Multipurpose gravity air compressor
View Patent ↗A multipurpose gravity air compressor employs a piston ( 40 ) traveling down a cylinder ( 129 ) by the force of gravity compressing compressible fluid ( 140 ) in one or more compressible fluid chambers ( 137 ). Compressed fluid is emptied out of compressible fluid chambers ( 137 ) through compressible fluid exit ( 118 ) for use locally or downstream. A transporter such as transporter assembly 50 grabs piston ( 40 ) and recovers it back to opening ( 124 ) at predetermined intervals and deposits piston ( 40 ) into cylinder ( 129 ) to start another cycle. Multipurpose gravity air compressor through the generation of heat through compressing compressible fluid ( 140 ) also enjoys being a heat source. Air compressor 200 can provide a means for producing energy through compressing compressible fluid ( 140 ) and a source of heat for generating steam to produce electricity on-site or downstream. Water (condensation), possibly thousands of gallons a year, could be another rainfall-independent water source advantage enjoyed.
1. An air compressor apparatus for compressing a first compressible fluid, comprising:
a plurality of pistons;
a cylinder having an opening located in a predetermined location configured to allow the plurality of pistons and the first compressible fluid to enter the cylinder, wherein the cylinder further has a piston exit and a compressible fluid exit which are both located below the opening and which respectively allow the pistons and the compressible fluid to be discharged from the cylinder, wherein the pistons, when disposed in the cylinder, form a substantially fluid tight seal with an inner wall of the cylinder and define compression chambers between adjacent pistons, the compression chambers traveling downward through the cylinder as the pistons are moved downward by the force of gravity;
a transporter configured to transport the pistons from the piston exit to the opening and to place said pistons into the cylinder via the opening at predetermined intervals; and
a tubing coiled around an outer wall of the cylinder.
2. The air compressor apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cylinder has a slope of between approximately 30 and 160 degrees.
3. The air compressor apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transporter includes a second cylinder in which the pistons are moved upward by buoyancy.
4. The air compressor apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising connectors configured to attach said tubing to said outer wall.
5. The air compressor apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pistons are substantially disc-shaped.
6. The air compressor apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pistons are hollow.
7. The air compressor apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tubing has an entrance and an exit for a second fluid.
8. The air compressor apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the second fluid absorbs heat from the outer wall.