WO2002063185A1

WO2002063185A1 - Bi-directional to unidirectional torque conversion method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2002063185A1
Application number: PCT/GB2002/000021
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seng Chuan Lim
Original assignee: Lim, Ah, How
Priority date: 2001-01-08
Filing date: 2002-01-07
Publication date: 2002-08-15
Also published as: MY135685A

Abstract

The method converts bi-directional torque to unidirectional torque. The bi-directional torque comprises a first rotational drive (17) in one direction alternating with a second rotational drive (18) in the other direction along a drive axis which is converted to become unidirectional torque along a driven axis (20). At least a first and a second unidirectional element (9a, 9b) are provided at any one or combination of said drive (12) or driven (20) axes.

Description

BI-DIRECTIONAL TO UNIDIRECTIONAL TORQUE CONVERSION METHOD AND APPARATUS

Field of Invention

This invention relates to a method for converting alternating or bi-directional torque to become unidirectional torque. The bi-directional torque may be harnessed from alternating driving motion of rise-and-fall, push-and-pull, seesaw and the like. The conversion of such alternating bidirectional to continuous unidirectional torque will enable useful mechanical work to be produced, such as to generate electricity. Apparatus employing such method is also disclosed.

Background Art

There are a number of energy sources that are in the form of alternating up-and-down driving motions including rise-and- fall, push-and-pull, see-saw lever movement, inflate and deflate and the like. To harness such alternating motion to become useful mechanical work, usually it has to be translated into a unidirectional motion to drive, for example, a crankshaft, slider crank, bevel gear differential, compound gear train, etc. Two of the most common examples are (i) the up-and-down pedalling motion of a bicycle rider and (ii) the up-and-down pistons of the internal combustion engine, both of which are translated into unidirectional drive by the crankshaft principle. Numerous attempts have been made and indeed thousands of patents exist on methods and machines for harnessing unidirectional flow of kinetic energy, particularly that of moving water. The great majority of such attempts involve harnessing the movement of water contained in predetermined amounts in containers or buckets driven on a basically unidirectional rotary movement such as an endless or looped chain or drive, wheel and the like so that the downward fall of the water produces mechanical movement to drive torque in the same direction. The torque may be used to generate distributable useful energy, e.g. to turn a generator to produce electricity.

To harness kinetic energy of such flow of water in alternating up-and-down movement, however, is very much less attempted in the art. The principle reason for the rarity of prior art for such alternating rise-and-fall of, for example, counter-balanced pair of water containers or like means is the difficulty of converting such alternating drive to become a useful single or unidirectional rotation or torque.

US-4,403,154 (Reale, et . al . ) discloses an apparatus having a first cylinder with an open end connected hydraulically with a second cylinder with a closed end. Each cylinder has a piston which may be moved along their respective cylinders due to external fluid forces, including water and air, acting on the open-end cylinder and piston to move the other piston in the closed cylinder. The movement of the latter piston may then be translated to rotational movement (col. 2 line 65) to generate electricity.

US-4,599,857 and US-4,720,976 (both patents by Kim et. al . ) also disclose hydraulically connected pairs of pistons and cylinders which are arranged to act upon the end of a lever so as to produce bi-directional torque at an output axis (13) in the earlier patent. The bi-directional torque at the output axis may then be converted to rectilinear motion or rectilinear motion to rotation (col. 2, line 46-47). In the later patent, Kim discloses that a plurality of such pairs of levers may be arranged to provide a combined, continuous torque .

ϋS-4,052,856 (Trotta) discloses a method and apparatus for translating the rise and fall of predetermined amounts of water into useful work. The apparatus comprises a pair of spaced-apart shafts having one or more rotary elements provided on the shafts. The rotary element may be a sprocket wheel with unidirectional clutch which allows each shaft to turn in one rotational direction only. In this arrangement, the drive exerted by the fall of a water container may be transmitted to one of the shafts when the unidirectional clutch engages the shaft while the other unidirectional clutch on the other parallel shaft allows said other shaft to slip. In effect, the drive by the falling of a water container only works on any one given shaft of the pair in one permanent direction only. Work by the alternating drive is not transmitted to a single particular shaft. Hence, bi- directional drives produced by pairs of alternating rising and falling containers are transmitted to a pair of parallel shafts so that drive in one direction is transmitted to one of the shafts in one permanent direction only while the other shaft is turned by the alternate drive in the other direction permanently. Hence, none of the pair of shafts can be driven in both directions by the alternating drives. Objects of the Invention

