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Tide activated generator

  • US 4,612,768 A
  • Filed: 09/16/1985
  • Issued: 09/23/1986
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1984
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for mechanically storing energy derived from the rotation of a first shaft and a for driving a rotatable main shaft associated with a power generator comprising, in combination,means for deriving energy from the rise and fall of a body of liquid for rotation of said first shaft,said means comprising, in combination,float means adapted to move substantially in a vertical plane in response to said rise and fall of said body of liquid,means associated with said float means for converting said vertical movement into reciprocating rotational movement of a drive shaft,a ratcheted differential adapted to convert said reciprocating rotational movement of said drive shaft into rotational movement of said first shaft in a single direction, said ratcheted differential being means for converting said vertical movement into reciprocating rotational movement of said drive shaft,said means for converting said vertical movement into rotational movement in a single direction comprising opposing rack gears communicating with pinion gears mounted on a pair of shafts,said pair of shafts communicating with said drive shaft, andeach of said pinion gears being ratcheted such that only rotational movement thereof in a predetermined direction is communicated to the shaft upon which it is mounted,connecting means for communicating said rotation of said first shaft to a first sprocketed sheave, andgear train means connecting said rotatable main shaft to a second sprocketed sheave and adapted to cause a rate of rotation of said rotatable main shaft greater than the rate of rotation of said second sprocketed sheave,said first and second sprocketed sheaves being in communication with one another by means of continuous, flexible connecting means disposed on said first and second sprocketed sheaves in non-sliding relationship therewith,said continuous, flexible connecting means having disposed thereon a weight which is raised by the rotation of said first sprocketed sheave,said second sprocketed sheave being capable of being rotated by the descent of said weight to cause rotation of said rotatable main shaft,said first sprocketed sheave and said second sprocketed sheave being adapted to rotate independently in response to rate of energy derivation and energy requirement, respectively, andsaid weight disposed therebetween being adapted to be raised and lowered on said continuous flexible connecting means in automatic response to difference in energy derivation and energy requirement.

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