the energy from the rising and falling of the flow/weight barges to a non-uniform motion in one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Inventor: Randall Thompson, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110252779
    Abstract: An energy conversion system, including a wave chamber, and a turbine wheel coupled to a shaft and fluidly coupled with the wave chamber. The energy conversion system may also include a first radial flow passage fluidly coupled with the wave chamber and the turbine wheel, and first vanes disposed at least partially in the first radial flow passage, each of the first vanes being compliantly mounted and pivotal between first and second positions, the first vanes being configured to allow a motive fluid to flow in a first radial direction through the first radial flow passage when the first vanes are in the first position, and the first vanes being configured to substantially prevent the motive fluid from flowing through the first radial flow passage in a second radial direction when the second vanes are in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: DRESSER-RAND COMPANY
    Inventor: William C. Maier
  • Patent number: 8035243
    Abstract: A system to harness energy from water waves, comprising a frame assembly, first and second hydraulic systems, at least one float assembly, and an electrical assembly. The float assembly comprises front, rear, bottom, top, and first and second lateral faces. The float assembly further comprises a trailing face. The trailing face and the rear face merge to define an edge. The float assembly is mounted onto the mounting plate. The float assembly is placed in a body of water that comprises wave forces. The electrical system comprises a generator. The generator produces electricity when driven by the hydraulic motor when hydraulic fluid is displaced and pressurized within a hydraulic system when the wave forces cause the float assembly to move when in the body of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Matter Wave Technologies, LLC.
    Inventor: Manuel Constanzo Mesa
  • Publication number: 20110179785
    Abstract: The invention relates to a power plant comprising a float (3) arranged to float in a body of water. The float is attached to anchoring means (7) via at least one telescopically extendable leg (5). Flow of a hydraulic medium is generated when the leg is extended or retracted, which activates generation of electrical power in a generator. The power plant is provided with a delay device (13) which controls the flow of hydraulic fluid, such that power generation is evened out. The delay device (13) may control the generation of power such that it compensates for nip and flood tide. The invention further relates to such power plant where the float (3) comprises a cavity for storage of hydraulic fluid in the plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventor: Ulf Sven Ramström
  • Patent number: 7076949
    Abstract: System for multiple harnessing and complemented conversion of energy from sea waves. The system includes a structure of vertical guides along which the central floating body moves, a submerged captive-air tank, held up by the floating body, with the body and the tank so arranged that the movement of the submerged tank is contrary to that of the central floating body. The movement of the central floating body and of the submerged tank is transmitted to the means of conversion of the movement into pneumatic, electrical or hydraulic energy. The system shows high energy harnessing efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Pipo Systems, S.L.
    Inventors: José Joaquín Fernández Gomez, Javier Fernández Gomez, Abel Cucurella Ripoll, Rafael Ibáñez Lostal, Alfons Guell Ferre
  • Patent number: 7003947
    Abstract: A gyro wave-activated power generator utilizing wave energy which has, as a component, a control moment gyro, and which comprises a floating body (1), a control moment gyro (5) supported by the floating body, and a power generator (10) connected to the gimbal shaft of the gyro through a gearing to increase speed(9), and is characterized by the gimbal (6) of the gyro being rotated by the movement of the floating body by wave energy to drive the power generator (10) for power generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Japan Science and Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kanki
  • Patent number: 5424582
    Abstract: A wave power generator is substantially continuously driven by a pair of floats connected to a common drive shaft and positioned side by side along a line perpendicular to the direction of wave motion, one float being specifically designed to efficiently drive the shaft during the rising portion of a wave, the other to efficiently drive the shaft during the falling portion of a wave. The generator's flywheel is maintained at a constant speed by an automatic load control throughout a range of wave patterns sufficient to encompass over 70% of the statistically expected wave patterns at the generator location. An inclined-bottom float is used for the rising wave drive, and a bottom-weighted float is disclosed for the falling wave drive. The floats may be disposed one above the other and may have mating conical surfaces for cushioning occasional contact between the floats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: Elektra Power Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Trepl, II, Farhad Bashardoust
