generator

Abstract

This prevents debris from entering the drive mechanism that uses water pressure to power the generator. [Solution] The system comprises a pair of bellows pump chambers containing a bellows pump that encloses air and water that exerts water pressure on the bellows pump, and a rotating shaft drive unit that uses the air supplied from the bellows pump in one of the bellows pump chambers to drive the rotating shaft of the generator and sends the used air to the bellows pump in the other bellows pump chamber, with the pair of bellows pump chambers arranged in water. Each bellows pump chamber is provided with an inlet for water flowing into the bellows pump chamber, an opening / closing door for opening and closing the inlet, and a drainage tower that serves as a water discharge passage for the bellows pump chamber when the opening / closing door is closed. The inlet is formed on the bottom surface of the bellows pump chamber or on the side surface of the bellows pump chamber adjacent to the bottom surface, and the inlet is covered with a mesh-like member.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a generator provided with a drive mechanism that uses water pressure to drive the rotating shaft of the generator. [Background Art]

[0002] The inventor of the present application has previously proposed a generator that drives the rotating shaft of the generator using water pressure (Patent Document 1 below). As shown in Fig. 9, the drive mechanism of this generator includes a pair of bellows pump chambers 221, 231 in which bellows pumps 222, 232 are disposed, a pair of piston chambers 226, 236 in which pistons 227, 237 are disposed, and crankshafts 228, 238 that convert the reciprocating motion of the pistons 227, 237 into rotational force of the rotating shaft 241 of the generator 240. The generator 240 and the piston chambers 226, 236 are disposed underwater; only the distal ends of the drainage towers 224, 234 of the bellows pump chambers 221, 231 protrude from the water surface 300, while the other portions are located underwater.

[0003] Electrically slidable sliding doors 223, 233 are provided at the upper end of the main body of the bellows pump chambers 221, 231, and the sliding doors 223, 233 are controlled such that when one of them is opened, the other is closed. The pair of piston chambers 226, 236 are in mutual communication at their lower ends. The lower part of the bellows pump chamber 221 and the upper part of the piston chamber 226 are connected by a pipe 225 that allows air circulation, and similarly, the lower part of the bellows pump chamber 231 and the upper part of the piston chamber 236 are connected by a pipe 235 that allows air circulation.

[0004] In this drive mechanism, as shown in Figure 9, when the sliding door 233 of one bellows pump chamber 231 is closed, the sliding door 223 of the other bellows pump chamber 221 is open. As a result, water enters the bellows pump chamber 221, and the water pressure pushes down the bellows pump 222 in the bellows pump chamber 221. Consequently, some of the air accumulated in the bellows pump 222 is sent through the pipe 225 to the piston chamber 226, causing the piston 227 in the piston chamber 226 to descend.

[0005] As the piston 227 in piston chamber 226 descends, the air that was below the piston 227 flows into the adjacent piston chamber 236, pushing up the piston 237 in piston chamber 236. As a result, the air above the piston 237 is sent through pipe 235 to the bellows pump chamber 231, pushing up the upper end of the bellows pump 232 in the bellows pump chamber 231. Consequently, the water present at the upper end of the bellows pump chamber 231 is discharged into the atmosphere from the drainage tower 234. During this process, the movement of the descending piston 227 in piston chamber 226 and the ascending piston 237 in piston chamber 236 causes the crankshafts 228 and 238 to rotate, and consequently the rotating shaft 241 of the generator 240 rotates, generating electricity.

[0006] Next, when the sliding door 233 of the bellows pump chamber 231 opens and the sliding door 223 of the bellows pump chamber 221 closes, water enters the bellows pump chamber 231, and the water pressure pushes down the bellows pump 232 in the bellows pump chamber 231, causing the piston 237 in the piston chamber 236 to descend and the piston 227 in the piston chamber 226 to rise, pushing up the upper end of the bellows pump 222 in the bellows pump chamber 221, and the water present at the upper end of the bellows pump chamber 221 is discharged into the atmosphere from the drainage tower 224. During this process, the crankshafts 238 and 228 rotate in conjunction with the movement of the descending piston 237 in the piston chamber 236 and the ascending piston 227 in the piston chamber 226, and the rotating shaft 241 of the generator 240 continues to rotate in the same direction, resulting in continuous power generation. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7627408 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] However, in the configuration shown in Figure 9, when the sliding doors 223, 233 of the bellows pump chambers 221, 231 are opened, there is a risk that floating debris in the water may enter the bellows pump chambers 221, 231 along with the water. If debris accumulates in the bellows pump chambers 221, 231, the normal operation of the bellows pump chambers will be hindered. The present invention aims to solve these problems and to provide a generator equipped with a drive mechanism that has a device to prevent the intrusion of debris. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention relates to a generator equipped with a drive mechanism for driving the rotating shaft of the generator, This drive mechanism comprises a pair of bellows pump chambers containing a bellows pump that encloses air and water that provides water pressure to the bellows pump, and a rotating shaft drive unit that uses the air supplied from the bellows pump in one of the bellows pump chambers to drive the rotating shaft of the generator and sends the used air to the bellows pump in the other bellows pump chamber. It is equipped with, The pair of bellows pump chambers are placed underwater. Each of the pair of bellows pump chambers is provided with an inlet for water flowing into the bellows pump chamber, an opening / closing door for opening and closing the inlet, and a drainage tower that serves as a water discharge channel for the bellows pump chamber when the opening / closing door is closed. The inlet is formed on the bottom surface of the bellows pump chamber, or on the side surface of the bellows pump chamber adjacent to the bottom surface, and the inlet is covered with a mesh-like member. It is characterized by the following.

[0010] Since most garbage in water is input from the water surface, the closer to the water surface, the higher the probability that garbage is present. In this configuration, the water inlet of the bellows pump chamber is provided at a location away from the water surface, and the inlet is covered with a mesh member, thereby preventing foreign matter such as garbage from entering the bellows pump chamber.

[0011] Further, in the present invention, the rotary shaft driving unit and the generator may be disposed underwater together with the pair of bellows pump chambers.

[0012] Further, in the present invention, the pair of bellows pump chambers may be disposed underwater, and the rotary shaft driving unit and the generator may be disposed above water. Effects of the Invention

[0013] In the generator of the present invention, a decrease in power generation efficiency caused by incorporation of garbage or the like present in water can be avoided. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014] [Figure 1] A cross-sectional view showing a driving mechanism of a generator having a piston in a rotary shaft driving unit. [Figure 2] A cross-sectional view showing different states of the driving mechanism in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] An enlarged view showing a mesh member covering an inlet and an arrangement state thereof. [Figure 4] A cross-sectional view showing an embodiment in which inlets are provided at different positions. [Figure 5] A cross-sectional view showing a driving mechanism in which a piston chamber and a generator are disposed above water. [Figure 6] A cross-sectional view showing a driving mechanism of a generator having a wind turbine in a rotary shaft driving unit. [Figure 7] A diagram showing a flow path switching structure for wind supplied to a wind turbine. [Figure 8] A diagram showing state transition of the flow path switching structure. [Figure 9] A cross-sectional view showing a driving mechanism of a generator disclosed in Patent Document 1. MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

[0016] (First Embodiment) The drive mechanism of the first embodiment has a piston in a rotating shaft drive unit that drives a rotating shaft of a generator. As shown in FIG. 1, this drive mechanism includes a pair of bellows pump chambers 221, 231 in which air-containing bellows pumps 222, 232 are housed together with water that applies water pressure to the bellows pumps 222, 232, a pair of piston chambers 226, 236 in which pistons 227, 237 are disposed, and crankshafts 228, 238 that convert reciprocating motion of the pistons 227, 237 into rotational force of a rotating shaft 241 of a generator 240.

[0017] The bellows pump chambers 221, 231, the piston chambers 226, 236, and the generator 240 are disposed below a water surface 300, that is, in water.

[0018] The configuration of the piston chambers 226, 236 is the same as the configuration described in Japanese Patent No. 7627408 shown in FIG. 9. However, in the present invention, inflow ports 261, 271 for introducing surrounding water into the bellows pump chambers 221, 231 are provided on bottom surfaces 260, 270 of the bellows pump chambers 221, 231, and the inflow ports 261, 271 are covered with mesh members 262, 272, which is different from the configuration of FIG. 9.

[0019] The point that the inflow ports 261, 271 of the bellows pump chambers 221, 231 are alternately closed by opening / closing doors (slide doors) 223, 233 is the same as the configuration of FIG. 9.

[0020] FIG. 3(a) shows an example of the mesh member 262. FIG. 3(b) shows the relationship among the inflow port 261 provided on the wall surface (bottom surface) 260 of the bellows pump chamber, the mesh member 262 covering the inflow port 261, and the slide door 223 that opens and closes the inflow port 261.

[0021] The mesh-like member 262 prevents debris in the water from entering the bellows pump chambers 221 and 231, and is not limited to the shape shown in Figure 3(a), as long as it has a structure that achieves this purpose.

[0022] Furthermore, in Figure 1, in order to allow water to flow in from the inlets 261 and 271 provided on the bottom surfaces 260 and 270 of the bellows pump chambers 221 and 231, the bottom surfaces 260 and 270 of the bellows pump chambers 221 and 231 are supported by tower-shaped structures 263 and 273, and the structure is configured so that water enters the area below the bottom surfaces 260 and 270. However, other configurations may be adopted.

[0023] In this drive mechanism, as shown in Figure 1, when the sliding door 233 of the bellows pump chamber 231 closes and the sliding door 223 of the bellows pump chamber 221 opens, water enters from the inlet 261 of the bellows pump chamber 221, and the water pressure pushes up the bellows pump 222 in the bellows pump chamber 221. As a result, some of the air from the bellows pump 222 is sent to the piston chamber 226 through the pipe 225, and the piston 227 in the piston chamber 226 descends.

[0024] As the piston 227 in piston chamber 226 descends, the air that was below the piston 227 flows into the adjacent piston chamber 236, pushing up the piston 237 in piston chamber 236. As a result, the air above the piston 237 is sent through pipe 235 to the bellows pump chamber 231, pushing down the lower end of the bellows pump 232 in the bellows pump chamber 231. Consequently, the water present at the lower end of the bellows pump chamber 231 is discharged into the atmosphere from the drainage tower 234.

[0025] During this process, the movement of the descending piston 227 in piston chamber 226 and the ascending piston 237 in piston chamber 236 causes the crankshafts 228 and 238 to rotate, and consequently the rotating shaft 241 of the generator 240 rotates, generating electricity.

[0026] Next, when the sliding door 233 of the bellows pump chamber 231 opens and the sliding door 223 of the bellows pump chamber 221 closes, water enters the bellows pump chamber 231, and the water pressure pushes up the bellows pump 232 in the bellows pump chamber 231, causing the piston 237 in the piston chamber 236 to descend and the piston 227 in the piston chamber 226 to rise, pushing down the lower end of the bellows pump 222 in the bellows pump chamber 221, and the water present at the lower end of the bellows pump chamber 221 is discharged into the atmosphere from the drainage tower 224. During this process, the crankshafts 238 and 228 rotate in conjunction with the movement of the descending piston 237 in the piston chamber 236 and the ascending piston 227 in the piston chamber 226, and the rotating shaft 241 of the generator 240 continues to rotate in the same direction, resulting in continuous power generation.

[0027] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4, the inlets 261 and 271 of the bellows pump chambers 221 and 231 are formed on the side surface of the bellows pump chamber 221 that is close to the bottom surface 260 of the bellows pump chamber 221, and a mesh-like member 262 covering this inlet 261 may be formed on the same side surface.

[0028] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, the generator 240 and the piston chambers 226 and 236 of the rotating shaft drive unit that drives its rotating shaft may be positioned above the water surface 300. In this case, maintenance of the generator 240 can be easily performed.

[0029] (Second Embodiment) In the second embodiment, the drive mechanism has a wind turbine as a rotating shaft drive unit that drives the rotating shaft of the generator. As shown in Figure 6, this drive mechanism comprises a pair of bellows pump chambers 221 and 231, and a wind turbine chamber 420 that houses a wind turbine 421 that rotates a generator 440. In Figure 6, the bellows pump chambers 221 and 231 are located underwater, while the wind turbine chamber 420 and generator 440 are located above the water.

[0030] The configuration of the bellows pump chambers 221 and 231 is the same as in the first embodiment. A pipe 291 through which air flows is provided between the upper end of the bellows pump chamber 221 and the wind turbine chamber 420, and similarly, a pipe 292 through which air flows is provided between the upper end of the bellows pump chamber 231 and the wind turbine chamber 420.

[0031] In this drive mechanism, as shown in Figure 6, when the sliding door of the bellows pump chamber 231 closes and the sliding door of the bellows pump chamber 221 opens, water from around the bellows pump chamber 221 flows into the bellows pump chamber 221, and the water pressure of the incoming water compresses the bellows pump in the bellows pump chamber 221, and the air inside the bellows pump is sent to the wind turbine chamber 420 through the pipe 291.

[0032] The wind turbine room 420 is equipped with a wind turbine 421 that rotates due to incoming air, flow path plates 425 and 426 that restrict the airflow so that incoming air flows around the wind turbine 421, and a pair of flow path switching plates 423 and 424 that switch the airflow so that air flowing from the bellows pump room 221 into the wind turbine room 420 flows along the flow path plate 425, and air flowing from the bellows pump room 231 into the wind turbine room 420 flows along the flow path plate 426.

[0033] The flow path switching plates 423 and 424 rotate around pivot points 428 and 429, respectively, in conjunction with the movement of the sliding doors of the bellows pump chambers 221 and 231. As shown in Figure 6, when the sliding door of bellows pump chamber 221 is open and the sliding door of bellows pump chamber 231 is closed, the flow path switching plates 423 and 424 block the flow path along the flow path plate 426, allowing air flowing in from bellows pump chamber 221 to flow along the flow path plate 425.

[0034] As shown in Figure 7, the rotating shaft of the wind turbine 421 is directly connected to the rotating shaft 441 of the generator 440 housed in the power generation chamber. Therefore, when the wind turbine 421 rotates due to the air flowing into the wind turbine chamber 420, the rotating shaft 441 of the generator 440 rotates and power is generated.

[0035] The air that has rotated the wind turbine 421 in the wind turbine room 420 flows through pipe 292 into the bellows pump room 231. As a result, the bellows pump in the bellows pump room 231 expands, and the water inside the bellows pump room 231, with its sliding door closed, is discharged into the air from the drainage tower.

[0036] On the other hand, when the sliding door of the bellows pump room 221 closes and the sliding door of the bellows pump room 231 opens, water from around the bellows pump room 231 flows into the bellows pump room 231 through the open sliding door. As a result, the water pressure from the incoming water compresses the bellows pump inside the bellows pump room 231, and the air inside the bellows pump is sent to the wind turbine room 420 through pipe 292.

[0037] The flow path switching plates 423 and 424 of the wind turbine chamber 420 block the flow path along the flow path plate 425 when the sliding door of the bellows pump chamber 231 is open and the sliding door of the bellows pump chamber 221 is closed, thereby switching the air flow path so that the air flowing in from the bellows pump chamber 231 flows along the flow path plate 426. Therefore, the wind turbine 421 rotates in the same direction as in Figure 6 due to the air flowing from the bellows pump chamber 231 into the wind turbine chamber 420, and the rotation axis of the generator 440 also rotates in the same direction, allowing power generation to continue. Figure 8 shows the state of the flow path switching plates 423 and 424 at this time.

[0038] The air that has rotated the wind turbine 421 flows through pipe 291 into the bellows pump chamber 221. As a result, the bellows pump in the bellows pump chamber 221 expands, and the water inside the bellows pump chamber 221, with its sliding door closed, is discharged into the air from the drainage tower.

[0039] Thus, in this drive mechanism, whether air flows into the wind turbine chamber 420 from the bellows pump chamber 221 or from the bellows pump chamber 231, the wind turbine 421 continues to rotate in the same direction. Therefore, the rotating shaft 441 of the generator 440 also rotates in the same direction, and power generation is carried out continuously.

[0040] In Figure 6, the bellows pump chambers 221 and 231 are located underwater, while the wind turbine chamber 420 and generator 440 are located above water. However, the wind turbine chamber 420 and generator 440 may also be located underwater together with the bellows pump chambers 221 and 23. [Industrial applicability]

[0041] The generator of the present invention is capable of generating electricity by utilizing changes in water pressure and can be widely used as a clean power generation method. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0042] 221 Bellows pump room 222 Bellows pump 223 Sliding door 224 Drainage Tower 225 pipe 226 Piston chamber 227 Piston 228 Crankshaft 231 Bellows pump room 232 Bellows pump 233 Sliding door 234 Drainage Tower 235 pipe 236 Piston chamber 237 Pistons 238 Crankshaft 240 generators 241 Rotation axis 260 base 261 Inlet 262 Mesh-like member 270 base 271 Inlet 272 Mesh-like member 273 Tower-shaped structure 291 pipe 292 pipes 300 water surface 420 Windmill room 421 Windmill 423 Flow path switching plate 424 Flow path switching plate 425 Flow channel plate 426 Flow channel plate 428 Fulcrum 429 Fulcrum 440 Generators 441 Rotation axis

Claims

1. A generator equipped with a drive mechanism for driving the rotating shaft of the generator, The aforementioned drive mechanism is A bellows pump containing air is housed in a pair of bellows pump chambers, along with water that exerts water pressure on the bellows pump. A rotating shaft drive unit that uses air supplied from the bellows pump in one of the bellows pump chambers to drive the rotating shaft of the generator, and sends the used air to the bellows pump in the other bellows pump chamber, It is equipped with, The pair of bellows pump chambers are placed underwater. Each of the pair of bellows pump chambers is provided with an inlet for water flowing into the bellows pump chamber, an opening / closing door for opening and closing the inlet, and a drainage tower that serves as a water discharge channel for the bellows pump chamber when the opening / closing door is closed. The inlet is formed on the bottom surface of the bellows pump chamber, or on the side surface of the bellows pump chamber adjacent to the bottom surface, and the inlet is covered by a mesh-like member. A generator characterized by the following features.

2. A generator according to claim 1, The aforementioned rotating shaft drive unit and generator are located underwater together with the pair of bellows pump chambers. A generator characterized by the following features.

3. A generator according to claim 1, The rotating shaft drive unit and generator are located on the water, and the pair of bellows pump chambers are located underwater. A generator characterized by the following features.

4. A generator according to claim 2 or 3, The aforementioned rotating shaft drive unit The generator comprises a pair of piston chambers in which pistons are arranged to reciprocate in conjunction with the expansion and contraction of the bellows pump chamber, and a crankshaft that converts the reciprocating motion of the pistons into rotational force on the rotating shaft of the generator. A generator characterized by the following features.

5. A generator according to claim 2 or 3, The aforementioned rotating shaft drive unit The system comprises a wind turbine chamber in which a wind turbine is arranged, which is rotated by air supplied from the bellows pump in the aforementioned bellows pump chamber, and the rotating shaft of the generator rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the wind turbine. A generator characterized by the following features.

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