REMOTE, COMPLETELY SELF-CONTAINED, SELF-MAINTAINING POWER SUPPLY APPARATUS FOR POWERING A PRESSURIZED-LIQUID DISTRIBUTING AND DISSEMINATING SYSTEM

• US 3,750,001 A
• Filed: 10/15/1970
• Issued: 07/31/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edward W. Mccloskey
• Original Assignee: Edward W. Mccloskey
• Inventors: McCloskey, Edward W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, J. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hickey, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US05/080,999
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 322/40,28,35 320/12,61 290/43,52
• US Class Current: 322/35
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 3/10 characterised by having means for functioning alternatively as pumps or turbines starting F03B15/005
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2200/15 Inverse
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/003 using electromagnetic, electric or electronic means G01F15/002, G01F15/02 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 22/02 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1823 structurally associated with turbines or similar engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy

Abstract

One or more completely independent power supply means, each intended for powering one or more power utilization devices associated with a pressurized-liquid-transmission system, and the combination thereof with an automatically controlled, pressurized distributing and disseminating system which, in a preferred form, includes a pressurized-liquid-transmission main pipe means and, for each self-contained powering unit, at least one servo motor means and a power utilization device operated thereby and associated with the pressurized-liquid-transmission main pipe means in a particular desired pressurized-liquid-flow-modifying manner. In a preferred form, the power supply apparatus includes electrical energy storage means and pressurized-liquid-flowpowered electrical generating means for recharging the electrical energy storage means, in one preferred form in a manner which is effectively a function of the deficiency of the magnitude or quantity of electrical energy stored in the electrical energy storage means.

Claims

1. A remote, completely self-contained, self-maintaining power supply apparatus for powering a pressurized-liquid distributing, and disseminating system, comprising:

a pressurized-liquid distriburing and disseminating system portion including at least a portion of a main pipe means provided with a pressurized liquid flowing therethrough and provided with at least one power utilization device, and controlling servo motor means, connected thereto and adapted to have a controlled amount of said pressurized liquid fed therethrough;

electrical energy supply means including electrical generating means and electrical energy storage means and first energy-storing coupling means taking the form of an electric circuit means interconnecting said electrical generating means and said electrical energy storage means in an energy-storing manner, said electrical generating means being provided with fluid motor means coupled thereto and in driving relationship thereto and being positioned within the path of flow of at least a portion of said pressurized liquid flowing through said main pipe means and responsive to such flow for periodically producing electrical energy during periods when said pressurized liquid flows relative to said electrical generating means and for storing, by ways of said electric circuit means, said electrical energy in said electrical energy storage means during said periods, said electrical energy storage means being provided with second coupling means comprising electric circuit means controllably effectively connected in an energy-releasing manner with respect to said servo motor means coupled with Repect to said power utilization device associated with said main pipe means in a particular desired manner for modifying the flow of said liquid through said power utilization device;

