Re: Stupid "free energy" idea

On Tue, 6 May 2008 22:40:43 -0400, "David L. Burkhead"
<dburkhead@xxxxxxx> wrote:

Rabid Weasel Lawson wrote:
On Tue, 06 May 2008 17:36:07 -0700, Renli wrote:

On May 7, 1:35 am, h...@xxxxxxxxxx wrote:
So it is indeed
_possible_ that the device might generate more power than it would
use up in require additional energy to the truck.

Actually it is impossible to generate more power than you use. It's
called the second law of thermodynamics - this isn't some kind of
newfangled energy source, Hal. It's just trucks running over plates.
If such a mechanical device could exist to create free energy (such
as a waterwheel), it would have been invented long ago.

Man. I mean, when even Fu is giving hal lessons in remedial
physics... I mean, daaaang. :P

Nitpick: Energy conservation is the first law of thermodynamics. Second
law is "entropy always increases in a closed system." Third law is that a
absolute zero all motion stops and entropy is at a minimum.

So the three laws are
1) You can't win.
2) You can't break even.
3) You can't get out of the game.

gee, ya think these guys know something you assholes don't?


http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6936932-description.html


Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Description


TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods and systems for power
generation. More particularly, the present invention is a method and
system for power generation including electrical power generation such
as by utilizing vehicle traffic on roadways.

BACKGROUND AND RELATED ART

Energy sources useful for the generation of electricity include wind,
water, solar, nuclear and steam energy and various methods and systems
have been developed for harnessing such energy to generate
electricity, typically by performing useful work to drive an electric
generator.

With the continuing need for energy consumption efficiency and
conservation, many efforts have been made to exploit previously unused
energy sources. Many methods and systems have been proposed for the
harnessing of existing forces or mechanical work to generate
electrical power. In particular, several systems and methods have been
developed to use the energy and downward force of the wheels of
vehicles as they move along a roadway surface.

The systems can be categorized generally as mechanical systems, air
compression systems and hydraulic systems.

Mechanical Systems.

Mechanical systems for generating electric power from the downward
force of vehicles passing over a roadway typically involve gear
mechanisms and other moving parts and are prone to wear and tear from
the stress of forced downward movement in response to vehicles and
forced upward movement when being reset. One example is U.S. Pat. No.
4,238,687 to Martinez discloses a system for generating electric power
from the passage of motor vehicles over a roadway using turbines that
are driven by the downward rotational movement of arc-shaped arms
connected to rocker plates installed on a road surface when such
rocker plates are forced down by vehicles passing over them.

Air Compression Systems.

Air compression systems typically involve an air compression piston
being driven by an actuator of some sort that translates the downward
force of a vehicle passing over a roadway in which the actuator is
installed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,173,431 to Smith discloses a
road vehicle-actuated air compressor and system for using compressed
air to operate an electrical generator to generate electricity. The
road vehicle-actuated compressor includes an actuator that is pushed
downward by the weight of vehicle tires passing over it, driving a
reciprocating piston in a cylinder, compressing the air in the
cylinder. An electric generator is driven by compressed air from the
cylinder. Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,774 to Angel et al.
which discloses a road vehicle actuated air compressor which utilizes
flaps mounted in pairs in a road or pedestrian walkway surface. When
traffic moves over the flaps, the flaps move downward to activate a
piston which compresses air. The compressed air is stored and used as
needed to generate electricity. Air compression systems, while
generally somewhat more durable than mechanical systems, are not
efficient in maximizing the amount of energy translated from the
downward forces of moving vehicles to drive an electrical generator,
due to friction and other losses.

Hydraulic Systems.

Several systems utilize hydraulic pumps to absorb the downward force
of vehicles passing over a roadway and translate same into useful
work, such as to drive an electric generator. For example, U.S. Pat.
No. 4,004,422 to Le Van discloses a method and apparatus for producing
useful work utilizing the weight of moving traffic by incorporating in
a roadway or traffic-way a readily deformable chamber which is filled
with a fluid, arranged so that the weight of the vehicle is passing
over it causes displacement of the fluid contained therein. The energy
of the displaced fluid in turn is translated into mechanical or
electric energy. U.S. Pat. No. 4,130,064 to Bridwell discloses a
system for utilizing the weight and momentum of moving vehicles to
produce usable energy comprising a fluid displacement pump positioned
either under a moveable plate in a roadway or between the rail in a
railbed in a railway which compresses hydraulic fluid as the vehicle
passes over, a low pressure line for supplying fluid to the pump
chamber, a high pressure outlet line communicating with the chamber
and connected to a manifold which is supplied with high pressure fluid
from a number of other similar pumps and which directs the fluid to an
energy conversion device such as a fluid motor and electric generator.
The invention teaches use of a dual-stroke pump actuated depending on
the weight of the passing vehicles. The dual-stroke pump allows
greater volumes of hydraulic fluid to be pressurized depending on the
weight of the passing vehicle.

Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,211,078 to Bass is directed to a power
source comprising a cylinder arranged to pump hydraulic fluid into a
pressure accumulator. The stored hydraulic fluid operates a hydraulic
motor to drive an alternator to generate electric power. The cylinder
can be a single acting cylinder having a piston rod depressed by the
weight of passing traffic on a highway. The system uses an accumulator
and a hydraulic motor which drives an alternator to generate electric
power. U.S. Pat. No. 4,409,489 to Hayes discloses an apparatus which
pressurizes fluid and causes it to flow by capturing energy dissipated
by moving vehicles, comprising a network of collapsible bodies
containing hydraulic fluid attached to a turbine generator system. The
collapsible bodies are resilient tubes, preferably three-part
structures made of elastic inner tubes with projections and outer
sections of semi-rigid hose. The claimed improvement is in the use of
a network of numerous collapsible bodies to capture more weight from
passing vehicles.

More recent efforts include U.S. Pat. No. 6,172,426 to Galich
discloses an energy platform system for generating electrical energy
from the weight of a moving vehicle comprising a fluid bed containing
a volume of fluid which is compressible by the weight of a moving
vehicle driven over it. Fluid forced from within the bladder as a
result of such compression passes through a circulation system where
the moving fluid is used to drive a generator. The circulation
assembly comprises an accumulator in fluid communication with the
bladder, which receives the forced fluid and releases it at a
specified pressure level. A hydraulic pump and reservoir are also
used. The electrical generator is a linear generator, comprising an
elongate cylinder having a hollow interior. The exterior of the
cylinder has a coil around it. A rod is inserted within the cylinder
and has a magnet slidably coupled to it. As the rod in the cylinder is
moved by the hydraulic fluid, the magnet moves as well, causing an
electrical current within the coil. U.S. Pat. No. 6,204,568 to Runner
discloses a system for converting mechanical motion of vehicles into
electrical energy, comprising a plurality of motion converter
assemblies each including a rod which remains in communication with a
vertical motion delivery mechanism through a gearing mechanism for
rotating the rod in response to vehicle traffic passing over the
system, a plurality of fluid pumps each connected to the rotating rod
to generate pressurized fluid which in turn drives a turbine
generator. The motion converter assemblies have a rectangular base and
sides forming a box an are inserted in the road surface. The motion
converter assemblies also have a pair of rectangular top plates that
are pivotally connected at one end to one side of the motion
connection assembly base, with springs urging the plates upward. The
top plate has a vertical plate pivotally connected to its under side
which has teeth to engage a gear. When a vehicle passes over the top
plate of a motion converter assembly, the vertical plate is driven
downward and engages the gear, which rotates and drives the fluid
pumps.

These previously described systems, while in principle capable
generating electrical power from the downward force of vehicles as
they pass over a roadway, are inefficient in their ability to maximize
the electrical power generated from each passing vehicle. Vehicles
have varying weights; the downward force of a semi-truck is obviously
considerably more than that of a compact car. Prior systems do not
effectively harness the full force of each vehicle. Additionally,
because vehicle traffic is typically irregular, there is an increased
need in such a system to maximize the transfer of energy from each
vehicle and store energy to provide a steady supply of electric power.
An embodiment of the present invention is a system and method for
generating power, such as electrical power, from downward vehicle
forces on a roadway that effectively harnesses the energy of vehicles
of varying weights. Embodiments of the present invention may overcome
the shortcomings of prior efforts by employing multiple hydraulic
cylinders of different load bearing and hydraulic fluid compression
capacities that are selectively activated by a sensor system depending
on vehicle weight in a novel combination and configuration with a road
plate over which vehicles pass. Embodiments of the present invention
can effectively harness the downward force of both moving and
stationary vehicles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention includes methods and apparatuses for power generation
systems. According to an aspect of the invention a power generation
system comprises a hydraulic accumulator, a hydraulic reservoir;
electric hydraulic cylinders having various weight-handling capacities
and a vehicle weight sensor.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a method for power
generation comprises providing electric hydraulic cylinders, sensing a
weight, selecting cylinders and directing hydraulic fluid to them and
using the weight to force hydraulic fluid.

According to a still further aspect of the invention a power
generation system is disclosed. It may comprise a hydraulic fluid
accumulator and a two level road plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting certain components of an embodiment of
the system of the present invention in a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram depicting additional detail regarding the layout
of the components of an embodiment of the system of the present
invention in a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of certain elements of the road plate
component of an embodiment of the system of the present invention in a
preferred embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of certain elements of the road plate
component of an embodiment of the system of the present invention in a
preferred embodiment.

FIG. 5 depicts a side perspective view of certain elements of the road
plate component of an embodiment of the system of the present
invention in a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 6 depicts a side cross-sectional view of a step assembly of the
road plate component of an embodiment of the present invention in a
preferred embodiment.

FIG. 7 depicts a side cross-sectional view of the road plate component
of the system of an embodiment of the present invention in a preferred
embodiment utilizing a two-level road plate configuration.

FIG. 8 depicts a side perspective view of an electric hydraulic
cylinder of the road plate 25 component of an embodiment of the system
of the present invention in a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 9 depicts a cross-sectional view of an electric hydraulic
cylinder of the road plate component of an embodiment of the system of
the present invention in a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of the hydraulic system of an embodiment of the
present invention in a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 11 depicts a side perspective view of the bottom level road plate
assembly used in a preferred embodiment of the invention utilizing a
two-level road plate configuration.

FIG. 12 depicts a side perspective view of the top level road plate
assembly used in a preferred embodiment of the invention utilizing a
two-level road plate configuration.

FIG. 13 depicts a side and top perspective view of the top level road
plate weldment used 10 in a preferred embodiment of the invention
utilizing a two-level road plate configuration.

FIG. 14 depicts a side and top perspective view of the bottom level
road plate weldment used in a preferred embodiment of the invention
utilizing a two-level road plate configuration.
.