It is an object of this invention to provide a method for harnessing energy from alternating drives in both rotational directions to become a single rotational torque. It is also a further object of the invention to provide for various embodiments or apparatuses employing such method which are able to harness sources of alternating rise and fall of flowable or movable mass such as charge and discharge of water from an elevated source which may be acted upon by gravity as in the above-mentioned prior art, as well as other movable mass with potential energy due to its elevation which may be acted upon by gravity such as pairs of elevator cars and counter-weights and like.

The present invention may also harness any other naturally- occurring fluid dynamics which substantially has been, or may be, adapted to produce alternating movements such as wave phenomenon, wind, etc.

The method of the present invention may also be adapted into machines and tools which may employ rotating movements in either directions such as bi-directional wrenching action, bi-directional lever swinging movements, bi-directional pedalling action and the like.

Summary of Invention

The method of the present invention converts bi-directional torque to unidirectional torque. The bi-directional torque comprises a first rotational drive in one direction alternating with a second rotational drive in the other direction along a drive axis which is converted to become unidirectional torque along a driven axis. At least a first and a second unidirectional element are provided at any one or combination of said drive or driven axes. In particular, the method comprises the steps wherein the first rotational drive engages first unidirectional element to turn at least one axis in the first rotational direction and allows at least one axis to slip at the second unidirectional element; - the second rotational drive engages at the second unidirectional element to turn at least one axis in the second rotational direction and allows at least one axis to slip at the first unidirectional element; the first rotational direction of the drive axis is transmitted in the same direction to the driven axis; the second rotational direction of the drive axis is transmitted in the reverse direction to the driven axis; thereby resulting in said driven axis being rotated in a single direction by both rotational drives.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the drive axis is an axle and the driven axis is a transmission shaft. The unidirectional elements may be any one or a combination of freewheel, unidirectional clutch means, pawl-and-ratchet, and the like. Preferably still, the first rotational drive of the drive axle is transmitted via a sprocket chain to the transmission shaft and the second rotational drive is transmitted via a gear pair.

Alternatively, the first and second rotational directions of the drive axle may be transmitted to the transmission shaft in the same rotational direction by an appropriate gear train. Preferably, the gear train includes a bevel gears arrangement.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the drive axle is driven in the first and second rotational directions by first and second rotational drives which are linked to one another by common drive means winding over said axle. Preferably, the first and second rotational directions are transmitted to the transmission shaft by sprocket chain to a gear pair or gear train, including a bevel gears arrangement.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the drive axle is provided as two portions which are independent from each other and arranged end-to-end along said drive axis. The first rotational drive engages first axle portion to turn in first rotational direction and allows second axle portion to slip. The second rotational drive engages second axle portion to turn in second rotational direction and allows first axle portion to slip. The first directional rotation of the first axle portion is transmitted in the same rotational direction to the transmission shaft while the second directional rotation of the second axle portion is transmitted in the reverse direction to the transmission shaft .

Still another preferred embodiment of the invention, a pair of parallel alternating unidirectional first and second drives may be converted to unidirectional torque on an axis which is provided with at least first and second unidirectional elements. The first and second rotational drives are connectable as a pair via a drive means winding around an idler means so that the drives are operable alternately in parallel on the same side of the axis. The first rotational drive engages to turn the axis at the first unidirectional element and allows said drive axis to slip at the second unidirectional element. The second rotational drive engages to turn the drive axis at the second unidirectional element and allows said drive axis to slip at the first unidirectional element.

Preferable specific embodiments include providing the first and second unidirectional elements as a freewheel, unidirectional clutch means, roller bearing, pawl-and- ratchet, and the like. Torque output from a plurality of these methods may also be arranged to be transmitted to a common driven axis. Rotational speed of the output torque may also be increased with the use of a step-up gear train and stabilised through mechanical connection to a rotating element such as a flywheel.

Brief Description of Drawings

The method of the present invention may be best understood by referring to specific embodiments of the invention in the form of apparatuses employing such method. Each of these apparatuses will now be described in detail by way of example with reference to the following drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a first or general embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, detached from transmission means. Figure 1A shows the detail arrangement of a unidirectional element of Figure 1.

Figure 2 shows a top plan view of a preferred arrangement of the embodiment of Fig. 1 wherein the transmission is provided by sprocket wheel and roller chain at one end and gear pair at the other end. Figure 3 shows a top plan view of a second preferred arrangement of the embodiment of Fig. 1 wherein the transmission is provided by gear pair at one end and gear train at the other end.

Figure 4 shows a top plan view of a third preferred arrangement of the embodiment of Fig. 1 wherein the transmission is provided by bevel gear arrangement. Figure 5 is an example of an application of the bevel gear embodiment of Fig. 4.

Figure 6 shows a second alternative embodiment of the invention wherein the drive means are linked to one another by a common drive means . Figure 7 shows examples (Figures 7A, 7B, 7C) of various arrangements of the transmission possible with the embodiment of Fig. 6. Figure 8 shows a third preferred embodiment of the invention wherein the drive axle is split into two portions. Figure 9 shows one arrangement of the transmission of the embodiment of Fig. 8, i.e. a combination of a gear pair and sprocket wheel with roller chain. Figure 10 shows another alternative arrangement of the transmission of the embodiment of Fig. 8, i.e. a combination of a gear pair and a train of 3 gears. Figure 11 shows yet another alternative arrangement of the transmission of the embodiment of Fig. 8, i.e. with a combination of bevel gears. Figure 12 shows still another alternative arrangement of the transmission of the embodiment of Fig. 8, i.e. wherein the drive means are linked to one another by a common drive means . Figure 13 shows a fourth alternative embodiment of the invention wherein a pair of pulleys on an axle are arranged to transmit the drive to said axle. Figure 14 shows the various combinations of transmission arrangements including multiple transmissions to a common drive axle, step-up gear and flywheel.

Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments

In this specification, the terms "first direction" and "second direction" of rotation refer to each of the alternating directions of rotation of the drive axle or shaft and its associated and corresponding parts. This is to simplify references to "one direction" and the "other direction", or "clockwise" and "anti-clockwise", "forward" and "reverse" rotational directions, and like expressions.

FIGURE 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the first or general embodiment of the torque converter employing the method of the present invention. The apparatus (10) comprises a drive axle (12) upon which the bi-directional drives act and the components are mounted. The drive axle (12) may be securely mounted to rotate freely against a base or floor (not shown) with a plurality of pillow blocks (13) . To allow the drive axle (12) total rotational freedom at the point of mounting, bearing means (15) such as ball or roller bearings may be provided at the pillow blocks (13) .

The bi-directional drive may be provided to turn the axle (12) in alternating rotational direction by means of cables (not shown) wound around a cable barrel (14) mounted co- axially on a central portion of the axle. The cable barrel (14) may be divided into two portions (14a, 14b), acting separately for the cable driving or pulling in each of the bi-directions . The cable barrel (14) may be fixedly mounted on the drive axle (12) by, for .example, inserting keys (16) into corresponding grooves on the drive axle (12) and the inner tube of the cable barrel (14) so as to securely wedge said cable barrel (14) to the drive axle (12) . In this manner, the bi-directional drive acting on each of the two barrel portions (14a, 14b) may be transmitted to the drive axle (12) .

It will be appreciated that, instead of cables and cable barrel, other suitable arrangements which translate linear motion to rotary motion on a shaft or axle may be used to drive the drive axle, for example, rack and pinion and like arrangements .

Two or more rotating elements (17, 18) may each be arranged on the drive axle (12) to provide for the transmission of torque therefrom. Fig. 1 shows a gear wheel (17) and a sprocket wheel (18) arranged at the left and right sides respectively on the drive axle (12) . Each of these rotating elements may be provided with a unidirectional element (9a, 9b) which allows rotational drive from the drive axle (12) in one direction to engage and be transmitted to the rotating element while allowing rotational drive in the other direction to slip.

