Piezoelectric energy harvesting system from vehicle's tires

• US 10,243,136 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2016
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masoud Ghanbari, Nima Amjady
• Original Assignee: Masoud Ghanbari, Nima Amjady
• Inventors: Ghanbari, Masoud, Amjady, Nima
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, Robert J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trischler, John T
• Application Number:
  US15/243,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20180053889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 21/00 Rims non-metallic B60B5/00; of high resiliency B60B9/00; capable of carrying more than one tyre B60B11/04; multiple rims on a single wheel body B60B11/06; of multi-part type B60B25/00; metal tyres B60C
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/00 Tyre parts or constructions not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 25/08 from a ground wheel, e.g. engaging the wheel tread or rim
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/50 Charging stations characterised by energy-storage or power-generation means
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/209 Piezoelectric elements
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/32 for charging batteries from a charging set comprising a non-electric prime mover rotating at constant speed
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/181 Circuits; Control arrangements or methods
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/186 Vibration harvesters
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/188 adapted for resonant operation
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/304 Beam type
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/90 Energy harvesting concepts as power supply for auxiliaries' energy consumption, e.g. photovoltaic sun-roof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A piezoelectric energy harvesting system for converting mechanical energy of a tire of a vehicle to electrical energy includes sets of piezoelectric beam assemblies, a tire electrical jack, a conductive bearing, and an electrical storage unit. The sets of piezoelectric beam assemblies are embedded in multiple layers of the tire of the vehicle and electrically connected in a parallel configuration. Each of the sets of the piezoelectric beam assemblies are electrically connected in a series configuration for converting mechanical strains into electrical energy. The tire electrical jack is mounted on a rim of the tire and receives the electrical energy generated by the sets of piezoelectric beam assemblies via output terminals. The conductive bearing transmits the electrical energy received by the tire electrical jack to the electrical storage unit, which filters, rectifies, adapts and stores the transmitted electrical energy for powering components of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A piezoelectric energy harvesting system for converting mechanical energy of a tire of a vehicle to electrical energy for powering components of the vehicle, the piezoelectric energy harvesting system comprising:

a plurality of sets of piezoelectric beam assemblies embedded in the tire of the vehicle and electrically connected in a parallel configuration, wherein each of the sets of the piezoelectric beam assemblies comprise a plurality of piezoelectric beam assemblies, the piezoelectric beam assemblies electrically connected in a series configuration for converting mechanical strains on the piezoelectric beam assemblies to electrical energy, and wherein each of the piezoelectric beam assembly comprises at least two output terminals for transmitting the generated electrical energy;

a tire electrical jack mounted on a rim of the tire, the tire electrical jack electrically connected to the at least two output terminals of the sets of the piezoelectric beam assemblies, wherein the tire electrical jack receives the electrical energy generated by the sets of piezoelectric beams;

a conductive bearing operably connected to the tire electrical jack to transmit the electrical energy received by the tire electrical jack to an electrical storage unit, the conductive bearing comprising an inner ring operably engaged to the rim of the vehicle and configured to rotate with the rim, and at least two input pins seated in an inner ring for receiving an input signal from the tire electrical jack mounted on the rim, the at least two input pins separated by an insulation layer, wherein the at least two input pins are configured to engageably contact at least two ball bearings; and

an electrical storage unit configured to store the electrical energy transmitted by the conductive bearing, wherein the electrical storage unit is further configured to filter and rectify the transmitted electrical energy for powering components of the vehicle.

2. The piezoelectric energy harvesting system of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric beams are of a generally rectangular geometric configuration.

3. The piezoelectric energy harvesting system of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric beams further comprise an insulation layer.

4. The piezoelectric energy harvesting system of claim 1, wherein the tire electrical jack comprises:

input terminals for receiving the generated electrical energy from the output terminals of the sets of piezoelectric beams, wherein the input terminals are electrically separated by an insulation layer;

output terminals electrically connected to the input terminals for transferring the electrical energy to the conductive bearing, wherein the output terminals are electrically separated by an insulation layer; and

a housing configured to accommodate the input terminals, the insulation layer, and the output terminals, wherein the housing is seated in the rim of the tire, and wherein the housing is insulated on an external surface of the housing.

5. The piezoelectric energy harvesting system of claim 1, wherein the tire electrical jack rotates integrally with the rim of the tire.

6. The piezoelectric energy harvesting system of claim 1, wherein the electrical storage unit comprises:

a regulation unit for filtering, rectifying, and adapting the electrical energy transmitted by the conductive bearing, the regulation unit comprising;

a low pass filter;

a rectifier; and

a buck converter;

a battery for storing the regulated electrical energy received from the regulation unit for powering components of the vehicle.

7. A piezoelectric energy harvesting system for converting mechanical energy of a tire of a vehicle to electrical energy for powering components of the vehicle, the piezoelectric energy harvesting system comprising:

a plurality of sets of piezoelectric beam assemblies embedded in the tire of the vehicle and electrically connected in a parallel configuration, wherein each of the sets of the piezoelectric beam assemblies comprise a plurality of piezoelectric beam assemblies, the piezoelectric beam assemblies electrically connected in a series configuration for converting mechanical strains on the piezoelectric beam assemblies to electrical energy, and wherein each of the piezoelectric beam assembly comprises at least two output terminals for transmitting the generated electrical energy;

a tire electrical jack mounted on a rim of the tire, the tire electrical jack electrically connected to the at least two output terminals of the sets of the piezoelectric beam assemblies, wherein the tire electrical jack receives the electrical energy generated by the sets of piezoelectric beams, the tire electrical jack comprising;

