US-12618396-B2 - Gravity driven power generator

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for generating mechanical energy utilizing gravity and leverage. In one aspect of the invention, a power plant having one or more gravity powered units is adapted to generate mechanical energy, which may be captured and used as mechanical energy or converted to electrical energy for use locally or remotely. The energy may be stored for later use, for example, in the form of electric energy, fluid flow energy, hydraulic energy, compressed air or fluid, or a combination of these. The energy may be stored in any a ro riate stora e medium.

Inventors

• Randolph Bridwell

Assignees

• Randolph Bridwell

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20230914

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A gravity driven power generating apparatus, comprising: a. a controller for managing an operation of the apparatus; b. a vertical support member; c. a horizontal support member; d. a linear gear mounted to the vertical support member; e. a lever arm having a proximal end pivotably mounted to the vertical support member, a distal end extending a predetermined distance from the proximal end, and a rotatable engagement member in proximity to the proximal end for engaging the linear gear, the lever arm adapted to pivot between an up-pivot position and a down-pivot position; f. a lifting member in mechanical communication with the lever arm, the lifting member adapted to lift the lever arm from a lowered position to a raised position; and g. an electric generator in mechanical communication with the engagement member; h. wherein the controller is operable to release the lever arm from the raised position, wherein gravity is operable to lower the lever arm from the raised position to the lowered position after the lever arm is released from the raised position; i. wherein the lever arm is adapted to pivot into the down-pivot position after the lever arm is released from the raised position, wherein the engagement member is adapted to engage the linear gear as the lever arm pivots into the down-pivot position, wherein the engagement member is rotated while engaged with the linear gear as the lever arm lowers from the raised position towards the lowered position, wherein the engagement member is adapted to transfer mechanical energy to the electric generator as the engagement member rotates, wherein the electric generator is operable to convert the mechanical energy to electric power; j. wherein the controller is operable to actuate the lifting member to lift the lever arm from the lowered position to the raised position; k. wherein the lever arm is adapted to pivot into the up-pivot position as the lever arm is raised towards the raised position, wherein the engagement member is adapted to disengage from the linear gear as the lever arm pivots into the up-pivot position, wherein the engagement member is disengaged from the linear gear as the lever arm is raised towards the raised position.
2. 2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the lever arm is telescoping in length.
3. 3 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a weighted member attached to the lever arm distal end to promote lowering of the distal end from the raised position to the lowered position.
4. 4 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the lifting member comprises a hydraulic cylinder mounted below the lever arm.
5. 5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the lifting member comprises a winch mounted to a horizontal member above the lever arm and a cable mounted at a first end to the winch and at a second end to the lever arm.
6. 6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to supply electric power from the electric generator to the lifting member to actuate the lifting member to lift the lever arm from the lowered position to the raised position.
7. 7 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to supply electric power from the electric generator to a remote location.
8. 8 . A gravity driven power generating apparatus, comprising: a. a controller for managing an operation of the apparatus; b. a vertical support member; c. a horizontal support member; d. a belt assembly mounted to the vertical support member, the belt assembly having a first rotational member and a second rotational member and a belt rotatably mounted about the first rotational member and the second rotational member; e. a lever arm having a proximal end pivotably mounted to the vertical support member, a distal end extending a predetermined distance from the proximal end, and a rigid engagement member in proximity to the proximal end for engaging the belt, the lever arm adapted to pivot between an up-pivot position and a down-pivot position; f. a lifting member in mechanical communication with the lever arm, the lifting member adapted to lift the lever arm from a lowered position to a raised position; and g. an electric generator in mechanical communication with the belt assembly; h. wherein the controller is operable to release the lever arm from the raised position, wherein gravity is operable to lower the lever arm from the raised position to the lowered position after the lever arm is released from the raised position; i. wherein the lever arm is adapted to pivot into the down-pivot position after the lever arm is released from the raised position, wherein the engagement member is adapted to grippingly engage the belt as the lever arm pivots into the down-pivot position, wherein the engagement member is adapted to rotate the belt around the first rotational member and the second rotational member while grippingly engaged with the belt as the lever arm lowers from the raised position towards the lowered position, wherein the belt assembly is adapted to transfer mechanical energy to the electric generator as the belt rotates, wherein the electric generator is operable to convert the mechanical energy to electric power; j. wherein the controller is operable to actuate the lifting member to lift the lever arm from the lowered position to the raised position; k. wherein the lever arm is adapted to pivot into the up-pivot position as the lever arm is raised towards the raised position, wherein the engagement member is adapted to disengage from the belt as the lever arm pivots into the up-pivot position, wherein the engagement member is disengaged from the belt as the lever arm is raised towards the raised position.
9. 9 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the first rotational member and the second rotational member are sprockets and the belt is a metal chain.
10. 10 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the lever arm is telescoping in length.
11. 11 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising a weighted member attached to the lever arm distal end to promote lowering of the distal end from the raised position to the lowered position.
12. 12 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the lifting member comprises a hydraulic cylinder mounted below the lever arm.
13. 13 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the lifting member comprises a winch mounted to a horizontal member above the lever arm and a cable mounted at a first end to the winch and at a second end to the lever arm.
14. 14 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the controller is operable to supply electric power from the electric generator to the lifting member to actuate the lifting member to lift the lever arm from the lowered position to the raised position.
15. 15 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the controller is operable to supply electric power from the electric generator to a remote location.
