WO2010076797A2

WO2010076797A2 - Apparatus with buoyant and sinkable piston

Info

Publication number: WO2010076797A2
Application number: PCT/IL2009/001236
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yosi Ben Yosef
Original assignee: Yosi Ben Yosef
Priority date: 2009-01-04
Filing date: 2009-12-31
Publication date: 2010-07-08
Also published as: WO2010076797A3

Abstract

An apparatus in a liquid reservoir, the apparatus comprising: hollow piston; controllers of entrance of liquid from the reservoir into the piston and of liquid exit from piston to outside reservoir; said apparatus allowing repeated movement of the piston back and forth between the positions LOW and HIGH.

Description

APPARATUS WITH BUOYANT AND SINKABLE PISTON

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to apparatuses having pistons driven by gravity and buoyancy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Attempts have been made to generate electricity without also disrupting ecosystems, which always happens when a river is dammed, without generating environmental pollutants, which always happens when fossil fuels are burned and, without using inherently dangerous fissile materials, which nuclear power requires. While wind turbines might be considered unsightly and tidal systems require their being located proximate to the ocean, systems and methods for generating electric or mechanical power that use forces of nature are environmentally harmless. A simple system and method for generating power that does not depend on the relatively unpredictable wind, or solar energy that is not available at night and which does not necessarily require placement in or proximate to an ocean would thus be advantageous. Similarly, there is a need for simple, environmentally friendly, automatic systems for generating power and transport of materials or articles, for example, capable of repeated operations. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the invention are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates one preferred embodiment, depicting an apparatus having a piston in position HIGH.

Fig. 2 illustrates the apparatus shown in Figure 1 , wherein the piston is in position LOW. Fig. 3 illustrates another preferred embodiment, depicting an apparatus having a piston in position LOW. Fig. 4 illustrates the apparatus shown in Figure 3, wherein the piston is in position HIGH. Fig. 5 illustrates another preferred embodiment, depicting an apparatus in position LOW. Fig. 6 illustrates the apparatus shown in Figure 5, in position HIGH. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect, an apparatus for generating mechanical energy in a liquid reservoir with a continuous supply of liquid is provided, the apparatus comprising: a piston within the liquid reservoir, the piston having a cavity within; gas and liquid passage controllers comprising: a controller of entrance of liquid from the reservoir into the cavity, at a HIGH position; a controller of exit of gas from the piston cavity at the HIGH position; a controller of exit of liquid from the piston cavity to outside the reservoir at a LOW position, a controller of entrance of gas into the piston cavity at the LOW position; said apparatus capable of allowing entry and exit of gas and liquid into the cavity only via an appropriate passage controller, wherein the entry and exit of liquid and gas into the piston enable automatic repeated movement of the piston back and forth between the positions LOW and HIGH. According to another aspect, an apparatus for elevating liquid in a liquid reservoir is provided, the reservoir having a release extending inwards from a wall thereof, the reservoir containing liquid and provided with a continuous supply of liquid, the apparatus comprising: a first container having a cavity therein and equipped with a catch capable of engaging with the reservoir release when the first container is full of liquid and is at position LOW and to disengage from the reservoir release after the first container is empty of liquid; a bellows coupled on one side to the first container and on the opposite side to a sturdy roof; a second container, fluidly connected by a first gas pipe to the bellows; and by a flexible second gas pipe to the first container; gas and liquid passage controller comprising: a controller of release of gas from the second container via the second gas pipe when the first container is at position LOW; a controller of release of liquid from the first container to above the level of the liquid in the reservoir when the first container is at position LOW; a controller of filling of the first container with liquid when the first container is at position HIGH; a controller of gas release from the first container when the first container is at position HIGH; a controller of bellows air filling during the transition of the first container from position HIGH to position LOW; the apparatus capable of allowing the second container to compress gas into the first container when the first container is at position LOW , whereby the gas entering therein releases liquid from the first container thereout and above the level of the liquid in the reservoir, subsequent to which the second container empties of gas, the first container rises from position LOW to position HIGH, compressing the bellows, the bellows in turn compressing gas into the second container via the first gas pipe, subsequent to the first container being at position HIGH the first container fills with liquid so it sinks back to position LOW, the bellows filling with gas during the sinking.

