Apparatus for generating energy from a fluid flow induced movement of a surface structure relative to an opening to a cavity in a frame
First Claim
1. A fluid flow generator for generating electricity from a fluid flow, the generator comprising:
- a frame comprising a cavity and an opening in a surface of said frame connecting to said cavity;
a covering positioned in a first position within said opening to at least partially enclose said cavity, the covering comprising;
a contacting surface of said covering for contacting a fluid flow over said surface of said frame;
a flexible material allowing for movement of said contacting surface relative to said frame;
wherein said contacting surface is movable to at least a second position relative to said frame and wherein said fluid flow results from movement of said frame through a medium comprising a gas; and
an energy converting portion interposed between said frame and said contacting surface for generating the electricity by converting energy from the movement of said contacting surface relative to said frame due to said fluid flow.
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Abstract
A generator has a surface structure relative to a base structure and capable of being positioned within a field of flow. The surface structure also has an electrogenerative portion positioned relative to the surface structure and the base structure. The electrogenerative portion is preferably a piezoelectric or electromagnetic structure, although other types of structures are known within the art. The field of flow exerts forces upon the surface structure which causes surface structure movement relative to the base structure through the electrogenerative portion. This generates electricity which causes movement in the surface structure.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A fluid flow generator for generating electricity from a fluid flow, the generator comprising:
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a frame comprising a cavity and an opening in a surface of said frame connecting to said cavity; a covering positioned in a first position within said opening to at least partially enclose said cavity, the covering comprising; a contacting surface of said covering for contacting a fluid flow over said surface of said frame; a flexible material allowing for movement of said contacting surface relative to said frame; wherein said contacting surface is movable to at least a second position relative to said frame and wherein said fluid flow results from movement of said frame through a medium comprising a gas; and an energy converting portion interposed between said frame and said contacting surface for generating the electricity by converting energy from the movement of said contacting surface relative to said frame due to said fluid flow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A fluid flow generator for generating electricity from a fluid flow, the generator comprising:
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a frame comprising a cavity and an opening in a surface of said frame connecting to said cavity; a covering positioned in a first position within said opening to cover at least a portion of said opening in said frame surface and to at least partially enclose said cavity; said covering comprising; a rigid composition having a curvilinear shape for contacting a fluid flow, wherein said covering is movable to at least a second position relative to said frame and wherein said fluid flow results from movement of said frame through a medium comprising a gas; a spring coupled between said frame and said covering; and an energy converting portion interposed between said frame and said covering, the energy converting portion generating the electricity by converting energy from movement of said covering relative to said frame due to said fluid flow. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification