Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING ROTATING FORCE FOR GENERATORS

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a device and method for producing a rotating force for power generators, wherein a reciprocal linear motion produced by the rise/fall of the tide and a lever, to which manpower is applied, is transferred into a rotary motion for the generators based on the principle of transferring a reciprocal linear motion having a regular stroke into a continuous rotary motion. Background Art

[2] The generation of electricity means the production of electric power. Modern electricity generating methods known in the art include methods of using natural energies in such forms as waterpower, tidal energy, wind power, and solar energy generation; methods of thermal power generation by burning fossil fuel; methods of nuclear power generation using uranium and the like; methods using mechanical engines; and methods using manpower.

[3] A related technology is disclosed in Korean Patent No. 472744, titled "POWER

GENERATION AND STORAGE SYSTEM UTILIZING NATURAL ENERGY" and its structure is constructed of a main power generation system M, as shown in FIG. 1, which produces a huge amount of power by collecting electricity from power generation units of respective energy sources.

[4] The main power generation system M includes a plurality of unit power accumulators 6a, 6b, 6c, ... and 6n composed of a vertical ratchet gear 1 formed on the outer circumference of a driving shaft 2, a plate coil 24 formed inside a click 3, which is engaged with the ratchet gear 1 to control a reverse rotation of the driving shaft 2, a large diameter gear 4a of a bevel gear train 4 to the inside end of which the outer end of the plate coil 24 is fixed, a small diameter gear 4b rotating meshed with the large diameter gear 4a of the bevel gear train 4 while being rotated by a rotating shaft 5 connected with the respective energy source-specific power generation unit; a control system 8 controlling the turning speed of the driving shaft 2 while being pressed by a disc brake 7 and a pad 25, which are being expanded and constricted by oil pressure, air pressure, or oil and air mixed pressure, installed below the unit power accumulators of the driving shaft 2; a power transmission 9, having the same shape as the unit power accumulators 6a to 6n, firmly installed on the bottom circumference of the driving shaft 2; an accelerating gear train 12 composed of a large diameter gear 1 Ia installed on a rotating shaft 10 of a small diameter gear 9b of the power transmission 9 and a

small diameter gear 1 Ib rotating meshed with the large diameter gear 11a; and a generator 13 connected with the small diameter gear 1 Ib via a shaft 9c.

[5] In the aforementioned power generation system, driving power is produced by the power generation units according to the energy sources such as water power, wind power and solar energy, and can be stored in the constricted plate coils 24 by rotating the bevel gears 4 of the unit power accumulators 6a, 6b, 6c, ..., and 6n. The power transmission 9 installed on the bottom of the driving shaft 2 rotates by the rotation of the driving shaft 2, which is rotated due to the accumulated power. According to the rotation of the power transmission 9, the accelerating gear train 12 connected with the power transmission 9 and the rotating shaft 10 start rotating and finally the power generator 13 produces a huge amount of electricity.

[6] However, the aforementioned main power generation system is set with standardized equipment, and when using energy sources such as waterpower and wind power, is rotated by fluid such as water and wind colliding against fans installed in the system. Therefore, the system cannot be applied to floating places with regular height differences like ocean waves. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[7] The present invention has been proposed to solve the aforementioned problems, and embodiments of the present invention provide a device and method for producing a rotating force for power generators, which can improve energy efficiency by driving the generators via a rotating force generator, which transfers a reciprocal linear motion to a continuous rotary motion without any loss of kinetic energy, and to which the power generator is connected; which can generate energy without producing any pollutants by means of making maximum use of natural energy such as ocean waves and the like; and which can be appropriately applied to an independent power generator using manpower and the like due to miniaturization. Technical Solution

[8] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the present invention provides a method of producing a rotating force for power generators. The method includes steps of: preparing rotating gears on both ends of a rotating shaft, respectively; and transmitting, at the rotating gears, turning forces to the rotating shaft when turning in different directions, so that the turning forces in the different directions produce a unidirectional rotating force on the rotating shaft, and reciprocally moving back and forth by making contact with an outside body to continuously turn the rotating shaft.

[9] In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the present invention provides a device for producing a rotating force for power generators. The device

includes a rotating shaft; rotating gears installed on both ends of the rotating shaft so as to provide a unidirectional rotating force to the rotating shaft when turning in opposite directions; and operating rods, each of which corresponds to a respective one of the rotating gears, wherein the operating gears turn the respective rotating gear when moving in different directions.

