Apparatus for converting vibration energy into electric power

• US 20020172060A1
• Filed: 04/19/2002
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Godo Kaisha IP Bridge 1 (IP Bridge, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Seiki Epson Corporation
• Inventors: Takeuchi, Kesatoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,009,315 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/110
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/00 Generators with reciprocating, oscillating or vibrating coil system, magnet, armature or other part of the magnetic circuit arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with generators H02K7/00, e.g. H02K7/06

Abstract

An apparatus for converting vibration energy into electric power is provided, in which vibration of a power source is transmitted to a power-generating coil 14, and is then transmitted to an iron core 20 via helical compression springs 26 and 28, thereby causing relative movement between the iron core 20 and the power-generating coil 14 due to inertia, resulting in a change in the magnetic field. An electromotive force is thus generated due to electromagnetic induction, thereby causing a current to flow to an electric wire material 18. Specifically, use of vibration of the power source as energy for power generation can achieve efficient use of energy. The acquisition of electric energy by the power generation may also lead to mitigation of the vibration.

Claims

1. An apparatus for converting vibration energy into electric power which electrically converts vibration energy produced when a power system is working, comprising:

at least one bar magnet unit to which the vibration produced when the power system is working is transmitted;

a coil unit helically wound around the magnet unit;

a damping unit positioned between the magnet unit and the coil unit for holding the magnet unit at the helically neutral position of the coil unit during non-vibration and for attenuating the transmission of vibration to the coil unit during vibration; and

an electrical wire unit for picking up a current flowing to the winding of the coil unit by a change in the magnetic field generated when the vibration produced in the power system causes the magnet unit to move reciprocately along the helical axis of the coil unit.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the damping unit holds the magnet unit with respect to the coil unit according to the principle of a spring-mass system.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the magnet units cross into a cruciform, with one crossing portion having a through-hole formed therein, and the other crossing portion being inserted through the through-hole.