Tide-powered electrical generator

• US 3,959,663 A
• Filed: 09/19/1974
• Issued: 05/25/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph V. Rusby
• Original Assignee: Joseph V. Rusby
• Inventors: Rusby, Joseph V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaefer, Robert K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Redman, John W.
• Application Number:
  US05/507,289
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 417/335-336, 290/42, 290/45, 290/53, 290/54, 60/497-505
• US Class Current: 290/53
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/262 using the relative movement between a tide-operated member and another member
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/30 Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient

Abstract

A tide-powered electrical generator wherein the energy from successive rising tides is stored in the form of potential energy for selective conversion to electricity. A float is constrained to vertical motion and it raises on successive tides a weight by means of a jack bar to reach a maximum predetermined height on a stable support structure where the weight is supported until release for the generation of electricity. Provision is made for the prevention of damage to the generator by excessive tidal rises.

Claims

1. A tide-powered electrical generator for use on a body of water subject to tidal action, comprising:

flotation means for responding to a rising tide by vertical translation;

energy storing means comprising a weight;

jack bar means mounted on said flotation means for successively engaging said weight during successive rising tide movements for raising said weight in successive movements, said jack bar means disengaged from said weight during declining tide movements;

means defining a stable structure substantially non-responsive to said tidal action, said stable structure including means for supporting said weight against downward movement but permitting said weight to be raised by said jack bar means; and

means for selectively converting to electrical energy the potential energy stored in said weight after being raised by tidal action.

2. The electrical generator of claim 1 which includes locking means to prevent downward movement and permit upward movement of said energy storing means.

3. The electrical generator of claim 2 in which said means for selectively converting includes means for releasing said locking means to permit said energy storing means to drop in order to generate said electricity and means for disengaging said jack bar means.

4. The electrical generator of claim 2 in which said energy storing means comprises a plurality of individual weights and is provided with selection means for selectively engaging said individual weights each with a said jack bar means and a said locking means.

5. The electrical generator of claim 4 wherein said plurality of said individual weights has a total mass when added together which is greater than the mass displacement of said flotation means and said selection means includes means for engaging at one time only a portion of said plurality of said weights each with a said jack bar means, said portion of said plurality of such weights having a mass which is less than the mass displacement of said flotation means.

6. The electrical generator of claim 1 in which said stable structure is provided with guide means to restrain lateral motion of said flotation means.

7. The electrical generator of claim 1 in which said stable structure is provided with means for preventing said weights from completely disengaging from said stable structure.

8. The electrical generator of claim 7 in which said means for preventing said weights from completely disengaging from said stable structure is provided with an alarm.

9. The electrical generator of claim 8 in which said means for preventing said weights from completely disengaging from said stable structure includes means for activating means for disengaging the said jack bar to prevent further raising of said weights.

10. A tide-powered electrical generator for use on a body of water subject to tidal action, comprising:

flotation means for responding to a rising tide by vertical translation;

energy storing means comprising a plurality of individual weights having a mass when added together which is greater than the mass displacement of said flotation means;

jack bar means mounted on said flotation means for selectively and successively engaging a portion of said weights during successive rising tide movements for raising said portion of said weights in successive movements, said jack bar means being disengaged from said weights during declining tide movements, said portion of said plurality of said weights having a total mass which is less than the mass displacement of said flotation means;

means defining a stable structure substantially non-responsive to said tidal action, said stable structure including guide means to restrain lateral motion of said flotation means, means for supporting said weights, selective locking means to prevent the downward movement and permit the free upward movement of said weights on an independent basis, means for preventing said weights from completely disengaging from said stable structure, said means for preventing said weights from completely disengaging from said stable structure including alarm means and means for activating a means for disengaging said jack bar means to prevent further raising of said weights; and

,

means for selectively converting to electrical energy the potential energy stored in individual said weights after said weights are raised by tidal action including means to selectively release said selective locking means to permit individual said weights to drop in order to generate said electricity.