rexresearch.com

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http://www.gravityassistedpower.com
Gravitational Energy Corp.


After nearly six years of research and development, we are now entering the commercialization stage with our Gravity Assisted Power (GAP) technology.

The Feltenberger Pendulum, a unique double reciprocating device (Patent Pending) uses the force of gravity to help provide the power to pump water. We have combined a new power off-take system with a rigid arm pendulum, which makes it much easier to pump water manually than a conventional lever arm pump, which requires a constant push or pull type of action; or a hand crank, with a constant turning action. Due to the nature of the pendulum swinging back and forth, it is far easier to provide a short intermittent push to the pendulum once every arc or every over and back cycle to maintain the pumping process, thereby substantially reducing operator fatigue. In this manner, we have achieved a “gravity assist” in helping us do work.
Specifications

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http://gravityassistedpower.com/?page_id=5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwC5mLoU--c&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yheVAF-Zrvo&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z29FLT6O6Pg&feature=related

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http://www.mmdnewswire.com/safe-drinking-water-10135.html
Newswire.com


Cuyahoga Falls, OH (MMD Newswire) September 14, 2010 - Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink. Nearly 1 billion people globally lack access to safe drinking water. Gravitational Energy Corporation (GEC) of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio is already tackling this water-crisis in the country of Haiti with their invention of a new green technology. Stunning in its simplicity, the Feltenberger Pendulum, a Gravity Assisted Power (GAP) machine, uses the force of gravity to help power various machinery. This versatile GAP pendulum can be applied to the generation of electricity, drilling of wells, desalinization/filtration of water and so much more.

For its first application, Gravitational Energy Corporation is introducing a revolutionary easy-to-use, hand-operated water pump and filtration system that needs NO fuel or electricity, making it indispensible in the wake of natural disasters and struggling third world countries. In May of 2010, the first production model was sent to earthquake stricken Haiti. "We donated the pump with an Aquathin filtration unit to One-Life Missions Foundation." says Art Drentlau, Sr. Vice President. "We were deeply moved by the images on TV and knew that our product could help thousands of people in need of safe drinking water."

Bob Thompson, president of the One-Life Missions Foundation says, "We use the pump for 3 hours a day, and this provides enough drinking water for approximately 4,000 people. We hope to further leverage the power of this system by partnering withour other NGO partners in Haiti to help thousands more."

With a burgeoning world population, the demand for safe drinking water is already one of our most critical global environmental problems. "Water wise, the world is in a state of crisis. More people die and suffer from the lack of access to safe drinking water and to basic sanitation, than from war." Source; U.N.-Water and The United Nations Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation.

A public demonstration of the GAP Feltenberger Pendulum Pump will take place on Wednesday, September 15, 2010 from 1:00pm-5:00pm in the Shady Bend Pavilion located at Water Works Park in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, 2025 Munroe Falls Avenue, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221. GEC will demonstrate this new GAP technology by allowing onlookers to operate the pump and process water through their system straight from the Cuyahoga River, once famous for catching on fire because of its excessive pollution.

"I worked out the concept for our GAP technology over 40 years ago and spent the last six years getting to the production stage. I'm excited to see our first application making a difference in the daily lives of so many people in Haiti." says Bruce Feltenberger, inventor/President/CEO of GEC. "We've also conducted a very successful demonstration to the U.S. military of our new technology. We expect to create many local jobs to keep up with the growing demand for our 'Made in USA' products."

GEC is very pleased to also announce the selection of DriPowder, LLC as the exclusive representative of the GAP technology for all governmental applications, including the military. DriPowder is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business owned by Karl Monger, a retired US Army Major and former Army Ranger. During a recent demonstration of the Feltenberger Pendulum with water filtration system for representatives of the US military in Tampa, Florida, Monger said "a soldier cannot function long without water. One of the greatest logistical challenges is transporting large quantities of water as well as disposing of plastic bottles. The GAP technology resolves both of those problems, and ensures our warriors are drinking safe water - even if the enemy contaminates the water supply. Additionally the good-will resulting from providing these devices to a host nation is invaluable to building and maintaining local support."

The optional water filtration system supplied with the pendulum pump is manufactured by Aquathin Corporation; a global leader in the water filtration industry for over 30 years. This unique filter system known as AquaShield contains a patented anti-microbial membrane that kills harmful bacteria and viruses in the water without the need of costly chemical dosing systems or UV radiation. "We're excited to be a strategic partner with GEC.", says Alfred Lipshultz, founder and President of Aquathin Corporation. "GEC has developed a breakthrough technology that can help millions of people in disaster relief, 3rd world nations and militaries for drinking and irrigation in areas without readily available electrical supply. The Feltenberger Pendulum Pump is the only hand-operated pump I know of that allows our water filtration systems to operate fully to the capacity they were designed for."

