Apparatus for generating power from passing vehicular traffic

• US 20030132637A1
• Filed: 07/22/2002
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tod Ricketts
• Original Assignee: Tod Ricketts
• Inventors: Ricketts, Tod
• Granted Patent: US 6,734,575 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/1R
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/08 recovering energy derived from swinging, rolling, pitching or like movements, e.g. from the vibrations of a machine

Abstract

An apparatus for generating power from over the road vehicular traffic and moving trains are disclosed. The apparatus include on or more hydraulic actuators, each of which has a piston at least partially slidably mounted in a fluid cavity contained therein. When a passing vehicle or train car engages the actuator, the weight of the vehicle pushes the piston into the fluid cavity and causes fluid to flow from the fluid cavity toward a turbine or other power conversion means. The flow causes the turbine to rotate, thereby producing useable energy.

Claims

1. A power capturing apparatus for placement in a roadway subject to vehicles passing thereover, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of hydraulic actuators, each hydraulic actuator including a fluid cavity, a piston, an actuator cap and at least one fluid port, the piston being at least partially and slidably mounted in the fluid cavity and the at least one fluid port extending into the fluid cavity the actuator cap being disposed on top of the hydraulic actuator;

a fluid source coupled with the at least one fluid port of each of the plurality of hydraulic actuators; and

a road surface engagable with the passing vehicles, the road surface being generally perpendicular relative to the plurality of hydraulic actuators and including the top surfaces of a plurality of the actuator caps; and

wherein as a passing vehicle of a predetermined weight engages the top surface of an actuator cap, an associated piston of an associated hydraulic actuator slides inwardly relative to the fluid cavity and causes fluid contained in the fluid cavity to flow out the at least one port.

2. The power capturing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a power converter, the power converter being fluidly coupled with the at least one fluid port of each hydraulic actuator of the plurality of hydraulic actuators.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid port of each hydraulic actuator of the plurality of hydraulic actuators consists of a single fluid port.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each hydraulic actuator of the plurality of hydraulic actuators is coupled to a check valve through the at least one fluid port, the check valve being adapted to allow fluid to flow from the fluid source to the fluid cavity but not from the fluid cavity to the fluid source.

5. The power capturing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the power converter comprises a hydraulic turbine coupled to an electric generator, wherein fluid flow through the hydraulic turbine causes the generator to produce electricity.

6. The power capturing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of actuator caps comprise a plurality of platform pads, each platform pad having a substantially flat top surface.

7. The power capturing apparatus of claim 6, wherein each top surface is substantially coplanar with each adjacent top surface.

8. The power capturing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the plurality of platform pads are arranged in an array to substantially form the road surface over which the vehicles pass.

9. The power capturing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the plurality of platform pads are arranged in an array and are separated from adjacent platform pads by a gap, a width of the gap being relatively small compared to a length of the top surface of the platform pad.

10. The power capturing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the platform pads further include side surfaces with bottom edges, the side surfaces being generally perpendicular to the top surface and wherein the platform pads are arranged in an array forming a plurality of gaps between facing side surfaces of adjacent platform pads.

11. The power capturing apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a fin grid array, the fin grid array including fin members, the fins being substantially parallel to the side surfaces of the platform pads and extending upwardly in the gaps formed between adjacent platform pads at least partially above the bottom edges of corresponding side surfaces, the fin members having top surfaces that are disposed below the top surfaces of the corresponding platform pads.

12. The power capturing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the platform pads further include a groove, the groove being formed in the side surfaces of each platform pad proximate the bottom edges of the side surfaces.

13. The power capturing apparatus of claim 12, wherein one or more wiper seals are housed in the grooves of each platform pad, and wherein a front edge of the wiper seal contacts an adjacent fin member of the fin grid array.

14. The power capturing apparatus of claim 6, wherein the top surface of each platform pad is substantially rectangular.

15. The power capturing apparatus of claim 6 wherein each platform pad is attached to and substantially centered on the hydraulic actuator.

16. The power capturing apparatus of claim 15, wherein each platform pad is attached to the piston of an associated hydraulic actuator.

17. The power capturing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the road surface also comprises the top surface of a mat configured to cover at least a portion of a traffic lane, and wherein the actuator pads are convex and extend at least partially above the top surface of the mat.

18. The power capturing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of actuator pads are attached to the hydraulic actuators.

19. The power capturing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the piston of each hydraulic actuator is extensively biased relative to the associated fluid cavity.

20. The power capturing apparatus of claim 19, wherein the piston is extensively biased by a spring.

21. The power capturing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more check valve assemblies, the one or more check valves being fluidly coupled with the plurality of hydraulic actuators, each check valve having an inlet port and an outlet port, each inlet port only permitting fluid to flow through the check valve assembly to one or more associated hydraulic actuators and the outlet port only permitting fluid to flow from the one or more associated hydraulic actuators and out of the check valve assembly.

22. The power capturing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid port comprises only a single port.

23. The power capturing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of hydraulic actuators are mounted between alternating parallel first and second support members, the first support members each having a supply passage formed therein, the supply passages being fluidly coupled to a fluid source, the second support members each having a return fluid passage formed therein, the return passages fluidly coupling the at least one fluid port of each hydraulic actuator with the power converter.

24. The power capturing apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a one or more check valves, the check valves being fluidly disposed between the plurality of hydraulic actuators and the fluid supply and fluid return passages of the first and second support members, the check valves allowing fluid to flow from the fluid supply passages to the fluid cavities of the hydraulic actuators and preventing fluid to flow from the fluid cavities to the fluid supply passages.

25. The power capturing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid ports of the plurality of hydraulic actuators are coupled to the power converter through one or more pressure manifolds.

26. The power capturing apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a pressure control valve fluidly connected to the pressure manifold, the control valve for setting the fluid pressure, that must be applied by the passing vehicles through the piston of a hydraulic actuator to cause fluid to flow to the power converter from the hydraulic actuator through the pressure manifold.

27. The power capturing apparatus of claim 20, wherein (i) the piston includes spaced apart upper and lower sections connected by an intermediate rod, (ii) an annular ledge extends inwardly in the fluid cavity above the lower section, and (iii) the spring comprises a compression spring positioned between the upper section and the annular ledge.

28. The power capturing apparatus of claim 27, wherein the upper section of the piston is removable from the intermediate rod through an upper end of the each hydraulic actuator.

29. An apparatus for capturing energy from vehicle with one or more wheels passing thereover, the apparatus comprising:

an array of pads, each pad having one or more surfaces including a generally flat top surface, the top surface of each pad being (i) substantially coplanar with each adjacent pad of the array of pads, and (ii) spaced apart from each adjacent pad a small distance relative to a length of the top surface, wherein a surface of a wheel of the one or more wheels contacts substantially only the surfaces of the one or more pads when traversing across the apparatus; and

a plurality of hydraulic actuators, each hydraulic actuator including (a) a fluid cavity, (b) a piston slidably mounted within the fluid cavity, and (c) at least one fluid port extending into the fluid cavity;

wherein each pad is mounted to and over at least one hydraulic actuator of the plurality of hydraulic cylinders.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein each pad is mounted to and above only a single hydraulic actuator.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein each hydraulic actuator is mounted to the proximate center of an associated pad.

32. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising a hydraulic turbine fluidly coupled with plurality of hydraulic actuators.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising a electric generator coupled to the hydraulic turbine.

34. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein a power converter is fluidly coupled with the plurality of hydraulic actuators.

35. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least one fluid port of each hydraulic actuator includes only a single port.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising one or more check valve assemblies, the one or more check valves being fluidly coupled to the plurality of hydraulic actuators, each check valve assembly having an inlet port and an outlet port, each inlet port only permitting fluid to flow into the check valve assembly to one or more associated hydraulic actuators and the outlet port only permitting fluid to flow from the one or more associated hydraulic actuators and out of the check valve assembly.

37. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the piston of each of the plurality of hydraulic actuators are extensively biased relative to the fluid cavity.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the pistons of each hydraulic actuator are extensively biased by a spring.

39. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the piston is at least partially disposed above the fluid cavity.

40. The apparatus of claim 29 further comprising a fin grid of vertically-orientated fins, each fin having a fin top surface, each fin extending upwardly at least partially between adjacent pads of the array of pads in the space between adjacent pads with the fin top surface being below the top surface of the adjacent pads.

41. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein each pad of the array of pads further comprises side surfaces that extend downwardly from the top surface and terminate at bottom edges, one or more of the side surfaces having a groove formed therein proximate the bottom edge, and wherein a wiper seal is housed in the groove, the wiper seal having a front edge in contact with an adjacent fin of the fin grid.

42. An apparatus for capturing energy from a vehicle with one or more wheels passing thereover, the apparatus comprising:

a road surface, the road surface substantially comprising an array of pads, each pad having a substantially flat top surface and a bottom side, each top surface being coplanar with each adjacent top surface; and

a plurality of hydraulic actuators, each actuator including a fluid cavity with at least one fluid port, and a piston at least partially disposed in the fluid cavity for slidable movement relative thereto, each hydraulic actuator being beneath the bottom side of a pad of the array of pads and substantially perpendicularly disposed relative to the top surface of the pad, wherein when a predetermined amount of weight is applied to the pad from vehicle traversing over the pad, the piston slides relative to the fluid cavity and causes fluid to flow out the at least one fluid port.

43. The apparatus of claim 42 further comprising a hydraulic turbine fluidly coupled with the plurality of hydraulic actuators, the hydraulic turbine being operatively coupled with an electric generator.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, further comprising a plurality of check valve assemblies, each check valve assembly having an inlet port and an outlet port and being fluidly coupled to at least one hydraulic actuator through the at least one fluid port, each inlet port only permitting fluid to flow into the check valve assembly to one or more associated hydraulic actuators and the outlet port only permitting fluid to flow from the one or more associated hydraulic actuators and out of the check valve assembly towards the hydraulic turbine.

45. An apparatus for capturing energy from a train car as said train car travels along a set of train tracks, the apparatus comprising:

one or more hydraulic actuators, each actuator including (i) a fluid cavity with at least one fluid port, and (ii) an impact area adapted for contact with at least a portion of the train car, the hydraulic actuator being stationary and proximate the set of train tracks;

wherein the train car contacts the impact area as the train car passes proximate the hydraulic actuator and the weight of the train car acting through the impact area causes hydraulic fluid to flow out of the at least one fluid port.

46. The apparatus of claim 45 further comprising a hydraulic turbine fluidly coupled with the one or more hydraulic actuators, the hydraulic turbine being operatively coupled with an electric generator.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the electric generator is electrically coupled to an electric power grid.

48. The apparatus of claim 46, further comprising a plurality of check valve assemblies, each check valve assembly having an inlet port and an outlet port and being fluidly coupled to at least one hydraulic actuator through the at least one fluid port, each inlet port only permitting fluid to flow into the check valve assembly to one or more associated hydraulic actuators and the outlet port only permitting fluid to flow from the one or more associated hydraulic actuators and out of the check valve assembly towards the hydraulic turbine.

49. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the plurality of hydraulic actuators are disposed in-between the rails of the train track.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the plurality of hydraulic actuators are arranged in an array.

51. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the plurality of hydraulic actuators are disposed adjacent said set of train tracks.

52. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the electric generator is coupled to a railroad signal light.

53. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein each of the one or more hydraulic actuators further includes a piston, the piston being at least partially and slidably mounted in the fluid cavity.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the piston is substantially vertically orientated.

72. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the piston is substantially vertically orientated.

55. A method of generating power from a train having one or more train cars, the train being adapted for travel over a set of train tracks, the method comprising:

propelling a train along the set of train tracks;

causing hydraulic fluid to flow from a hydraulic actuator by depressing a piston of the hydraulic actuator using the weight of the one or more train cars as the one or more train cars pass proximate the hydraulic actuator, the hydraulic actuator being stationary relative to the set of train tracks; and

turning a shaft of a hydraulic turbine relative to a body of the hydraulic turbine by directing the hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic actuator through the hydraulic turbine.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprises generating electricity from an electric generator operatively coupled with the hydraulic turbine.

57. The method of claim 55, further comprising extending an appendage from a train car of the one or more train cars, the appendage being adapted for depressing the piston of the hydraulic actuator by transferring the weight of the train to the piston as the one or more train cars pass proximate hydraulic actuator.

58. The method of claim 57, further comprising retracting the appendage.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein the hydraulic actuator is located between the set of train tracks and the appendage is located substantially beneath the train car.

60. The method of claim 57, wherein the hydraulic actuator is located adjacent the set of train tracks and the appendage is extended laterally relative to the side of the train car.

61. A system for capturing power from one or more train cars of a train moving along a set of train tracks, the system comprising:

one or more power capture devices with at least a portion of the one or more power capture devices being located proximate the set of train tracks;

one or more power capture device activators, the one or more power capture device activators being fixedly mounted with the one or more train cars, the capture device activators being adapted for impacting at least one power capture device of the one or more power capture devices as the one or more train cars pass proximate the at least one power capture device.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein each of the one or more power capture devices further includes a hydraulic actuator, the hydraulic actuator including (i) a fluid cavity with at least one fluid port and (ii) an impact area adapted for contact with at least one of the one or more power capture device activators.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein the one or more power capture devices further includes a hydraulic turbine fluidly coupled to the at least one port of the hydraulic actuator.

64. The system of claim 63, wherein the hydraulic turbine of the one or more power capture devices is operatively coupled to an electric generator.

65. The system of claim 61, wherein each of the one or more power capture device activators comprises an appendage extending generally downwardly from a bottom side of the one or more train cars.

66. The system of claim 65, wherein a bottom end of each of the power capture device activators comprises one or more rollers or wheels adapted for impacting the impact area of at least one power capture device of the one or more power capture devices as the one or more train cars pass proximate the at least one power capture device.

67. The system of claim 65, wherein a bottom end of each of the power capture device activators comprises a plate adapted for impacting the impact area of at least one power capture device of the one or more power capture devices as the one or more train cars pass proximate the at least one power capture device.

68. The system of claim 61, wherein each of the one or more power capture device activators comprises an appendage extending at least partially laterally from the one or more train cars.

69. The system of claim 68, wherein a bottom end of each of the power capture device activators comprises one or more rollers or wheels adapted for impacting the impact area of at least one power capture device of the one or more power capture devices as the one ore more train cars pass proximate the at least one power capture device.

70. The system of claim 68, wherein a bottom end of each of the power capture device activators comprises a plate adapted for impacting the impact area of at least one power capture device of the one or more power capture devices as the one or more train cars pass proximate the at least one power capture device.

71. The system of claim 62, wherein the hydraulic actuator further includes a piston, the piston being at least partially and slidably mounted in the fluid cavity.

73. The system of claim 61, wherein the at least one power capture device of the one or more power capture devices is located between said set of train tracks.

74. The system of claim 61, wherein the at least one power capture device of the one or more power capture devices is located adjacent said set of train tracks.

75. The system of claim 66, wherein the each of the one or more power capture device activators are retractable.