Energy amplifier apparatus

Abstract

Energy amplifier apparatus includes a pair of vertically extending concentric cylinders, with air entrained in water flowing downwardly through .Iadd.a conduit within .Iaddend.the inner cylinder to a separator where the air is separated from the water. The falling water compresses the entrained air and a separator in the inner cylinder is used to separate the compressed air from the water, with the water flowing upwardly between the inner and outer cylinders and the compressed air flowing upwardly in a separate conduit from .[.the upper portion of.]. the inner cylinder.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Energy amplifier apparatus, comprising in combination: a flow of water,   eductor means for entraining air in the flow of water;   first pipe means connected to .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.eductor means for transporting the flow of water and entrained air from .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.eductor means .Iadd.to an outlet of said first pipe means.Iaddend.;   cylinder means connected to .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.first pipe means for receiving the flow of water and entrained air and spaced apart downwardly from .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.eductor means to allow the flow of water to compress the entrained air as the water flows in .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.first pipe means to .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.cylinder means;   separator chamber means disposed in .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.cylinder means and into which .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.first pipe means extends for receiving the flow of water and the compressed entrained air and having a cylinder wall .[.and.]..Iadd., .Iaddend.a first bulkhead and a second bulkhead.Iadd., said first and second bulkheads being .Iaddend.secured to .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.cylinder wall;   cone means disposed .Iadd.in said separator chamber beneath and .Iaddend.adjacent the .Iadd.outlet of said .Iaddend.first pipe means .[.in the separator chamber means.]. and spaced apart from .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.first bulkhead .[.and the.]..Iadd., said .Iaddend.second bulkhead and .[.from the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.cylinder wall .[.and.]..Iadd., .Iaddend.the water and entrained and compressed air .[.flows.]. .Iadd.flowing .Iaddend.onto .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.cone means for .[.separating.]. .Iadd.separation of .Iaddend.the entrained and compressed air from the water;   second pipe means .Iadd.in fluid communication with said separator chamber at an elevation above said cone means .Iaddend.for transporting the .Iadd.separated and .Iaddend.compressed air from .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.cylinder means; .[.and.].   aperture means .Iadd.disposed .Iaddend.in .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.separator chamber means .Iadd.at an elevation below said cone means .Iaddend.through which the water flows out of .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.separator chamber means.Iadd.; and   means for discharging the water flow from said aperture means at an elevation below said eductor means and above said separator chamber means.Iaddend..   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.cylinder means includes a first cylinder and a second cylinder disposed in .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.first cylinder remote from .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.eductor means, and the water flowing out of .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.aperture means flows into .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.first cylinder. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which .[.the.]. first pipe means is disposed in .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.first cylinder. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.cylinder wall of .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.separator chamber means comprises a portion of .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.second cylinder. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.second cylinder includes an air cavity for receiving the .Iadd.separated and .Iaddend.compressed air from .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.separator chamber means, and .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.second pipe means .[.is connected to.]. .Iadd.being in fluid communication with .Iaddend.the air cavity for transporting the .Iadd.separated and .Iaddend.compressed air from the air cavity. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.cone means includes: a central apex disposed beneath the .Iadd.outlet of said .Iaddend.first pipe means;   a curved portion extending downwardly and outwardly from .[.the.]. .Iadd.said central .Iaddend.apex;   a flat portion extending outwardly from .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.curved portion; .Iadd.and .Iaddend.   a peripheral edge adjacent .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.flat portion and spaced inwardly from .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.cylinder wall of .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.second cylinder.   
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.cone means further includes.Iadd.: .Iaddend. a dome beneath .[.the.]. .Iadd.said central .Iaddend.apex and .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.curved portion for receiving compressed air not separated from the flow of water by .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.cone means but separated from the flow of water before the water flows out of .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.aperture means.[.,.]..Iadd.; .Iaddend.and   a pipe extending through .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.cone means communicating with .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.dome and terminating above .[.the.]. .Iadd.said central .Iaddend.apex for bleeding off compressed air from .[.the.]. .Iadd.within said .Iaddend.dome.   
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 6 in which .[.the.]. .Iadd.said separator .Iaddend.chamber means further includes an air transport tube secured to .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.second cylinder and communicating with the air cavity for transporting compressed air from .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.separator chamber to the air cavity. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 2 in which .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.second cylinder of .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.cylinder means includes an air cavity disposed above .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.separator chamber means for receiving compressed air from .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.separator chamber means. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 1 in which .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.cylinder means includes a first cylinder and a second cylinder disposed in .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.first cylinder. .[. 
     
     
       11.  The apparatus of claim 10 in which the separator chamber means comprises a plurality of separator chambers disposed in a vertical relationship in the second cylinder of the cylinder means; the first pipe means comprises a plurality of pipes extending through the first cylinder of the cylinder means to the separator chamber means, and each pipe of the plurality of pipes terminates in a different separator chamber, with the number of pipes being the same as the number of separator chambers; and   the eductor means comprises a plurality of eductors, with an eductor for each pipe of the plurality of pipes..]. .[.12. The apparatus of claim 11 in which the second cylinder of the cylinder means includes an air cavity disposed above the separator chambers for receiving compressed air from each separator chamber..]. .[.13. The apparatus of claim 12 in which the second cylinder of the cylinder means further includes an air transport tube communicating with each separator chamber for transporting compressed air from the separator chambers to the air cavity..]. .[.14. The apparatus of claim 13 in which the cone means includes a separator disposed beneath the termination of each pipe in each separator chamber to receive the flow of water and entrained air in each separator chamber for separating the entrained and compressed air from the flow of water..]. .[.15. The apparatus of claim 14 in which the second pipe means comprises a pipe extending through the first cylinder and connected to the air cavity for transporting compressed air from the air cavity..]. .[.16. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the aperture means in the separator chamber means comprises a plurality of apertures in each separator chamber beneath the cone means through which water flows from each separator chamber of the second cylinder into the first cylinder..]. .[.17. The apparatus of claim 16 in which the second cylinder of the cylinder means includes a bulkhead separating each separator chamber, and the bulkheads are spaced apart from each other by substantially equal distances, and the apertures of the aperture means in each separator chamber are disposed adjacent the   
     
     
        bulkhead at the lower portion of each separator chamber..]. 18. Apparatus for compressing air by falling water, comprising.[.,.]. in combination: means for entraining air in falling water .[.for compressing.]. .Iadd.to compress .Iaddend.the air; and   means for separating the entrained and compressed air from the falling water, including.Iadd.: .Iaddend. a separator chamber, having a top wall, a bottom wall, and chamber walls, into which the falling water flows.[.,.]..Iadd.; .Iaddend.   a separator in .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.separator chamber below .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.top wall and above .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.bottom wall and spaced apart from .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.chamber walls, for receiving the flow of falling water, having a generally horizontal portion on which the water flows to separate the compressed air from the water.[.,.]..Iadd.; .Iaddend.     an air chamber disposed above .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.separator chamber for receiving the separated and compressed air from .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.separator chamber.[.,.]..Iadd.; .Iaddend.   means disposed above .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.separator for transporting the separated and compressed air from .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.separator chamber, including an aperture extending through .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.separator chamber and a conduit communicating with .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.aperture and extending to .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.air chamber.[., and.]..Iadd.; .Iaddend.   aperture means disposed below .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.separator through which the water flows out of .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.separator chamber.Iadd.; and .Iaddend.   means for discharging the water flow from said aperture means at an elevation below said entraining means and above said separator chamber.   
     
     
            The apparatus of claim 18 in which the means for entraining air in falling water includes pipe means extending to .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.separator chamber through which the water and entrained air 
     
     
        falls. 20. The apparatus of claim 19 in which the means for entraining air in falling water further includes eductor means secured to .[.the.]. 
     
     
        .Iadd.said .Iaddend.pipe means through which the water falls. 21. The apparatus of claim 20 in which .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.eductor means and the means for separating the entrained and compressed air are spaced 
     
     
        apart vertically from each other. .[.22.  The apparatus of claim 21 in which the eductor means further comprises a plurality of eductors, and the means for separating the entrained and compressed air from the falling waters comprises a plurality of separator chambers disposed vertically adjacent each other and connected to the plurality of eductors, with an eductor for each chamber..]. .Iadd.23. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said cone means includes: a central apex disposed beneath the outlet of said first pipe means;   a curved portion extending downwardly and outwardly from said central apex;   a flat portion extending outwardly from said curved portion; and   a peripheral edge adjacent said flat portion and spaced inwardly from said cylinder wall of said second cylinder. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. The apparatus of claim 23 in which said cone means further includes:   a dome beneath said central apex and said curved portion for receiving compressed air not separated from the flow of water by said cone means but separated from the flow of water before the water flows out of said aperture means; and   a pipe extending through said cone means communicating with said dome and terminating above said central apex for bleeding off compressed air from within said dome. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. The apparatus of claim 24 in which said separator chamber means further includes an air transport tube secured to said second cylinder and communicating with the air cavity for transporting compressed air from said separator chamber to the air cavity. .Iaddend.