  • Patent number: 5084630
    Abstract: A wave powered generator incorporating a plurality of paddle and hydraulic cylinder units. Each paddle and hydraulic cylinder unit has a paddle in the path of waves and is pivotally supported to reciprocate and operate a hydraulic pump. Each hydraulic pump discharges into an accumulator that in turn delivers fluid to an electric generator station. The accumulator automatically accommodates variations in flow rate from the hydraulic cylinder. There are provisions for accommodating variations in the height and velocity of waves, of changes in the period of the waves, and of changes in the level of the sea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Inventor: Hossein Azimi
  • Patent number: 4765140
    Abstract: A floating plate is provided in a cylinder chamber and slides freely like a piston. A first group of laminated, ring-shaped, thin-plate piezoelectric elements is provided between a fixed support member provided on part of a wall portion of this cylinder chamber and the floating plate. A second group of laminated, cylindrical, thin-plate piezoelectric elements is provided in the center of the first group and a working member is provided on the free end of the second group of elements that is not attached to the floating plate. A hydraulic chamber is formed in the cylinder chamber on the side of the floating plate opposite to the side on which the first and second groups of elements are provided, and the pressure in this hydraulic chamber pushes the floating plate in the direction of the fixed support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignees: Nippondenso Co., Ltd., Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuzo Imoto, Yoshiyuki Hattori, Toshihiro Takei, Mitsuo Inagaki
  • Patent number: 4691514
    Abstract: A water engine comprises two floats arranged to reciprocate vertically in respective water chambers. Water is admitted to each chamber in turn from a head of water and then allowed to exhaust to a lower level, thereby causing the floats to rise and fall. The floats drive a pivotally mounted beam and power is derived from the beam movement by means of hydraulic rams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: Aur Hydropower Limited
    Inventor: Iain M. Smith
  • Patent number: 4674281
    Abstract: An apparatus for the generation of power which comprises a first cylinder and a second cylinder, a first float member and a second float member disposed in the first and second cylinders, respectively, a first inner cylinder and a second inner cylinder disposed in the first and second float members, respectively, a first lever and a second lever connected to the first and second float members, a crank member rotatably disposed on a crank shaft, a pair of arms connected at one end to the crank member and at the other end to the first and second levers, introducing and removing member of a fluid to and from the first and second cylinders, introducing and discharging member of air to and from the first and second float members, whereby when the fluid and air are introduced into the first cylinder and float member, and simultaneously removed from the second cylinder and float member, the first float member is caused to rise in the first cylinder and the second float member is caused to fall in the second cylinder
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Inventors: Myung K. Kim, Se Eun Lee, Baek K. Shin
  • Patent number: 4472937
    Abstract: A water driven power system has a cylindrical body with valved water supply and drain ports in the bottom thereof, the valves including valve plates rotatable between valve open and valve closed positions. A float is freely movable up and down between an upper limit position and a lower limit position in the cylindrical body due to buoyancy during supply of water through the supply valve and due to gravity during drainage through the drain valve. The float movement during the time of water supply is converted to rotation and a one-way clutch mechanism supplies the motion to an output mechanism. A valve opening and closing mechanism closes the water supply valve and opens the drain valve at the upper limit position of the float and opens the water supply valve and closes the drain valve at the lower limit position of the float.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1984
    Assignee: Kawaguchi Spring Manufacturing Company, Limited
    Inventor: Kihata Isamu
  • Patent number: 4371788
    Abstract: A device for extracting both kinetic and potential energy from the motion beneath waves over a considerable depth comprising a power member or sail guided to reciprocate with the movement of the water. The power sail is connected to and operates a power device such as an electric generator or pump. A second member, or sail, is located in geometric position relative to the power sail to reflect energy back to the power sail. Sensors, servo systems, and computers may be used to optimize power output. Multiple units can be arranged in "farms" to furnish megawatts of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1983
    Assignee: Q Corporation
    Inventor: E. Quimby Smith, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4267695