Advantageous Effects

[10] According to embodiments of the present invention, energy efficiency can be improved by driving the power generator through the rotating force generator, which transfers a reciprocal linear motion to a continuous rotary motion without any loss of kinetic energy, and to which the power generator is connected, and energy can be generated without producing any pollutants by making maximum use of natural energy such as ocean waves and the like. Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention can be appropriately applied to an independent power generator using manpower and the like since they can be miniaturized. Brief Description of Drawings

[11] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the structure of a conventional power generation system.

[12] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a rotating force generator in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[13] FIGS. 3 and 4 are the perspective views illustrating rotating force generators in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention.

[14] FIGS. 5 and 6 are the cross-sectional views illustrating main parts of the rotating force generators in accordance with the present invention.

[15] FIGS. 7 and 8 are the perspective views illustrating rotating force generators in accordance with still other embodiments of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

[16] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[17] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a rotating force generator in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; FIGS. 3 and 4 are the perspective views illustrating rotating force generators in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention; FIGS. 5 and 6 are the cross-sectional views illustrating main parts of the rotating force generators in accordance with the present invention; and FIGS. 7 and 8 are the perspective views illustrating rotating force generators in accordance with still other embodiments of the present invention.

[18] The present invention provides rotating gears 250 installed on both ends of a rotating shaft 100 to transmit rotating forces in opposite directions, respectively, so that the

rotating forces in the opposite directions produce a unidirectional rotating force on the single rotating shaft 100 to continuously turn the rotating shaft 100.

[19] A ratchet unit 200 is prepared respectively on the respective rotating gear 250 formed on either end of the rotating shaft 100 in order to supply the rotating force from the rotating gear 250 to the rotating shaft 100 in a regular sequence.

[20] An operating rod 300 performing a reciprocal linear motion at a regular stroke in order to turn the rotating gear 250 connected with the rotating shaft 100 by the ratchet unit 200 is installed to correspond with the respective rotating gear 250.

[21] The rotating gear can be turned by bringing the operating rod 300, after being installed on one side of a base frame 130 so as to be reciprocally movable, into contact with the rotating gear 250 on the rotating shaft 100, fixed to the other side of the base frame 130.

[22] In the meantime, it is possible to turn the rotating gear 250 by moving the rotating shaft 100 on one side of the base frame 130, wherein the rotating shaft 100 is installed on the other side of the base frame 180 so as to be movable in contact with the operating rod 300 after the operating rod 300 is fixed.

[23] A weight 450 is additionally connected with the rotating shaft 100 to maintain a regular inertial force.

[24] The rotating shaft in this embodiment of the present invention is a structure to which a chain or a belt is connected via a sprocket wheel or a drum coupled with the rotating shaft, and is connected with a generator (not shown) to turn the generator.

[25] At this time, the generator can be directly connected with the rotating shaft.

[26] Meanwhile, the rotating force generator in accordance with the present invention includes the rotating shaft 100 connected with the generator by additionally interposing a decelerator (not shown); the rotating gears 250 installed to turn on both ends of the rotating shaft 100; the ratchet units 200 installed to transmit the rotating forces of the rotating gears 250 only in one direction to the rotating shaft 100; and the operating rods 300 each of which corresponds with a respective one of the rotating gears 250.

[27] The rotating shaft 100 is structured to be connected with a plurality of guide bars 150 connected with the base frame 130 and a supporting bracket 170 supported by the guide bars 150, and is installed to move along the guide bars 150.

[28] The supporting bracket 170 is installed to move up and down along the guide bars via a handle 173 connected with the base frame 150 in order to use the principle of leverage and a driving rod 175 linked with the handle 173.

[29] In addition, the driving rod 175 is installed to automatically revert to the other direction after being moved in one direction by a first spring 177 additionally provided thereon.

[30] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the driving rod 175 is additionally connected with a separate

buoyancy tank 179 moving up and down depending on the tidal rise/fall.

[31] The ratchet unit 200 includes at least one supporting jaw 201 provided on the rotating shaft 100, a ratchet 203 installed to be controlled by the supporting jaw when moving in one direction, and a ratchet wheel 205 provided inside the rotating gear 250 in order to transmit the rotating force to the rotating shaft via the ratchet 203.

[32] The ratchet 203 is elastically installed by providing the second spring 203-1 on the rotating shaft.

[33] The rotating gear 250 provided on either end of the rotating shaft 100 is formed with first gear teeth 255 on the outer circumference thereof in order to transmit the turning force of the right rotation and the reverse rotation to the rotating shaft without sliding when brought into contact with the operating rod 300 by the ratchet unit.