input terminals for receiving the generated electrical energy from the output terminals of the sets of piezoelectric beams, wherein the input terminals are electrically separated by an insulation layer;

output terminals electrically connected to the input terminals for transferring the electrical energy to the conductive bearing, wherein the output terminals are electrically separated by an insulation layer; and

a housing configured to accommodate the input terminals, the insulation layer, and the output terminals, wherein the housing is seated in the rim of the tire, and wherein the housing is insulated on an external surface of the housing;

a conductive bearing operably connected to the tire electrical jack to transmit the electrical energy received by the tire electrical jack to an electrical storage unit, the conductive bearing comprising;

an inner ring operably engaged to the rim of the vehicle and configured to rotate with the rim;

at least two input pins seated in an inner ring for receiving an input signal from the tire electrical jack mounted on the rim, the at least two input pins separated by an insulation layer, wherein the at least two input pins are configured to engageably contact at least two ball bearings;

an outer ring fixedly attached to the vehicle via an attachment member, wherein an inner surface of the outer ring and an outer surface of the inner ring is grooved to seat the at least two ball bearings, the at least two ball bearings enclosed by side walls and separated by a central wall, wherein the space between the at least two ball bearings and the central wall is filled with conductive grease to transmit the input signal from the at least two input pins to at least two output pins;

the at least two output pins seated in the outer ring and configured to engageably contact the at least two ball bearings for transmitting the input signal received from the at least two ball bearings to the electrical storage unit, wherein the at least two output pins are separated by an insulation layer; and

the electrical storage unit configured to store the electrical energy transmitted by the conductive bearing, wherein the electrical storage unit is further configured to filter and rectify the transmitted electrical energy for powering components of the vehicle, wherein the electrical storage unit comprises;

a regulation unit for filtering, rectifying, and adapting the electrical energy transmitted by the conductive bearing, the regulation unit comprising;

a low pass filter;

a rectifier;

a buck converter; and

a battery for storing the regulated electrical energy received from the regulation unit for powering components of the vehicle.

8. The piezoelectric energy harvesting system of claim 7, wherein the piezoelectric beams are of a generally rectangular geometric configuration.

9. The piezoelectric energy harvesting system of claim 7, wherein the piezoelectric beams further comprise an insulation layer.

10. The piezoelectric energy harvesting system of claim 7, wherein the tire electrical jack rotates integrally with the rim of the tire.

11. The piezoelectric energy harvesting system of claim 7, wherein the rectifier is a bridge-wave rectifier.

12. A piezoelectric energy harvesting system for converting mechanical energy of a tire of a vehicle to electrical energy for powering components of the vehicle, the piezoelectric energy harvesting system comprising:

(a) a plurality of sets of piezoelectric beam assemblies embedded in the tire of the vehicle and electrically connected in a parallel configuration, wherein each of the sets of the piezoelectric beam assemblies comprise a plurality of piezoelectric beam assemblies, the piezoelectric beam assemblies electrically connected in a series configuration for converting mechanical strains on the piezoelectric beam assemblies to electrical energy, and wherein each of the piezoelectric beam assembly comprises at least two output terminals for transmitting the generated electrical energy;

(b) a tire electrical jack mounted on a rim of the tire, the tire electrical jack electrically connected to the at least two output terminals of the sets of the piezoelectric beam assemblies, wherein the tire electrical jack receives the electrical energy generated by the sets of piezoelectric beams, the tire electrical jack comprising;

(i) input terminals for receiving the generated electrical energy from the output terminals of the sets of piezoelectric beams, wherein the input terminals are electrically separated by an insulation layer;

(ii) output terminals electrically connected to the input terminals for transferring the electrical energy to the conductive bearing, wherein the output terminals are electrically separated by an insulation layer; and

(iii) a housing configured to accommodate the input terminals, the insulation layer, and the output terminals, wherein the housing is seated in the rim of the tire, and wherein the housing is insulated on an external surface of the housing;

(c) a conductive bearing operably connected to the tire electrical jack to transmit the electrical energy received by the tire electrical jack to an electrical storage unit;

wherein the conductive bearing comprises;

(i) an inner ring operably engaged to the rim of the vehicle and configured to rotate with the rim;

(ii) at least two input pins seated in an inner ring for receiving an input signal from the tire electrical jack mounted on the rim, the at least two input pins separated by an insulation layer, wherein the at least two input pins are configured to engageably contact at least two ball bearings;

(iii) an outer ring fixedly attached to the vehicle via an attachment member, wherein an inner surface of the outer ring and an outer surface of the inner ring is grooved to seat the at least two ball bearings, the at least two ball bearings enclosed by side walls and separated by a central wall, wherein the space between the at least two ball bearings and the central wall is filled with conductive grease to transmit the input signal from the at least two input pins to at least two output pins; and

(iv) the at least two output pins seated in the outer ring and configured to engageably contact the at least two ball bearings for transmitting the input signal received from the at least two ball bearings to the electrical storage unit, wherein the at least two output pins are separated by an insulation layer.

13. The piezoelectric energy harvesting system of claim 12, wherein the piezoelectric beams are of a generally rectangular geometric configuration.

14. The piezoelectric energy harvesting system of claim 12, wherein the piezoelectric beams further comprise an insulation layer.

15. The piezoelectric energy harvesting system of claim 12, wherein the tire electrical jack rotates integrally with the rim of the tire.

16. The piezoelectric energy harvesting system of claim 12, wherein the rectifier is a bridge-wave rectifier.