The pendulum pump has 4 settings that adjust the volume and/or pressure of the water being pumped. "We can pump high volumes at low pressure, or lower volumes of water at high pressure." says Matthew Butrick, Chief Engineer GEC. "This higher pressure setting allows our pump to further purify water using a reverse osmosis filter system."

The Feltenberger Pendulum Pump equipped with an Aquathin filtration system is truly a unique and powerful setup. Its small size allows the unit to be quickly transported from site to site, and its easy hand-powered operation completely eliminates the need for fuel or electricity. The durable, rugged construction makes the complete system very inexpensive to maintain.

To learn more about this new technology and the upcoming public demonstration, contact Art Drentlau at 330-414-3835 or visit www.gravityassistedpower.com.

Media Contact:
Art Drentlau, Sr. VP
Office: 330-920-6222
Cell: 330-414-3835
Email: Art@gravityassistedpower.com

Karl Monger (MAJ, USA Ret), DriPowder
Web: www.dripowder.com
Office: 316-249-0218
Email: kmonger@dripowder.com

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http://www.poten.com/NewsDetails.aspx?id=10639017
Sep, 12, 2010
Akron Beacon Journal (OH)    



Sept. 12--A couple of girls in a Haiti refugee camp bat the handle of a swinging pendulum back and forth, the way carefree kids might swing a jump rope on a lazy summer day.

It's not obvious how their playful distraction is actually saving lives in the wake of the January earthquake that ravaged the country.

But the movement of the pendulum is actually powering a pump that filters 1,000 gallons of water an hour.

The moment is captured on a video on the Web site of Gravitational Energy Corp., a Cuyahoga Falls company that spent six years and $1.3 million inventing the technology.

Riding the success of the equipment donated to One Life Missions in Haiti, the company is taking orders for the Feltenberger Pendulum Pump, named for its inventor and company president, Bruce Feltenberger.

On Wednesday, the company will give a public demonstration of the hand-operated, gravity-assisted pump from 1 to 5 p.m. in the Shady Bend Pavilion at Water Works Park, 2025 Munroe Falls Ave., Cuyahoga Falls.

Feltenberger said he wanted to demonstrate his unit on the Cuyahoga River because of its reputation for having been so dirty that it once caught fire.

"It's still pretty heavily contaminated," Feltenberger said.

The pump is being marketed for disaster areas and Third World countries. Gravitational Energy made its first sale last month, when a man from the Netherlands raised money to buy a unit for a community in Pakistan.

"Our idea about helping people is: It's a lot quicker to start pumping and filtering the water you have access to than it is to try to figure out where you can drill a hole" for a water well, Vice President Art Drentlau said.

The company also recently demonstrated the pump to the military for potential use in combat zones or inhospitable geography.

But turning dirty rivers, lakes and flooded streets into drinkable water is only the first application, Feltenberger said.

Gravitational Energy has been experimenting with backpack-size pumps for mobile situations, hand-cranked pumps that would power electrical generators and room-size pumps that can generate commercial-grade electricity and power a desalination plant.

Powered by gravity

Feltenberger said the seed for his idea was planted in 1965 as he watched a huge pendulum swinging at a planetarium in Pittsburgh.

"I thought, 'You know, if that pendulum could be modified just a little, I'll bet it could do quite a bit of work,' " he said.

He tinkered with the concept throughout his career as an engineer and journeyman machinist, but it wasn't until six years ago that he decided to devote his full attention to developing the idea.

The timing was right, he said.

"All of the changes that have occurred over the last many years, as far as demand for green energy, a growing desire to be kinder to the environment, wanting to reduce the carbon footprint -- put them all together and it just made me feel this was more and more important," he said.

The project has been financed through private investments and help from people like Hans Leitner, who gave Feltenberger space to build his prototypes at his J&J Precision Machine shop in Cuyahoga Falls.

Units cost about $34,000 and take three to four weeks to make.

Made in the U.S.A.

Feltenberger and Drentlau explained why their pendulum is much easier and more efficient than other nonelectric methods for generating power.

A typical hand-operated machine might involve a lever that must be pushed and pulled constantly, or a hand crank that needs to be wound in a circular motion.

The rigid arm pendulum that Feltenberger designed can swing back and forth, taking far less human energy to keep it in motion.