The rotating elements or wheels with their respective unidirectional elements (9a, 9b) may be arranged in such a manner that the first unidirectional element (9a) transmits the torque to its associated wheel in the first rotational direction but allows it to slip in the second rotational direction. The second unidirectional element (9b) transmits the torque to its associated wheel in the second rotational direction but allows it to slip in the first rotational direction. In this arrangement, the first rotating element or, in the case of Fig. 1, the gear wheel (17) , will always turn in the first direction while the sprocket wheel (18) will always turn in the second direction, regardless of the alternating rotations of the drive axle (12) .

As shown in detailed cross-sectional view in FIGURE 1A, the preferred embodiment of the unidirectional element (9a, 9b) comprises a freewheel (8) and a roller bearing (7) arranged co-axially within a collar (6) as the hub of the respective rotating elements (17, 18). The roller bearing (7) may be placed innermost within the collar (6) while the freewheel (8), having a diameter larger than the roller bearing (7), may be provided to secure said roller bearing (7) therein. A key (16) is shown securing said freewheel (8) against rotation within the collar (6). Both the roller bearing (7) and freewheel (8) may be secured within said collar (6) by a cover plate (4) provided with an aperture (3) through which the drive axle (12) may rotate. It will be appreciated that the freewheel (8) may be provided in alternative specific embodiments as a freewheeling clutch, pawl-and-ratchet, or like elements.

FIGURE 2 shows a top plan view of a preferred arrangement of the torque converter of Fig. 1 wherein the alternating bidirectional torque from the drive axle (12) may be transmitted to the driven axle (20) . It is shown here as an arrangement for allowing the alternating rising and falling motion of mass under gravity to turn the drive axle (12) of the torque converter but it should be appreciated that many arrangements are possible for transmitting alternating drives (i.e. driving forces) such as rise-and-fall, push-and-pull and like movements to turn the torque converter.

The cable barrel (14) may be provided with coiled cables (21) in each of the portions (14a, 14b) wherein the respective cables (21) are coiled in opposing rotation and drawn away from barrel (14) via cable pulleys (22) so that the alternating rise and fall motions of a mass attached to the ends of the cables (21) may alternately pull the respective portions (14a, 14b) of the barrel (14) .

Due to the arrangement of the unidirectional elements (9a, 9b) at each of the first and second rotating elements (17, 18) on the drive axle (12) the alternating drive from each of the cables (21) allows said drive axle (12) to be rotated in either direction but only one of the drives is transmitted to the first rotating element; the other drive is transmitted to the second rotating element.

For ease of reference, the term "first direction" and "second direction" of rotation is employed. Assume that drive is exerted by the first cable (21a) to rotate the drive axle (12) in the first rotational direction while the second cable ■ (21b) drives the axle (12) to rotate in the second rotational direction.

In the first rotational direction, the first unidirectional element (9a) allows the rotation of the drive axle (12) to be transmitted to the first rotating element (17), which is shown here as a gear wheel, by engaging the gear wheel to turn in the first rotational direction. At the same time, ^•the second unidirectional element (9b) allows the first rotation of the drive axle (12) to slip; thus no torque is transmitted to the second rotating element (18), which is shown here as a sprocket wheel.

In the second rotational direction, the first unidirectional element (9a) now allows the second rotation of the drive axle (12) to slip so that no torque is transmitted to the gear wheel (17) . At the same time, the second unidirectional element (9b) engages drive axle (12) to transmit torque to the sprocket wheel (18).

With this arrangement, the bi-directional rotations of the drive axle (12) will cause the first rotating element (17) to always rotate in first rotational direction only and the second rotating element (18) to always rotate in the second rotational direction. As the first rotating element (17) and the second rotating element (18) will always rotate in directions opposing one another, there is a need to provide for an arrangement whereby the opposing rotations may be transmitted to an output axle to rotate in one specific direction.