16. 16 . A gravity driven power generating apparatus, comprising: a. a controller for managing an operation of the apparatus; b. a support member; c. a rotatable disc having an outer annular surface, the rotatable disc rotatably mounted to the support member; d. a gearbox in mechanical communication with the rotatable disc, the gearbox adapted to receive mechanical energy from the rotatable disc; e. an electric generator in mechanical communication with the gearbox, the electric generator adapted to receive mechanical energy from the gearbox and convert the mechanical energy to electric power; f. a lever arm having a proximal end pivotably mounted to the support member, a distal end extending a predetermined distance from the proximal end, and an engagement member in proximity to the lever arm proximal end for engaging the rotatable disc outer annular surface, the lever arm distal end adapted to pivot between a raised position and a lowered position, and g. a lifting member in mechanical communication with the lever arm, the lifting member adapted to lift the lever arm distal end from the lowered position to the raised position; h. wherein the controller is operable to release the lever arm distal end from the raised position, wherein gravity is operable to pivot the lever arm distal end from the raised position to the lowered position after the lever arm distal end is released from the raised position; i. wherein the lever arm engagement member is operable to engage the rotatable disc outer annular surface and rotate the rotatable disc as the lever arm distal end pivots from the raised position to the lowered position, wherein the rotatable disc is operable to transfer mechanical energy to the gearbox as the rotatable disc rotates, wherein the gearbox is operable to transfer mechanical energy to the electric generator, wherein the electric generator is operable to convert mechanical energy to electric power; j. wherein the controller is operable to actuate the lifting member to lift the lever arm distal end from the lowered position to the raised position.
17. 17 . The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the lever arm is telescoping in length.
18. 18 . The apparatus according to claim 16 , further comprising a weighted member attached to the lever arm distal end to promote pivoting of the lever arm distal end from the raised position to the lowered position.
19. 19 . The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the lifting member comprises a hydraulic cylinder.
20. 20 . The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the lifting member comprises a vertical linear gear assembly.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure relates to apparatus and related methods that utilize gravity driven leverage to generate mechanical energy, which may be converted to electric power or captured and stored for later use. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons, primarily in the form of coal, crude oil, and natural gas. These fuels are formed from the remains of dead plants and animals over the course of thousands of years. As such, the supply of fuel derived from fossil fuel sources is finite. The economic principle of supply and demand suggests that as hydrocarbon supplies diminish, costs for such supplies will rise. Consequently, there is an incentive to seek alternative energy sources based upon the laws of economics. Further, it is known that combustion of fossil fuels creates air pollutants, such as nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and heavy metals. In addition, combustion of fossil fuels is known to produce radioactive materials in the form of uranium and thorium. Environmental regulations use a variety of approaches to limit emissions. However, the best solution is alternative energy sources that mitigate or eliminate combustion of fossil fuels. In recent years, there has been research and development in creation of power plants to supply energy to residence and commercial consumers that do not require fossil fuels, or at least mitigate the quantity of fossil fuels required to operate the power plant. For example, wind energy farms utilizing an array of windmills to utilize natural wind currents and convert the wind currents into electric energy have been planned and/or implemented. A problem is the need to place these windmills in limited geographic locations having sufficient natural wind currents, which may be impractical or undesirable. Currently, there is a need for improved technologies that utilize alternative energy sources to produce clean electric energy that can be supplied to residential and commercial consumers, but that are not restricted to specific geographic locations. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other needs may be overcome by the apparatus and methods disclosed herein. Additional improvements and advantages may be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of the present disclosure. The present disclosure relates to apparatus and methods for generating mechanical energy utilizing gravity and leverage. In one aspect of the invention, a power plant having one or more gravity powered units is adapted to generate mechanical energy, which may be captured and used as mechanical energy or converted to electrical energy for use locally or remotely. The energy may be stored for later use, for example, in the form of electric energy, fluid flow energy, hydraulic energy, compressed air or fluid, or a combination of these. The energy may be stored in any appropriate storage medium. In another aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided with at least one rotatable element that is mounted to a support member. The rotatable element is adapted to rotate about a mounting axis of the support member. At least one lever arm is pivotably mounted at its proximal end to the support member, the lever arm including a fulcrum point at its proximal end and a weight or plurality of weights at its distal end. Along the length of the lever arm, preferably at the distal end thereof, is a lifting device operable to raise the lever arm at the end of its operational cycle. The rotatable element is preferably a rotatable gear in communication with another rotatable gear (e.g., 1:1 gear ratio) or gearbox that, in turn, is in communication with an electric generator. When leverage and weight are applied to the distal end of the lever arm, gravity force causes a downward motion of the lever arm that is in communication with the rotatable element via an engagement member (e.g., ratchet device), which, in turn, causes the rotatable element to rotate and thereby produce mechanical energy, which can be used or converted to electric energy and stored or communicated to a remote location such as a power grid or an off-grid application, or a combination thereof. In yet another aspect of the invention, the apparatus is provided with a linear gear mounted to a vertical support member. At least one lever arm is pivotably mounted at its proximal end to the vertical support member, the lever arm including a fulcrum point at its proximal end and a weight or plurality of weights at its distal end. Along the length of the lever arm, preferably at the midpoint, is a lifting device operable to raise the lever arm at the end of its operational cycle. The lever arm includes a rotatable engagement member (e.g., pinion) in proximity to the proximal end for engaging the linear gear at the fulcrum point. An electric generator is in mechanical communication with the rotatable engagement member. When leverage and weight are applied to the distal end of the lever arm, gravity force causes a dow