    Abstract: The engine comprises an elongated, vertical casing within which a buoyancy piston is vertically reciprocal between upper and lower positions. The buoyancy piston bottomly carries a bottom piston plate which is a sliding seal within the interior of the casing. A flapper check valve is positioned on the piston plate to alternately open or close the valve opening to thereby allow the liquid to pass through the plate to impinge buoyancy forces upon the underside of the piston. A circulating pump draws its suction below the piston plate and discharges to the top of the casing at a height elevated above the piston plate. Cyclical opening and closing of the flapper check valve causes corresponding reciprocal movement of the power piston within the casing to power an output shaft for reciprocal motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1981
    Inventor: Peter Micciche
  • Patent number: 4207741
    Abstract: An hydraulic motor having as an energy source a cyclically controlled rising and falling level of liquid in a working tank in which is provided a piston element having a liquid-tight hollow chamber that is arranged to move vertically with the rising and falling liquid level in response to buoyant and gravitational forces acting thereon. The liquid level in the tank is varied by using a plurality of liquid-tight exchange receptacles located adjacent the tank in vertically spaced relationship between the lower and upper liquid levels in the tank, with each exchange receptacle communicating with the tank through an opening including a normally closed valve. A control means for varying the liquid level in the tank includes a system for sequentially and individually opening and closing each of the valves from the uppermost to the lowermost exchange receptacle, and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1980
    Inventor: Don E. Rainey
  • Patent number: 4108579
    Abstract: A basin for containing water is provided and a heavy buoyant body is guidingly received in the basin for back and forth reciprocal movement therein and also raising and lowering within the basin in response to changes in the elevation of the water level therein. One end of the basin opens toward and in opposition to a source of wave movement and the body is drivingly connected to a rotary output shaft to be driven in response to back and forth reciprocal movement of the body. The output shaft includes eccentric crankpin portions and connecting rods operably connect the reciprocal body to the crankpin portions of the output shaft. The basin opens toward the source of wave movement through a straight channel having a wave modulating gate operatively associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1978
    Inventors: Antero Martinez, Estrella Martinez
  • Patent number: 4083186
    Abstract: Hydrostatic energy is converted to kinetic energy preferably for generating electricity by driving a fluid actuated motor connected to an electrical generator. Pumps are arranged in parallel for driving the motor, and are in turn actuated by engines driven themselves by a liquid contained in a reservoir in which the engines are disposed. The liquid in the reservoir is transferred to and from and also between the engines for actuating same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1978
    Inventor: Andrew W. Jackson, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4034565
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating power includes providing at least one elongated chamber having a float reciprocatively mounted therewithin for axial and reciprocative movement and having at least one opening in the chamber, and disposing vertically the chamber in an intermediate portion of a constantly downwardly flowing body of water between an upper-elevational portion thereof and a lower-elevational portion thereof with the opening in the chamber communicating with the water. The flow of water is alternatingly interrupted and permitted to enter the chamber via its opening to cause the float to be carried by the water in the chamber reciprocatively upwardly and downwardly within the chamber, and the reciprocative movement of the float is utilized by, for example, converting the reciprocative motion to rotational motion for driving an electrical generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1974
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1977
    Inventor: Charles E. McVeigh
  • Patent number: 3957398
    Abstract: This is a floating pumping station, conceived as ordinarily to be used at the shore of the ocean or large lake where wave action is very considerable and where provision must be made for tidal change and in some cases change in the force of the waves since the waves of great amplitude must be refused entry into the apparatus or attenuated. The apparatus comprises, in brief, a pair of elongated pontoons which define a channel therebetween and this channel is guarded at one end at least by the said wave attenuating apparatus, while a plurality of double-acting pumps distributed along the length of the channel operate in response to the movement of floats which are connected to the pistons of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1974
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1976
    Inventor: Harold Lloyd