Air powered electric generator

Abstract

Air powered electrical generator (APEG) motive parts are mounted on an axle carrying bilateral air turbines and two intermediate rotor subassemblies. Circular rotor blade plates have scalene triangularly shaped cavities with long leading edge sides receiving compressed air flow, short trailing edge sides and an open peripheral air portal. Adjacently mounted blades are offset such that one air portal then another air portal is presented to compressed air flow from nozzles during rotation. Each turbine shroud has a manifold feeding compressed air to the nozzle, as a venturi, due alternating presented air portals. Each rotor carries permanent magnets on its radially outboard segments. Bilateral stationary stators are transversely fixedly mounted outboard of the rotating rotor subassemblies. Electrical outputs carry power from the stators when the rotor subassemblies rotate.

Claims

1. An air powered electrical generator (APEG) comprising: a rotating axle upon which is mounted bilateral air turbines on opposite sides of an APEG centerline normal to the axle; at least two rotor subassemblies mounted on the axle inboard of the bilateral turbines; each rotor subassembly having at least two cavity carrying circular blade plates mounted adjacent each other; a plurality of cavities formed in each blade plate, each cavity having a substantially scalene triangular shape formed by a longer air impact leading edge and a shorter trailing edge and an air portal open at a periphery of the blade plate; each blade plate in each rotor subassembly offset to another blade plate of the at least two blade plates such that at least one air portal is present about the periphery of the mounted blade plates during rotation of the rotor subassemblies on the axle; each turbine having a shroud and turbine blades generating compressed air flow into a manifold; at least one venturi nozzle mounted at both manifold outputs channeling the compressed air flow into presented air portal; each rotor subassembly carrying a plurality of permanent magnets on and about radially outboard blade segments of the blade plates; at least two bilateral stationary stators transversely fixedly mounted separate and apart from the rotating axle outboard of the rotating rotor subassemblies; and electrical outputs electrically coupled to the stators carrying APEG generated electric power from the stators when the rotor subassemblies rotate with respect to the stationary stators.

2. The air powered electrical generator (APEG) as claimed in claim 1 wherein an intersection of the leading edge of the cavity forms a substantially acute angle to the trailing edge and a hypotenuse of the triangular shape radially inboard of a blade periphery.

3. The air powered electrical generator (APEG) as claimed in claim 2 wherein the substantially triangular cavities extend radially inboard of the magnets on and about the radially outboard blade segments of the blade plates, thereby forming a flywheel.

4. The air powered electrical generator (APEG) as claimed in claim 3 wherein the at least two rotor subassemblies form a rotor assembly with an intermediate circular center plate mounted on the axle, the center plate carrying the magnets and the magnets transversely extending through passages in each blade plate on the radially outboard blade segments.

5. The air powered electrical generator (APEG) as claimed in claim 4 including circular end cap plates transversely outboard each of the rotor subassemblies, each end cap plate having alternating wedges of positive and negative magnetic plates, the alternating wedges of positive and negative magnetic plates in magnetic alignment with blade carried magnets.

6. The air powered electrical generator (APEG) as claimed in claim 5 wherein each turbine shroud has a first upper flow manifold and a second lower flow manifold, said at least one venturi nozzle is an upper nozzle fed with compressed air from the upper flow manifold of the bilateral turbines, and the lower flow manifold feeds compressed air from the lower flow manifold to a lower venturi nozzle, such that the presented air portal for one blade plate is open to the upper nozzle simultaneously with the presented air portal for other blade plate being open to the lower nozzle.

7. The air powered electrical generator (APEG) as claimed in claim 6 including an air starter pump feeding starting compressed air into the venturi nozzle.

8. The air powered electrical generator (APEG) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the substantially triangular cavities extend radially inboard of the magnets on and about the radially outboard blade segments of the blade plates, thereby forming a flywheel.

9. The air powered electrical generator (APEG) as claimed in claim 8 wherein the at least two rotor subassemblies form a rotor assembly with an intermediate circular center plate mounted on the axle, the center plate carrying the magnets and the magnets transversely extending through passages in each blade plate on the radially outboard blade segments.

