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Gravity powered devices => Gravity powered devices => Topic started by: wdford on July 17, 2012, 07:58:18 PM

Title: Gravity-powered device with permanent magnets – Model 2
Post by: wdford on July 17, 2012, 07:58:18 PM
Gravity-powered device with permanent magnets – Model 2


Thanks to inputs from various persons, I have developed an updated conceptual plan for an over-unity device, which derives its driving forces from a combination of permanent magnets and gravity. It breaks no laws of physics, it uses well-known technology and I still can see no flaw in the design. I am not capable of producing a prototype myself, and I would value the opinions of other knowledgeable people before I embark on the cost of hiring somebody to build a prototype.
 
The device would consist of a simple lever with a central pivot/fulcrum, arranged so that the ends travel up and down (like a playground seesaw or teeter-totter). One side is the Power Generation end, and the other side is the Power Output end. The extent of travel up and down would be quite limited (a few inches at max), although the length of the lever on the Power Output end could be longer and allow for more travel if this is useful.

The Power Output end can be easily connected to a crank, pump, linear alternator or similar device to convert its up-and-down motion into useful work. Alternately the “output” end could be discarded, and the pivot shaft could be harnessed to an over-running clutch to generate a one-way rotation and thus power an output device.

Because of the presence of magnets, the Power Generation end would need to be made of a strong non-magnetic substance (e.g. brass).

Attached firmly to the Power Generation end would be a dense mass of some non-magnetic material, such as lead or stone or concrete.

Suspended above and below the Power Generation lever, on an independent frame, would be two very powerful permanent magnets, secured to prevent them from tearing themselves loose. One permanent magnet would be set vertically above the lever, and one directly below the lever, in line with each other.

The idea is for the powerful permanent magnets to raise the weight upwards against the pull of gravity, and then to release it to drop back down under the influence of gravity, thus causing a repeated up-and-down movement in the lever.

To provide some means for the permanent magnets to “grip” the non-magnetic lever, a small electromagnet would need to be firmly attached to the lever, between the two permanent magnets. It’s important to emphasise that the mass is NOT being lifted by the electromagnet, but rather by the much more powerful permanent magnets – the electromagnet merely provides something for the permanent magnets to latch on to.

When the electromagnet is energised by a small current, a north pole and a south pole are temporarily created. If the upper pole of the electromagnet is opposite to the lower pole of the upper permanent magnet, then the upper permanent magnet would exert an upwards pull on the electromagnet, and the lower permanent magnet would repel the electromagnet upwards.   The permanent magnets cannot move, so the electromagnet and its attached mass must move. Fenders (not shown) must be inserted to prevent the mass / lever from smashing into the permanent magnets, and causing damage.

When the mass reaches its uppermost position, a simple mechanical switch reverses the polarity on the electromagnet. The lower permanent magnet would now exert a downwards pull on the electromagnet, and the upper permanent magnet would repel the electromagnet downwards.   Gravity also pulls the mass downward, thus adding even more momentum to the motion.

Springs can be positioned at the uppermost and lowermost extents of the travel of the lever, to protect the mechanism from damaging itself, and to conserve and return some of the energy of its motion. Depending on the springs, a great deal of energy can be conserved and returned.
The output device must be designed so that it provides minimal resistance on the mass-raising stroke. The force to provide the upward motion comes 99% from the permanent magnets, so the electrical current needed to power the electromagnet can be minimal. If gravity exerts 20 pounds of downward force on the mass, then the permanent magnets must be able to exert 21 pounds of joint upward force on the mass, to raise it up. The springs would also assist here.
 
The power generation comes when the mass is hurled downward by the upper permanent magnet and attracted downwards by the lower permanent magnet, aided also by gravity (21 permanent-magnet pounds + 20 gravity pounds equals 41 net pounds of downward force). The power derived by harnessing the downward motion driven by the combination of the permanent magnets and gravity will thus easily exceed the minimal current needed to energise the electromagnet, thereby leaving a lot of power left over to be tapped off as useful work.

In practice the repeated up-and-down motion would take place about a hundred times per second, providing substantial amounts of torque to each small ratcheting of the pivoting shaft, which in turn can either be used as torque or converted into higher RPM as needed.

The amount of force applied to the lever would depend on a combination of the mass of the weight, and the strength of the permanent magnets. Weights, magnetic strengths and distances would have to be juggled to find an appropriate combination of variables. The output device must be designed so that it provides minimal resistance on the raising stroke.

The design is so simple that I don’t believe it can be patented. I am happy to open-source it, and to share it freely with anybody who manages to develop a working model.

I would greatly welcome any feedback and suggestions.
Title: Re: Gravity-powered device with permanent magnets – Model 2
Post by: lightend on July 19, 2012, 05:17:20 PM
quick observation.
if you can create 21 pounds of upward force, it would be better to not have a weight but instead link it to a alternator,
then you have 21 up and 21 down which will prolong the life of the equipment used.

(im also posting so i get instant notification of reply's as i am interested in this idea)
Title: Re: Gravity-powered device with permanent magnets – Model 2
Post by: wdford on August 01, 2012, 07:14:33 PM
The idea is to use the gravity of the falling weight to drive the alternator, and not to have the alternator affected by the upstroke - so that on the upstroke the push-pull of the magnets only lifts the weight, but on the downstroke the gravity plus the push-pull of the magnets powers the alternator. This can be done using a simple over-running clutch.

If we use only the magnets we can still make it work, but then the force of the magnets alone is driving the alternator. On that basis, we should set it up as a pendulum, to reduce the drain of gravity and facilitate the conservation of momentum as far as we can. However, by excluding the input of gravity, we are really just building an electric motor with strong permanent magnets and a weak input current. What do you think?

Also, I need to correct my diagram above, but I can't figure out how to amend or replace the diagram. Does anybody perhaps know how to do that please?
Title: Re: Gravity-powered device with permanent magnets – Model 2
Post by: lightend on September 01, 2012, 02:56:37 PM
any news on this????
seems like it would work in theory.
im busy buying motors and alternators and metal and even a welding machine. should my current work fail i will go on to this, but my own project will probably take 8-15 months. so if you have the time in the mean time, please build and see what happens.