POWER GENERATION APPARATUS USING BUOYANCY Technical Pidd The present invention relates to a power generation apparatus using buoyancy, more specifically to the power generation apparatus which may obtain power used in an equipment and installation efficiently, with regard to effective usages of buoyancy, by providing a power generation apparatus comprising a preparation part preparing a plurality of a floating drum, a first/second supply adjustment part supplying at least five floating drum sequentially, a supply part operating for successive supply of the floating drum, a power generation part generating power from a successive rotating drive using rising force of the floating drum by buoyancy, and predetermined control means and pressure adjustment means controlling an associated operation of each part.

BackgroundArt Buoyancy means an upward force that a fluid exerts on an object less dense than itself, and has a wide range of application such as a float of level sensor or a float for vessel.

Meanwhile, according to recent tendencies requiring developments of an alternative energy source not occurring an environmental contamination, researches is performed to obtain power by using solar heat or a wind, a tide and so on. Therefore, with these tendencies, the present invention is directed to power generation using buoyancy more effectively.

DisclosurejofJnxention The present invention is contemplated to solve the aforementioned problem, and

it is an object of the present invention to provide a power generation apparatus having a floating means in a predetermined sealed space filled with water and rotating a power chain carrier by using buoyancy in a rise of the floating drum, thereby obtaining power endlessly by effective usages of buoyancy without additional driving power.

The above object is accomplished by a power generation apparatus using a buoyancy comprising: a main body formed with a predetermined space, and having a guide channel of various passages divided by a plurality of a wall and water chamber/pressure chamber of a certain space; a preparation part formed in an upper part of the main body, having a holder disposed in a drum discharge portion, and containing a plurality of a floating drum by using at least two diverged guide channel; a first/second supply adjustment part formed in a middle part of the main body, communicated with the drum discharge portion of the preparation part, and supplying at least five floating drums sequentially by using a chain carrier arranged therein; a supply part formed in a lower part of the main body and supplying the floating drum successively by using the chain carrier arranged therein; a power generation part formed in a water chamber occupying a vertical side space of the main body and generating power by using buoyancy from a successive rise of the floating drum; and a plurality of valve means and compressing means controlling a level in the water chamber and pressure in the first/second supply adjustment part.

Especially, the power generation part includes: a power chain carrier arranged to be parallel in the vertical portion of the water chamber, having a plurality of a settlement pin where the floating drum is seated, and performing a circulated operation; and an idle shaft and an output shaft joined in an upper and a lower shaft center of the power chain carrier.

A damper is installed in a diverging portion and the drum discharge portion of the preparation part and a drum discharge portion of the first/second supply adjustment part to be switched relatively.

Pairs of elastic stopper is installed in a vertical portion of the guide channel of the preparation part and a vertical portion of the guide channel between the first/second

supply adjustment part and the supply part to reduce a velocity a dropping velocity of the floating drum.

A guide pin is installed in the chain carrier of the first/second supply adjustment part and the supply part with a constant pitch.

Two guide channel extended respectively in the first/second supply adjustment part are merged closely to the supply part.

A coating layer is coated on an inner surface of the wall of each guide channel to deprive a smooth movement of the floating drum.

Brief lscriptionjofDrawings The features and advantages of the present invention will be more described specifically in the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIG. 1 is a side view of a power generation apparatus using buoyancy with accordance with the present invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of power generation part in the power generation apparatus using buoyancy according to the present invention; FIG. 3 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along a line A-A; FIG. 4 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along a line B-B; FIG. 5 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along a line C-C; FIG. 6 is a side view representing an operation of a first supply adjustment part in the power generation apparatus using buoyancy according to the present invention ; and FIG. 7 is a side view representing an operation of a second supply adjustment part in the power generation apparatus using buoyancy according to the present invention.

Best MnclP for Carrving Out the Tnvention Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present

invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In explaining the present invention, the same names and reference numerals will be given to the same components, and explanations in the same will be omitted.

FIG. 1 represents an entire configuration of power generation apparatus using buoyancy with accordance with the present invention.

A main body 13 of the power generation apparatus is formed with a sealed space of a predetermined height, and has a guide channel 10 of various passages divided by a plurality of a wall and water chamber 11/pressure chamber 12 with a certain space.

The guide channel 10 is passages through which a floating drum 15 is moved. In one embodiment of the present invention, the guide channel 10 is diverged from a horizontal channel located in outlet of the water chamber 11 into two vertical channels, merged into a vertical channel, and with a horizontal channel having a certain bent portion, connected to a inlet of the water chamber 11.

Over an entire wall surface of the guide channel 10, a coating layer 29 is coated to deprive a less friction contact with the floating drum 15, and thereby the floating drum 15 proceeds smoothly.

The water chamber 11 imparts buoyancy to the floating drum 15, and occupies a side space of the main body 13. The most part of the water chamber 11 and a lower horizontal channel of the guide channel 10 communicated with the water chamber 11 are filled with water.

By filling the lower horizontal channel with water, the floating drum 15 proceeding therein has primary buoyancy, and thereby upon entering the water chamber 11, the floating drum 15 may obtain a thrust for lifting.

A level in the water chamber 11 is detected by a level detection sensor 33 installed to a side of the lower horizontal channel. When a signal of the level detection sensor 33 is inputted into control means, the control means adjusts pressure in a pressure chamber 12 by way of controlling an output of a compressor 35. Therefore, the level in the water chamber 11 may be maintained constantly at a proper level.

A preparation part 16 containing a plurality of floating drums 15 is formed in the

upper part of the main body 13.

The preparation part 16 includes the upper horizontal channel of the guide channel 10 communicated with the outlet of the water chamber 11 and two vertical channels diverging downwardly from the upper horizontal channel, and causes a plurality of floating drums 15 from the outlet of the water chamber 11 to be distributed equally into each vertical channels after the floating drums 15 moves along the upper horizontal channel.

For this reason, as can be seen in FIG. 4, a damper 26 switched by a predetermined actuator 31 such as a motor or a cylinder is installed to a diverging portion of the upper horizontal channel. The floating drum 15 may be forwarded into the vertical channel of a first supply adjustment part 18 as the damper is opened, and the floating drum 15 may be forwarded into the vertical channel of a second supply adjustment part 19 as the damper is closed.

Since pairs of elastic stoppers 27 are installed in each vertical channel of the preparation part 16 with a constant distance, i. e. a distance corresponding to pitch between the floating drums 15 proceeding close to each other, the dropping velocity of the floating drum 15 is reduced.

That is, since the stoppers 27 are installed to be return to previous position by using self-elastic means such as spring and thereby may support the floating drum 15 elastically, the dropping velocity of the floating drum 15 is reduced with the impact on the stoppers 27.

A drum holder 14 gripping a lowermost floating drum 15 from both sides in installed to a discharge portion of the preparation part 16 to support the floating drum 15 stacked thereon. Since a switched damper 26 is installed under the drum holder 14, the proper number of the floating drumsl5 may be forwarded into the first supply adjustment part 18 and the second supply adjustment part by the associated operation of the drum holder 14 and the damper 26.

It is preferable that the drum holder is operated by a actuator such as a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder.

Especially, a drum detection sensor 37 is installed to one side of the guide channel 10 where the drum holder 14 is disposed, for counting the number of the floating drums 15 forwarded into the first supply adjustment part 18 and the second supply adjustment part 19. When about five floating drums 15 is counted after an opening of the damper 26 and a releasing of the drum holder 14, the holding operation of the drum holder 14 is initiated again.

The first supply adjustment part 18 and the second supply adjustment part 19 are formed in the middle part of the main body 13, and include two guide channel 10 arranged to be parallel each other.

Since the first supply adjustment part 18 and the second supply adjustment part 19 maintain the number of the floating drums 15 forwarded into a supply part 20 constantly, problems due to the accumulation or lack of the forwarded floating drum 15 are prevented, and a smooth movement of the floating drum 15 may be maintained continuously.

In each guide channel 10 of the first supply adjustment part 18 and the second supply adjustment part 19, a guide pin 28 is installed vertically with a constant pitch to support each floating drum 15, and a chain carrier 17 including drive means is vertically installed. The damper 26 is installed under the chain carrier 17 to block the movement of the floating drum 15 and isolate an inner space from the pressure chamber 26.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the chain carrier 17 in which may supply at least five floating drums 15 at one time is used.

In addition, each pressure line 36 extended from the compressor 35 is connected with the first supply adjustment part 18 and the second supply adjustment part 19, and according to a switching operation of each solenoid valve 34 in the pressure line 36, a predetermined pressure is generated therein.

That is, since the inner space of the first supply adjustment part 18 and the second supply adjustment part 19 and the lower pressure chamber communicated therewith should have the same pressure for forwarding the floating drum 15 into a supply part 20, the inner pressure of the first supply adjustment part 18 and the second

supply adjustment part 19 is made to be the same as that of the pressure chamber 12 through the operation of the compressor 35 and the control of the solenoid valve 34 before opening the damper 26.

The supply of the floating drum 15 is achieved by the sequential operation of the first supply adjustment part 18 and the second supply adjustment part 19. As illustrated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the first supply adjustment part 18 supplies five floating drum 15 firstly, and then the second supply adjustment part 19 is another five floating drum 15.

With these repeated sequential operation, the supply of the floating drum 15 is enabled successively.

The floating drum 15 supplied successively from the first supply adjustment part 18 and the second supply adjustment part 19 is forwarded into the merged vertical channel, and during passing through, may be forwarded with being supported elastically by pairs of the stopper 27.

The supply part 20 is formed in the lower part of the main body 13. The supply part 20 causes the floating drum 15 supplied into a power generation part 21 to have primary buoyancy, and enable the floating drum 15 to obtain a thrust upon entering the power generation part 21.

The supply part 20 includes two parallel lower horizontal channels having a bent portion communicated with each other. A horizontal channel disposed lower than another is filled with water, and therefore the floating drum 15 proceeding therein may have primary buoyancy.

The chain carrier 17 is installed horizontally in the supply part 20 to forward each floating drum 15 with a constant distance, and divides the guide channel 10 to have a bent proceeding direction.

The chain carrier 17 has a guide pin 28 having a constant pitch, and thereby may move the floating drum 15 one by one. Therefore, the floating drum 15 is supplied into the power generation part 21with a constant interval.

The power generation part 21 generates power by using buoyancy due to the successive rise of the floating drum 15, and is formed in the water chamber 11 occupying

one side space and having a certain height.

FIG. 2 represents a power chain carrier 23 substantially generating power by contacted transmission with the floating drum 15.

The power chain carrier 23 is disposed vertically to be parallel to the entire vertical part of the water chamber 11, and performs the circulated operation by buoyancy through a plurality of a settlement pin 22 in which the floating drum 15 is seated.

Since the settlement pin 22 has an arch shape covering the below, and at least three settlement pin 22 make a set in which the settlement pin 22 is disposed with a constant distance, the set of the settlement pin 22 may receive buoyancy generated in rising of the floating drum 15 settled in the settlement pin 22.

That is, this shape of the settlement pin 22 increases the transmission efficiency of the power chain carrier due to buoyancy of the floating drum 15.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the power required to operate the equipment or the installations may be obtained by connecting the electricity generation means to an output shaft 25, which is rotated according to the circulated operation of the power chain carrier 23.

FIG. 5 represents the configuration of a drum discharge portion in the water chamber 11 included in the power generation part 21.

The floating drum 15 completes the rise at an upper part of the power chain carrier 23, and then is forwarded into the preparation part 16 with guidance of a guide plate 32. The settlement pin 22 risen with the floating drum 15 may be circulated continuously by passing through the grooves.

The operation of the power generation apparatus having the above described configuration is as follows.