10. The air powered electrical generator (APEG) as claimed in claim 9 including circular end cap plates transversely outboard each of the rotor subassemblies, each end cap plate having alternating wedges of positive and negative magnetic plates, the alternating wedges of positive and negative magnetic plates in magnetic alignment with blade carried magnets.

11. The air powered electrical generator (APEG) as claimed in claim 1 wherein each turbine shroud has a first upper flow manifold and a second lower flow manifold, said at least one venturi nozzle is an upper nozzle fed with compressed air from the upper flow manifold of the bilateral turbines, and the lower flow manifold feeds compressed air from the lower flow manifold to a lower venturi nozzle, such that the presented air portal for one blade plate is open to the upper nozzle simultaneously with the presented air portal for other blade plate being open to the lower nozzle.

12. The air powered electrical generator (APEG) as claimed in claim 1 including an air starter pump feeding starting compressed air into the venturi nozzle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.

(2) FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a perspective view of the air powered electrical power generator system (APEG) showing air stream regulators (sometimes referred to herein as venturi nozzles) that are positioned on the top and bottom air manifolds.

(3) FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates a partial, cut-away view of the bi-lateral turbine systems and the intermediate pair of stators and the centrally located, bi-lateral rotor assemblies (the rotors being driven by the turbines on a common axle).

(4) FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of the evolution of the rotor design for the APEG rotor blades (derived from two hexagrams) wherein each rotor plate has three air chamber cavities and air-admission ports (these air-admission ports diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 7), and wherein each rotor plate is offset from the adjacent plate to control airflow impacting the three air chamber cavities. The rotor shapes can be altered by rounding off the sharper ends (at the nearly 90 degree leading edge and the trailing blade end of each rotor plate).

(5) FIG. 4A diagrammatically illustrates an exploded view of the rotor assembly with two rotor blades having the uniquely shaped air chamber cavities and air-admission ports, each cavity carrying blade sandwiched between a magnet carrying plate and a cap plate (the magnets extending from the magnet carrying plate and a cap plate) and at least one end plate. FIG. 4A shows the position of each part and how two multi-chamber offset rotor plates are separated by a center plate. The sandwiched rotor assemblies house six permanent magnets which are capped with magnetic endplates on each side (the mounted rotors carrying a total 12 magnets), together defining the rotor assembly.

(6) FIG. 4B diagrammatically illustrates the rotor assembly and how two air chamber defining rotor blades (one chambered rotor blade offset from the adjacent chambered rotor blade) and separated by a center plate.

(7) FIG. 5 diagrammatically illustrates the bi-lateral centrifugal air turbines, each respectively encased in a shroud with respective inlets and outlets (the outlets being on opposing side ends of the APEG), the turbines being fixed on a common drive shaft, such that the air is forced through the air manifolds to the rotor air-admission ports and into the associated air chamber cavities.

(8) FIG. 6 diagrammatically illustrates a portion of one centrifugal air turbine.

(9) FIG. 7 diagrammatically illustrates each rotor plate air-admission port and the associated rotor air chamber cavity.

(10) FIG. 8 diagrammatically illustrates the stator layout, each stator coil (S1-S9) transversely positioned on a fixed circular plate (fixed to the APEG power stand, not to the rotor axle). FIG. 8 also diagrammatically illustrates the linkage of positive and negative outputs to other stator coils.

(11) FIG. 9 diagrammatically illustrates another layout of the stator coils (S1-S9).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(12) While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms.

(13) The present invention relates to an air powered electrical generator (APEG) 10 using aero-kinetic technology, air turbines, and flywheels.

(14) Referring now to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the present invention is shown in a perspective view of the air powered electrical power generator system (APEG) showing air stream regulators (sometimes referred to herein as venturi nozzles) that are positioned on the top and bottom air manifolds. The Figures show several advantageous features of the present invention, but, as will be described below, the invention can be provided in several shapes, sizes, combinations of features and components, and varying numbers and functions of the components.