This may be achieved by transmitting torque from one of the rotating elements in the same direction and transmitting torque from the other rotating element in the reverse direction. As shown in Fig. 2, one of the rotating elements may be provided as a driving sprocket wheel (18) whereby its torque may be transmitted to a driven axle (20) via an endless roller chain (23) extending around said driving sprocket wheel (18) to a complementary driven sprocket wheel (24) securely mounted on said driven axle (20) . The arrangement of the sprocket wheels (18, 24) and roller chain (23) thereby enables the transmission of torque from a rotating element to the driven axle in the same direction of rotation. It will be appreciated that the sprocket wheel-and-roller chain may be substituted with sheave or pulley-and-belt, gear wheel, and like elements for translating linear motion to rotary motion on an axle or shaft. The torque from the driven axle (20) may then be utilised to perform work such as driving a generator (5) or other machines to produce useful, distributable power such as electricity.

It will be appreciated that the torque from the driven axle (20) may be amplified with step-up gears (25, 26) arrangements and may be stored progressively or stabilised with a flywheel (27) prior to transmission to the generator (5) as shown.

A driving gear wheel (17) may represent the second rotating element which direction of torque is in a direction opposite to that of the first rotating element. Torque from the driving gear wheel (17) may be transmitted to the driven axle (20) via a complementary driven gear wheel (26) securely mounted on said driven axle (20) engaging the said driving gear wheel (17). In this arrangement, the torque of the drive axle is transmitted in the reverse direction to the driven axle (20) . It will be appreciated that these two arrangements are only exemplary and that there are other possible means of achieving torque transmission from the drive axle in the same direction to the driven axle, and in the reverse direction as well.

For example, as shown in FIGURE 3, using a gear train comprising three gears (30, 32, 34) in series, including an idler gear (32), one may transmit torque to the driven axle in the same direction while the 2-gear train transmits torque in the reverse direction. As a further example, as shown in FIGURE 4, bevel gear arrangements (40, 42, 44, 46) may be provided to integrate the alternating first and second directional rotations of the drive axle (12) by providing unidirectional elements (9a, 9b) at each of the bevels (40, 42) so that they rotate in the appropriate or desired uni-direction.

It will be further appreciated that the first and second unidirectional elements (9a, 9b) regulating the first and second rotational movements may be provided at any one or a combination of said drive axles (12) or driven axles (20) at the respective points thereupon where the driving rotational elements or driven rotational elements are securely mounted. The unidirectional element may be any one or any combination of a freewheel, unidirectional clutch, pawl-and-ratchet, and like means.

In FIGURE 5, a side elevation of an example of the bevel gear arrangement of the torque converter is shown employed in an application which comprises an alternately rising and dropping pair of buckets (50a, 50b) which are joined to one another by a cable (52) and led away from the torque converter (54) by a pair of pulleys (22) . The buckets (50a, 50b) may preferably be charged with flowable mass, such as water, which may be easily charged into one of the buckets at a higher elevation, allow it to drop, and which may be discharged upon reaching a lower elevation. It will be appreciated that such alternative driving movements on the cable (52) may be achieved by other means such as upward force due to hydraulic pressure by charging fluid and downward drive due to hydraulic discharge, wave phenomenon and like drive means. In a second embodiment of the alternating drive means, the drive axle (12) may be driven in the first and second rotational directions by first and second rotational drives respectively which may be linked to one another by a common drive means .

An example of this embodiment is shown in FIGURE 6 wherein the first and second rotational drives are provided by a pair of buckets (50a, 50b) , which may provide the downward drive alternately with one another with the charge and discharge of water, for example, and which are linked to one another by a common chain (60) winding over wheel (62). Depending on the amount of slipping and tension tolerable during operation, i.e. height and acceleration of the fall of the buckets imparting driving force, the chain (60) and wheel (62) may be substituted with combinations of roller chain and sprocket wheel, pulley and belt, and the like.

The embodiment of Fig. 6 shows a transmission arrangement similar to Fig. 2 wherein torque in one direction of rotation may be transmitted from the drive axle (12) in the reverse direction via a pair of gears (64, 65) provided on the drive axle (12) and driven axle (20) respectively. The torque in the other direction of rotation may be transmitted from the drive axle (12) in the same direction via sprocket wheels (66, 67) and roller chain (68) where the unidirectional elements (9a, 9b) are assembled in gear (64) and sprocket wheel (66) respectively.