DESCRIPTION QF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides simple apparatuses equipped with a piston drivable by gravity and buoyancy.

The apparatus uses green energy by utilizing the energy in liquid systems such as in a river for generating movement of the piston that in turn can be converted into other types of energy.

In the detailed description that follows, like element numerals are used to indicate like elements appearing in one or more of the figures.

Reference is now made to Figure 1 illustrating a preferred embodiment, an apparatus 100 including a liquid reservoir 110 having an upper aperture 112, and a piston 120, having a cavity 121.

Liquid 102 is continuously entering reservoir 110 through aperture 112, thus providing a constant source of liquid.

In performing the embodiment, the piston 120 repeatedly shuttles up and down between positions HIGH, Fig. 1 , and LOW, Fig. 2.

The apparatus 100 is equipped with controllers of entrance and exit of water and air into cavity 121 : a) a controller of access of liquid 102 from the reservoir 110 into the cavity 121 , at position HIGH, which may include a valved pipe

124 extending outwards from the lower part of a wall of the piston

120 and in communication with a hole in the piston wall such that liquid 102 may enter the cavity 121 only through pipe 124. The pressure of the inflowing liquid 102 expels gas from the piston cavity

121. b) a controller of gas discharge from the piston cavity 121 at position HIGH. Such control may include a valved pipe 122a, extending outwards and upwards from the piston 120 and in liquid- tight communication with a hole in the roof of piston 120. c) a controller through which gas enters the piston cavity 121 at position LOW. Such means may include a valved pipe 122b, extending outwards and upwards from the piston 120 and in liquid- tight communication with a hole in the roof of the piston 120. d) a controller of release of liquid 102 from the piston cavity 121 to outside the reservoir 110 at position LOW.

The controller for release of liquid 102 from the piston cavity 121 to outside the reservoir 110, may include pipe 126 extending outwards from piston 120 , pipe 128 extending through the walls of reservoir

110 and beyond, and flexible pipe 129 operably connecting pipes

126 and 128. The controller for liquid release allows liquid 102 to be discharged by gravity from piston cavity 121. Pipe 126 is in communication with a hole in a wall of piston 120 and flexible pipe

129 is connected to pipes 126 and 128 such that liquid 102 may exit the cavity 121 only through the line pipe 126 - pipe 128.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, pipes 122a and 122b are a single pipe. Unidirectional valve 123a is configured so that it opens when piston

120 is at position HIGH, to allow exit of gas from the cavity 121 as the cavity 121 fills with liquid 102, and is closed when the piston 120 is at other positions, to allow gas to be trapped in the piston 120 as it arises from position LOW. The top of pipe 122b sufficiently extends above the surface of the liquid 102 in the reservoir, so that when the piston 120 is at position LOW, it allows free passage of gas into the cavity 121. Unidirectional valve 123b in pipe 122b is configured to be open when piston 120 is at position LOW and at other positions it is closed. When the piston 120 is at position HIGH, valve 127 is closed to prevent exit of liquid 102 from piston 120. Valves 123a and 125 are open.

Liquid 102 from reservoir 110 enters the piston cavity 121 and expels the gas in the piston cavity 121 via pipe 122a. The piston 120 becomes heavy and moves downwards.

When the piston 120 arrives at position LOW, valve 125 is closed to prevent entry of liquid 102 into the piston cavity 121. Valves 127 and 123b are open so that liquid 102 leaves the cavity 121 from pipe 128 and gas enters the cavity 121. Subsequently, the piston 120 rises back to position HIGH.

The apparatus 100 may be initialized by simply introducing the piston 120 essentially empty of liquid 102 into the reservoir 110 filled with liquid 102, securely connecting pipes 126 and 128 via flexible pipe 129, and lowering the piston 120 in the liquid 102 to position HIGH, whereupon liquid 102 will enter the cavity 121 and gas will be expelled from the cavity 121 and the piston 120 will subsequently sink and then rise.