(15) In summary in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, two mirrored air turbines 12, 14, (airflow can also be done with a single air turbine or air funnel systems) are encased in a respective shroud 16, 18, each having an air inlet 20, 22 and primary and secondary outlet manifolds 24, 26 (primary or upper) and 28, 30 (secondary or lower). The air turbines are fed with two air transfer manifolds, a primary or upper manifold system 24, 26 and a lower, secondary manifold system 28, 30. A rotor assembly 40 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4A), driven by the turbines 12, 14, is configured as a flywheel and carries permanent magnets. The rotor 40 assembly consists of two rotor subassemblies 42, 44 having peripheral segments with air chamber cavities (see cavity 45 in FIG. 4A) in the form of a multiple offset hexagrams. Each rotor blade forming air chambers or cavities is separated by the center plate then sandwiched between two plates and each rotor subassembly housing carries six permanent magnets and 12 magnetic plates. Two stators house multiple copper coils, for the example 24 Cu coils are used, 12 large Cu coils and 12 small Cu coils. The turbines and rotor assembly are fixed on a common drive shaft or axle and the rotors rotate within the stator which is fixed to the APEG stand. The two bilateral stationary stators 13, 16 (FIG. 2) are transversely fixedly mounted separate and apart from the rotating axle (see FIG. 4B for axle 9 carrying rotor subassemblies 42, 44) and bilateral stationary stators 13, 16 are outboard of the rotating rotor subassemblies 42, 44.

(16) Electrical outputs are electrically coupled to the stators carrying APEG generated electric power from the stators when the rotor subassemblies rotate with respect to the stationary stators.

(17) In summary in operation, when air under pressure is fed into the backflow prevention valve 60, the air flow acts upon the rotor blade air chambers and forces the rotor assembly to rotate. This causes the air turbines to rotate sucking air into the shroud 16, 18 through the two bilateral inlets 12, 14. The incoming air is further compressed by the turbine blades 70 (FIG. 6) and forced through the air transfer manifolds (primary manifolds 24, 26), which impacts against the longer edge 80 (the leading edge) of air cavity or chamber 81 (FIG. 7) in the rotor and drives the rotor assembly to rotate vigorously. The rotors and turbines are fixed on the same drive shaft axle and the end bearings are suspended between two stationary stator-coil housings that also houses ball bearings or the like.

(18) An example of the industrial application is a simple but effective advancement over existing electric generators. The present invention offers significant advantages over the current electric generators, whether reciprocating or rotary.

(19) The air powered electrical generator is a new method of assemblage of two known types of technologies to produce three-phase alternating currents (AC) power. It incorporates a novel design of rotor with multiple cavities and most of the weight on the outside edge of the rotor subassembly is similar to a flywheel creating the torque needed to rotate a novel design of air turbine.

(20) A rechargeable battery 27 powers an electric air pump 29 is used to start the system and is also used to maintain the rotation of the whole process. For example, the air pump restarts if revolutions per minute (RPM) goes below the usable RPM.

(21) There are two known types of technologies that are combined by use of a common drive shaft, the first is the uniquely designed centrifugal air turbines 12, 14 that suck in air, compress it into a high-pressure air stream, forcing the stream through primary air manifolds 24, 26 and venturi nozzles (see primary or upper nozzle 15 (FIGS. 1 and 7) and secondary or lower nozzle 17 in FIG. 7), causing the rotors of the second technology, an axial flux generator, whose novel rotors are designed with air cavities or chambers, such that when the air stream forced into the cavities (see cavity 81, FIG. 7), it creates the inertia/torque similar to flywheel type technology, in turn rotating a positive and negative magnetic field interaction between the magnet carrying rotors 40 (FIG. 4A) and the fixed stators 13, 15 creating an electric current to flow in the stator coils.

(22) The size of the electrical generator and or individual components which includes width, breadth, length, height and diameter can be varied to suit the application it is to be used for. The air powered electrical generator or APEG's individual components are not restricted in the amount of applications it or what they can be used for. It can be attached to water pumps and compressors and used to propel automobiles, aircraft, watercraft and many other forms of transportation, as well as powering both domestic and commercial buildings. Since the APEG uses no harmful fuel it should be regarded as eco-friendly and a more efficient substitute for existing electric generators.

(23) Other rotor assembly designs can be achieved using other or similar designs of open recesses in the rotor blades or air chambers having vanes or impellers therein.

(24) The design of the bilateral centrifugal air turbine is new even though there are many centrifugal pumps available. Prior art or previous designs need to be attached to an electric motor or combustion using exhaust gases or a water turbine for continues operation.

(25) The inventive centrifugal air turbine can also be used on its own for a multiple of uses where a direct high-pressure air or water stream is needed for both inhaling or exhaling of air/water, e.g., for garden blowers and vacuum cleaners water pumps and impellers.

(26) The invention offers simplicity in manufacturing and includes various sizes needed for various power voltage, watts and amperage output and can be made from any suitable materials as set out in the scientific periodic table and compounds mixed from it, e.g. metals and or alloys and other man made materials that will be able to withstand both low and high temperatures also low and high air pressure, for example all derivatives of steel, aluminum, titanium, plastics, carbon and glass fibers and the manufacturing of the air powered electrical generator is not restricted to just these materials.

(27) The rotors and stators stated previously can be modified to be used without the turbines and can incorporate other forms of funnels and the like to direct an airstream or waterflow to rotate the rotors.

(28) FIG. 2 is a top view showing the relationship between the bilateral air turbine system 12, 14, rotor assembly 40 and bilateral stators 13, 15. The drive shaft 31 goes through these three subassemblies components of the APEG. The two bilateral stationary stators 13, 15 are transversely fixedly mounted separate and apart from the rotating axle 9 and are outboard of the rotating rotor subassemblies 42, 44. The APEG has a turbine shroud 16, 18 (FIGS. 1, 2) and has a first upper flow manifold 24 and a second lower flow manifold 28. An upper nozzle 15 is fed with compressed air from the upper flow manifold 24 of each bilateral turbine (see FIG. 1), and the lower flow manifold 28,30 feeds compressed air from the lower flow manifold 28, 30 to a lower venturi nozzle (FIG. 5 shows the lower nozzle, FIG. 1 shows the lower flow manifolds), such that the presented air portal 50 for one blade plate 55 (see FIG. 3) is open to the upper nozzle 15 simultaneously with the presented air portal for other blade plate 57 being open to the lower nozzle (see FIG. 3).

(29) FIG. 3 diagrammatically illustrates the preferred shape of each rotor recess or air chamber/cavity formed on the cavity forming rotor blade, which shape is an area bounded by (i) air-chamber portal 50, (ii) longer edge 46 (the leading edge point 52 establishing the transition between portal 50 and longer edge 46), and (iii) shorter edge 48 (the trailing edge point 54 at the transition between portal 50 and shorter edge 48). The shape in cavity forming rotor blade space 45 (FIG. 4A) is derived from using multiple hexagram shapes as a guide. Two hexagrams are used offset to provide the necessary angles to shape the rotor cavity in FIG. 3. The rotor cavity shapes 45 can be altered by rounding off the sharper ends (at the nearly 90 degree at leading edge point 52 and the longer edge 46 and the trailing, shorter blade end 48).

(30) A plurality of cavities is formed in each blade plate 55, 57. Each cavity has a substantially scalene triangular shape formed by a longer air impact leading cavity-defining edge 46 and a shorter cavity-defining trailing edge 48 and an air portal 50 open at a periphery of the blade plate. The intersection of the leading edge 46 of the cavity forms a substantially acute angle to the trailing edge 48 and a hypotenuse (not shown) of the triangular shape is radially inboard of the blade periphery.

(31) FIG. 3 shows two cavity carrying rotor blades 55, 57 (note that cavity blade 55 has air portal 50 open to venturi nozzle 15) offset by 60° to alternate the cavities to the air stream from nozzle 15 maintaining a constant airflow first on cavity blade 55 and then, when the rotor rotates 60 degrees, to the air portal 51b on cavity blade 57. Stated otherwise, the air portal 50 for cavity blade 55 is immediately adjacent the outer arcuate segment 51a of cavity blade 57. The outer arcuate segments 51a, 51b and 51c form the periphery of cavity blade 57 and partly close the output port of the venturi nozzle 15 at the same time, simultaneously, as the presentation of the air-chamber ports, one of which is air portal 50 between edge points 52, 54 of cavity blade 55. When portal 50b is presented to the output of nozzle 15, outer arcuate edge 51b partly blocks the nozzle output. These leading and trailing edge points (for example, points 52, 54) may be rounded in an alternative design, however, the cavity blades are offset such that only one air portal is presented to the output of nozzle 15 at any one time.

