US4034565A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for generating power
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-12-16
•
Granted: 1977-07-12
•
Expires: 1994-12-16
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles E. McVeigh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 05:46
CPC Classifications
F; F03; F03B; F03B17/00; F03B17/02; F03B17/025; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/20; Y02E10/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
284 words
A method of generating power comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of elongated chambers each having an open top and each having a float mounted therewithin for axial and reciprocative movement with an inlet and an outlet communicating with the interior of said chambers; disposing vertically said chambers in an intermediate portion of a constantly downwardly flowing body of water from an upperelevational portion thereof to a lower elevational portion thereof with their inlets and outlets communicating with said water; positioning said inlets in fluid communication with the upstream flow of said water and positioning said outlets in fluid communication with the downstream flow of said water; arranging said chambers substantially in a common plane; alternatingly interrupting and permitting the flow of said body of water in said inlets through said chambers and out said outlets to cause their floats to be carried by said water in said chambers reciprocatively upwardly and downwardly within said chambers, said interrupting causing water to rise in said chambers and said permitting causing water to fall in said chambers; providing ratchet means; extending at least partially said ratchet means through the open tops of said chambers and connecting mechanically said ratchet means and said floats; utilizing the thus caused reciprocative movement of said floats via said ratchet means; disposing vertically the chambers in said intermediate portion of said flowing body of water in a side-by-side arrangement with the first mentioned chamber and extending in the direction of flow of said flowing body of water; and positioning the inlets of said chambers in fluid communication with the upstream flow of said water via adjacent outlets of the adjacent chambers so that the inlets are upstream of the outlets.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
284 words
A method of generating power comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of elongated chambers each having an open top and each having a float mounted therewithin for axial and reciprocative movement with an inlet and an outlet communicating with the interior of said chambers; disposing vertically said chambers in an intermediate portion of a constantly downwardly flowing body of water from an upperelevational portion thereof to a lower elevational portion thereof with their inlets and outlets communicating with said water; positioning said inlets in fluid communication with the upstream flow of said water and positioning said outlets in fluid communication with the downstream flow of said water; arranging said chambers substantially in a common plane; alternatingly interrupting and permitting the flow of said body of water in said inlets through said chambers and out said outlets to cause their floats to be carried by said water in said chambers reciprocatively upwardly and downwardly within said chambers, said interrupting causing water to rise in said chambers and said permitting causing water to fall in said chambers; providing ratchet means; extending at least partially said ratchet means through the open tops of said chambers and connecting mechanically said ratchet means and said floats; utilizing the thus caused reciprocative movement of said floats via said ratchet means; disposing vertically the chambers in said intermediate portion of said flowing body of water in a side-by-side arrangement with the first mentioned chamber and extending in the direction of flow of said flowing body of water; and positioning the inlets of said chambers in fluid communication with the upstream flow of said water via adjacent outlets of the adjacent chambers so that the inlets are upstream of the outlets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 1, further including permitting said water to fill all of said chambers, subsequently opening the outlet of the furthermost downstream chamber to permit water to exit therefrom, thereby permitting its float to fall to a lower level within the opened chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 2, subsequently opening the outlets of the next upstream chambers seriatum so that the cycle may be repeated after the outlet of the furthermost upstream chamber is opened.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 3, further including providing a second series of side-by-side chambers having communicating inlets and outlets and positioning them in a row in the direction of flow of said water, the chambers of said second series of chambers being substantially similar to the first-mentioned chambers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
120 words
A method according to claim 1, providing utilizing means including an arm connected pivotally to at least one of said floats and a rotatably mounted power shaft, said ratchet means being driven by said arm and fixed to said shaft for driving rotatably said shaft, said ratchet means including a pair of pawls carried by said arm, one set of gears for drivingly coupling one of said pawls to said shaft, a second set of gears for drivingly coupling the other one of said pawls to said shaft, said second set of gears including an idler gear to enable said arm to drive said shaft during both the up and the down movement of the last-mentioned float and said arm.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
279 words
A method of generating power comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of elongated chambers each having an open top and each having a float mounted therewithin for axial and reciprocative movement with an inlet and an outlet communicating with the interior of said chambers; disposing vertically said chambers in an intermediate portion of a constantly downwardly flowing body of water from an upper-elevational portion thereof to a lower elevational portion thereof with their inlets and outlets communicating with said water; positioning said inlets in fluid communication with the upstream flow of said water and positioning said outlets in fluid communication with the downstream flow of said water; arranging said chambers substantially in a common plane; alternatingly interrupting and permitting the flow of said body of water in said inlets through said chambers and out said outlets to cause their floats to be carried by said water in said chambers reciprocatively upwardly and downwardly within said chambers, said interrupting causing water to rise in said chambers and said permitting causing water to fall in said chambers; providing ratchet means; extending at least partially said ratchet means through the open tops of said chambers and connecting mechanically said ratchet means and said floats; utilizing the thus caused reciprocative movement of said floats via said ratchet means; and a plurality of other similar chambers and positioning all of said chambers in a row transversely to said flow of said water, said chambers having inlets and outlets, said inlets being an open end portion of said chamber, guiding uninterruptedly said flow of said water into the interiors of said chambers via their inlets, said interrupting and said permitting occurring at said outlets.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
279 words
A method of generating power comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of elongated chambers each having an open top and each having a float mounted therewithin for axial and reciprocative movement with an inlet and an outlet communicating with the interior of said chambers; disposing vertically said chambers in an intermediate portion of a constantly downwardly flowing body of water from an upper-elevational portion thereof to a lower elevational portion thereof with their inlets and outlets communicating with said water; positioning said inlets in fluid communication with the upstream flow of said water and positioning said outlets in fluid communication with the downstream flow of said water; arranging said chambers substantially in a common plane; alternatingly interrupting and permitting the flow of said body of water in said inlets through said chambers and out said outlets to cause their floats to be carried by said water in said chambers reciprocatively upwardly and downwardly within said chambers, said interrupting causing water to rise in said chambers and said permitting causing water to fall in said chambers; providing ratchet means; extending at least partially said ratchet means through the open tops of said chambers and connecting mechanically said ratchet means and said floats; utilizing the thus caused reciprocative movement of said floats via said ratchet means; and a plurality of other similar chambers and positioning all of said chambers in a row transversely to said flow of said water, said chambers having inlets and outlets, said inlets being an open end portion of said chamber, guiding uninterruptedly said flow of said water into the interiors of said chambers via their inlets, said interrupting and said permitting occurring at said outlets.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB189917784A
Cited
US859396A
Cited
US921637A
Cited
US969665A
Cited
GB191416511A
Cited
FR515163A
Cited
GB307681A
Cited
US3259361A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-07-11 | 1981-01-10 | 1981-07-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-11 | 1985-01-10 | 1985-07-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-11 | 1989-01-10 | 1989-07-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |