Elevator dampener and energy harvesting device and method
First Claim
1. An apparatus for dampening vibrations within an elevator system and producing electrical energy from the kinetic energy of the vibrations, the apparatus comprising:
- an elongate member coupled to at least one hoisting rope of the elevator system;
a macro-fiber composite connected with the elongate member, wherein the macro-fiber composite comprises a plurality of piezoceramic fibers and an epoxy operable to dampen vibrations within the at least one hoisting rope and convert kinetic energy from the vibrations into electrical energy;
a control system in electrical communication with the macro-fiber composite, wherein the electrical energy produced from the kinetic energy from the vibrations is transmitted from the macro-fiber composite to the control system; and
an energy storage device that receives the electrical energy from the macro-fiber composite.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vibration dampening device is operable to dampen vibrations within ropes of an elevator car or other components to improve ride quality, and is further operable to harness or harvest and convert energy from those vibrations into electrical energy. The dampening device includes a macro-fiber composite and the vibrations are communicated or transmitted to the macro-fiber composite. The macro-fiber composite is operable to harness or harvest and convert energy from vibrations into electrical energy. Such electrical energy is communicated or transmitted to a control system of the elevator car for storage and/or use.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus for dampening vibrations within an elevator system and producing electrical energy from the kinetic energy of the vibrations, the apparatus comprising:
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an elongate member coupled to at least one hoisting rope of the elevator system; a macro-fiber composite connected with the elongate member, wherein the macro-fiber composite comprises a plurality of piezoceramic fibers and an epoxy operable to dampen vibrations within the at least one hoisting rope and convert kinetic energy from the vibrations into electrical energy; a control system in electrical communication with the macro-fiber composite, wherein the electrical energy produced from the kinetic energy from the vibrations is transmitted from the macro-fiber composite to the control system; and an energy storage device that receives the electrical energy from the macro-fiber composite. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for providing energy to an elevator car, the apparatus comprising:
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an energy harvesting device, wherein the energy harvesting device is in at least indirect communication with a select one or both of at least one hoisting rope and the elevator car sling, wherein the energy harvesting device is operable to convert kinetic energy from vibrations to electrical energy; a control system operable to control operation of at least one component of the elevator car using at least a portion of the electrical energy provided by the energy harvesting device to the control system; and an energy storage device operable to receive and store electrical energy from the energy harnessing device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of providing energy to an elevator car, comprising the steps of:
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connecting a dampening and energy harvesting device to at least one rope of the elevator car, wherein the dampening and energy harvesting device comprises a macro-fiber composite in communication with the at least one rope; converting vibrational motion from the at least one rope into electrical energy using the macro-fiber composite; transmitting the electrical energy to a control system via an electrical cable connecting the control system to the macro-fiber composite, wherein the step of transmitting the electrical energy to the control system comprises directing the electrical energy to an energy storage device; and distributing the electrical energy from the control system to the elevator car. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification