Power generating machine with a bellows adaptable to sea waves so as to drive a generator

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a power generating machine, and more particularly to a power generating machine with a bellows adaptable to sea waves. The bellows is able to reciprocally move back and forth so as to build up air pressure in a tank and therefore the air pressure is able to drive a generator to generate electricity.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] Numerous methods have been introduced to generate electricity via the difference between tides. Due to the difference between tides, a buoy is forced to move up and down. With the up and down movement of the buoy, the fluid in a hydraulic tank is forced to drive the blades on one end of the generator. This kind of machine is complicated and therefore maintenance thereof is very time consuming and labor inefficient. Furthermore, because the tides are not always stable so that if the tides are too weak, the buoyancy to the buoy will not be strong enough to force the piston in the hydraulic tank to move. Moreover, if the tides are too high, the buoy will be maintained at a position where the piston will not be functioned normally.

[0006] To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention intends to provide an improved power generating machine to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

[0007] The primary objective of the invention is to provide a power generating machine with a bellows adaptable to sea waves. The bellows has a buoy mounted at a bottom of the bellows so that the bellows is able to reciprocally move along the waves. Along the movement of the bellows, air pressure is gradually built up in a hydraulic tank so that a generator is eventually driven by the air pressure in the hydraulic tank to generate electricity.

[0008] Another objective of the invention is to provide an improved power generating machine with a second buoy mounted beside the buoy on the bottom of the bellows. The second buoy is heavier than that of the buoy so that the bellows is able to be driven by the waves due to the buoyancy to the buoy.

[0009] Still, another objective of the invention is to provide an improved power generating machine having a boat mounted between the two bellows so that the bellows is able to be driven by the waves due to the buoyancy to the buoy.

[0010] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the power generating machine of the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a side view of the bellows with partial in cross section showing the function of the bellows in relation to the tubes;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the application of the power generating machine of the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 4 is a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 5 is a third embodiment of the present invention; and

[0016] FIG. 6 is a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] With reference to FIG. 1, the power generating machine constructed in accordance with the present invention has a frame 1 provided with a first support 11, a second support 12 and a third support 13 laterally and adjustably mounted between the first and second supports 11,12. A first reinforced arm 111 securely extends from one distal end of the first support 11 and is vertical to the first support 11 and a second reinforced arm 121 securely extends from one distal end of the second support 12 and is vertical to the second support 12 to strengthen the rigid of the frame 1.

[0018] A bellows 21 is mounted under the third support 13 and between the first and second supports 11,12 and has a first buoy 22 mounted at a bottom of the bellows 21. The bottom of the first buoy 22 is flush with the sea level. A first tube 23 is mounted on top of the bellows 21 and communicates with the interior of the bellows 21. A second tube 24 connected to the first tube 23 and selectively communicates with the first tube 23. The first tube 23 has a first unidirectional valve 231 and the second tube 24 has a second unidirectional valve 241, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0019] A power generating device 3 has a tank 31 connected to the second tube 24 and a pneumatic generator 32 connected to the tank 21.

[0020] A spring 211 may be optionally provided inside the bellows 21 so as to provide a recoil force to the bellows 21 to assist the bellows 21 to return to its original position.

[0021] With reference to FIG. 3 and still taking FIGS. 1 and 2 for reference, when the power generating device of the present invention is in use, the first and second supports 11,12 are first securely mounted on an appropriate position in the bed of the coast 4. The first and second reinforced arms 111,121 extend ashore and are then secured on the ground to stabilize the frame 1. The third support 13 is adjusted so that the buoy 22 is flush with the sea level and then the buoy 22 is able to move along the sea wave.

[0022] When the bellows 21 moves, the first tube 23 is able to such air from the atmosphere. Because of the first unidirectional valve 231 and the second unidirectional valve 241 in the first and the second tubes 23, 24 respectively, the air in the bellows 21 will be pushed to flow to the second tube 24 and then stored in the tank 31 due to the compression of the bellows 21 and the spring 211. That is, when the buoy 22 is pushed by the sea wave and the bellows 21 as well as the spring 211 is compressed, the air in the first tube 23 is pushed to flow to the second tube 24 due to the close of the first unidirectional valve 231. Because the air flow toward the second tube 24, the second unidirectional valve 241 is pushed to open by the air flow. Because the second tube 24 and the tank 31 communicate with each other so that when the air is in the second tube 24 and the air pressure is gradually built up in the tank 31, the second unidirectional valve 241 is forced by the air pressure to close. As the bellows 21 starts to extend, the first unidirectional valve 231 is open again so as to start another cycle. With such an arrangement, the air pressure is stored in the tank 31 and thus the pneumatic generator 32 is able to be driven to generate electricity. From the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the third support 13′ is able to extend as required such that the frame 1 is able to expand to have multiple sets of first and second supports 11,12 and thus bellows 21 as well as the buoys 22.

[0023] With reference to FIG. 4, the embodiment shows that a first secondary buoy 112 is mounted at the other end of the first support 11 relative to the first reinforced arm 111 and a second secondary buoy 122 is mounted at the other end of the second support 12 relative to the second reinforced arm 121. The first secondary buoy 112 is heavier than that of the buoy 22 and the second secondary buoy 122 is also heavier than that of the buoy 22 so that after the first and second secondary buoys 112,122 are respectively mounted at the other end of the first and second supports 11,12, a part of the first and second secondary buoys 112,122 are immersed in the sea, but the buoy 22 is still flush with the sea level. Therefore, the buoy 22 is still able to provide force to the bellows 21 to drive the bellows 21 to reciprocally move and then reach the purpose of pumping air into the tank 31. It is noted that this embodiment is suitable to areas where the tide difference is large.

[0024] With reference to FIG. 5, it is to be noted that a first auxiliary plate 14 is provided to connect all the first supports 11 and a second auxiliary plate 15 is provided to connect all the second supports 12 so that the force by the bellows 21 can be evenly produced to drive the air flow to the tank 31.

[0025] With reference to FIG. 6, it is to be noted that a third auxiliary plate 16 is provided to connect all the first supports 11 and a fourth auxiliary plate 17 is provided to connect all the second supports 12. Beside the third and fourth auxiliary plates 16,17, a boat 5 is provided between bellows 21 and has the power generating device 3 mounted on the boat 5 and provided with cables 321 so that electricity from the pneumatic generator 32 is able to be transmitted ashore. One of the best advantage in this embodiment is that the boat 5 is able to sail back to the harbor when there is a storm so that equipment on the boat is protected.

[0026] Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.