Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
060496000 | With means to vary buoyancy of working member | 30 |
20080216472 | Buoyancy engine apparatus - A buoyancy engine and compression device having a plurality of rotating flexible chains formed of individual segments, each having a plurality of compressible flotation members engaged thereon. The chains rotate around axises at upper and lower frames. The flotation members are alternately compressed and expanded during rotation around the upper and lower frames during passage through an angled pathway defined by paired planar members in an angled engagement which rotate in time with the chain and engaged flotation members. Expanded flotation members circumventing the lower frame produce upward thrust as a function of their dimension and displacement of water. Mechanical energy from the system may be harnessed by conventional mechanical engagement of the rotating flexible chains or segments forming the upper and lower frames. | 09-11-2008 |
20080256944 | Adiabatic D1D3 Isochoric D3 D2 Isothermal D2 D1 - Method will provide a way to move an object—bellows—into a liquid, object—bellows—will experience a sum of buoyancy as it move into liquid. Object—bellows—will then experience a new different sum of buoyancy as it move out of liquid. Change in sum of buoyancy can be result of taking energy from move into liquid phase putting energy into move out of liquid phase. This change in sum of buoyancy can be used in any way useful, especially to produce, generate, energy. Method can be employed on large scale or small scale; I will suggest example of method but there are infinite, many ways to produce different buoyancy sum. | 10-23-2008 |
20080264056 | Hydraulic buoyancey kinetic energy apparatus - A hydraulic buoyancy kinetic energy apparatus includes a water tank filled with water and an air storage hood is merged in the water. Two buoys are movably connected to the two slippery pillars and a chain is connected with the two buoys via two chain wheels, two belt pulley sets and two engaged gears. One of the two gears drives a third chain wheel to drive an output shaft of an electric generating set. An air storage cylinder is connected with the water tank and air in the air storage cylinder can be pushed into the water tank to alternatively empty the two buoys which are alternatively moves up and down to drive the chain between the buoys and to activate the electric generating set. | 10-30-2008 |
20090293472 | Apparatus and process for recovering energy from bouyancy and gravitational forces - An apparatus and process for capturing power or mechanical work from the kinetic energy of a moving vessel driven by buoyancy and gravitational forces. The apparatus comprises a main tank, a charging vessel located at the bottom of the main tank, a moving vessel, a compression tank located above the main tank, and a hose connecting the compression tank to the charging vessel. A piston, which is rigidly attached to the moving vessel, moves up and down inside the compression tank compressing the gas therein and forcing it into the charging vessel. When the moving vessel engages a contact valve attached to the charging vessel, the compressed gas enters the moving vessel causing it to become buoyant. The moving vessel is driven by buoyancy and gravitational forces and moves cyclically upward and downward within the main tank, thereby driving an energy recovery means, such as a lever arm, and performing mechanical work. | 12-03-2009 |
20100000212 | Pulley system powered by loss of buoyancy - The Pulley System Powered by Loss of Buoyancy is a design to configure a buoyant vessel, a pulley, and a counter-weight such that they form a system that can produce a positive work output that can be used to drive gears. The core idea of this design is the use of loss of buoyancy as a power source. | 01-07-2010 |
20100024413 | ENGINE FOR ENERGY CONVERSION - An engine is powered by a hot liquid zone and a cold liquid zone. A plurality of fluid-tight containers, each which contains a working fluid which expands when exposed to the hot liquid zone and contracts when exposed to the cold liquid zone, are attached to a loop which rotates over sprockets attached to shafts. The difference in the buoyant forces acting on the containers exposed to the hot liquid zone versus the buoyant forces acting on the containers exposed to the cold liquid zone produces motion in the loop which imparts rotational kinetic energy to the shafts. | 02-04-2010 |
20100115940 | Apparatus and process for recovering energy from bouyancy and gravitational forces - An apparatus and process for capturing power or mechanical work from the kinetic energy of a moving vessel driven by buoyancy and gravitational forces. The apparatus is capable of bifurcating the buoyancy force into a first component used to compress the gas necessary to sustain the vertical oscillation cycle of a moving vessel, and a second component that drives a means for converting energy. The apparatus generally comprises a moving vessel, a gas compression means, a force transfer means, a conduit, and a force recovery means. In use, the submerged moving vessel receives compressed gas so that the moving vessel's buoyancy force becomes greater than its downward gravitational force, and the moving vessel begins to rise through the water. As the moving vessel reaches the top of its upstroke, the moving vessel releases the gas, thus causing the moving vessel to sink. The first component of the buoyancy force is transmitted from the moving vessel, through the force transfer means, to the gas compression means, where it is used to compress the gas. The compressed gas is then channeled through the conduit where it is retained by the charging valve while the moving vessel sinks in the water. When the moving vessel reaches the bottom of its down stroke, the charging valve releases the compressed gas from the conduit into the moving vessel, and the moving vessel's vertical oscillation cycle begins to repeat. The second component of the buoyancy force is captured by a force transfer means and directed to an energy conversion means, where it is converted to useable energy. Thus, the vertical oscillation of the moving vessel produces useable energy. | 05-13-2010 |
20100229545 | Energy Extraction Method and Apparatus - A method and apparatus for extracting energy from wind and wave motion using a common floating platform comprising a ship hull ( | 09-16-2010 |
20100307149 | HYDRODYNAMIC ENERGY GENERATION SYSTEM - An energy generation system comprising at least one shaft, buoyant means associated with, and movable relative to, said at least one shaft, wherein movement of the buoyant means relative to said at least one shaft causes rotation of the at least one shaft about a longitudinal axis, means for adding and/or removing a fluid to and/or from said buoyant means to cause movement of the buoyant means, and power generation means associated with said at least one shaft. | 12-09-2010 |
20110083430 | ENGINE FOR ENERGY CONVERSION - An engine for converting thermal energy to kinetic energy is provided. The engine includes a body of fluid having a first zone and a second zone, a thermal energy source thermally connected to the first zone for providing thermal energy thereto, and a thermal energy sink thermally connected to the second zone for removing thermal energy therefrom such that the first zone has a temperature greater than the second zone. The engine further includes a movable loop, which extends between the first zone and the second zone, and a plurality of containers which are positioned in the body of fluid and attached to the loop such that the loop and the containers move conjointly between the first zone and the second zone. Each of the containers expands to a first volume when it is in one of the first and second zones, and contracts to a second volume when it is in the other one of the first and second zones. A working fluid is provided in each of the said containers to cause the containers and the loop to move between the first and second zones. | 04-14-2011 |
20120060489 | Well Buoyancy Elevator and Conveyor Power Apparatus and Method - Systems and methods for generating, converting, and/or storing power under the ground level are disclosed. A well buoyancy power system includes a well adapted to hold a liquid and sealed to hold a pressurize gas, a buoyancy engine that can be a conveyor buoyancy engine or an elevator buoyancy engine, a generator coupled to the buoyancy engine, and an air mover located in the bottom air chamber to transmit the pressurized gas into the liquid at the lower part of the well to drive the buoyancy engine. The system may not be sealed and pressurized for cheaper storage of air when not reused. Because the system utilizes underground space, it is safe, low or no noise, non-polluting, and aesthetically neutral for deployment near where power is to be used such as population centers. | 03-15-2012 |
20120060490 | Hydraulic Power Apparatus - An apparatus and method for providing hydraulic power to a turbine generator. A neutrally buoyant wheel having radially opposed first and second containment chambers is suspended in a reservoir containing a liquid. One chamber is filled with the liquid and the wheel rotated so that the chamber containing the liquid is in an uppermost position, which due to the configuration of the wheel results in the chamber that does not contain liquid being in a lowermost position. The uppermost chamber is coupled to an input port of the hydraulic turbine, the lowermost chamber coupled to an output port of the hydraulic turbine, and the liquid allowed to flow from the uppermost chamber to the lowermost chamber through the hydraulic turbine. After the liquid has drained from the uppermost chamber and filled the lowermost chamber, the wheel is rotated 180 degrees and the process repeated. | 03-15-2012 |
20120131914 | Power Generation System - A system for generating power is described. The system comprises a gas compressor, a reservoir for storing compressed gas and an apparatus adapted to be located within a body of a liquid. The apparatus comprises at least one chamber in fluid communication with the compressed gas reservoir and an output device. In use, a compressed gas is supplied to the/each chamber from the reservoir, the buoyancy of the gas applying an upward force to a portion of the chamber, the upward force moving at least a portion of the chamber from a first position to a second position, the movement of the at least a portion of the chamber adapted to drive the output device to provide a continuous apparatus output. In at least one embodiment of the invention, heat is extracted from the compressed gas for utilisation in local heating systems. | 05-31-2012 |
