US 6,981,376 B2
Apparatus for converting gravitational energy to electrical energy
Alok Dutta, 1 Lord Roberts Drive, Scarborough M1K 3W1 (Canada)
Filed on Apr. 16, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/414,247.
Claims priority of application No. 2381442 (CA), filed on Apr. 17, 2002.
Prior Publication US 2003/0197383 A1, Oct. 23, 2003
Int. Cl. H02P 9/04 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 60—639 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for converting gravitational energy to electrical energy, comprising:
a first tank for holding liquid and a support frame defining a tower extending vertically above said first tank;
a second tank for holding liquid secured to said support frame above said first tank;
at least a third tank for holding liquid secured to said support frame above said second tank;
a reciprocating drive mechanism being connected to the support frame above the third tank, a first turbine secured to said support frame between said second tank and said third tank, said first turbine being in flow communication with said third tank and said second tank, said reciprocating drive mechanism being connected to said first turbine by a rigid link member to assist in driving said reciprocating drive mechanism;
at least a second turbine secured to said support frame between said second tank and said first tank, said second turbine being in flow communication with said second tank and said first tank; and
at least one pipe extending vertically, with said pipe having first and second ends with said first end located in said first tank and said second end positioned with respect to said third tank so liquid exiting said second end of said at least one pipe drains into said third tank, said at least one pipe having a first valve located at the first end thereof, said at least one pipe being connected to said reciprocating drive mechanism so that during operation said reciprocating drive mechanism reciprocates the at least one pipe vertically up and down, wherein as the at least one pipe moves down said first valve opens to allow liquid into the pipe and when the pipe moves up said first valve closes, wherein as said at least one pipe moves downwardly liquid flows from said second end of said at least one pipe into the third tank and flows down to said first turbine and rotates said turbine, said liquid flowing down into the second tank and flowing downwardly therefrom into said second turbine and rotates said second turbine, said second turbine being connected to a generator for producing electricity.