Stacked multiple waterwheel hydropower generator

Abstract

The stacked multiple waterwheel hydropower generator comprises a pipe positioned at 12 o’clock on a waterwheel; an assembly of water containers equally positioned along the wheel to capture water and

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to the fields of energy generation, and more particularly to a system and method for generating hydropower from harnessing the weighted energy of water from the rain, streams, lakes, oceans and other such sources of water. Discussion of Prior Art Waterwheels for energy generation has been around for many years, but much of the prior art focuses on singular water wheels powered by the flow of water. Often the application of waterwheels is towards wave and stream energy and how fast the water moves directly affects the power generated. Prior art relating to rain harvesting focus on singular wheels with rain water stored and released through smaller piping to build up enough pressure to move a singular wheel. Background of the Invention To address the deficiencies of the prior art and the growing demand for sustainable energy solutions, the invention aims to address or alleviate these concerns through one or more embodiments. One key objective is to introduce a multiple stacked wheel system that replaces the common downpipe systems that currently transfer rain from roof to pipe to storm drains, making no use of tine kinetic energy potential of water contained and the multiplier effect of transferring that weighted water between embodiments to drive energy generating devices such as dynamos and other such technologies. The re-routing of stream or sea water through the invention could further unlock the power generating potential of our natural resources. Currently rain is transferred from roof to downpipe, to storm drain with no attempt to capture kinetic energy and use it to generate electricity. In countries like Columbia, this represents a lost energy opportunity with its highest annual rainfall and approximately 14 million households, as well as other structures that capture rain and transfer to storm drains via downpipes. Countries that have extreme and contrasting weather; intense sun followed by a rainy season could generate power from homes all year round with a combination of solar and downpipe energy generation. Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is a multiple waterwheel power generator comprising: multiple waterwheels stacked above one another; the amount determined by the height of the building, stream or sea level. each waterwheel contains a number of containers to capture and briefly hold the weight of water that forces the wheel around in a clockwise direction. each container receives water when momentarily positioned at a 12 o’clock. The container is attached by a pin allowing the container to stay vertical as it moves around the wheel. Upon reaching the 6 o’clock position the container meets the fixed tipping peg which forces the container to tip and discharge the water towards a container positioned at 12 o’clock on the waterwheel below. The waterwheels speed is determined by the weight of the water and the resistance of dynamos. Dynamos are placed around the waterwheel to capture the maximum amount of energy whilst regulating the speed of the wheel to allow it to refill the container momentarily positioned at 12’oclock. Brief Description of the Drawings (if applicable) Alternative embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows the front view of a singular waterwheel with attached water-w eight containers and their respective clock positions as the waterwheel turns. Fig. 2 shows the front view of stacked waterwheels and the clockwise rotational motion of a weight of water being carried through rotating containers to drive multiple waterwheels and generate power with engaged dynamos. Fig. 3 shows a side view of an individual waterwheel and how each container is connected to the waterwheel and that the waterwheel has an attached plate to engage dynamos to generate power. Fig. 4 shows the side view of stacked waterwheels sealed to contain the water that enters at the top through gravity travels to the bottom, enroute creating rotational force on multiple waterwheels to drive dynamos and generate power. Detailed Description of the Invention In Fig. 1, a water source 2 is piped into the inlet 1 at the top of the stacked multiple waterwheel system pouring into a container 3 momentarily position at a 12 o’clock on the waterwheel frame 5. The container 3 is now weighted with water and gravity and circular design forces the container round to the next clock position 4 and so on, bring the next container 17 forward from the 11 o’clock position to the 12 o’clock position to now fill with water. The containers of water carrying on through each clock position and remain vertical due to a fixing pin 7 until they meet a fixed tipping peg 9 forcing the container to discharge its water 12 to the next inlet 13 and the waterwheel below. The motion of the wheel continuously turning when water is available drives a number of dynamos 8 to generate power from each wheel. With reference to Fig. 2, it can be understood that each waterwheel is fixed in a stacked position so the container at the 6 o’clock position is tipped and discharges its water 12 an inlet 13 to the next waterwheel and onto the next container 14 positioned at 12 o’clock. The circular cycle repeats to carry through weight and gravity each container of water to the 6 o’clock position to be discharged through the next inlet 17 and to the next waterwheel. Each waterwheel has a number of dynamos to draw energy and regulate the waterwheel speed for efficient water capture. Eventually the water 18 is finally discharged to a storm drain or back to the river or sea. Fig. 3, shows a waterwheel from a side view, the waterwheel frame 5 is secured to the main embodiment with an axis pin 6 allowing the wheel to spin freely in a clockwise direction. Each container that carries water is secured by a pin 7 that allows tire container to pivot and remain vertical until it meets the fixed tipping peg 9 and tips the container positioned at 6 o’clock 10 forcing it to discharge its water into tire waterwheel and 12 o’clock positioned container below. The temporarily contained water forces the wheel to continuously rotate clockwise providing the supply of water 2 remains, the waterwheel frame 5 is also attached to a dynamo plate 20 that engages and drives several dynamos 8 pressed to the plate 20. The energy created is fed through a wire 19. Fig. 4, shows a side view of multiple waterwheels performing the exact same revolution process as described in Fig. 3. A sealed embodiment 21 encases all the waterwheels and prevents loss of water allowing all water to finish at the exit pipe 18 and enter the storm drain system or return to a stream, river, lake or ocean. All the power generated from each waterwheel is fed through an electrical loom 22 to charge storage batteries or into a national grid.

Claims

1. Multiple waterwheels vertically assembled comprising:a pipe positioned to direct water into the first container positioned at 12’oclock on the wheel;an assembly of water containers equally positioned along the wheel to capture water weight and drive the wheel assembly clockwise;a fixed rod that tips a container when it reaches the 6’oclock position, discharging the weight of the water to the next container positioned at 12’oclock on the wheel positioned below;a rim dynamo / s secured to each outer wheel for optimal ratio that utilises maximum kinetic power to generate electrical power from continuous wheel revolution and assists in controlling the speed of the waterwheel.

2. The multiple waterwheels of claim 1 wherein each revolving wheel is housed on top of the other within a sealed embodiment to prevent loss of water weight to the containers.

3. The multiple waterwheels of claim 1 further comprising an enclosed mould that directs the water from the container tipped at the 6 o’clock position to empty to the container positioned at 12 o’clock on the waterwheel housed below.

4. The multiple waterwheels of claim 1 wherein each container is attached by a pin and remains vertical in order to contain the water within the container until reaching the 6 o’clock position whereupon a fixed tipper tilts the container to discharge the water to the container below.

5. The multiple waterwheels of claim 1 further comprises dynamos that are driven by the power of the water wheel to generate electrical power.

6. The multiple waterwheels of claim 1 wherein the containers are positioned similar to numbers on a clock allowing for only one half to be fully filled with water; container positioned twelve through to position five, thus allowing enough kinetic energy to rotate each waterwheel with enough force to drive dynamos and generate power.

7. The multiple waterwheels of claim 6 further generates enough power to drive the container approaching the six o’clock position to hit a fixed tipping point and tip the container to discharge the water towards the next container on the waterwheel below, whilst moving the next empty container from position eleven o’clock to position twelve o’clock to receive water and continue the rotational cycle.

8. The multiple waterwheels of claim 5 wherein each dynamo is geared to capture power and also regulate the rotational speed of the waterwheel in order to allow containers to capture water when positioned at twelve o’clock.

9. The multiple waterwheels of claim 3 wherein the transferral of water between container is sealed in such that no loss of water occurs and the weight in each container remains reasonably constant.

10. The multiple waterwheels of claim 5 wherein a dynamo plate is attached to engage multiple dynamos that are positioned around the circumference of each waterwheel.

11. The multiple waterwheels of claim 5 wherein an optimal number of dynamos are positioned around the entire stacked waterwheel system to ensure maximum generation of power from each weight of water contained within each container as it journey’s through the stacked system before exiting to the storm dram, stream, river or ocean.

12. The multiple waterwheels of claim 5 wherein power generated from each dynamo positioned on each waterwheel can be combined and stored in storage batteries or tapped directly into the national electrical grid.

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