(32) Each blade plate 55, 57 in each rotor subassembly 42, 44 is offset, one blade to another adjacent blade (see, for example, plates 55, 57 in FIG. 3), such that at least one air portal 50 is present and open to upper nozzle 15, about the periphery of the mounted blade plates during rotation of the rotor subassemblies on the axle. Simultaneous with the presentation of air portal 50 to upper nozzle 15, the other air portal of the adjacent blade 57 (blade 57 being shown below blade 55) is open to the lower nozzle compressed air flow. Stated otherwise, the nozzles are 180 degrees opposing each other and the “open-to-nozzle air portals” of adjacent blades are also 180 degrees opposing each other. Therefore, the simultaneous upper and lower compressed air flow effects and pushes the leading longer edges of adjacent blade plates at the same time. The “venturi nozzle effect” is created by the one-at-a-time presentation of an air portal to the corresponding nozzle output. The nozzles mounted at both manifold outputs channel the compressed air flow into presented air portal.

(33) FIG. 3 shows the placement of the permanent magnets 60, 62, 64 on cavity blade 55 and magnets 65, 67, 69 on cavity blade 57. Each rotor subassembly carries a plurality of permanent magnets on and about radially outboard blade segments of the blade plates. See FIG. 3 wherein the magnets are mounted on and about the blades and are radially outboard of the center axle of the APEG.

(34) FIG. 4A is an exploded view of the rotor assembly 40, consisting of rotor subassemblies 42 and 44. Subassembly 42 included a series of peripherally mounted magnets, such as magnets 60, 64, mounted on center plate 33. Center plate 33 has magnets mounted in a peripheral region on both sides of the plate, such that magnet 60 is on one side forming rotor subassembly 42, and magnet 69 is mounted on the opposite side, forming rotor subassembly 44. As shown, cavity blade 55 has complementary passages, one of which is passage 64a within which fits magnet 64. A cap plate 35 also has complementary magnet passages, such as cap plate passage 64b within which magnet 64 also fits within. The term “on and about” referring to the magnet mounting on the blade refers to this interlocking structure of the center plate and the intermediate blades and the cap plate. However, different mounting systems may be used other than explained herein to mount the magnets on the radially outboard blade segments of the blade plates and to mount the magnets about these radial segments.

(35) Subassembly 42 has an end plate 39 (right-side plate 39). The opposing end of rotor 40 (left-side) has another end plate. Plates 33, 55, 37 and 39 are attached together to form subassembly 42. End plate 39 has six segmental magnet plates, three “same polarity” magnet plates 39a and three “opposite polarity” magnet plates 39b. Hence, rotor 40 has end caps 39 carrying 12 magnetic plates of alternating polarity.

(36) FIG. 4B shows subassembly 42 as a unitary component of the APEG. Returning to FIG. 4A, subassembly 44 includes the same components except that centerplate 33 is common to both subassemblies 42, 44.

(37) The three segmental magnet plates 39a in the end caps (see end cap 39) are positive in polarity and are identified with the holes in them. Each end cap has three positive polarity magnet plates 39a. These three positive polarity magnet plate segments 39a are placed in an alternate pattern with three segmental negative polarity plates 39b which are shown without holes and designed to work with off the shelf permanent magnets 60, 64. The holes in the three positive polarity magnet plate segments 39a allow the air pressure to be released and this air flow cools the stators and this air flow is drawn back into the adjacent bilateral turbine. The circular end cap plates 39 are transversely outboard of each rotor subassembly 42, 44. Each end cap plate has alternating wedges of positive and negative magnetic plates 39a, 39b, and the alternating wedges of positive and negative magnetic plates are magnetic alignment with blade carried magnets.

(38) The cap plates (see cap plate 35) are used to encase the cavity blade plates 55, 57 and have holes or passages 37 which line up with the magnets 60, 64 on the center plate 33. The cap plates have holes to hold the six magnets extending laterally from the left and right opposing surfaces of center plate 33.