Pipe 128 should be at all times at a level that is lower then the level of pipe 126 or at the same level.

It is notable that flexible pipe 129 also has to be positioned below the level of pipe 126.

Note also that piston cavity 121 may even be capable of displacement within the reservoir even when partially full of liquid 102.

Pipe 124 can be mounted at any height on piston 120 to allow liquid 102 to flow to within the cavity 121 , as long as the height enables it to remain perpetually fully submerged in the reservoir liquid 102 during operation of the apparatus 100.

Various positional regulators 130 may be used, such as of an electronic, mechanical, or hydraulic type, to control the opening and closing of the valves. Inside reservoir 110, support means may be used for stable movement of the piston 120, such as poles 114 between the inside walls of the reservoir 110 and the piston 120 and rings 116 that are coupled to both the piston 120 and the poles 114, allowing only up and down movement of piston 120.

Alternatively, rails (not shown) can be used to restrict the movement of piston 120.

The reservoir 110 may also be provided with stoppers and/or retainers that for example prevent the piston 120 from going up before the piston 120 is empty to the desired extent, from moving up beyond the surface of the liquid 102 in the reservoir 110, and stopping at positions LOW and HIGH.

It should be apparent that other combinations, arrangements and configurations of the pipes, regulators and valves may work equally well. Although the apparatus 100 is believed to be more efficient when working with valves that are open/closed according to positions of the piston 120 as described above, In some embodiments the valves and regulators are configured to allow one or more of the valves to remain open/closed until intermediate positions between LOW and HIGH, such as in cases where a more uninterrupted motion of the piston 120 is desirable, or to increase the frequency of the up-down fluctuations of the piston 120. Such operation may be effected for example by adding more positional regulators 130 in the intermediate positions.

In some embodiments (not shown), the apparatus may operate with the assistance of compressed gas. The source of the compressed gas may be for example a balloon inflated with gas, whose mouth is attached to the top of pipe 122b; the gas is passed to the cavity 121 and back to the balloon as the liquid 102 exits and enters respectively the cavity 121.

Piston 120 is preferably made of a material that is appropriately lighter than liquid 102 so as to constitute a weight that will force the piston 120 to move downwards when the cavity 121 is filled with liquid 102 and move upwards when the cavity 121 is emptied of liquid 102. Alternatively, ballast can be introduced within the cavity 121 to facilitate control of the movements. Optionally, the rate of supply of liquid 102 to reservoir 110 and the rate of the filling and emptying of the piston 120 may be adjusted so that the level of the liquid 102 in reservoir 1 10 is perpetually at about the same level, as long as the supply of liquid to the reservoir is constant. Such configuration may coTitribute to the efficiency of the apparatus 100. Alternatively, the apparatus 100 may be configured to enable the level to remain at essentially a steady state when the flow of liquid into the reservoir 110 is continuous but fluctuating in strength.

The movement of the piston 120 (either or both upwards and downwards) can be utilized for purposes of producing alternative energy sources.

The liquid 102 entering the reservoir 110 may have a substantial amount of kinetic energy. Some embodiments may further comprise means for converting the kinetic energy of liquid 102 entering reservoir 110 into alternative energy sources, thus increasing the power of apparatus 100 or increasing the efficiency of the energy conversion by the apparatus 100. Such means may also provide kinetic energy that contributes the movement of the piston 120 either or both upwards and downwards.

Fig. 3 shows another preferred embodiment, apparatus 200, which serves as a water-elevating apparatus that intermittently releases liquid through pipe 230.