It will be appreciated that apart from this embodiment, transmission may also be effected by corresponding arrangements similar to those shown in earlier embodiments.

Each of the alternative transmission arrangements for Fig. 6 is shown in FIGURE 7 in which -

FIG. 7A shows a combination of gear pair and roller chain with sprocket wheel;

FIG. 7B shows a combination of gear pair and train of 3 gears; and

FIG 7C shows a combination of bevel gear arrangements.

It will be appreciated that the torque on the drive axle (12) may be amplified by providing a larger diameter of the wheel (62) upon which the alternating rotational drives (50a, 50b) may act .

In a preferred third embodiment of the invention, the drive axle may comprise of two portions, i.e. a first and a second portion, which are independent from each other and arranged end-to-end. The first rotational drive may act upon the first portion of the drive axle while the second rotational drive may act upon the second portion of the drive axle.

This embodiment is shown in FIGURE 8 wherein the drive axle as shown comprises a first portion (12a) and a second portion (12b) which are aligned end-to-end with one another but separated by a gap (80) . The aligned ends of the first and second portions of the drive axle may be accommodated in a barrel-like housing (14) divided into two halves (14a, 14b) , each for the winding of cable (not shown) in opposite directions .

In this embodiment, the unidirectional elements (9a, 9b) may be provided at each of the opposing ends of first (12a) and second portions (12b) of the drive axle at the gap (80) . Further bi-directional elements (9) may be provided at the ends of the barrel (14) to securely hold both portions of the axle (12a, 12b) in a rotatable manner. The remaining ends of the axle portions (12a, 12b) may be held aligned by bearing means (15) and on pillow blocks (13) .

From the various torque transmission arrangements illustrated in the foregoing embodiments, it would be appreciated that such alternative arrangements are applicable for the embodiment of Fig. 8 as shown in the following figures. Figure 9 shows an example of transmission of a combination of roller chain with sprocket wheel and two-gear train. Figure 10 shows another alternative arrangement of the transmission, this being a combination of a gear pair and a train of 3 gears. Figure 11 shows yet another alternative arrangement of the transmission with a combination of bevel gears. Figure 12 shows still another alternative arrangement of the transmission wherein the drive means are linked to one another by a common drive means, which may be a belt winding over a pulley or sheave, or a roller chain winding over a sprocket wheel, or any similar arrangement.

In a preferred fourth embodiment of the invention, the apparatus for converting first and second alternating drives to a unidirectional torque comprises an axle which the first and second alternating drives may act on at first and second points respectively. The first and second drives are connected as a pair via a drive means winding around an idler pulley. At least two unidirectional elements may be provided in any combination on the axles, the first of these to allow the first rotational drive to be transmitted to turn the axle at a first point in the first rotational direction. The axle is allowed to slip at a second point during the first rotational direction. At least a second unidirectional element may be provided to allow the second rotational drive to be transmitted to turn the axle at a second point in the second rotational direction. The axle is allowed to slip at the first point during second rotational direction.

The fourth embodiment is shown in FIGURE 13 wherein is shown the apparatus comprising an axle (100) upon which the alternating drives may act. The alternating drives may be generated by, for example, a pair of buckets (102a, 102b) linked to one another by a cable or chain (104) winding around an idler wheel (106) . The buckets (102a, 102b) may be charged and discharged with water alternately to provide the alternative drive as gravity pulls the charged bucket downwards while the discharged bucket is pulled upwards.

To assist in the impartation of torque to the axle (100) sprocket wheels (108a, 108b) with freewheels (8) may be provided on the axle (100) to allow a drive means, shown here in the form of a roller chain (104), to wind around said sprocket wheels (108a, 108b) as well as the idler wheel (106) . The freewheels. (8) may be arranged in a manner so that one allows engagement in one direction of rotation of the axle and slip in the other direction, and vice versa for the other freewheel. In this manner, at either direction of pull of the alternating drives (102a, 102b) the respective freewheels will engage to transmit the drive to always provide torque to the axle (100) in one specific direction only. The buckets (102a, 102b) may be led away from the axle (100) by pulleys (22) so that the alternating drives do not knock against the sprocket wheels (108a, 108b) or the axle (100) .

