WO2009004644A2

WO2009004644A2 - Elevator with power generator

Info

Publication number: WO2009004644A2
Application number: PCT/IN2008/000291
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bharat Shastri
Original assignee: Bharat Shastri
Priority date: 2007-05-12
Filing date: 2008-05-12
Publication date: 2009-01-08
Also published as: WO2009004644A3

Abstract

A system to generate electricity by moving vehicles (V) from ground level with an elevator (E) using their potential energy, which is converted into kinetic energy to drive an electric generator (GE). This electricity is used directly or is stored in battery banks for later use. Counterweights (W, W1, etc) acquire potential energy which is subsequently converted by coupling them to the generator (GE).

Description

ELEVATOR RE-VISITED IN CONTEXT OF POWER GENERATION

The invention is the new method of electricity generation using moving vehicles over a height to give potential energy to its counter weight and producing electricity by converting potential energy into kinetic energy.

PROBLEMATTEMPTING TOSOLVE

The current scenario of energy production across the globe has its intrinsic problems of air pollution from all the fossils we burn, or the eco disturbance caused by the construction of dams across rivers which uproot large number of people and submerge large amounts of land which is many a times fertile and cultivable, having so much water all the time also creates problems. Nuclear energy again has its problems of waste disposal; Oil on other hand is limited in nature. Alternative sources also have its complexities like dependence on sun, wind, water tides. We have to produce energy by these means wherever they are available and then transmitted which also adds to the cost.

We have a great imbalance as far as electricity Production and distribution is concerned. If we could produce electricity At our discretion with a system which could be constructed close to the actual use of electricity Without dependency on nature or adding to air pollution or any eco hazard . We could say we have achieved a milestone in devising a new method to produce electricity.

Our proposed system is similar to the system used in dams to produce electricity, but in our case we do not have to build reservoirs for water as we do not depend on water. Hence we are independent of nature, we are harnessing the continuous flow of man made vehicles across the world. These vehicles play the role of falling water in dams which is dropped from a height to interact with the system to rotate generators which produce electricity.

PRIOR ART OR ARRANGEMENT

No such prior are is available till date.

INVENTIVE FEATURE OF ARRANGEMENT

Our new method uses counter weight. The inventive feature is the use of moving vehicles as counter weight to lift weight to a desired height allowing it to gain potential energy, which is later used to drive a generator to generate electricity.

ADVANTAGES

The system can be constructed as per our requirement wherever we need electricity, so the distribution cost can be minimized.

• There is no limitation on numbers of systems which can be constructed across the highways.

• The system does not utilize any fuel to produce electricity; hence energy produced is clean and green.

• Such systems can be setup near hilly areas where people, animals or vehicles can save its own energy and at the same time produce it by interacting with our system.

LIMITATIONS

The only limitation is that we can make this system on roads which are frequented with cars and that energy produced is proportional to the number of vehicles it interacts with the system and the height of the system is also a limitation where we have to make bridges for vehicles to be used as inputs

DESCRIPTION

The following describes the construction of the system,

The system is similar to a system of a standard elevator system which uses counter weights.

The elevator consists of all the safety standards which our modern day elevator has. The construction of the elevator is exactly the same as the standard elevator.[SEE SHEET 1]

The size of the elevator 'E' is such that an average big truck of standard size can easily fit in it. The elevator assembly consists of an elevator 'E' which is connected to one end of the suspended chain 'CH' from the top. The chain 'CH' goes over sprockets 'Sl',

'S2', 'S3', 'S4', a governor and braking device 'B.R' and finally the other end of the chain 'CH' is fixed to the upper end of the common rod 'R'. The common rod 'R' already has a fixed counter weight 'W to it, the total weight of the common rod 'R' and the fixed counter weight 'W is equal to the weight of the empty elevator 'E'. There is a weight bridge ' W.B' which measures the weight of the vehicle which is going to enter the elevator 'E'. The sprockets 'SP and 'S2' are idle sprockets which have frictionless bearings at its centre and who are further mounted on their respective shafts si and s2. These shafts are further mounted on their either sides by pedestal bearings. The pedestal bearings are further fitted on the platform 'P' which is made as a top of the elevator assembly.

The common rod 'R' also passes thru the set of weights Wl, W2, W3, W4, etc which will be used as counter weights by the system. These weights have their individual motorized locking pin assembly inside (SEE SHEET 2). The locking pin assembly consists of a locking pin with a rack on one side. The rack is coupled to a pinion; this pinion is mounted directly on a small motor's axle. The rack and pinion assembly is operated by the sensing device 'S.D'.

The locking pin diameter is equal to the respective hole which is made in the common rod 'R'. The position of the holes 'Hl', Η2\ Η3\ 'H4' etc on the common rod 'R' and the locking pins 'Pl ', 'P2', 'P3\ 'P4' etc are also such that the locking pins easily fits in their respective holes.

The elevator assembly is constructed at the highest point of a bridge or any mountain top from where the road is down hill. Mostly the height would be around 30 to 40 feet, but can increase if we have the height difference in case of a road coming down a mountain.

The lowest point where the elevator 'E' will reach will have a service road connecting the exit of the elevator 'E' to the main road where the vehicle can continue its journey. The sprocket 'S3' is mounted on the motor's axle with the uni-directional bearing at its centre. The sprocket 'S4' is mounted on the input shaft of gear box with the unidirectional bearing at its centre. The uni-directional bearings in the sprockets S3 and S4 will give us the required coupling of the shafts they are mounted on.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF DEVICES DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT OF COUNTER WEIGHT ATTACHED.

DEVICE 1 : The counter weights attached to the elevator with vehicle are equal or slightly more than the weight of the elevator with vehicle.

DEVICE 2: The counter weights attached to the elevator with vehicle are slightly less than the weight of the elevator with vehicle.

DEVICE 1

The construction of the system is as described earlier [SEE SHEET I]. For simplicity, let us consider a bridge which is of 30 feet height. The upper end of the bridge will have the entrance to the elevators we will erect.

Before entering the elevator 'E', the vehicle 'V will pass through weighing bridge 'W.B' which will measure the weight of vehicle. This will trigger an electronic circuit called the sensing device 'S.D'; this sensing device will calculate the weight to be attached as counter weight so that the counter weights and the weight of the elevator with vehicle are equal or the weight of the counter weights are slightly more than the weight of the elevator with vehicle. The required number of counter weights are then attached to the other end of the chain 'CH' with the help of their respective motorized rack and pinion arrangement controlled by the sensing device 'S.D' and which will fix the required pins in the common rod 'R' thru the required number of weights. [SEE SHEET 2 FOR INDIVIDUAL WORKING OF MOTORISED RACK AND PINION . DEVICE IN A WEIGHT]. The other side already has a constant fixed weight permanently attached to it which is equal to the weight of empty elevator 'E'. In the next stage when the vehicle enters the elevator, as the counter weights are already attached on the other side the system will be balanced or slightly heavier than the weight of the elevator with vehicle, we use a small motor fixed on the top of the system to descend the elevator with vehicle. The sprocket 'S3' is mounted on the axle of the motor 'M' via a uni-directional bearing at its centre, the sensing device 'S.D' will control the motor 'M' and rotate the sprocket 'S3' so as to move the elevator with vehicle to descend slowly. As the system is approximately balanced very little energy is used. Once the vehicle descends to the ground, the door opens and vehicles drives out to continue its journey forward via a service road.

The system now has the counter weights lifted up by a height equivalent to that of the height of descend of the elevator with vehicle, thus the counter weights now acquire potential energy.

The empty lift also has to come up to its initial position to be used again by another vehicle.

Now, as the counter weights descend, the chain 'CH' also moves. The sprocket 'S4' which is attached to the chain 'CH' is also given motion, Now, the sprocket 'S4' which is mounted on the axle of the input shaft of the gear box 'G.B' with a uni-directional bearing at its centre starts rotating and subsequently rotates the output shaft of the gear box 'G.B'. The output shaft has gear 'G2' mounted on it which also rotates. The gear 'G2' is coupled to the gear 'Gl' which is mounted on the axle of the generator 'GE', hence the generator axle rotates and electricity is produced. The generator 'GE' is further connected to rechargeable battery 'B' via a full wave bridge rectifier circuit 'C. [SEE SHEET 3]. For full wave bridge rectifier circuit REFER TO SHEET 4. The designing is such that the weights slowly descends losing potential energy, and in doing so rotates the gear box which in turn rotates generator axle which produces electricity equivalent to potential energy of the weights which are lifted up. The electricity Produced will be stored in the rechargeable battery 'B' will be later passed on to end user. The generator stops producing electricity once the weights reach the ground.

At this time the system is again brought to the initial position, ready to be used by another vehicle which will now enter the empty lift after being weighed by the weigh bridge. The sensing device 'S.D' will initialize all the locking pins which were fixed in the common rod 'R' thereby unlocking their respective weights. The cycle will be again repeated for the new vehicle as described earlier and produce electricity.

DEVICE 2

Before entering the elevator 'E', the vehicle 'V will pass through weighing bridge 'W.B' which will measure the weight of vehicle. This will trigger an electronic circuit called the sensing device 'S.D'; this sensing device will calculate the weight to be attached as counter weight so that the counter weights are slightly less than the weight of the elevator with vehicle. The required counter weights are then attached to the other end of the chain 'CH' with the help of a motorized rack and pinion arrangement controlled by the sensing device 'S.D' and which will fix the required pins in the common rod 'R' thru the required number of weights. [SEE SHEET 2 FOR INDIVIDUAL WORKING OF MOTORISED RACK AND PINION DEVICE IN A WEIGHT]. The other side already has a constant fixed weight permanently attached to it which is equal to the weight of empty elevator 'E'.

As the counter weights attached are a little less than the weight of the elevator with vehicle, hereby making the side with the elevator and vehicle a heavier and the system overbalanced towards the elevator and vehicle end due to which the elevator with vehicle will descend under gravity without using any motor, instead a appropriate governor and braking device 'B.R' is attached to the chain 'CH' with the help of the sensing device 'S.D' to ensure smooth descend of the elevator 'E' with vehicle 'V. This system uses negligible electricity for its working. Motor 'M' is attached as it can be used during emergencies.

Once the vehicle descends to the ground, the door opens and vehicles drives out to continue its journey forward via a service road.

Now, as the counter weights descend, the chain 'CH' also moves. The sprocket 'S4' which is attached to the chain 'CH' is also given motion, and as sprocket 'S4' is mounted on the axle of the input shaft of the gear box 'G.B' with a uni -directional bearing at its centre also starts rotating and subsequently rotates the output shaft of the gear box 'G.B'. The output shaft has gear 'G2' mounted on it which also rotates. The gear 'G2' is coupled to the gear 'Gl' which is mounted on the axle of the generator 'GE', hence the generator axle rotates and electricity is produced. The generator 'GE' is further connected to rechargeable battery 'B' via a full wave bridge rectifier circuit 'C. [SEE SHEET 3]. For full wave bridge rectifier circuit REFER TO SHEET 4. The designing is such that the weights slowly descends losing potential energy, and in doing so rotates the gear box which in turn rotates generator axle which produces electricity equivalent to potential energy of the weights which are lifted up.

The electricity Produced will be stored in the rechargeable battery 'B' will be later passed on to end user. The generator stops producing electricity once the weights reach the ground.

At this time the system is again brought to the initial position, ready to be used by another vehicle which will now enter the empty lift after being weighed by the weigh bridge. The sensing device 'S.D' will initialize all the locking pins which were fixed in the common rod 'R' thereby unlocking their respective weights.

The cycle will be again repeated for the new vehicle as described earlier and produce electricity.

For the first device little power for the motor 'M' is used to descend the elevator with the vehicle. It is a very small fraction of what the system produces as the power produced by the falling of tons of weight is far greater than the power required to move an approximately balanced system.

Our systems unique method of construction and working helps us achieve lifting huge amounts of weights to the required height which results in gaining the potential energy. We use this acquired potential energy to produce electricity and again be ready to be lifted again thereby creating a closed circuit system. In the first device small amounts of power will be used for weight measurements of the vehicle, attaching weight to the system and using the motor to descend the vehicle.

In the second device we will use power for weight measurement of the vehicle, attaching weight to the system only, instead of a motor it uses an appropriate governor, gearing system and braking arrangements to descend the vehicle smoothly. Both these systems will produce almost the same amount of electricity as the energy saved in the second device will be proportional to that much less amount of energy produced because we will be able to lift a little less counter weight for the vehicle to descend under gravity.

The full wave bridge rectifier circuit 'C is shown in sheet 4.

The function of the capacitor (known as a 'smoothing capacitor') which is fixed after the diode bridge in the full wave bridge rectifier circuit is to reduce the variation in the output voltage and current from the full wave bridge rectifier circuit which charges the rechargeable battery 'B'.

Both the systems can be used by people and/or animals at a height.

The systems can be used in ropeways and escalators also.

Smaller versions of the system to be used in cities will be used by big vans and jeeps.

Smaller versions can also be used by people and/or animal in places where people climb mountains in large numbers for religious purposes or otherwise. They can use the system to come down without the hard work and simultaneously help in producing power.

DETAILS OF REFERENCE LETTERS/NUMERALS USED IN THE DESCRIPTION AND DRAWINGS

FOR SHEET : 1

W.B Weigh Bridge.

E Elevator.

V Vehicle.