The more aggressive the operator, the more water the machine can pump, but it still works if someone simply bats it back and forth in an arc -- the way the Haitian girls did. The operator also can pause from time to time without stopping progress. Drentlau demonstrated by pushing the pendulum, then lifting his hand to show how momentum kept the arm going.

In addition to cleaning drinking water, the system can be used without a filter for irrigation, sanitation, firefighting, or removing water from flooded areas or contaminated cisterns.

Feltenberger said the entire unit will be made in the United States, including special valves that had to be designed and fabricated in Akron.

"Everything here is made in the United States: the tires, the axles, the filtration system," Feltenberger said.

"If we make a lot of these, we want to put people back to work here."

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2008-12-24
Inventor(s):     FELTENBERGER BRUCE
Classification:- international: F03G3/00; F03G3/00 ;- European: F03G3/06

Abstract -- A rigid arm pendulum is combined with a helical device attached to the pendulum horizontal axle to provide a double reciprocating action. While the pendulum reciprocates in rotary fashion about the axle, describing successive arcs of less than 360 degrees, the axle simultaneously produces a reciprocating action about its longitudinal centerline. A pumping action is thereby developed in line with the longitudinal centerline of the axle. This pumping (linear reciprocating) action can be utilized for a variety of requirements, including a hydraulic pump and a system to drive an electric generator.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates generally to a energy generation device and, more particularly, to a device utilizing reciprocating rotational motion that can be transmitted to an oscillating linear motion that is more suitable to adapting for the transmission of energy.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] As is well known in the art, pendulums have long been known as providing an effective means for utilizing the momentum of a falling weight. So efficient is a pendulum at utilizing momentum that, once oscillating, it requires very little additional energy input to keep the pendulum in motion. This additional energy only needs to be equal to the energy losses experienced by the system due to various forms of friction.

[0006] Additionally and separately, electrical power generation systems utilize a wide array of technology that can capture rotating motions (from turbines, flywheels and the like) to generate electric power. Similarly, pumps can utilize either a rotating motion, or a reciprocating motion, to impart energy on a working fluid. In both cases, the ability to utilize the oscillating motion from a pendulum to drive such work output is not easily adapted. The back and forth oscillation of a pendulum results in direction changes sufficient to drive a clockwork, but the pulsating rotations of the axle are not well suited for driving a generator, powering a drill, driving a pump, or the like. Further, a search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention.
[0007] Consequently, a need has been felt for providing an improved means of interfacing between conventional electrical or mechanical power generation processes and the pulsating movement of a pendulum axle, thereby enabling a pendulum to become an efficient prime mover requiring only intermittent impulses of energy input.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved power generation device.

[0009] It is a feature of the present invention to provide an improved power generation device utilizing reciprocating rotational motion to impart the working force.

[0010] It is yet another feature of the present invention to provide an improved power generation device utilizing an oscillating pendulum to generate or transfer the driving force.

[0011] Briefly described according to one embodiment of the present invention, a rigid arm pendulum is combined with a helical axle to provide a double reciprocating action. While the pendulum reciprocates in rotary fashion about the horizontal axle, describing successively diminishing arcs of less than 360 degrees, the pendulum simultaneously causes the axle to reciprocate in a linear manner about its longitudinal centerline. Additionally, the pendulum can operate in this manner while maintaining arcs, which do not diminish, providing intermittent input energy impulses are introduced to the system and are equal in magnitude to the losses caused by all forms of friction including the workload. A pumping action is developed in line with the longitudinal centerline of the axle. This pumping (linear reciprocating) action can be utilized for a variety of requirements, including but not limited to a hydraulic pump, a linear electric generator and a linkage system connected to a flywheel, which can drive various forms of rotating machinery.

[0012] An advantage of the present invention is that it provides an easily adapted means of powering conventional mechanical, hydraulic or electrical equipment with reciprocating rotary motion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a pendulum in a stationary position according to one conceptual embodiment of the present invention;


FIG. 2 is a front view of the image in FIG. 1 showing the pendulum in motion;


FIG. 3 is a close up top view of one embodiment of the rotation arrestor; and


FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the rotation arrestor.


DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within the Figures.