As a preliminary condition to operate the power generation apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable to have the floating drum 15 sufficient to cover the preparation part 16, the supply part 20, the power generation section 21, and any one of the first supply adjustment part 18 and of the second supply adjustment part 19.

As a predetermined signal is inputted, the holder 14 of the preparation part 16 is

released, and the damper 26 located below is opened. Then, each floating drum 15 is supplied into the first supply adjustment part 18 and of the second supply adjustment part 19.

By counting of the drum detection sensor 37, Five floating drum 15 is supplied substantially into the first supply adjustment part 18 and of the second supply adjustment part 19. At the same time, no more floating drum 15 is supplied by the operation of the holder 14, and the damper 14 is closed.

When the floating drum 15 is entered into the first supply adjustment part 18 and of the second supply adjustment part 19, the chain carrier 17 is operated by a predetermined control signal, and the five floating drum 15 may be carried one by one in each guide pin 28 of the chain carrier 17.

Firstly, the five floating 15 in the first supply adjustment part 18 are forwarded into the supply part 20.

Since a predetermined pressure is generated in the pressure chamber 12 for maintaining the water level, the internal pressure of the first supply adjustment part 18 is made to be identical to that of the pressure chamber 12 by the compressor 35 and the solenoid valve 34. When both pressure are made to be identical, the lower damper 26 of the first supply adjustment part 18 is opened. At the same time, with the operation of the chain carrier 17, the five floating drum 15 are forwarded into the supply part 20.

In the first supply adjustment part 18 discharging the floating drum 15, another five floating drum 15 may be supplied with the close of the lower damper 26, when the preparation part 16 operates again to supply the floating drum.

Then, the inner space of the first supply adjustment 18 is ready for the forwarded floating drum, when the lower damper 26 of the preparation part 16.

The operation of the second supply adjustment part 19 is identical to that of the first supply adjustment part 18, and only each operation is accomplished alternatively and sequentially.

That is, since each set of five floating drums 15 is forwarded sequentially by the first supply adjustment part 18 and of the second supply adjustment part 19, the floating

drum 15 is supplied successively into the supply part 20.

With the chain carrier 17 being operated, the floating drum 15 in the supply part 20 is moved continuously one by one by the guide pin 28, and has a predetermined buoyancy during passing through the lower horizontal channel filled with water.

The floating drum 15 discharged nearly from the supply part 20 is entered into the power generation part 21 based on a thrust obtained from the supply part 20. At the same time, the floating drum 15 is seated in the settlement pin 22 of the power chain carrier 23 and rises together with the settlement pin 22.

The floating drum 15 in the power generation part 21 rise rapidly by using primary buoyancy from the supply part 20 and main buoyancy in the water chamber 11.

Therefore, the power chain carrier 23 is operated rapidly, and thereby the power generation through the output shaft 25 is enabled.

After completing the operation of the power chain carrier 23 using buoyancy, the floating drum 15 is forwarded into the preparation part 16 by the guide plate 23 at the upper part of the power chain carrier 23, and operates the power chain carrier 23 repeatedly through the aforementioned circulated operation. Therefore, the power generation apparatus of the present invention has a feature to generate power endlessly.

Since the chain carrier 17, the actuator 31, and the damper 26 used in the power generation apparatus according to the present invention is operated by a initial power and then is operated by using power obtained from the power chain carrier 23, the present invention is preferable in aspect of effectiveness of power usages.

Although a number of embodiment have described in the above specification, it should be apparent that the present invention could be embodied in many other specific mode included within the sprit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present embodiments should be considered as illustrative, and the present invention could be modified within the scope of claims and the equivalent thereof.

Industrial Applicability

The present invention may obtain power required in the equipment and installation efficiently from buoyancy by providing a power generation apparatus comprising a preparation part preparing the a plurality of a floating drum, a first/second supply adjustment part adjusting the number of the floating drum sequentially, a supply part supplying the floating drum successively, a power generation part generating power from buoyancy of a rising drum, and predetermined control means controlling an associated operation of each part and a condition such as pressure and level.