Energy-harvesting conveyor belts and methods
First Claim
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1. A conveyor belt comprising:
- a belt body molded of a base polymer;
an energy-harvesting device disposed in or on the belt body;
an energy-storage device disposed in or on the belt body and coupled to the energy-harvesting device to store energy harvested by the energy-harvesting device;
an electrical device disposed in or on the belt body and powered by energy stored in the energy-storage device;
wherein the energy-harvesting device includes piezoelectric fibers co-injected with the base polymer during molding of the belt body.
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Abstract
Energy-harvesting and -storage devices in conveyor belts and methods for molding those devices integrally into modular plastic belt links. Electroactive polymers or piezoelectric fibers co-injected with a base polymer to form belt modules harvest energy from strain or vibrations in the conveyor belt to power belt on-board devices.
34 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A conveyor belt comprising:
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a belt body molded of a base polymer; an energy-harvesting device disposed in or on the belt body; an energy-storage device disposed in or on the belt body and coupled to the energy-harvesting device to store energy harvested by the energy-harvesting device; an electrical device disposed in or on the belt body and powered by energy stored in the energy-storage device; wherein the energy-harvesting device includes piezoelectric fibers co-injected with the base polymer during molding of the belt body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A conveyor belt comprising:
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a belt body molded of a base electroactive polymer that generates a voltage when mechanically strained; an energy-storage device disposed in or on the belt body and electrically connected to the electroactive polymer to store energy harvested by the electroactive polymer; an electrical device disposed in or on the belt body and powered by energy stored in the energy-storage device.
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Specification