Method and apparatus for converting one form of energy into another form of energy

• US 3,927,329 A
• Filed: 04/11/1974
• Issued: 12/16/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James N. Anno, Sherwood L. Fawcett
• Original Assignee: James N. Anno, Sherwood L. Fawcett
• Inventors: Fawcett, Sherwood L., Anno, James N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaefer, Robert K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Redman, John W.
• Application Number:
  US05/460,187
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 418/33 290/1,52,43,54 60/721,326,325-327 310/11,4
• US Class Current: 290/1.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F01C 1/063 with coaxially-mounted members having continuously-changing circumferential spacing between them
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 44/00 Machines in which the dynamo-electric interaction between a plasma or flow of conductive liquid or of fluid-borne conductive or magnetic particles and a coil system or magnetic field converts energy of mass flow into electrical energy or vice versa

Abstract

Method and apparatus for converting one form of energy into another form of energy with the use of a closed, continuous loop passageway containing a plurality of freely movable, mechanically unrestrained bodies which travel around the passageway in one direction only. Force is applied to successive ones of the bodies in one region of the passageway to thereby propel the bodies around the passageway. At a point removed from the aforesaid region, at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the propelled bodies is converted into electrical energy or a compressed fluid. Thereafter, successive ones of the bodies are returned back to the starting region where they are again propelled in one direction by application of a force thereto. The bodies, usually in the form of spheres, are propelled by expansion of a gaseous medium due to combustion of a gaseous fuel mixture or by a traveling magnetic field. The kinetic energy of the bodies is extracted either by causing the propelled bodies, formed from magnetically permeable material, to pass through an electromagnetic field to convert some of the kinetic energy to electrical energy, or by compressing fluid between the bodies to provide energy in the form of a compressed fluid.

Claims

1. In the method for converting the kinetic energy of moving bodies into electrical energy, the steps of:

a. providing a closed, continuous loop passageway formed from non-magnetically permeable material and containing a plurality of freely movable, mechanically unrestrained bodies;

b. applying a force to successive ones of said bodies in a first region of said passageway to thereby propel successive ones of the bodies in one direction around the passageway;

c. permitting said bodies, after being propelled, to essentially freely accelerate in a second region of the passageway;

d. at a point beyond said first and second regions in the passageway providing lines of flux which intersect the path of travel of said freely movable bodies passing through said passageway whereby the propelled bodies will intersect the lines of flux thus produced to generate an electrical current; and

e. then returning successive ones of said bodies through a third region back to said first region where they are again propelled in said one direction, the bodies being further decelerated in said third region.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said bodies are formed of magnetically permeable material.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said force is applied to successive ones of said bodies in said first region by combustion of a gaseous fuel mixture.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said bodies are propelled through said passageway by subjecting the bodies to a magnetic field.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said magnetic field is produced by a linear generator.

6. Apparatus for converting one form of energy into electrical energy, comprising:

a. a closed, continuous loop passageway formed of non-magnetically permeable material;

b. a plurality of freely movable, mechanically unrestrained bodies of magnetically permeable material disposed within said passageway;

c. means for generating an internal force between successive ones of said bodies in a first region of said passageway to thereby propel successive ones of the bodies in one direction around the passageway;

d. means in a second region of said passageway to permit said bodies to essentially freely accelerate after being propelled;

e. electromagnetic means beyond said first and second regions of the passageway for converting at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the propelled bodies into electrical energy; and

f. means for causing said bodies to decelerate prior to reentry into said first region.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for applying a force to successive ones of said bodies comprises a linear accelerator.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said electromagnetic means comprises means for producing a magnetic field which is intersected by said propelled bodies, whereby the intersection of said magnetic field by said bodies will cut lines of flux to induce an electrical current.

9. In the method for converting the kinetic energy of moving bodies into another form of energy, the steps of:

a. providing a closed, continuous loop passageway containing a plurality of freely movable, mechanically unrestrained bodies;

b. expanding a fluid medium by combustion of a gaseous fuel mixture being successive ones of said bodies in a first region of said passageway to thereby propel successive ones of the bodies in one direction around the passageway;

c. permitting said bodies, after being propelled, to essentially freely accelerate in a second region of the passageway;

d. at a point beyond said first and second regions in the passageway converting at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the propelled bodies into another form of energy; and

e. then returning successive ones of said bodies through a third region back to said first region where they are again propelled in said one direction by combustion of a gaseous fuel mixture, the bodies being further declerated in sAid third region by compression of a gas.

10. In the method for converting a first form of energy into a second form of energy, the steps of:

a. providing a closed, continuous loop passageway containing a plurality of freely movable, mechanically unrestrained bodies;

b. applying a force to successive ones of said bodies in a first region of said passageway to thereby propel successive ones of the bodies in one direction around the passageway;

c. permitting said bodies, after being propelled, to essentially freely accelerate in a second region of the passageway;

d. at a point beyond said first and second regions in the passageway converting at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the propelled bodies into energy in the form of compressed fluid; and

e. then returning successive ones of said bodies through a third region back to said first region where they are again propelled in said one direction, the bodies being further decelerated in said third region by compression of a gas.