Importance

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Abstract

Provided is a buoyancy engine (10) comprising a support frame (12) and at least two pairs of reciprocating arrangements (14) supported on said support frame (12). Each reciprocating arrangement (14) comprises i) a fluid cylinder (16) operatively filled with a fluid, such as water; ii) a float (20) arranged within the fluid cylinder (16) and defining a reservoir (22) with an exhaust valve (24) located at an upper portion and a charging aperture (26) at a lower portion via which said float (20) is chargeable with air; iii) an air injection assembly (28) comprising a pump (30) and an injection conduit (32), the pump (30) linked to the float (20) so that said pump (30) draws atmospheric air when the float (20) descends and charges said air via the injection conduit (32) when the float (20) ascends; iv) a force multiplier assembly (38) supported on the frame (12) and configured to apply mechanical advantage between the float (20) and the pump (30); and v) a power take-off (40) linked to the float (20) and configured to transfer energy from the float (20) as said float (20) ascends within the cylinder (16). Engine (10) further includes a flywheel (42) arranged on the support frame (12) and coupled to the respective power-take offs (40). In this manner, each pair of reciprocating arrangements 14.1 and 14.2 are opposedly arranged with their floats (20) linked in a reciprocating manner, wherein each air injection assembly (28) is arranged to inject air into the float (20), via the charging aperture (26), of an adjacent reciprocating arrangement (14) of the other pair, to facilitate continuous actuation of the flywheel (42) as the engine (10) operates.

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First Claim