Lift motor

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for generating a torque, having at least two bodies ( 12 ) which are coupled to one another in such a way that they can perform a rotational movement, in which one body ( 12 ) moves in the direction of the force of gravity and the other in the direction opposite thereto, each body ( 12 ), when changing the direction of movement, altering its volume so that the volume of the body or bodies ( 12 ) moving in the direction of the force of gravity is less than that of the bodies ( 12 ) moving in the opposite direction.

1 . Apparatus for generating a torque, having at least two bodies ( 12 ) which are coupled to one another in such a way that they can perform a rotational movement, in which one body ( 12 ) moves in the direction of the force of gravity and the other in the direction opposite thereto, each body ( 12 ), when changing the direction of movement, altering its volume so that the volume of the body or bodies ( 12 ) moving in the direction of the force of gravity is less than that of the bodies ( 12 ) moving in the opposite direction.  
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the two bodies ( 12 ) coupled to one another are so designed that, despite the alternating changes of volume of the individual bodies ( 12 ), the total volume of all bodies ( 12 ) is substantially constant.  
     
     
         3 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  or  2 , characterized in that the bodies ( 12 ) are arranged opposite one another in pairs relative to the rotational movement.  
     
     
         4 . Apparatus according to one of claims  1 ,  2  or  3 , characterized in that the bodies ( 12 ) become immersed in a liquid during at least part of their rotational movement.  
     
     
         5 . Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the individual bodies ( 12 ) are connected to one another by a tension member ( 11 ) which runs in an annular manner over at least one delfection device ( 10 ).  
     
     
         6 . Apparatus according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the deflection apparatus ( 10 ) possesses at least one deflection wheel ( 13 ) which is mounted on a shaft ( 14 ) from whch the torque can be taken off.  
     
     
         7 . Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each set of two bodies ( 12 ) assigned to one another as a pair, preferably all bodies ( 12 ), have the same dimensions.  
     
     
         8 . Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each body is designed as a piston-and-cylinder unit ( 12 ), the piston ( 21 ) being movable into its extended or retracted position by the weight acting on it as a function of the orientation of the piston-and-cylinder unit ( 12 ) relative to the force of gravity.  
     
     
         9 . Apparatus according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the piston length (l k ) satisfies the following equation:  
       
         
           
             
               
                 l 
                 k 
               
               ≥ 
               
                 h 
                 · 
                 
                   
                     p 
                     f 
                   
                   
                     p 
                     k 
                   
                 
               
             
           
           
           
               
           
         
       
       where h is the maximum depth of immersion of the body ( 12 ) into the liquid, p f  is the density of the liquid and p k  is the density of the piston material.  
     
     
         10 . Apparatus according to  claim 8  or  9 , characterized in that each piston-and-cylinder unit ( 12 ), in the event of a change in direction of movement, is automatically transferred from its one position, in which the piston ( 21 ) is extended or retracted, into its other position, in which the piston ( 21 ) is, respectively, retracted or extended.  
     
     
         11 . Apparatus according to  claim 8  or  10 , characterized in that the cylinder chambers ( 16 ) of the individual piston-and-cylinder units ( 12 ) are connected to one another in order to permit a fluid exchange.  
     
     
         12 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the cylinder chambers ( 16 ) are connected to one another in an annular manner, preferably via a hose ( 17 ).