[34] The operating rod 300 is also formed with second gear teeth 355 to correspondingly mesh with the rotating gear 250 and is fixed to the base frame 130.

[35] The operating rod 300, as illustrated in FIG. 7, is installed to be movable around the base frame 130 by being connected with the handle 173 while being supported by a guide roller 310 or a bushing 330 installed on the base frame 130.

[36] On this occasion, the rotating shaft 100 is fixed to the base frame 130.

[37] Another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 8, is structured to be additionally provided with a cam wheel 172 and a cam rod 172-3 in place of the handle 173, wherein the cam rod 172-3 moves up and down while the cam wheel 172 is turning.

[38] The operation of the present invention formed with the aforementioned figures is described below.

[39] In the present invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 8, when the handle 173 connected with the base frame 130 in a link configuration is moving back and forth, the operating rod 175 connected therewith moves up and down along the supporting bracket 170 connected with the rotating shaft while linearly moving along the base frame 130.

[40] The supporting bracket 170 moves back and forth along a plurality of the supporting guide bars 150 installed on the base frame 130 within the predetermined area.

[41] Both sides of the rotating shaft 100 are supported on the guide bars 150 by the supporting brackets 170 at the corresponding location.

[42] The handle 173 is pulled or pushed by manpower so as to produce a reciprocal motion at a regular stroke with respect to the guide bars 150.

[43] If the first spring 177 is mounted on the operating rod 175 connected with the handle

173, the handle can be automatically reverted to the original status by the force stored during pulling of the handle without any pushing movement.

[44] When the handle 173 is pulled with the aforementioned configuration, the rotating gear 250 connected with the ratchet unit 200 on the rotating shaft 100 turns when the

supporting bracket 170 moves along the guide bars 150 since both sides of the rotating shaft 100 are provided with the operating rods 300 having the second gear teeth 355.

[45] Then, the rotating force can be transmitted to the rotating shaft 100 via one side of the rotating gear when the supporting bracket 170 moves upwards since the respective rotating gears 250 installed on the opposite sides of the rotating shaft 100 are connected with the respective ratchet units 200 in order to transmit the turning forces in opposite directions.

[46] When the supporting bracket 170 moves downwards, the turning force can be continuously transmitted to the rotating shaft during the upwards/downwards motion of the supporting bracket by delivering the rotating force to the rotating shaft 100 via the other side of the rotating gear.

[47] Since the rotating shaft 100 is additionally provided with the weight 450, the rotating shaft 100 turns while keeping a certain level of turning force due to inertial force.

[48] The embodiment of the present invention can be connected with the buoyancy tank

179 instead of the handle 173. When the base frame 130 built with the buoyancy tank 179 is fixed on the seashore where high tide and tides occur, the upwards/downwards motion of the buoyancy tank 179 by movement of the ocean waves and differences in the height of the waves can be transferred to the rotary motion of the rotating shaft.

[49] In this occasion, power generation is enabled by turning the generator 500, which is connected with the rotating shaft.

[50] The ratchet unit 200 transmits only the turning force in one direction according to the turning of the rotating gear since the ratchet unit 200 is composed of at least one supporting jaw 201 on the rotating shaft 100, the ratchet installed to be controlled by the supporting jaw 201 when moving in one direction, and the ratchet wheel 205 provided inside the rotating gear 250.

[51] The rotating shaft 100 can be rotated by moving the operating rod 300 in a state where the supporting bracket 170 is fixed to the base frame 130; and the operating rod 300, supported via the guide roller 310 or the bushing 330 installed on the base frame 130, is connected to one side of the rotating shaft 100 to turn the rotating shaft 100 when moved by the handle 173.

[52] When the cam wheel 172, which turns by the rotation of the cam knob 172-1, and the cam rod 172-3 connected with the cam wheel 172 replace the handle 173, one side of the cam rod 172-3 is connected with the driving rod 175 in order to move the driving rod 175 upwards/downwards when the cam wheel 172 is turning.

[53] Although the cam wheel 172 is rotating in the proper direction or the reverse direction during the inflow/outflow of the ocean waves, the driving rod 175 moves upwards and downwards to continuously turn the rotating shaft 100.

Industrial Applicability

[54] The present invention can be applied to an electric power generation system that generates energy without producing any pollutants by making maximum use of natural energy such as ocean waves and the like. The rotating force generator can drive the power generators connected therewith by transferring a reciprocal linear motion to a continuous rotary motion without any loss of kinetic energy.