R Common Rod.

W Constant Weight fixed on the Common Rod 'R'.

Hl, H2, H3, H4 Hole on the common Rod 'R' for locking pin.

Wl, W2, W3, W4 Counter weight.

CH Suspension Chain fixed to elevator 'E' on one side and Common Rod 'R' on other side.

S1,S2 Idle sprockets with frictionless bearing at its centre B.R Governor and Braking device.

53 Sprocket mounted on axle of motor 'M' with a uni-directional bearing fixed at its centre.

54 Sprocket mounted on the input shaft of the gear box 'G. B' with a unidirectional bearing fixed at its centre.

M Motor.

G.B Gear box. FOR SHEET 2:

Wl ONE OF THE COUNTER WEIGHTS.

HI Hole on the common Rod 'R' for locking pin 'Pl'.

R Common Rod.

R.P Conventional motorized Rack and Pinion device.

Pl A locking Pin which has a rack on one side.

FOR SHEET 3:

CH Chain.

S4 Sprocket mounted on the input shaft of the gear box 'G. B' with a unidirectional bearing fixed at its centre.

G.B Gear box.

G2 Gear mounted directly on the output shaft of gear box 'G.B'.

Gl Gear mounted directly on the axle of the generator 'GE'.

GE Generator.

C Full Wave Bridge Rectifier Circuit.

B Rechargeable Battery.

FOR SHEET : 4 ( Full Wave Bridge Rectifier Circuit V

1 Generator's terminals.

2 Full Wave Diode Bridge. T : 4 ( Full Wave Bridge Rectifier Circuit ).CONTINUED.

Capacitor, also known as soothing capacitor. Final output to be connected to the rechargeable battery 'B'.

Claims

ICLAIM:

1. A method of producing electricity from moving vehicles over a height comprising weighing the weight of vehicle entering the elevator over a bridge or over a height from ground level, connecting the elevator with the vehicle to counter weight means, the counter weights being attached is slightly less than or equal to or slightly more than the weight of elevator and vehicle, and harnessing the kinetic energy of the weights when they descend to the ground level after the vehicle leaves the elevator at ground level.

1. A method of claim 1 wherein a small motor is utilized to move the elevator with the vehicle when the counter weighls used are approximately equal to or slightly more than the weight of elevator and vehicle.

3. A method of claim 1 wherein a governor and breaking device are used when the counter weights attached are slightly less than the weight of elevator and vehicle.

4. A method of claim 1 wherein the kinetic energy is harnessed using a gear box which is connected to rotate a generator which produces electricity equivalent to potential energy of the weights which are lifted up when elevator and vehicle descend to the ground.

5. A method of producing electricity as claimed in claim 1 adapted to ropeways and escalators.

6. A method of claim 1 wherein people and/or animals are used in place of vehicles.

7. A system to harness the energy of moving vehicles over a bridge or over a height from ground level comprising a weighing bridge 'W.B', sensing device 'S. D' and elevator 'E', the elevator Ε' being connected to counterweights Wl, W2 etc through chain 'QH' and sprocket device S3, S4 and governor and braking device 'B. R', wherein S3 is mounted on axle of the motor 'M' through unidirectional bearing at its centre, S4 is mounted on input shaft of gear box 'G.B' via unidirectional bearing at its centre, the gear 'G2' is mounted on output shaft of the gear box 'G.B' directly and is connected to gear 'Gl' which is mounted directly on the axle of the generator 'GE', the generator 'GE' is connected to rechargeable battery 'B' via full wave bridge rectifier circuit 'C.

8. A system of claim 7 wherein the counter weights Wl, W2 etc are attached to the common rod 'R' with the help of locking pin Pl and P2 etc which is operated by conventional motorized rack and pinion device "R.P' operable by the sensing device.

9. A system of claim 7 wherein a small motor 'M' is provided to operate the chain 'CH' in case the elevator and vehicle are exactly balanced or slightly less than the counter weights Wl , W2 etc attached to the common rod 'R'.

10. A system of claim 7 wherein the chain 'CH' is connected to a governor and braking device 'BR' with the help of the sensing device 'S.D' when the counter weights Wl, W2 etc attached to the common rod 'R' are slightly less than the weight of elevator and vehicle.

11. A system of claim 7 wherein rope and pulley device is used in place of chain and sprocket.

! 1. A system of claim 7 > herein people and/or animals are used in place of vehicles.

13. A method of producing electricity substantially as herein defined.

14. A system to harness the energy of moving vehicles or people and/or animals over a bridge or over a height substantially as herein defined and illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings.