U.S. patent application number 11/789684 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-08 for using the class #2 simple lever machine system to harvest and transport energy from water waves to shore for electricity and other uses.
Invention is credited to Kenneth Merle Weldon.
Application Number | 20070258771 11/789684 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38661298 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070258771 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Weldon; Kenneth Merle |
November 8, 2007 |
Using the class #2 simple lever machine system to harvest and
transport energy from water waves to shore for electricity and
other uses
Abstract
This project uses the class #2 simple lever machine principal in
a simple and unique way to harvest and transport energy from the
bottom of an ocean or lake from the action of water waves beyond
the shore and up on land. The fulcrum for this lever is an anchor
on the seafloor, at the opposite end of this lever, the force, or
energy, is an attached water container that rises and falls with
water wave action. A water pump anchored to the seafloor and
reaching the underside of the water container receives the energy
and pumps water continually and harmoniously with the vertical
movements of this water container to shore and into a fresh water
reservoir. After the water has lost its energy to do work from its
loss of elevation below the reservoir it can be recycled back to
the water pump. This application will show the water from the
reservoir to be used in the generation of electricity and either
recycled back to the water pump, or wasted after use, and a
continual supply of fresh water from another source is available
for use.
Inventors: |
Weldon; Kenneth Merle;
(Salem, OR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Kenneth M. Weldon
334 Calico St. NW
Salem
OR
97304
US
|
Family ID: |
38661298 |
Appl. No.: |
11/789684 |
Filed: |
April 25, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60802328 |
May 23, 2006 |
|
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60797174 |
May 4, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
405/76 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02E 10/20 20130101;
Y02E 10/30 20130101; E02B 9/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
405/76 |
International
Class: |
E02B 9/08 20060101
E02B009/08 |
Claims
1. I claim my invention is a new method to harvest and transport
energy as water in water pipes from the action of water waves from
an ocean or lake to an elevated onshore water reservoir or tank for
the primary mission to generate electricity from water turbines
below by using the principle of the class #2 simple lever machine
(see drawing sheet #1) to do work by using the seafloor or lake
bottom as the (fulcrum), or "anchor", for the "lever arm" extending
upwards from this point vertically into the water wave area,
preferably at a 45 degree angle, to an attached and heavy
container, that becomes the "effort", or "force" that will push the
lever arm down that has the top portion of a water piston with its
casing and piston attached to it on the lower side, and having the
bottom of this water pump's casing attached to the floor of the
body of water, will thusly will pump fresh water continuously to
and from shore with its connected water pipes at the base of the
water pump with the rising and falling vertical water wave action.
(See drawing sheet #6)
2. I claim that the use of a flexible type water pump such as an
expandable "bladder" or balloon located below the water wave will
push water to shore in a pipe as it draws in and expels its water
from the rising and falling water wave is new. (See drawing page #9
FIG. 10) As the wave recedes, the balloon will fill because of less
pressure from the water wave and greater "back pressure" of water
in the pipe leading to shore. This bladder can also work from the
direct force of a water wave when placed on a vertical hard surface
of a cliff or rock outcropping area in front of the wave.
3. I claim the weight of a volume or mass of water within a water
wave by either being free flowing or encapsulated within an open or
closed container, and undulating up and down to pump water to shore
in a water pipe is new as well as a plurality of other work
projects.
4. I claim a unique use of a fresh water pump working in water and
under water waves to push water in a water pipe to an elevated
fresh water reservoir on land and then accept fresh water back to
this water pump location from a river, stream, or other fresh water
source is new.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] This final invention has come from ideas I originally
conceived in the 1960's while boating in the Pacific Ocean off the
coast of the states of Oregon and Washington, U.S.A. I then started
to develop a way to capture some energy of water wave action to
produce electricity. To show an earlier time of conception before
today's date, I started mailing certified mailings to myself
beginning Feb. 19, 1999 that verifies work progress in the years of
1995 and 1996. I have three certified mailings to myself in 1999,
and one mailing in 2001 to show my progress on the invention, plus
all drawings, notes, and writings since that time. In earlier
conceptions, I was trying to carry an electrical station from a
fixed support using the wave, tide, and current actions
simultaneously. After that time, I completed an invention,
describing a mechanical energy source from a floating ship to
produce electricity, then even later, how to use this method
hydraulically, instead of mechanical means. I have most recently
discovered a new method to transport energy from water waves or
swells with fresh water to shore for electricity.
[0002] One of my recent discoveries uses the simple class #2 type
lever machine in a unique way to harvest and transport water or
hydraulic energy from ocean water waves to shore, for use to
produce electricity. I shall include this newly discovered method
as part of this invention.
[0003] The discovery of how to particularly transport the energy
using fresh water in a pipe in this new invention came to more
perfection late in the year of 2000, and will be verified with some
dated drawings and certified mailings to myself in March, 2001. In
2002, I found a better and inventive way to harvest energy for
electricity from the weight of objects or containers full of water
and placed below the surface of water waves or swells. The enclosed
water could then be used directly as weight, or energy and this
energy could then be transported to shore in water pipes. In 2003 I
found two additional and unique mechanical methods to harvest
energy from water waves now used in this invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The two main new innovations in this invention are: the
unique way to harvest energy from a water wave plus the
introduction and use of fresh water only in the entire water
pumping and circulating system. All water pumps under the water
waves in this invention can use either one pipe or the two pipe
method to push water to a reservoir on shore. One pipe means to
just push water back and forth in a pipe to shore the same distance
as the waves height will allow, and the two pipe method is to allow
water to come into the water pump under the water waves in one
pipe, and push water to shore in the second pipe from the pump.
[0005] This invention is especially unique in its primary way to
harvest water wave energy by using the class #2 simple lever
machine working under a water wave and having it fulcrum anchored
and pivoting on the seafloor. A heavy floating object moving
harmoniously with the waves at the end of this lever will move one
end of the simple lever up and down to operate a water pump piston
attached under this lever. The vertical movement of the water
piston in the water pump secured to the seafloor will draw and then
push fresh water to shore in pipes to a high water reservoir or to
a pressurized water holding tank, and finally, recycle the water
back to the water pump if desired.
[0006] After the fresh water has been used from the reservoir such
as turning the blades of a hydro-turbine located far below, or for
a plurality of other uses, it may be returned or recycled back to
the water pump area for re-use. The original supply of water may
come from a local stream, river, or other location to fill the
reservoir and will use water waves to pump it full. Using abundant
water from a nearby stream or river for the needed water supply
could eliminate the need to recycle this water. A small and
constant supply of fresh water is needed for replacing water losses
in this project.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Drawing sheet #1
[0008] A general view of a class #2 simple lever machine that is
used in this invention under the water waves to pump water to
shore
[0009] Drawing sheet #2
[0010] A general view of water being pushed from the sea into an
open water reservoir on land.
[0011] Drawing sheet #3
[0012] A general view of water being pushed from the sea into a
pressurized water holding tank on shore.
[0013] Drawing sheet #4
[0014] A view showing a rigid board being used to pump and recycle
water to shore
[0015] Drawing sheet #5
[0016] A frontal view showing a large float being used to pump and
recycle water to shore
[0017] Drawing sheet #6
[0018] A side view similar to drawing #5, showing a large float and
parts of the water pump and the pipes and valves to recycle water
using two pipes
[0019] Drawing sheet #7
[0020] A view similar to drawing #6, except the use of the one
water pipe method to shore using the "push and pull" or "back and
forth" motion of water to the shore
[0021] Drawing sheet #8
[0022] A view showing the intersection on shore where fresh water
is entering the "one pipe", or "push and pull" system to be pumped
to a water reservoir on land
[0023] Drawing sheet #9--(two figures)
[0024] FIG. 9
[0025] Shows how 20 different water pumping stations could work
harmoniously together to share the same pipe system to shore
[0026] FIG. 10
[0027] Sows an example of how an expandable bladder under a wave
could pump water to shore
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] To pump water from a water wave area at sea to the water
reservoir on land, a water pipe will extend directly from the ocean
water pump under the water waves at sea to the water reservoir on
land. (See drawing sheet #2) The ocean water waves will force water
into the pipes at sea by one of (3) basic methods. One method is to
use a float on the surface of water or encapsulated within a water
wave, or a small object, a barge, or a small ship as part of a
simple lever system. (See drawing sheet #5) The floating object
receives its energy from the rising water wave, and as gravity
pulls the object downward, its weight becomes energy to transport
water to shore. This method is a way for harvesting the greatest
amount of power from the ocean water waves yet known to
mankind.
[0029] Another method has a somewhat flat, rigid board attached
vertically to the lever and at a right angle to the wave. (See
drawing page #4) As the wave pushes on it, it is pushed downward to
force the water piston in the water pump to do its work. The last
method uses a collapsible bladder (See drawing sheet #9, FIG. 10)
to receive and exhale water from either the vertical weight or
horizontal force of a water wave. Placed below the wave, it will
collapse under the weight of the water wave, and then replenish its
water and size as the wave passes. The bladder itself acts as the
pump. Another location of the bladder may be on a vertical face or
rocky formation on shore being struck directly by the horizontal
force of water waves.
[0030] A method for using only one pipe to shore before the
recycling takes place is to use a simple water plunger under the
water wave to push water back and forth all the way to the shore.