(39) FIG. 4B diagrammatically illustrates the rotor assembly consisting of roto subassemblies 42, 44 fixedly mounted on common axle 9. Since the bi-lateral turbines are also fixedly mounted in axle 9, the axle is sometimes referred to herein as drive shaft 9.

(40) An example of how the rotor assembly of two rotors that are mounted upon a common drive shaft is shown in FIG. 3. Each cavity carrying rotor blade has three cavities such that the offset of one cavity blade is at 60° offset the next cavity blade, thereby creating six air driven cavities, when being rotated by the air stream from the nozzle 15, one blade cavity alternates to the next blade cavity in a manner to ensure that the air pressure occurs at regular intervals pushing the rotor assembly FIG. 4B in a 360° revolution and while maintaining a balanced rotor assembly (FIG. 4B) on the drive shaft 9.

(41) FIG. 3 also showing firing-order. The rotor assembly 42, 44 (FIG. 4B; see also rotor assembly 40 in FIG. 2) acts as a flywheel as the major amount of weight is on the outer circumference of the rotor assembly. The inertia of the flywheel is used to counterbalance the turbines shown in FIG. 5.

(42) A flywheel is a mechanical device specifically designed to efficiently store rotational energy (kinetic energy). Flywheels resist changes in rotational speed by their moment of inertia. The amount of energy stored in a flywheel is proportional to the square of its rotational speed and its mass. Control of the speed and power output of rotor assembly 42, 44 is effected by variation of an automatic electronic management system (throttle controller or an automatic governor) known in the art as butterfly valves are employed to vary the amount of air injected into the rotor chamber sustaining the correct amount of air needed to maintain constant RPM (revolution per minute). A pressure release valve is also incorporated in the two manifolds.

(43) FIG. 7 is a front cutaway view and shows upper and lower venturi nozzles 15, 17, wherein nozzle 15 is feeding air into cavity 81 of the rotor assembly. Valve 82 is the air flow control for the automatic electronic management system (throttle controller or an automatic governor). For example, a butterfly valve may be employed to vary the amount of air injected into the rotor chamber sustaining the correct amount of air needed to maintain constant RPM. As explained earlier, the air pressure feed to rotor assembly 42, 44 is increased because the rotor cavities 81 are offset by 60° in the assembly 42, 44 which means half the nozzle is opened alternately on each rotor, e.g., the top nozzle is open, and the bottom nozzle is closed on rotor blade 55, while the adjacent rotor blade 57 (see FIG. 3) closes the top nozzle and the bottom nozzle is open to the presented cavity of rotor blade 57.

(44) FIG. 6 shows one turbine of the two bi-lateral turbines which uses the dynamic air pressure created by the rotor motion to increase the static air pressure inside the shroud 12 of the intake turbine manifold 24 thus allowing a greater flow through the APEG generator and hence increasing the generator's revolutions per minute which forces the high pressure airflow into the air transfer manifolds 24, 26 (FIG. 2) with venturi nozzles 15, 17 (FIG. 7) onto the rotor assembly. FIG. 6 shows a scoop shaped turbine blade 70 which forces air into the inlet of manifold 24 leading to upper nozzle 15.

(45) FIG. 8 diagrammatically illustrates an electrical connection plan for the APEG. The negative terminal of stator coil S9 is electrically connected to the positive end of coil S6. The stator coils may be flat copper air coil or other common stator elements. For a three phase system, stators are connected together as known in the prior art. The phases are color coded in the Figure: red phase is S1, S4 and S7; green phase is S2, S5 and S8; and blue phase is S3, S6 and S9. The magnets are also color coded for matching phases. Black is the neutral conductor.

(46) FIG. 9 shows a different three phase system. The stators are connected together as known in the prior art. The phases are color coded in the Figure: red phase is S1, S4 and S7; green phase is S2, S5 and S8; and blue phase is S3, S6 and S9. The magnets are also color coded for matching phases. Black is the neutral conductor.

(47) The claims appended hereto are meant to cover modifications and changed within the scope and spirit of the present invention.