Apparatus 200 includes containers 203 and 204, and various pipes and valves connected to the containers 203 and 204, as well as a bellows 260 coupled to container 204 on one side and on the other to a sturdy roof 262 that holds the top of bellows 260 in place. When the piston 120 is at position LOW, as shown in Fig. 3, container 203 is initially filled with gas and container 204 is filled with liquid. Valves 225 (on pipe 224 for liquid entry to container 204), 240 (on pipe 220 for gas release from container 204), , 245 (on pipe 230 for liquid release from container 204), and 266 (on pipe 265 for filling bellows 260 with gas) are closed and valve 250 (ball- float for filling container 203 with gas) is open. Upon opening valve 245, the gas in container 203 passes to container 204, due to the pressure in container 203 being higher than in container 204, and the liquid in container 204 rises in pipe 230 to above the level 280 of the liquid in reservoir 206. As the gas in container 203 passes to container 204, liquid enters container 203 via valve 210. The ball-float 250 prevents the ingress of liquid into pipe 215 when container 203 fills with liquid.

Valve 245 closes when there is no liquid left in container 204. Closing of valve 245 triggers release of catch 270 from retainer 208, the container 204 moving to position HIGH shown in Fig. 4, so that container 204 acts as a piston pressing upon bellows 260 and squeezes the gas out of bellows 260. Bellows 260 in turn compress gas into container 203, pushing out liquid from container 203 via valve 210. During the movement of the container 204 to position HIGH valves 245, 240, 266 are closed to prevent escape of gas from bellows 260. The pressure of the gas in bellows 260 is larger than the liquid pressure in container 203, so that gas passes from bellows 260 to container 203 via pipe 205, and the liquid in container 203 is pushed out via pipe 210.

After the completion of the pressing of bellows 260, at position HIGH, valves 225 and 240 open, so that container 204 is filled with liquid via valve 225, and gas is released via valve 240. Container 204 is connected to bellows 260 via rigid means such as a rod 255, and is sized so that when container 204 is filled with liquid via valve 225, the weight of container 204 is such that it sinks in the reservoir 206 until it reaches a predetermined height (position LOW) in reservoir 206, at which the catch 270 is engaged with a suitable retainer 208 extending from the reservoir walls.

Concomitant with the opening of valves 225 and 240, valve 266 opens to allow gas via pipe 265 into bellows 260 as container 204 sinks. Container

204 sinks sufficiently to allow filling of the bellows with gas, so that the liquid later leaving container 204 via pipe 230 will attain maximum height when gas flows from container 203, thus optimizing use of the pressure in container 203 for letting out liquid from container 204.

At this stage, apparatus 200 is in position to perform another liquid expelling cycle. Container 203 should be at a lower height than container 204, in order to create pressure upon the liquid in container 204. Alternatively, a balloon or a squeezable flexible container or a bellows may be used instead of container 203, for the purpose of applying pressure upon the liquid in container 204. If bellows are used, a weight should be placed on top of the bellows to create the pressure that is required in order to vacate container 204 from liquid.

In order for the embodiment to work, pipe 215 must be flexible to. accommodate the change of the position of containers 203 and 204 relative to each other. Also, the volume of container 204 has to be sufficiently large to apply a force on bellows 260 such that the pressure applied by bellows

260 overcomes the liquid back-pressure in container 203.

In principle, the deeper container 203 is in reservoir 206, it will create a larger pressure on the liquid in container 204, and thus the release of liquid from container 204 will be to a greater height. In addition, it is thought that the larger the containers are, the more powerful the piston is, being capable of releasing a larger volume of liquid in each cycle.

Some embodiments may be performed without a unidirectional valve

235 (for passage of gas only from bellows 260 to container 203) on pipe 205 and/or valve 250 (for passage of gas only from container 203 to container 204.

Note that during the sinking of first container 204, the bellows may be decoupled from first container 204, and recoupled before first container 204 floats up again.

The embodiment may be used in a shallow reservoir 206 by placing container 203 at a location (outside reservoir 206) sufficiently below container 204 to allow the embodiment to operate. In such setups pipe 210 must be long enough to allow its free end to reach into the liquid in reservoir 206.

Another embodiment that may also serve as a liquid-elevating apparatus is depicted in Figs. 5, 6.

In apparatus 300, instead of container 203, there is a second bellows 312, with a weight 314 on top. At position LOW, shown in Fig. 5, bellows 360 are expanded and bellows 312 are compressed: As container 304 fills with liquid, it sinks expands bellows 360.