(See drawing sheet #7) The piston is pushing water up the pipe, and
back down in the pipe, in a "back and forth" motion about the same
distance as the wave is in height or crest. This "back and forth"
water motion will end on shore where this pipe from the sea
intersects and receives either the recycled water in a return pipe,
or from a constant fresh water supply. This location is where the
water is recycled. Pressurized water from the plunger will go up in
one pipe toward the reservoir on the forward thrust, and check
valves will allow new or recycled water to enter this pipe on its
receding plunger action. Again, this method needs only one pipe
reaching from the ocean to this water pipe intersection. The use of
the one pipe method under a water wave makes it difficult to use or
allow multiple stations to be added to the single pipe. (see
drawing sheet #6) The two pipe method using two pipes connected to
the bottom of the water pump under the water waves at sea does the
recycling of water there plus in addition, it can accept multiple
stations from multiple waves to share the same two pipes to shore,
one of which is gravity fed water from shore, and the other pipe
carrying pressurized water to a reservoir on shore. (See drawing
sheet #9, FIG. 9)
[0031] The exchange of fresh returned water to pressurized water
will preferably take place below the water piston enclosed within
the vertical pipe casing and just above the floor of the ocean or
in deep water, from a structure rising from the floor of the ocean.
(See drawing sheet #6) The vertical pipe and vertical movement of
water below the piston will be diverted into a horizontal water
pipe on the seafloor to shore with one-way check-valves here and at
other locations on its way to shore for safety, loss of water or
energy. The water piston would be placed inside its round housing
vertically between the bottom of the ocean and the bottom of the
submerged structure. The water piston will be fixed to the bottom
end of the long piston shaft and this shaft will be attached firmly
to the bottom of the structure or float, (or on the simple lever
extending from structure). A pipe or casing surrounding this piston
for its entire length will also be rigidly fixed to the bottom of
the submerged structure, as both the piston and this outside casing
of the water pump will move harmoniously with the float or
structure. This casing will be the outside part of the water pump.
The uppermost end of the casing will hold air inside of it and as
the piston moves up and down in the water pipe, the changing volume
of air will move freely back and forth to the surface through a
large air vent in the top of this casing as well as removing
unwanted water between the two moving and sliding piston walls.
[0032] The base for the pump would be fixed rigidly to the seafloor
to accept the great weight of the assembly pushing down on the
water piston. The connection at the top end of the vertical water
piston and its metal collar at the bottom of the float assembly
would have to swivel or rotate in all directions. This pipe at the
lower and opposite end of this vertical water pump must rotate in
all directions where it is connected to the joint at the sea
bottom, or anchoring point. This connection at the seafloor is
actually the base of the water pump, where it will recycle the
incoming and outgoing water inside the two attached water pipes. It
is assumed that the most desired location of the water piston is to
be positioned at the float assembly's center of gravity. An
engineer may want to place the water pump in some other position on
the lever for a different mechanical advantage. When utilizing
several working stations, it is desirable to place this base, or
joint, receiving the extreme weight or force of the water piston,
centrally located as possible between the return and pressurized
water pipes to an from shore lying horizontally on the floor of the
ocean. A short and perhaps smaller pressurized water pipe will
connect each working station to the larger pressurized pipe located
nearby at about a 45 degree angle. The fresh water return water
pipe needed for this station will be "siphoned" or extracted from
the much larger "gravity return" water pipe nearby coming from
shore. The return water pipe will end at the last "station" on
line, as no further fresh water will be needed. And conversely, the
"pressurized" water pipe will only begin or "start" when the first
"station" is brought on line, but will continue on into the water
reservoir on shore. When each "station" is brought "on line" the
fresh water pipe and the pressurized water pipe should be placed
far enough apart for the vertical working water piston and pipe can
have ample working room plus a consideration for maintenance,
probably from a floating barge, to pull out and re-set new water
pumps.
[0033] To eliminate the need of a large water reservoir located on
shore and of high elevation, a small water tank on shore at any
elevation could be utilized as an enclosed pressurized water
holding tank. (see drawing sheet #3) The water that is forced into
a pressurized holding tank must have equal or greater pressure per
square inch than that of the tank. The water pressure inside the
tank could be increased also by reducing the pressurized water
pipes size to a smaller orifice as it enters the holding tank.
Preferably the holding tank will operate like a well and water tank
in a rural residence that has water with air in the tank. Proper
air and water ratio could maintain a very high water pressure for
use over very long periods of time. The air pressure in the tank
can be regulated by water pressure, external air pumps, or release
valves.
[0034] There will need to be an original source of fresh water from
a nearby stream, lake, river, or other source to fill the water
reservoir on land before the energy from this stored water in the
reservoir can be used. A small amount of fresh new water is needed
constantly for losses in evaporation, absorption, and water loss at
the water piston, etc. A geographic location with an abundance of
water may eliminate the need to recycled water, consequently, the
water from the high reservoir will then be "wasted" and not
returned for recycling.
* * * * *