1. Detailed Description of the Figures

[0019] In order to describe the complete relationship of the invention, it is essential that some description be given to the manner and practice of functional utility and description of the prototype utilizing the present teachings of a power generation device 100 utilizing reciprocating rotational motion and demonstrated shown by FIG. 1-4. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a side view and front view, respectively, of the pendulum in a stationary position. Support frames 101, which are rigidly fastened to a base 102, are attached to a plurality of side supports 103 to provide rigidity to the support frame 101. Plates 104 and 105 are secured to the top of the support frames 101. Bearing blocks 106 are fastened to the plates 104, 105. Ball bearings 107 are positioned in the bearing blocks 106 and the bearing blocks 106 are assembled to the support frame 101 such that the bearings 106 are parallel and in line with each other. An axle 108 is mounted through the bearings so that it is capable of rotating freely. A pendulum bar 109 is rigidly fastened at a proximal end to the axle 108 and a weight 110 is fastened to a distal end of the pendulum bar 110, thereby comprising a rigid arm pendulum on a rotatable shaft or axle. A handle 111 is attached to one end of the axle 108 to provide a means for pushing or rotating the pendulum. A ball nut 112 is fastened to the opposite end of the axle 108 and a ball screw 113 is installed into the ball nut such that one end of the ball screw can 113 travel freely inward and outward through the ball nut while the opposite end of the ball screw is fastened to a slidable block 114 portion of a rotation arrestor, as described in greater detail below.

[0020] In conjunction with FIG. 3, the rotation arrestor assembly is comprised of a slidable block 114, a fixed block 115, two rods 116, which are securely fastened to the fixed block 115 and four linear bearings 117, which are securely fastened to the slidable block 114. The fixed block 115 is fastened to the plate 105 and one end of the slidable block 114 is fastened to a workstation such as a reciprocating pump 118. As the ball screw advances and retreats, the linear bearings 117 slide along the rods 116.

2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment

[0021] FIG. 2 shows a front view depicting the pendulum in motion, and FIG. 3 shows an enlarged top view of the output end of the pendulum axle. In these views, it can readily be seen that as the axle 108 rotates, the ball nut 112 rotates, causing the ball screw 113, which has its opposite end rigidly fastened to the slidable rotation arrestor block 114, to screw inward or outward from the axle depending on the direction of rotation. As the ball screw moves in a linear manner, traveling along its longitudinal centerline, it alternatingly pushes and pulls the slidable rotation arrestor block 114 causing oscillating linear action in accordance with the rotating direction of the pendulum. The slidable rotation arrestor block 114 has its opposite end fastened to a reciprocating pump 118 and in this manner the pendulum's reciprocating rotational movement is converted to a linear reciprocating motion, which is used to produce work.

[0022] FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of FIG. 3 where the ball nut 112 is rigidly fastened to the slidable rotation arrestor block 114. In this embodiment, one end of the ball screw 113 is rigidly fastened to the axle 108. The ball screw rotates with the axle causing the ball nut and the slidable rotation arrestor block 114 to be pulled or pushed in a linear oscillating manner.

[0023] In operation, the principles of the present invention succeeded in demonstrating that a rigid arm pendulum works like a lever arm set into motion. A large mechanical advantage exists near the axle longitudinal centerline. The ball screw and ball nut arrangement further demonstrated a mechanical advantage found in the inclined plane, which is essentially a circular wedge. Combining these two principles produced a potential force along the axial longitudinal centerline of several thousand pounds, even when using a weight at the end of the pendulum arm of only 72 Lbs. A further result of testing revealed that when a linear workload was introduced (such as a reciprocating pump) to the ball screw via the rotation arrestor, the increased friction caused by the workload was transmitted through the ball screw to the pendulum in a more efficient manner than when the same workload was introduced in a rotary manner such as using a pulley on the axle. This was confirmed by measuring the decrease in the size of the arc as the pendulum rotated due to linear loading versus radial loading.

[0024] It was further demonstrated that a given rotational arc of the pendulum could be maintained with a small manual impulse input once at the end of each over and back cycle of the pendulum. This input was sufficient to overcome all forms of friction and thereby maintain operation of the pendulum while producing useful output work. Such a device can be used for a variety of pumping applications, especially in situations where a higher force or pressure is required than what is otherwise available from a hand operated pumping system. Additionally, the output reciprocating system could also supply power to a hydraulic pump/motor system attached to an electric generator. In this manner, a hand operated rotary reciprocating mechanical system could produce a significant amount of electric power.

[0025] Additionally, because of the reciprocating nature of a pendulum, it is easier to provide intermittent impulse pushes manually than to continuously turn a hand wheel or push and pull on a lever arm. In this manner, one or two people operating the machine do not become fatigued as quickly and yet they produce significant continuous output work.

[0026] This described portion above represents the functional basis for the present invention, and allows the conversion of the reciprocating rotational motion of the pendulum assembly (or, alternately, an asymmetrical or unbalanced rotating cam or flywheel) into a simple reciprocating linear motion. Additionally, the momentum and power associated with the pendulum are concentrated and converted into a small reciprocating motion of much greater force concentration. The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.