Energy production device and system

• US 9,735,651 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2014
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Martin John Wickett
• Original Assignee: Martin John Wickett
• Inventors: Wickett, Martin John
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Viet
• Application Number:
  US15/023,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20160218594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 290 1 C, 290 1 R, 290 42, 290 53
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/12 characterised by using wave or tide energy
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/20 wherein both members , i.e. wom and rem are movable relative to the sea bed or shore
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/264 using the horizontal flow of water resulting from tide movement
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 5/06 other than of endless-walk type
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/08 recovering energy derived from swinging, rolling, pitching or like movements, e.g. from the vibrations of a machine
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2250/44 one element moving inside another one, e.g. wave-operated member (wom) moving inside another member (rem)
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/4031 as in toothed gearing
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1853 driven by intermittent forces
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/30 Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient

Abstract

An energy production device including a frame, a body, first and second aligned input shafts projecting from two opposite faces of the body, and a third input shaft aligned with an output shaft. The direction of the first and second input shafts is perpendicular to the direction of the third input shaft and of the output shaft. A mechanical connection is provided at the proximal part of each of the shafts which is within the body. The mechanical connection operates with a transmission system within the body so that any rotation movement on any of the input shafts is converted into a unidirectional rotation movement on the output shaft. A distal end of the third input shaft is fixed to the frame. A bearing is fixed on the frame, into which the distal end of the output shaft is freewheeling. A first pendulum is mounted on a bearing at the distal end of the first input shaft to pivot around the first input shaft and a second pendulum mounted on a bearing at the distal end of the second input shaft to pivot around the second input shaft.

Claims

1. An energy production device comprising:

a frame;

a body;

first and second aligned input shafts projecting from two opposite faces of the body;

a third input shaft aligned with an output shaft, the direction of the third input shaft and of the output shaft being perpendicular to the direction of the first and second input shafts;

mechanical connection means at the proximal end of each of the shafts which is within the body, said mechanical connection means operating with a transmission system within the body so that any rotation movement on any of the input shafts is converted into a unidirectional rotation movement on the output shaft;

a distal end of the third input shaft being fixed to the frame;

a bearing fixed on said frame, into which the distal end of the output shaft is freewheeling;

a first pendulum mounted on a bearing at the distal end of the first input shaft to pivot around the first input shaft;

a second pendulum mounted on a bearing at the distal end of the second input shaft to pivot around the second input shaft;

an alternator connected to the output shaft to convert the unidirectional movement of the output shaft into electricity,

an electrical energy storage means for storing electrical charge; and

external electrical connection means on the outside surface of the frame electrically connected to the alternator to permit electricity generated by the energy production device to be used;

wherein the electrical energy storage means, or part thereof, is located in the pendulum and dynamic power transfer means are provided between the alternator and the pendulum in order to transfer the power between the alternator and the pendulum to store generated power in the electrical energy storage means and to draw stored charge from the electrical energy storage means.

2. The energy production device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage means for storing electrical charge comprises a battery connected to the alternator.

3. The energy production device according to claim 1, wherein the body is spherically-shaped, the first and second input shafts being substantially on one of the diameters of the sphere, and wherein each pendulum comprises a weight including an end facing said body, said end of each pendulum facing said body being curved complimentary to the shape of the body so that each pendulum is able to pivot around the body.

4. The energy production device according to claim 1, wherein each pendulum comprises a weight connected to an arm, and wherein each pendulum further comprises a counterbalance weight, said counterbalance weight located on an end of the arm opposite to the end connected to the pendulum weight.

5. The energy production device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second pendulums pivot independently from each other.

6. The energy production device according to claim 1, wherein each pendulum comprises a respective weight, the weights of the pendulums being rigidly linked to each other so that the weights pivot synchronously around their respective shafts.

7. The energy production device according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical connection means of the shafts to the transmission system comprise any of toothed gears, chains and cogs, belts and pulley wheels and any combination thereof.

8. The energy production device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission system between the mechanical connection means of the input shafts and the mechanical connection means of the output shaft comprises any of toothed gears, chains and cogs, belts and pulley wheels and any combination thereof.

9. An energy production device comprising:

a frame;

a body;

at least one first input shaft;

a further input shaft aligned with an output shaft;

mechanical connection means at the proximal end of each of the shafts which is within the body, said mechanical connection means operating with a transmission system within the body so that any rotation movement of any of the input shafts is converted into a unidirectional rotation movement of the output shaft;

the further input shaft being fixed to the frame;

a bearing fixed on said frame, into which the distal end of the output shaft is mounted and freewheeling;

at least a first pendulum mounted on the first input shafts to pivot with the first input shaft;

an alternator connected to the output shaft to convert the unidirectional movement of the output shaft into electricity;

an electrical energy storage means for storing electrical charge;

external electrical connection means on the outside surface of the frame electrically connected to the alternator to permit electricity generated by the energy production device to be used;

wherein the electrical energy storage means, or part thereof, is located in the pendulum and dynamic power transfer means are provided between the alternator and the pendulum in order to transfer the power between the alternator and the pendulum to store generated power in the electrical energy storage means and to draw stored charge from the electrical energy storage means.

10. The energy production device according to claim 9, further comprising power conversion means for converting the generated AC power into DC which can be stored in the electrical energy storage means.

11. The energy production device according to claim 9, wherein the external electrical connection means is DC.

12. The energy production device of claim 9, further comprising:

an enclosure into which is fixed the frame or constituting the frame; and

,

an electrical energy storage device electrically connected to the alternator.