20120167562 | DISPLACEMENT DRIVE - A mass displacement drive has at least two corresponding arms and a chamber located at a distal end of each arm, each chamber having a piston moveable therein. A fluid, which may be a gas such as air, enters and exits the chambers at defined intervals to change the buoyancy of the chambers with respect to each other, generating a mass displacement torque to move the arms about the axis. | 07-05-2012 |
20120198833 | GRAVITY AND BUOYANCY ENGINE - One example embodiment includes a gravity and buoyancy engine. The gravity and buoyancy engine includes a ball drop, wherein the ball drop is configured to release a ball to fall under the force of gravity. The gravity and buoyancy engine also includes an energy converter, wherein the energy convertor is configured to convert the energy of the falling body into energy that can be output from the gravity and buoyancy engine. The gravity and buoyancy engine further includes a ball reset, wherein the ball reset is configured to lift the ball to the initial release point. | 08-09-2012 |
20120247096 | Wave energy converter with asymmetrical float - A wave energy converter (WEC) having an asymmetrically shaped float and a spar which move relative to each other in response to the waves. The asymmetrical float has one side longer than the other. A power take off device (PTO) is coupled between the asymmetric float and the spar for converting their relative motion into useful power. Apparatus is coupled to the WEC for: (a) orienting and rotating the longer side of the float to face and receive oncoming waves to increase energy capture when the waves have an amplitude below a predetermined value for improving the power generation of the WEC; and (b) rotating the float to orient the narrower side of the float to face and receive the incoming waves when the waves have an amplitude above a predetermined value, so as to reduce the forces to which the WEC is subjected. | 10-04-2012 |
20120297760 | Methods and Systems for Power Generation By Changing Density of A Fluid - A method for generating energy from low-density fluids is provided. The method includes placing a first object in a first portion of fluid having a first density, injecting low-density fluids into the first portion of fluid in order to reduce the density thereof to a second density less than the density of the first object and thereby induce buoyancy-dependent translation of the first object in response thereto, and generating energy based upon buoyancy-dependent translation of the first object. Related apparatuses and systems are also disclosed. | 11-29-2012 |
20120317970 | Wave power plant - The present invention relates to a plant for recovery and conversion of kinetic energy in bodies of water to mechanical or electrical energy. The plant comprises a float ( | 12-20-2012 |
20130036731 | MODULE FOR RECOVERING ENERGY FROM MARINE AND FLUVIAL CURRENTS - The present invention relates to a module for recovering energy contained in marine and fluvial currents comprising: at least one hydrodynamic float ( | 02-14-2013 |
20130081388 | WAVE POWERED BUOYANCY CONTROL SYSTEM FOR FLOATING WAVE POWER PLANTS - A system for controlling the submersion of a floating section/body of a wave power plant includes a pump connected to a compressible fluid accumulator and a ballast chamber. The pump is arranged to pump compressible fluid from the ballast chamber to the accumulator. The system further includes an opening in a wall of the ballast chamber that enables the ballast chamber to let in seawater. Furthermore, the pump is powered by wave energy. | 04-04-2013 |
20130318960 | BUOYANCY POWER GENERATING APPARATUS - A buoyancy power generating apparatus includes: a tank adapted to receive liquid therein; a buoyancy mechanism disposed in the tank and including a bladder support and a bladder supported on the bladder support; a vertical support disposed outwardly of the tank; a weight unit supported movably on the vertical support; and a transmission coupled to the buoyancy mechanism and the weight unit so that the weight unit can be driven by the bladder to move upwardly during upward movement of the bladder and that the weight unit can be moved downwardly by gravity when the bladder is deflated. | 12-05-2013 |
20140208736 | Force transfer device - A device which utilizes buoyancy and draws all or a majority of the energy required to make it function from gravity and is able to convert more of that energy into usable force than is required to operate the device | 07-31-2014 |