After container 304 fills with gas, it serves as a piston that compresses bellows 360, as shown in position HIGH in Fig. 6, and the gas from bellows 360 fills bellows 312.

The weight 314 is such that it applies a slightly lower pressure than the pressure that container 304 applies on bellows 360.

A balloon fluidly connected to the first and second gas pipes may be substituted for bellows 312 (not shown). The embodiments described above are simple to construct and use and may be capable of sustained automatic operation.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating mechanical energy in a liquid reservoir with a continuous supply of liquid, the apparatus comprising: a piston within the liquid reservoir, the piston having a cavity within; pipes for entry and exit of gas into the cavity; liquid passage controllers comprising: a controller of entrance of liquid from the reservoir into the cavity, at a HIGH position; a controller of exit of liquid from the piston cavity to outside the reservoir at a LOW position, said apparatus capable of allowing entry and exit of liquid and gas into the cavity only via an appropriate passage controller, wherein the entry and exit of liquid and gas into the piston enable automatic repeated movement of the piston back and forth between the positions LOW and HIGH.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein: controller of entrance of liquid from the reservoir into the cavity comprises a liquid-intake pipe extending outwards from the lower part of a wall of the piston into the space between the walls of the piston and the walls of the 5 reservoir, the pipe being in fluid communication with a hole in the wall of the piston; the pipe of exit of gas from the piston cavity extends outwards and upwards from the piston and is in liquid-tight fluid communication with a hole in the roof of the piston, io having a length such that the pipe is not submerged in the liquid of the reservoir when the piston is at the position HIGH; controller of exit of liquid from the piston cavity to outside the reservoir comprises a first liquid exhaust pipe is extending outwards from a wall of the piston into the space between the walls of the piston and the walls of the reservoir, a second liquid exhaust pipe lower than the first liquid exhaust pipe and extending through a wall of the reservoir and beyond on both sides, and a flexible pipe

20 lower than the first liquid exhaust pipe and operably connecting first and second liquid exhaust pipes, the gas intake pipe extends outwards and upwards from the piston and is in liquid-tight fluid communication with a hole in the roof of the piston, having a length such that the pipe is not submerged in the liquid of the reservoir when the piston is at the position LOW; wherein each of the pipes in the controllers of entrance of liquid from the reservoir into the cavity and the first liquid exhaust pipe in the controller of exit of liquid from the piston cavity to outside the reservoir have inside the pipe a unidirectional valve.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, capable of allowing filling of gas and liquid at positions HIGH and LOW, the apparatus further comprising a positional regulator capable of allowing the valve of entrance of liquid from the reservoir into the cavity be open when the piston is at its HIGH position and to be closed at other positions, and the valve of controller of exit of liquid from the piston cavity to outside the reservoir to be open when the piston is at its LOW position and to be closed at other positions.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, capable of filling with gas and liquid at positions proximal to the positions HIGH and LOW, the apparatus further comprising positional regulators at positions HIGH, LOW, and in between proximal to HIGH and LOW, the valves and regulators capable of allowing the valve of controller of entrance of liquid from the reservoir into the cavity to be open when the piston is proximate to its HIGH position and closed at other positions, and the valve of controller of exit of liquid from the piston cavity to outside the reservoir to be open when the piston is proximate to its

LOW position and closed at other positions.

5. The apparatus of any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the gas intake pipe and the gas-exit pipe are the same pipe.

6. The apparatus of any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the liquid-intake pipe and the first liquid exhaust pipe are the same pipe.

7. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising support means for stable movement of the piston.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, the support means comprising poles between the inside walls of the reservoir and the piston and rings that are coupled to both the piston and the poles, allowing only up and down movement of piston.

9. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 8, capable of maintaining the level of the liquid in said reservoir at essentially a constant height when the flow of liquid into the reservoir is constant.

10. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 8, capable of maintaining the level of the liquid in said reservoir at a steady state when the flow of liquid into the reservoir is essentially continuous.

11. A method of generating mechanical energy in a liquid reservoir with a continuous supply of liquid, the method comprising: providing an apparatus comprising: a piston within the liquid reservoir, the piston having a cavity within; allowing access of liquid from the reservoir into the cavity, at a HIGH position; discharging gas from the piston cavity at the HIGH position; releasing liquid from the piston cavity to outside the reservoir at a LOW position, and introducing gas into the piston cavity at the LOW position, wherein performing allowing access of liquid from the reservoir into the cavity and discharging gas from the piston cavity makes the piston move to position LOW and performing steps releasing liquid from the piston cavity and introducing gas into the piston cavity makes the piston move to position HIGH.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the movement of the piston from position HIGH to position LOW starts after completion of discharge of gas from the piston cavity and movement of the piston from position LOW to position HIGH starts after the completion of releasing liquid from the piston cavity and introducing gas into the piston cavity.

13. An apparatus for elevating liquid from a liquid reservoir, the reservoir having a release extending inwards from a wall thereof, the reservoir containing liquid and provided with a continuous supply of liquid, the apparatus comprising: a first container having a cavity therein and equipped with a catch capable of engaging with the reservoir release when the first container is full of liquid and is at position LOW and to disengage from the reservoir release after the first container is empty of liquid; a bellows couplable on one side to the first container and on the opposite side to a sturdy roof; a second container, fluidly connected by a first gas pipe to the bellows; and by a flexible second gas pipe to the first container; gas and liquid passage controller comprising: a controller of release of gas from the second container via the second gas pipe when the first container is at position LOW; a controller of release of liquid from the first container to above the level of the liquid in the reservoir when the first container is at position LOW; a controller of filling of the first container with liquid when the first container is at position HIGH; a controller of gas release from the first container when the first container is at position HIGH; a controller of bellows air filling during the transition of the first container from position HIGH to position

LOW; the apparatus capable of allowing the second container to compress gas into the first container when the first container is at position LOW , whereby the gas entering therein releases liquid from the first container thereout and above the level of the liquid in the reservoir, subsequent to which the second container empties of gas, the first container rises from position LOW to position HIGH, compressing the bellows, the bellows in turn compressing gas into the second container via the first gas pipe, subsequent to the first container being at position HIGH the first container fills with liquid so it sinks back to position LOW, the bellows filling with gas during the sinking.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the second container is bellows.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the second container is suitable for containing liquid, the apparatus further comprising a valve capable of prevention of entry of liquid to the first container from the second container via the second gas pipe; the apparatus further capable of allowing gas in the bellows to push liquid out of the second container and into the reservoir.

16. A method of elevating liquid in a liquid reservoir, the reservoir having a release extending inwards from a wall thereof, the reservoir containing liquid and provided with a continuous supply of liquid, the method comprising repeatedly: providing an apparatus comprising: a first container having a cavity therein and equipped with a catch; a bellows coupled on one side to the first container and on the opposite side to a sturdy roof; a second container, fluidly connected by a first gas pipe to the bellows, and by a flexible second gas pipe to the 5 first container; the catch engaging the first container with the reservoir release when the liquid-filled first container sinks to position LOW; subsequent to the catch engaging the first io container, releasing gas from the second container to the first container via the second gas pipe; concomitant with releasing gas from the second container releasing liquid from the first container to above the level of the liquid in the reservoir; is after the first container is empty of liquid, disengaging the catch from the reservoir release, and letting the first container float up to position HIGH; after the first container floats up to position HIGH,

20 filling the first container with liquid; concomitant with filling the first container with liquid, releasing gas from the first container; subsequent to releasing gas from the first container, after the first container is full of liquid, letting the first container sink down to position LOW; concomitant with step releasing gas from the first container letting the bellows fill with air, thereby intermittently and repeatedly raising liquid to above the height of the surface of the liquid in the reservoir.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: releasing gas from the second container to the first container filling the second container with liquid; concomitant to the first container floating up emptying the second container from liquid, preventing entry of liquid from the second container to the first container via the second gas pipe during release of gas from the second container to the first container.