The torque from the drive axle (100) may be transmitted to a common driven axle by direct transmission as the rotational direction of the drive axle (100) is already unidirectional.

Multiple units of this apparatus may be arranged in such a manner so that all of them act to drive a common axle (100) as shown in FIGURE 14. In this figure, it is also shown how the rotational speed from the common axle (100) may be increased with a step-up gear train. It further shows a flywheel connected for stability and for progressive storage of momentum.

It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the torque converting methods and mechanisms employing such methods as exemplified in the apparatuses as specific embodiments described above may be varied or modified without departing from the methods or principle of working described herein. It will also be apparent to a skilled person that these apparatuses may be adapted or modified mechanically to provide for different transmission arrangements to drive a generator or other means for producing power. These and other such embodiments not specifically described herein are not to be considered as departures from the present invention and shall be considered as falling within the letter and spirit of the following claims.

Claims

1. A method for converting bi-directional torque, comprising a first rotational drive in one direction alternating with a second rotational drive in the other direction along a drive axis, to become unidirectional torque along a driven axis, wherein at least first and second unidirectional elements are provided at any one or combination of said drive or driven axes, said method comprising the steps wherein: the first rotational drive engages first unidirectional element to turn at least one axis in the first rotational direction and allows at least one axis to slip at the second unidirectional element; the second rotational drive engages at the second unidirectional element to turn at least one axis in the second rotational direction and allows at least one axis to slip at the first unidirectional element; - the first rotational direction of the drive axis is transmitted in the same direction to the driven axis; the second rotational direction of the drive axis is transmitted in the reverse direction to the driven axis; thereby resulting in said driven axis being rotated in a single direction by both rotational drives.

2. A method according to Claim 1 wherein the drive axis is an axle and the driven axis is a transmission shaft.

3. A method according to Claim 2 wherein the unidirectional element is any one or combination of freewheel, unidirectional clutch means, pawl-and-ratchet, and the like.

4. A method according to Claim 2 wherein the first rotational drive of the drive axle is transmitted via a sprocket chain to the transmission shaft and the second rotational drive of the drive axle is transmitted via a gear pair.

5. A method according to Claim 2 wherein the first and second rotational directions of the drive axle are transmitted to the transmission shaft in the same rotational direction by appropriate gear train.

6. A method according to Claim 5 wherein the gear train includes a bevel gears arrangement.

7. A method according to Claim 3 wherein the drive axle is driven in the first and second rotational directions by first and second rotational drives which are linked to one another by common drive means winding over said axle.

8. A method according to Claim 7 wherein the first and second rotational directions are transmitted to the transmission shaft by any one or more of the methods of any one of Claims 4 to 6.

9. A method according to Claim 3 wherein the drive axle comprises two portions which are independent from each other and arranged end-to-end along said drive axis, said method comprising the steps wherein: the first rotational drive engages first axle portion to turn in first rotational direction and allows second axle portion to slip; the second rotational drive engages second axle portion to turn in second rotational direction and allows first axle portion to slip; the first directional rotation of the first axle portion is transmitted in the same rotational direction to the transmission shaft; - the second directional rotation of the second axle portion is transmitted in the reverse direction to the transmission shaft.

10. A method according to Claim 9 wherein the first and second rotational directions are transmitted to the transmission shaft with a method according to any one or more of the methods of any one of Claims 4 to 6.

11. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the torque on the drive axis is amplified by enlarging the radius of turn by the rotational drive acting on said drive axis.

12. A method for converting a pair of parallel alternating unidirectional first and second drives to unidirectional torque on an axis which is provided with at least a first and second unidirectional element, wherein the first and second rotational drives are connected as a pair via a drive means winding around an idler means so that the drives are operable alternately in parallel on the same side of the axis; the first rotational drive engages to turn the axis at the first unidirectional element and allows said drive axis to slip at the second unidirectional element; - the second rotational drive engages to turn the drive axis at the second unidirectional element and allows said drive axis to slip at the first unidirectional element.

