Power generation device

Abstract

The present invention provides a power generation device capable of efficiently generating power by reducing labor and costs required for installation. Provided is a power generation device 10 for generating useful power from motion caused by waves and wind, the power generation device being characterized by including: a partition chamber 11 having a liquid 20 inside; floating bodies 12 that are installed in the partition chamber 11 and parts of which are pivotally fixed to fixing parts 15, thereby pivoting according to an up-and-down movement of the liquid 20; rolling members 13 installed inside the floating bodies 12 and rolling inside according to the pivoting movements of the floating bodies 12; and power transmission mechanisms 14 for transmitting power generated by the rolling movements of the rolling members 13.

Description

Power Generation Device

[0001] The present invention relates to a power generating device that generates useful power from vibrations caused by waves and wind.

[0002] Conventional power generation devices convert energy obtained mainly from fossil fuels or nuclear power, or renewable energy, into useful power. Given recent global environmental issues, there is a widespread demand for further energy conservation and higher efficiency, and at the same time, there are high expectations for power generation devices that use renewable energy and can provide a stable supply. There is a demand for power generation devices that can effectively utilize power obtained from such natural forces.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a wave power generation device that includes a floating body that has a hollow portion and floats on the water surface, a vibrating body that is attached to the hollow portion of the floating body via a spring and moves up and down in response to the swaying of waves on the water surface, and a power generation body that is driven via a spring based on the up and down movement of the vibrating body to generate electricity, wherein the floating body has a main body that is approximately spindle-shaped and maintains an upright position in the water, and a convex portion that is integrally formed on the upper side of the main body and has a horizontal cross-sectional diameter that is larger than the diameter of the horizontal cross-section of the main body.

[0004] The device described in Patent Document 1 is said to have higher energy conversion efficiency and be able to generate sufficient electricity by floating a buoy-like floating body on the sea surface and moving the floating body and a vibrating body relative to each other in the vertical direction to drive a generator and generate electricity.

[0005] However, since such devices are installed on the ocean surface, it is difficult to secure a location for them, and installation and maintenance are time-consuming and expensive.

[0006] JP 2023-46438 A

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a power generating device that can reduce the labor and cost required for installation and generate power efficiently.

[0008] One aspect of the present invention is a power generating device that generates useful power from swaying caused by waves or wind, and is characterized by comprising: a compartment having a liquid therein; a float installed in the compartment and partially rotatably fixed to a fixed member, so that it rotates in response to the up and down movement of the liquid; a rotating member installed inside the float and rolling inside in response to the rotational movement of the float; and a power transmission mechanism that transmits power generated by the rotational movement of the rotating member.

[0009] Another aspect of the present invention is a power generating device that generates useful power from rocking caused by waves or wind, and is characterized by comprising: a compartment having liquid therein; a container-like float that is installed in the compartment and moves up and down along a guide member depending on the height of the liquid level; a rotating member that is installed inside the float and has a portion rotatably fixed to a fixed member so that it rotates in accordance with the up and down movement of the float; a rotating member that is installed inside the rotating member and rolls inside in accordance with the rotational movement of the rotating member; and a power transmission mechanism that transmits power generated by the rotational movement of the rotating member.

[0010] In this case, in another aspect of the present invention, a lateral guide member may be provided at the contact point between the rotating member and the float, for guiding the contact point of the rotating member laterally in accordance with the up and down movement of the float.

[0011] In one aspect of the present invention, the power transmission mechanism may be a tube pump, and the rotating member may transmit power by rotating while pushing a tube of the tube pump.

[0012] In this case, in one aspect of the present invention, the tube of the tube pump may be provided inside the floating body.

[0013] Alternatively, in one aspect of the present invention, the tube of the tube pump may be provided on the outer periphery of the rotating member.

[0014] In one aspect of the present invention, the power transmission mechanism may be one or more cylinders, and the pistons of the one or more cylinders may be pushed as the rotating member rolls inside the float, thereby transmitting power.

[0015] In this case, in one aspect of the present invention, the one or more cylinders may be provided on the inner circumferential surface of the floating body so that the pistons face the rotating member.

[0016] Alternatively, in one aspect of the present invention, one or more cylinders may be provided on the outer periphery of the rotating member such that the piston faces the inner periphery of the floating body.

[0017] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a power generating device that can reduce the labor and cost required for installation and generate power efficiently.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a power generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of a power generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a power transmission mechanism in a power generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a power transmission mechanism in a power generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a power transmission mechanism in a power generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a power generating device according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of a power generating device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] The power generating device according to the present invention will be described in detail below. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following examples, and can be modified as desired without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0020] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a power generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention. One aspect of the present invention is a power generating device 10 that generates useful power from swaying caused by waves or wind, and is characterized by comprising a compartment 11 having a liquid 20 therein, a float 12 installed in the compartment 11 and partially rotatably fixed to a fixing point 15 so as to rotate in response to the up and down movement of the liquid 20, a rotating member 13 installed inside the float 12 and rolling therein in response to the rotational movement of the float 12, and a power transmission mechanism 14 that transmits power generated by the rotational movement of the rotating member 13.

[0021] The power generating device 10 according to the present invention is a device that generates power by operating in response to changes in the liquid level of the liquid 20 filled in the compartment 11. The changes in the liquid level of the liquid 20 are caused, for example, by swaying caused by waves or wind. In one aspect of the present invention, it is assumed that the power generating device 10 is mounted on a ship. Each component of the power generating device 10 according to the present invention will be described below.

[0022] The compartment 11 has space for accommodating various mechanisms related to power generation, and is capable of being mounted and installed on a ship or the like. The compartment 11 may be, for example, a vessel such as a container. Alternatively, the compartment 11 may be a room-like space partitioned off by a bulkhead or the like from a portion of a ship's ballast tank or the like. Furthermore, since the power generating device 10 according to the present invention is a device that generates power using the up and down movement of the liquid 20, the compartment 11 is filled with a volume of liquid sufficient to float the float 12, which will be described later. The liquid is, for example, water, but other liquids such as seawater or a liquid with a high specific gravity may also be filled to increase the buoyancy of the float 12.

[0023] The float 12 is installed in the compartment 11, and a portion thereof is rotatably fixed to a fixing point 15, so that it rotates in response to the up and down movement of the liquid 20. The float 12 is made of a member having buoyancy, and since a rotating member 13 is provided inside the float 12 as described below, it is preferable that the inside of the float 12 is hollow. The float 12 is fixed to a fixing point 15, such as the side of a bulkhead provided in the compartment 11, by members such as a rotating bolt, hinge, or chain, and rotates around the fixing point 15 in response to changes in the water level of the liquid 20 in the compartment 11.

[0024] The rotating member 13 is a member that is installed inside the float 12 and rolls inside in response to the rotational movement of the float 12. The rotating member 13 is not particularly limited as long as it is, for example, a cylindrical or spherical member that can rotate inside the float 12. As will be described later, the rotating member 13 plays a role in pushing the tubes of the tube pump and the pistons of the cylinders inside the float 12, and therefore needs to have a weight that can push these tubes and pistons.

[0025] The power transmission mechanism 14 transmits the power generated by the rotational movement of the rotating member 13. Examples of the power transmission mechanism 14 include a tube pump and a cylinder. These mechanisms convert the rotational movement of the rotating member 13 into compressed air or the delivery of a liquid. The compressed air or the delivered liquid is sent to a generator 25 equipped with, for example, a water wheel or a windmill, and can be used as power to rotate a turbine and generate electricity.

[0026] In one aspect of the present invention, as shown in Fig. 1, it is preferable to provide two compartments in the compartment 11, with floating bodies 12A and 12B provided in each compartment. A flow path 21 is provided between the compartments, allowing the liquid 20 to move between them. The partition wall separating the compartments may be a compartment equipped with a generator 25, as shown in Fig. 1, or the compartments may simply be separated by a wall, with the generator 25 and the like provided outside the compartment 11. The number of floating bodies 12 may be one or three or more, as long as a mechanism is provided to change the liquid level of the liquid 20 in the compartment 11.

[0027] Next, the operation of a power generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of a power generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention. The compartment 11 of the power generating device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is a housing such as a container, and is mounted on a ship. Fig. 2 shows a state in which the power generating device 10 is tilted to the right when viewed from the front due to rolling of the ship or the like.

[0028] 2, when the power generating device 10 tilts to the right, the liquid 20 in the compartment 11 also flows through the flow path 21 to the right compartment, causing the water level in the right compartment to rise and the water level in the left compartment to fall. As a result, the float 12B in the right compartment rotates upward about the fixed point 15B, and the float 12A in the left compartment rotates downward about the fixed point 15A. Therefore, the rotating members 13A and 13B in the floats 12A and 12B also roll within the floats 12A and 12B as the floats 12A and 12B rotate.

[0029] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the power transmission mechanism 14 is a tube pump. The rotating member 13 inside the float 12 rolls while pressing against the tube of the tube pump provided inside the float 12, thereby sending compressed air or liquid. The sent compressed air or liquid is sent to a generator 25 or the like, and becomes power to generate energy. The path for sending compressed air via the power transmission mechanism 14 and the path for returning air may be configured by installing a check valve 23 or the like as appropriate.

[0030] 2 illustrates the case where the power generating device 10 lists to the right, but if the ship lists to the left, power is generated by a similar operation, except that the left and right are reversed. That is, the rotating member 13 inside the float 12 rolls from side to side like a pendulum as the compartment 11 swings, thereby generating power. By applying the power generating device 10 according to the present invention, it is only necessary to install the compartment 11, such as a container, inside the ship, thereby reducing the effort and cost required for installation and enabling efficient power generation.

[0031] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a power transmission mechanism in a power generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 3, a tube is installed along the inner edge of the floating body 12, and the rotating member 13 rolls to act as a roller that presses the tube. The tube pump may be configured to send compressed air, or may be configured to send a liquid such as water by filling the inside of the tube pump.

[0032] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a power transmission mechanism in a power generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the tube of the tube pump is provided on the outer periphery of the rotating member 13. Note that a portion of the tube actually extends from the rotating member 13 to an external generator 25, but this is not shown. Even in this configuration, the rotation of the rotating member 13 presses the tube between the rotating member 13 and the inside of the floating body 12, thereby generating power as a tube pump. Since the range of rotation of the floating body 12 is limited, for example, the diameter of the rotating member 13 may be set so that the rotating member 13 does not rotate once inside and cause the tube to become entangled. In this configuration, maintenance is simplified because the rotating member 13 can be removed and the tube replaced when it becomes worn.

[0033] In addition, in one aspect of the present invention, instead of the above-mentioned tube pump, one or more cylinders can be used as the power transmission mechanism 14, and as the rotating member 13 rolls inside the floating body 12, the pistons of the one or more cylinders are pushed, thereby transmitting power.

[0034] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a power transmission mechanism in a power generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 5, one or more cylinders are provided on the inner circumferential surface of a floating body 12 so that their pistons face the rotating member 13. In this case, the piston faces of the cylinders are arranged on the same circumference, and as the rotating member 13 rolls on that circumference, the piston faces are pressed, which can be converted into an action of compressing and sending out the contents (air or liquid) in the cylinders.

[0035] Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a power transmission mechanism in a power generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 6, one or more cylinders are provided on the outer periphery of the rotating member 13 so that their pistons face the inner periphery of the floating body 12. Therefore, when the rotating member 13 rotates, the piston faces of the cylinders provided on the outer periphery of the rotating member 13 are pushed, which converts into an action of compressing and sending out the contents (air or liquid) in the cylinders. As an example, the cylinders may be provided by leaving the interior of the rotating member 13 hollow.

[0036] 7 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a power generating device according to another embodiment of the present invention. Another aspect of the present invention is a power generating device 30 for generating useful power from swaying caused by waves or wind, characterized by comprising a compartment 31 containing liquid therein, a container-like float 32 installed in the compartment 31 and moving up and down along a guide member 42 according to the height of the liquid level, a rotating member 33 installed inside the float 32 and partially rotatably fixed to a fixed member so as to rotate according to the up and down movement of the float, a rotating member 34 installed inside the rotating member 33 and rolling inside according to the rotational movement of the rotating member 33, and a power transmission mechanism for transmitting power generated by the rotational movement of the rotating member 34.

[0037] In the power generating device 10 in Fig. 1 described above, the float 12 also serves as a rotating member, but the power generating device 30 in Fig. 7 is characterized in that a container-shaped float 32 that moves up and down along a guide member 42 is provided in addition to the rotating member 33, and the rotating member 33 is provided inside the container-shaped float 32. By doing so, the container-shaped float 32 can have a larger volume, so it can also receive a larger buoyancy. Note that a power transmission mechanism similar to the power transmission mechanisms described in Figs. 3 to 6 described above can be applied (not shown in Fig. 7).

[0038] The float 32 can be a container (small room) having a rectangular parallelepiped space as shown in Figure 7. This allows for more space to be utilized and greater buoyancy to be received, making it easier for the float to move up and down in response to changes in the liquid level. As an example, the guide member 42 is composed of roller members provided on the side surfaces of the float 32 and roller support members (columnar rail members) provided on both side surfaces to determine the position of the float 32.

[0039] 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of a power generating device according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, when the power generating device 30 tilts to the right, the liquid 40 in the compartment 31 also flows through the flow path 41 to the right compartment, causing the water level in the right compartment to rise and the water level in the left compartment to fall. As a result, the float 32A in the left compartment moves downward along the guide member 42, and the float 32B in the right compartment moves upward along the guide member 42.

[0040] A portion of the rotating member 33 is rotatably fixed to the fixed member 35. As an example, as shown in Figure 7, the top surface of the float 32 can be opened, and the fixed member 35 can be suspended from the ceiling of the compartment 31 to fix a portion of the rotating member 33. In this manner, as shown in Figure 8, when the float 32A in the left compartment descends, the rotating member 33A also rotates downward, and when the float 32B in the right compartment rises, the rotating member 33B also rotates upward. Therefore, the rotating members 34A, 34B in the rotating members 33A, 33B also roll within the rotating members 33A, 33B as the rotating members 33A, 33B rotate, and power is generated by the generator 45 via the power transmission mechanism described above.

[0041] In one aspect of the present invention, a lateral guide member 36 may be provided at the contact point between the rotating member 33 and the float 32 to laterally guide the contact point of the rotating member 33 in response to the up and down movement of the float 32. Because the rotating member 33 rotates in response to the up and down movement of the float 32, wear occurs at the contact point between the rotating member 33 and the inside of the float 32. For this reason, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, a lateral guide member 36 is provided between the rotating member 33 and the inside of the float 32 to allow the rotating member 33 to move smoothly. As an example of the lateral guide member 36, a lateral rail may be provided on the inside of the lower part of the float 32, and a lateral carriage having wheels on both the rail side and the rotating member 33 side may be installed on top of the rail. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this aspect as long as the rotating member 33 can rotate smoothly without coming into contact with the float 32.

[0042] As explained above, according to the present invention, the state in which a ship or the like moves forward and receives the force of waves and wind, causing the ship's hull to sway from side to side, is converted into a rotational motion by the float or the rotating member inside the float in response to the rise and fall of the liquid level in the compartment, and as a result, the rotating member inside the float or the rotating member rotates and presses the tube of the tube pump or the piston of the cylinder, making it possible to generate useful power. Furthermore, by realizing these mechanisms inside a compartment of a container or the like, it is possible to realize a power generating device that can be easily installed on a ship or the like, reduces the effort and cost required for installation, and is capable of generating power efficiently.

[0043] Although one embodiment of the present invention and each example have been described in detail above, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications are possible without substantially departing from the novel features and effects of the present invention. Therefore, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

[0044] For example, a term described at least once in the specification or drawings together with a different term having a broader or similar meaning can be replaced with that different term anywhere in the specification or drawings. Furthermore, the configuration of the power generating device is not limited to that described in the embodiment and examples of the present invention, and various modifications are possible.

[0045] 10, 30 Power generating device, 11, 31 Chamber, 12, 32 Floating body, 33 Rotating member, 13, 34 Rotating member, 14 Power transmission mechanism, 15 Fixing point, 35 Fixing member, 36 Lateral guide member, 20, 40 Liquid, 21, 41 Flow path, 23 Check valve, 25, 45 Generator, 42 Guide member

Claims

1. A power generating device that generates useful power from swaying caused by waves or wind, comprising: a compartment having a liquid therein; a float installed in the compartment and with a portion rotatably fixed to a fixed member, so that it rotates in response to the up and down movement of the liquid; a rotating member installed inside the float and rolling inside in response to the rotational movement of the float; and a power transmission mechanism that transmits power generated by the rotational movement of the rotating member.

2. A power generating device that generates useful power from swaying caused by waves or wind, comprising: a compartment having a liquid therein; a container-like float that is installed in the compartment and moves up and down along a guide member according to the height of the liquid surface; a rotating member that is installed inside the float and has a portion rotatably fixed to a fixed member, thereby rotating according to the up and down movement of the float; a rotating member that is installed inside the rotating member and rolls inside according to the rotational movement of the rotating member; and a power transmission mechanism that transmits power generated by the rotational movement of the rotating member.

3. A power generating device as described in claim 2, characterized in that a lateral guide member is provided at the contact point between the rotating member and the float, which guides the contact point of the rotating member laterally in accordance with the up and down movement of the float.

4. A power generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the power transmission mechanism is a tube pump, and the rotating member transmits power by rotating while pushing the tube of the tube pump.

5. A power generating device according to claim 4, wherein the tube of said tube pump is provided inside said floating body.

6. The power generating device according to claim 4, wherein the tube of the tube pump is provided on the outer periphery of the rotating member.

7. A power generating device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the power transmission mechanism is one or more cylinders, and when the rotating member rolls within the float, the pistons of the one or more cylinders are pushed, transmitting power.

8. A power generating device according to claim 7, wherein the one or more cylinders are provided on the inner circumferential surface of the floating body so that the pistons face the rotating member.

9. The power generating device according to claim 7, wherein the one or more cylinders are provided on the outer periphery of the rotating member so that the pistons face the inner periphery of the floating body.

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