Energy salvaging system

• US 4,246,753 A
• Filed: 10/24/1979
• Issued: 01/27/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Benjamin Redmond
• Original Assignee: Benjamin Redmond
• Inventors: Redmond, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Ostrager, Allen M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F.
• Application Number:
  US06/088,085
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 60/639, 60/325, 60/327, 60/398, 60/DIG. 2, 290/43, 290/54, 417/900, 415/116, 415/121 R, 415/121 A, 415/92
• US Class Current: 60/398
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/00 Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus if the apparatus aspects are predominant, see the relevant subclasses for such apparatus, e.g. H02K7/18; Power stations or aggregates incorporating only machines or engines of positive-displacement type F03C; hydraulic engineering aspects E02B; combinations with wind energy converters F03D9/008
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/602 with energy recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/50 Hydropower in dwellings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 60/911 Fluid motor system incorporating electrical system

Abstract

A drainpipe or sewer system gravitationally conducting wet sewage for discharge into a community sewer system having a section of said drainpipe, preferably between the last feeder pipe and the discharge end of said drainpipe into the community sewer system, containing therein a means supported by and or integrated with a rotatable shaft projecting through and beyond the wall of said drainpipe, positioned to intercept the moving sewage, in a manner to cause said means and shaft to rotate and permit the sewage to continue its flow into the community sewer system whereby said rotatable shaft becomes useable as a source of energy for various and sundry purposes.

Claims

1. An energy salvaging system for use in conjunction with buildings having non-pressurized drainpipes for gravitationally conducting wet and substantially non-homogeneous sewage including solids from one or more points of entry toward a discharge station into a public sewer system, or the like, comprising, in combination:

rotatable means communicatively disposed within said drainpipe intermediate said entry points and said discharge station, for salvaging otherwise wasted kinetic energy associated with moving substantially non-homogeneous sewage including solids, said rotatable means comprising a housing, a shaft extending through said housing journalled for rotation within said housing, and a plurality of impellers integrated with said shaft and positioned to intercept the flowing sewage, said impellers being formed with impact surfaces normally contacted by the moving sewage at an impact location with a force sufficient to impart rotary movement to said integrated impellers and shaft, and cleaning means disposed at a position spaced from said impact location for forcibly directing a jet of cleaning matter at said impact surfaces at a time when they are facing the flow direction of the moving sewage, thereby causing a dislodging of solid sewage remaining on the impact surfaces after initial contact so as to utilize gravitational forces to draw the dislodged sewage toward the public sewer system, and accumulation means communicating with said shaft for storing useful potential energy generated from said kinetic energy.

2. An energy salvaging system, according to claim 1, wherein said means for cleaning comprises at least one jet nozzle capable of forceably discharging fluid.

3. An energy salvaging system according to claim 2, further comprising control means for operationally controlling the time and duration of said fluid means.

4. An energy salvaging system according to claim 1, wherein said accumulation means also includes a reservoir of compressed air.