Drive operated by receptacles alternately water filled and rendered buoyant
US4407130A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 19, 1981 |
| Grant date | Oct 4, 1983 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 19, 2001 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/20
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A drive is disclosed utilizing at least two units of which one may be an auxiliary. Each unit is positionable in a relatively deep body of water and has upper and lower sprockets about which a chain is trained which carries a series of receptacles that open in the trailing direction. The chain courses of the conveyors that are to travel upwardly are close together and air under pressure is delivered into the receptacles of at least one unit as they reach the lower end of its upwardly travelling course to render the receptacles of those courses buoyant. At least one receptacle of each unit is positioned to receive air escaping from or bypassing a receptacle of the other unit. At the upper end of the downwardly travelling courses, the receptacles become weighted as they fill with water.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.