Wind operated power generating apparatus

Claim 2

A wind operated electric power generating apparatus having in combination a windmill, an air compressor operated by said windmill, a tank, a pair of vertically aligned spaced shafts mounted in said tank, the lower of said shafts having a passage therein, an air line running from said compressor to said shaft, a lower wheel journaled on said lower of said shafts having a plurality of spokes therein, each of spokes having an air passage therethrough outwardly of said wheel, said shaft having an opening therein providing communication with said air passages in said shafts when said wheel moves through its lower run about said shaft, an upper wheel mounted on the upper of said shafts, an endless belt passing over said wheels, a plurality of collapsible air cells secured to said belt, said air cells having closed upper end portions and open lower end portions through the upper run of said belt, said air cells being mounted upon said belt having inlets therein in registration with an air passage of one of said spokes of said lower wheel as said air cells pass through the lower run of said belt to have air pass into said air cells to inflate the same, a liquid filling said tank to a level adjacent said upper shaft, whereby said liquid retains air in said cells to hold said cells in inflated condition as said cells rise in said liquid driving said belt and said upper wheel, an electric current generator, and said upper shaft driven by said upper wheel having driving engagement with said generator.

Claim 3

The structure set forth in claim 1, including a chamber in said tank above said liquid level, said belt carrying said air cells through said chamber, means receiving and storing air discharged by said air cells in passing through said chamber.

Claim 4

The structure set forth in claim 1, including an air supply chamber, means passing air from said air compressor to said supply chamber, and means regulating the passage of air from said supply chamber to the air passage of said first mentioned shaft.

Claim 5

The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said air cells comprises an air passage therein having a closed end portion adjacent the open end of said air cell and having an open end portion adjacent the closed end of said air cell, said inlet into said air cell being adjacent and in communication with the closed end portion of said passage, whereby air flows through said air passage to inflate said air cell from its closed end and moving in the direction of its open end.

Claim 6

An electric power generating apparatus having in combination a natural power source, an air compressor operated by said power source, a tank, a pair of vertically aligned spaced shafts mounted in said tank, the lower of said shaftS having a passage therein, an air line running from said compressor to said shaft, a lower wheel journaled on said lower of said shafts having a plurality of spokes therein, each of spokes having an air passage therethrough outwardly of said wheel, said shaft having an opening therein providing communication with said air passages in said shafts when said wheel moves through its lower run about said shaft, an upper wheel mounted on the upper of said shafts, an endless belt passing over said wheels, a plurality of collapsible air cells secured to said belt, said air cells having closed upper end portions and open lower end portions through the upper run of said belt, said air cells being mounted upon said belt having inlets therein in registration with an air passage of one of said spokes of said lower wheel as said air cells pass through the lower run of said belt to have air pass into said air cells to inflate the same, a liquid filling said tank to a level adjacent said upper shaft, whereby said liquid retains air in said cells to hold said cells in inflated condition as said cells rise in said liquid driving said belt and said upper wheel, an electric current generator, and said upper shaft driven by said upper wheel having driving engagement with said generator.

Claim 7

An electric power generating apparatus having in combination a natural power source, an air compressor operated by said power source, a tank, a pair of vertically aligned spaced shafts mounted in said tank, the lower of said shaftS having a passage therein, an air line running from said compressor to said shaft, a lower wheel journaled on said lower of said shafts having a plurality of spokes therein, each of spokes having an air passage therethrough outwardly of said wheel, said shaft having an opening therein providing communication with said air passages in said shafts when said wheel moves through its lower run about said shaft, an upper wheel mounted on the upper of said shafts, an endless belt passing over said wheels, a plurality of collapsible air cells secured to said belt, said air cells having closed upper end portions and open lower end portions through the upper run of said belt, said air cells being mounted upon said belt having inlets therein in registration with an air passage of one of said spokes of said lower wheel as said air cells pass through the lower run of said belt to have air pass into said air cells to inflate the same, a liquid filling said tank to a level adjacent said upper shaft, whereby said liquid retains air in said cells to hold said cells in inflated condition as said cells rise in said liquid driving said belt and said upper wheel, an electric current generator, and said upper shaft driven by said upper wheel having driving engagement with said generator.