said first coupling means including coupling switch means provided with and controlled by activation means for causing said effective coupling of said first coupling means in said energy-storing manner with respect to said electrical energy storage means only when said electrical energy storage means has stored therein less than a predetermined magnitude of electrical energy, as indicated by the output voltage thereof, and including generator output modifying means, for modifying and controlling the output of said electrical generating means, effectively coupled with respect to said electrical generating means during said periods of flow of said perssurized liquid through at least a portion of said main pipe means and relative to said fluid motor means driving said electrical generating means, in a manner modifying the electrical output thereof as a direct function of, and in response to, the deficiency of said electrical energy stored in said electrical energy storage means, said generator output modifying means comprising an input portion effectively coupled with respect to said electrical energy storage means and an output portion effectively coupled with respect to said electrical generating means in a manner correspondingly modifying both the mechanical output of said fluid motor means and the electrical output of said electrical generating means, said output portion comprising a reversible servo motor means and generator output changing means coupled to said servo motor means, with said servo motor means being effectively electrically energized by said output error electrical signal produced by said input portion, said servo motor means effectively controlling input to the electrical generating means in inversely proportionate response to the charge output of said electrical energy storage means.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said input portion comprises an effective comparator means for comparing the magnitude of electrical energy stored by said electrical energy storage means with a predetermined reference standard and for produing a corresponding output error electrical signal of a corresponding magntiude and sense.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, including effective negative feedback means responsive to the extent of movement of said servo motor means and said generator output changing means moved thereby for progressively reducing the magnitude of said output error electrical signal produced by said input portion as a function of the deficiency of said electrical energy stored by said electrical energy storage means whereby to reduce said output error electrical signal to substantially zero magnitude and to deenergize said servo motor means coupled to said generator output changing means at an extent of the generator output modification, which is a function of said stored electrical energy deficiency.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said generator output changing means part of said output portion comprises controllably adjustable valve means for modifying the flow of such pressurized liquid effectively coupled in driving relationship with respect to said fluid motor means driving said electrical generating means.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said fluid motor means driving said electrical generating means comprises rotor means, including blade means, coupled in driven relationship with respect to said flow of said pressurized liquid, and wherein said electrical generating means further includes a mechanical-to-electrical energy converter means driven by said rotor means and operable to convert rotary mechanical movement into corresponding electrical output energy, said generator output changing means part of said output portion comprising rotor means orientation modifying means operable to modify blade pitch of the blade means Thereof for effectively correspondingly modifying the coupling of said rotor means with respect to said flow of said pressurized liquid.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said fluid motor means driving said electrical generating means comprises rotor means, including blade means, coupled in driven relationship with respect to said flow of said pressurized liquid, and wherein said electrical generating means further includes a mechanical-to-electrical energy converter means driven by said rotor means and operable to convert rotary mechanical movement into corresponding electrical output energy, said generator output changing means part of said output portion comprising variable ratio power transmission means effectively positioned between said rotor means and said mechanical-to-electrical converter means for changing the ratio of the driven rotation of said converter means relative to said rotor means in a manner correspondingly modifying the electrical output produced by said converter means.

7. A remote, completely self-contained, self-maintaining power supply apparatus for powering a pressurized-liquid distributing, and disseminating system, comprising:

a pressurized-liquid distributing and disseminating system portion including at least a portion of a main pipe means provided with a pressurized liquid flowing therethrough and provided with at least one power utilization device, and controlling servo motor means, connected thereto and adapted to have a controlled amount of said pressurized liquid fed therethrough;

electrical energy supply means including electrical generating means and electrical energy storage means and first energy-storing coupling means taking the form of an electric circuit means interconnecting said electrical generating means and said electrical energy storage means in an energy-storing manner, said electrical generating means being provided with fluid motor means coupled thereto and in driving relationship thereto and being positioned within the path of flow of at least a portion of said pressurized liquid flowing through said main pipe means and responsive to such flow for periodically producing electrical energy during periods when said pressurized liquid flows relative to said electrical generating means and for storing, by way of said electric circuit means, said electrical energy in said electrical energy storage means during said periods, said electrical energy storage means being provided with second coupling means comprising electric circuit means controllably effectively connected in an energy-releasing meanner with respect to said servo motor means coupled with respect to said power utilization device associated with said main pipe means in a particular desired manner for modifying the flow of said liquid through said power utilization device;

generator output modifying means comprising an input portion effectively coupled with respect to said electrical energy storage means and having an output portion effectively coupled with respect to said electrical generating means in both a mechanical and electrical output modifying manner during said periods when said pressurized liquid flows relative to said electrical generating means whereby the modification of the electrical output thereof is a function of, and is in response to, the deficiency of said electrical energy stored in said electrical energy storage means, said input portion comprising an effective comparator means for comparing the magnitude of electrical energy stored by said electrical energy storage means with a predetermined reference standard and for producing a corresponding output error electrical signal of a corresponding magnitude and sense, said output portion comprising a reversible servo motor means and generator output changing means coupled to said servo motor means, with said servo motor means being effectively electrically energized by said output error electrical signal produced by said input portion;

effective negative feedback means responsive to the exteNt of movement of said servo motor means and said generator output changing means moved thereby for progressively reducing the magnitude of said output error signal as a function of the deficiency of said electrical energy stored by said electrical energy storage means, whereby to reduce said output error electrical signal to substantially zero magnitude and to de-energize said servo motor means at an extent of generator output modification, which is a function of said stored electrical energy deficiency;

said input portion comparator means and said effective negative feedback means comprising electrical bridge means having a first leg provided with an impedance effectively variable in response to said deficiency of the electrical energy stored in said electrical energy storage means, a second leg having an impedance of a predetermined magnitude corresponding to and effectively a function of a reference standard, and a third leg connected in parallel to said first leg and having an impedance modifiable by said effective negative feedback means and having a fourth leg provided with a reference standard impedance.