20140338321 | NOVEL FLOATING EAGLE TYPE WAVE POWER GENERATING DEVICE WITH SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE CHARACTERISTIC - A floating eagle type wave power generating device includes an eagle-head-shaped wave absorption floating body, a ship-shaped underwater appendage and a door-shaped support arm. The eagle-head-shaped wave absorption floating body is fixedly connected with an upper end of the door-shaped support arm. A lower end of the door-shaped support arm is connected with first hinges. The first hinges are fixedly connected with the ship-shaped underwater appendage through a base. The door-shaped support arm, together with the eagle-head-shaped wave absorption floating body, can rotate around the first hinges. L-shaped underwater appendages, mounted at two ends of the ship-shaped underwater appendage, are connected with the ship-shaped underwater appendage through second hinges and can rotate around the second hinges. A main floating body is arranged above the ship-shaped underwater appendage and below the eagle-head-shaped wave absorption floating body. The ship-shaped underwater appendage is provided with buoyancy compartments and equipment compartments. | 11-20-2014 |
20150013325 | WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER SYSTEM - The invention is a wave energy device which optimizes energy conversion from waves with a stable submerged platform coupled to compliant chain of floats (“pods”) which are connected to the platform by piston pumps. Wave action drives pumps to deliver pressurized water to a hydro turbine coupled to an electric generator for delivery of electric power to shore via a submarine cable. Alternatively, the pressurized water may be delivered to shore through pipes on the ocean floor, to generate electric power, also as input flow for reverse osmosis potable water production and for cooling applications. | 01-15-2015 |
20150013326 | POWER GENERATING APPARATUS - Power generating apparatus comprising a deep liquid container having a deep liquid therein, an endless rotatable loop element at least in part in the deep liquid container, and configured to be rotated by a driver about a horizontal or substantially horizontal axis of rotation, and energy harvester associated with the rotatable loop element. The rotatable loop element comprises at least one vessel including at least one variable-shape fluid-tight gas chamber and movable separator defining at least in part the gas chamber. The in use movable separator being at least partially movable in response to a change in hydropressure and the in use energy harvester harvesting energy as the movable separation means moves. The movable separator contracts or expands its captured gas volume in direct response to the changing external liquid pressures upon it as the vessel or descends. | 01-15-2015 |
20150040556 | ZERO EMISSIONS POWER PLANT - An engine with low rpm and high torque from a combination of gravity forces and the inherent buoyancy as energy of a hollow body is formed immersed in a fluid. The engine includes pair of track system as parallel conveyers with belts or chains and gears that's fixed to a frame that's repeatedly displaces water, two methods used achieving the same objective firstly, sealed cylinders with gears on conveyer, said conveyer frame has external and internal single edge tracking gear cut segment that generate the gravity and buoyancy continuously, the second method triangular prism bellow chambers attached to said conveyer operated by a rail system to collapse and expend thereby combination of buoyancy and gravitational forces causes movement of sprocket chain thus rotate the sprocket gears which is used as a power plant, multiple engines can be deployed in a large tall tank, lake, and ocean as clean energy farm. | 02-12-2015 |
20150308401 | Apparatus, System and Method for Raising Water Using a Container - An apparatus, system, and method for raising water using containers is provided. The system includes a first frame ascendable and descendible within a body of water. At least one container is connected to an elongated cable, wherein the elongated cable is connected to the first frame, wherein two free ends of the elongated cable are connectable together when the first frame is in a descended position within the body of water. The system may include an Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), Low-Temperature Thermal Desalination (LLTD), and/or Seawater Air Conditioning (SWAC) system, among others. | 10-29-2015 |
20150330357 | GENERATING ENERGY FROM CHANGES IN ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE - A system and method for generating energy by exploiting changes in atmospheric pressure. A system is provided that includes a pair of submerged vessels, each vessel containing a fluid; a mechanism for alternatively raising and lowering the submerged vessels to cause the fluid to expand and contract; a system for capturing mechanical energy resulting from the expansion and/or contraction; and a system for converting the mechanical energy to electrical energy. | 11-19-2015 |
20160017859 | UNDERWATER DEVICE - A pod of an ocean current power generation device which is serving as an underwater floating-type underwater device is provided with a ballast tank and an air storage tank. When discharging water from the ballast tank, by opening a water discharge valve and driving a water discharge pump, water inside the ballast tank is discharged to the outside through a water conduit. When supplying water, by opening a water supply valve while the water pressure outside the pod is greater than the water pressure inside the ballast tank, water is made to flow from the outside of the pod through an aperture portion, and into the ballast tank via the water conduit. | 01-21-2016 |
20160169189 | ENGINE FOR CONVERSION OF THERMAL ENERGY TO KINETIC ENERGY | 06-16-2016 |