Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE: SHORELINE HYDROGEN DELIVERY ROBOTIC SHUTTLE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a shoreline
hydrogen-delivery robotic shuttle, providing a means to
deliver large quantities of liquefied hydrogen from a
mother ship "intensified radial wave-wind energy vessel"
operating in high wave and wind energy areas of the oceans
and hydrogen depots with electric energy conversion
generators specifically adapted for the purpose along the
shorelines of the oceans.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The quest for the transition from dwindling fossil
fuels and their pollution effects on the environment to
clean renewable energy alternatives, such as solar, wind
and wave energy, has been a long and costly challenge.
From one perspective viewpoint, solar energy is cyclical in
nature. Days, nights, cloudy periods, winter, installation
costs, etc., all contribute to the cost efficiency formula.
Windmills and windmill farms, although they can operate day
and night, rely on the abundance of wind energy, which is
also cyclical in nature and changes with the seasons,
leaving them idle or operating at low output most of the
time. Then we have wave energy harnessing stations along
the shorelines, which like solar energy have a daily tide
cycle and like windmills depend on energy coming their way
to be cost effective with other energy alternatives. One
thing these alternative renewable energy sources also have
in common, is that they are vulnerable to hurricane force
winds and tidal waves.
Another important aspect of the cost efficiency
formula is that in nature, everything is relative. From the
above brief interpretations, cost efficiency has always
played a vital role on investment decisions. Clearly there
is an urgent need for the transition from dwindling and
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environment polluting fossil fuels to renewable clean
energy, at reasonable costs, The present solar, wind and
wave energy technologies do not fulfill to the potential of
an eventual transition from fossil fuels to abundant and
inexpensive renewable energy.
The installation of solar, wind and wave power
generators inland, are costly, maintenance intensive,
unreliable and subject to the inconsistencies of mother
nature. Thus it is necessary to look at other potential
alternatives with cost-effectiveness in consideration.
Applicant's previously filed application describes
intensified radial wave-wind energy harnessing to harness
energy from waves and wind at once from any direction. It
is specifically configured to exploit the highest wave-wind
energy areas in the oceans according to the seasons and
convert the harnessed energy to liquefied-hydrogen and to
ship it to depots along the shorelines. It consequently has
the potential to provide reliable abundant inexpensive
renewable energy and provide a viable alternative for an
eventual transition from dwindling fossil fuels.
This concept also provides a vehicle for the
colonization of the oceans at a small fraction of the costs
of outer-space stations. They can readily provide
scientific and tourism recreation facilities, readily
accessible by cruise ships. They too can provide a base for
important research. Most importantly, these hurricane force
dwarfing wave-wind harnessing stations can send liquefied
hydrogen to shoreline storage and electric power generating
stations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a shoreline
hydrogen-delivery robotic shuttle, that according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention combines a
submersible large scale circular-elliptical reinforced
concrete vessel adapted to transport liquefied hydrogen and
to shuttle between a liquefied hydrogen producing mother
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ship operating in the oceans and liquefied hydrogen depots
along the shorelines.
Another object is to provide a submersible vessel
having high-pressure compressed air pumping systems, and
high volume low-pressure water pumps to provide a means for
precise submersion control and vessel docking purposes.
Still another object is to provide fuel cells as means
to provide for electrical power requirements, including
propulsion power.
A still further object is to provide an electric motor
driven high-volume high-pressure centrifugal water pump for
propulsion, having a turning nozzle driven by an encoded
servomotor for precise navigation and docking purposes.
Yet another object is to provide a basic submersible
vessel that can be adapted for scientific research, as a
tourist recreation vessel, and other applications related
to an eventual colonization of the oceans.
Another object is to provide a stainless steel
concentric plate with latching mechanisms for the robotic
shuttle and liquefied hydrogen safety valve couplings for
the safe loading and unloading of the hydrogen cargo.
Still another object is to provide a variety of
contemporary technologies such as data transceivers, global
positioning systems, video cameras, radar, inertial-
navigation and others, as a means to ensure safe remote
operation control with satellites and the Internet
communications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in
the drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a large-scale
reinforced concrete shoreline hydrogen delivery robotic
vessel according to a preferred embodiment, on the water
surface.
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FIG. 2 is a side elevation view in cross section to
show the distribution of components with the robotic
shuttle of Figure 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an electric motor
driven high-volume high-pressure pump for propulsion of the
robotic shuttle, having an encoded electric servomotor to
steer the water-jet nozzle radially in any particular
direction for navigation purposes.
FIG. 4 is a perspective of the robotic shuttle being
latched in position for the delivery of liquefied hydrogen
cargo to a typical shoreline depot station along the
shorelines, with facilities for liquefied hydrogen and
electric power generation; and
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an intensified radial
wave-wind energy-harnessing vessel to specifically show a
relative disposition of a plurality of robotic shuttles
latched in position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, a shoreline hydrogen
delivery robotic shuttle 10 has a circular-elliptical
reinforced concrete shape to form a submersible vessel
frame 11 floating on a water surface 12. Concentrically a
stainless steel latching mechanism 13 for loading and
unloading of liquefied hydrogen and for docking purposes
with the energy harnessing mother ships operating in the
high-oceans and depot docking stations along the
shorelines, which are specifically adapted for the purpose.
A plurality of water tight latching doors 14 provide access
inside the vessel and arrows 15 represent a high speed
water jet as a means of providing propulsion for vessel
navigation. Ideally, the reinforced concrete vessel is
coated with a colored varnish like paint 16 to provide a
minimum possible friction resistance and decoration of the
vessel.
FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the robotic shuttle of
FIG. 1 to show the location of high-pressure large-volume
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air compressors 17 for the displacement of water within
water ballast cavities 18 and low-pressure high-volume
water pumps 19, which serve to pump water in and out of the
water ballast cavities as shown by arrows 26 for precise
submerging level control and docking assisting. High-volume
high-pressure water pump 20 is installed firmly in position
within a concentric lower cavity 21 in the vessel, which
has a slanting wall of stainless steel shield 22 to
slightly deflect water jet propulsion 15 entering the pump
shown by arrows 27. Cutouts 23 symbolize reinforcing walls
and the concentric walls generally 24, which will
eventually be formed according development-required
specifications. Fuel cell 25 provides a means to convert
the liquefied hydrogen to electric power on demand for
operation of the robotic shuttle.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the water propulsion
water pump 20 to better illustrate the electric motor 28
driving water pump 29 of water intake arrow 27 and having a
steering nozzle driven by an encoded electric servomotor
31, by means of a coupling chain 32 and a rotary nozzle
coupling 33.
FIG. 4 is a shoreline liquefied hydrogen depot
generally designated 35 having a hinged tubular-triangular
shape coupling means 36 extending to latch 13 of robotic
shuttle 11 on water surface 12 for the unloading of the
liquefied hydrogen cargo into liquefied storage 37 and fuel
cell electric power generating power plant 38 for
distribution either underground or by power lines 39.
FIG. 5 is a perspective of an intensified radial wave
wind energy harnessing vessel which forms a complementary
part of the present invention, generally shown as 40 on a
water surface 12 to show an eventual arrangement for
docking of a plurality of shoreline hydrogen delivery
robotic shuttles 11.
A shoreline hydrogen delivery robotic shuttle, which
according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is a
submersible circular-elliptical reinforced concrete vessel
having fuel cells to provide for its own electric power
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requirements and radial water jet propulsion for
navigation, either manned or automatic operation. The
robotic shuttle's main function is as a link between
"intensified radial wave-wind energy vessel" for delivery
of liquefied hydrogen to depots along the shorelines and
the mother factor-ships for the production of more
renewable energy vessels. Eventually, the basic submersible
vessel may be adapted for scientific, tourist recreation
purposes and certain other industrial applications in the
exploration and colonization of the oceans.
Essentially, the "renewable energy vessel Factory-
ship", the "shoreline hydrogen delivery robotic shuttle"
and the "intensified radial wave-wind energy vessel" form a
link chain of three complementary inventions with the
potential for eventually providing a phasing out from
dwindling fossil fuels and other forms of less economically
viable renewable energy alternative forms, such as inland
solar, wind and wave power.
Typically, shoreline hydrogen delivery robotic
shuttles, are mass produced by the renewable energy vessel
factory-ships, then launched on the water surface and
supplied with liquid hydrogen for their trip to the
intensified radial wave-wind energy vessels operating in
high energy areas of the oceans, according to sophisticated
means of precise navigation. Once one of these energy-
harnessing vessels has been schedule, the robotic shuttle
will aim in its direction and once there submerges. Then
enters through the lower hub-port and indexes one of a
plurality of liquefied hydrogen loading latches within and
locks itself in position until loaded and assigned a
particular destination. Typically, the mother ship has a
large reserve of liquefied hydrogen and a plurality of
robotic shuttles latched in position, ready for launching
in any particular direction along the shorelines, at their
disposal. Once this request is receive, the particular
robotic shuttle unlatches itself and maneuvers out of the
mother ship, comes to the surface and aims in the requested
direction of the shore line specifically adapted depot,
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then latches with it for the unloading and returns back
after mission accomplished, for another cycle.
From the previous descriptions it will become obvious
that the invention presented here, is a complementary part
of a three part invention for the harnessing of large-scale
wave and wind at once within the oceans, which are in turn
a by-product of solar energy, and a means to deliver the
liquefied hydrogen to adapted depots along the shorelines.
Another highly important aspect of the present
invention is to provide a term of comparison to other
alternative renewable energy harnessing concepts; More
particularly, the brief explanation of the economic
efficiency formula relating to the eventual phasing out
form fossil fuels with the other contemporary technologies
for solar, wind and waves. That these inventions provide a
viable solution far into the foreseeable future and quite
possibly the colonization of the oceans, at a very
affordable cost.
Although various preferred embodiments of the
present invention have been described herein in detail, it
will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that
variations may be made thereto without departing from the
spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended
claims.