13. A method according to Claim 12 wherein the torque from the drive axis is transmitted to a common driven axis.

14. A method according to Claim 12 or 13 wherein the engagement of the first and second unidirectional elements in one rotational direction and the slippage of the said elements in the other rotational direction is achieved with any one or combination of a freewheel, unidirectional clutch means, roller bearing, pawl-and-ratchet, and the like.

15. A method for combining torque output from a plurality of methods of Claims 1 to 14 arranged to transmit torque to a common driven axis.

16. A method for increasing rotational speed of any one of the methods of Claims 1 to 14 wherein the transmission uses a step-up gear train.

17. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the transmission is mechanically connected to a rotating element of weight including at least a flywheel.

18. An apparatus for converting bi-directional torque, alternating between a first rotational drive in one direction and a second rotational drive in the other direction, into unidirectional torque, said apparatus comprising a drive axle whereupon said first and second rotational drives act alternately; and a driven axle, whereupon is transmitted from said drive axle to said driven axle the first rotational direction in the same direction and the second rotational direction in the reverse direction, at least one first unidirectional element allowing first rotational drive to be transmitted to the driven axle and allowing the second rotational drive to slip; at least one second unidirectional element allowing the second rotational drive to be transmitted to the driven axle and allowing the first rotational drive to slip; wherein said first and second unidirectional elements are provided at any one or a combination of said drive or driven axles and wherein the first rotational drive is transmitted to the driven axle in the same rotational direction and the second rotational drive is transmitted to the driven axle in the reverse rotational direction so that said driven axle is turned in the same direction by both rotational drives.

19. An apparatus according to Claim 18 wherein the unidirectional element is any one or a combination of a freewheel, unidirectional clutch, pawl-and-ratchet, and like means .

20. An apparatus according to Claim 18 wherein the rotations of the drive axle are transmitted to the driven axle according to any one of the methods of Claims 4 to 6.

21. An apparatus according to Claim 18 wherein the drive axle is driven in the first and second rotational directions by first and second rotational drives which are linked to one another by common drive means.

22. An apparatus according to Claim 18 wherein a sprocket wheel is provided on the drive axle over which a roller chain linking the first rotational drive and second rotational drive is rotatably mounted.

23. An apparatus according to Claim 22 wherein the rotational directions of the drive axle are transmitted to the driven axle according to any one of the methods of Claims 4 to 6.

24. An apparatus according to Claim 18 wherein the drive axle comprises two portions which are independent from each other and arranged end-to-end; the first rotational drive acts upon the first drive axle portion and the second rotational drive acts upon the second drive axle portion.

25. An apparatus according to Claim 23 wherein the rotational directions of the drive axle are transmitted to the driven axle according to any one of the methods of Claims 4 to 6.

26. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 18 to 25 wherein the torque on the -drive axis is amplified by providing a larger diameter on the drive axis for the rotational drive to act upon.

27. An apparatus for converting a pair of alternating first and second drives to unidirectional torque comprising an axle whereupon the first and second rotational drives act alternately on said axle at first and second points respectively, wherein said first and second drives are connected as a pair via a drive means winding around an idler pulley; at least one unidirectional element provided on the axle to allow said first rotational drive to be transmitted to turn said axle at said first point in a first rotational direction • whereby said axle is allowed to slip at said second point during rotation in said first rotational direction;

- at least a second unidirectional element provided on the axle to allow said second rotational drive to be transmitted to turn said axle at said second point in a second rotational direction whereby said axle is allowed to slip at said first point during rotation in said second rotational direction.

28. An apparatus according to Claim 25 wherein the axle is provided with at least a pulley to allow first and second rotational drives to act on said axle.

29. A plurality of apparatuses according to any one of Claims 18 to 26 wherein the drive axles are arranged to transmit to at least one common driven axle.

30. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 18 to 27 wherein the rotational speed is increased with a step-up gear train.

31. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 18 to 28 wherein the transmission is mechanically connected to a rotating element of weight including at least a flywheel.

32. An electricity generating plant employing a method according to any one of Claims 1 to 17.

33. An electricity generating plant employing an apparatus according to any one of Claims 18 to 31.