Vehicle actuated road imbedded magneto generator

• US 20040066041A1
• Filed: 10/03/2002
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John P. Hunter Jr
• Original Assignee: John P. Hunter Jr
• Inventors: Hunter, John P. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,102,244 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/1R
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

An electrical generating system includes a plurality of linear operating magnetos impeded within a roadway pavement, whereby the passage of vehicle wheels from moving motor vehicles directly depresses linear solenoid plungers for generating electricity, without the need for the extra energy consumption drawbacks, such as bellows, compressed air or ratchet mechanisms.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle-actuated electrical generating system disposed within pavement of a roadway, comprising:

(a) A roadway having a surface and a plurality of spaced-apart elongated hollows extending downward vertically from said roadway surface, said hollows respectively having magnetos disposed therein;

(b) said magnetos each respectively comprising a plunger, said plunger being alternately movable between a raised position and a lowered position, said plunger extending vertically downward from said roadway surface within each respective said elongated hollow; and

(c) said plunger having an upper end comprising a roadway treadle, said treadle bearing on said plunger;

said treadle being substantially parallel with said roadway surface when said plunger is in said raised position; and

(d) said plunger having a lower end, said lower end being mounted to a compressible spring, said spring urging said plunger into said raised position;

(e) said plunger being caused to move from said raised to said lowered position by the application of vehicle tire weight upon said treadle, and;

(f) said plunger being caused to move from said lowered to said raised position by said spring when vehicle tire weight upon said treadle is released; and

wherein further;

(g) said elongated hollows have mounted therewithin a plurality of vertically spaced-apart electrical coils, said coils each having a respective central aperture, said central apertures of said coils comprising a central vertical void through which said plunger extends; and

(h) said plunger having a plurality of vertically spaced-apart magnets mounted thereon, said magnets being vertically movable with the movement of said plunger alternately between said raised and lowered positions;

(i) said magnet movement being in close electrically-generating effective proximity to said coil, said magnet movement causing a flow of electrons within said coils; and

(j) said coils being electrically connected so as to effectively and usefully collect the energy arising from the induced electron flow within said coils.

2. The motor vehicle-actuated electrical generating system of claim 1, wherein said spaced-apart elongated hollows are arranged in transverse rows within said roadway, said transverse rows being perpendicular to the direction of vehicle travel on said roadway.

3. The motor vehicle-actuated electrical generating system of claim 2 wherein said elongated hollows are disposed within at least one expansion joint within said roadway.

4. The motor vehicle-actuated electrical generating system of claim 1, wherein said spaced-apart elongated hollows are arranged in at least one longitudinal band, said at least one longitudinal band comprising an elongated area of roadway surface parallel to the direction of vehicular travel, at least one longitudinal band being positioned in a portion of the surface of said roadway having the greatest likelihood of being contacted by the tires of vehicles on said roadway.

5. The motor vehicle-actuated electrical generating system of claim 4, wherein said at least one longitudinal band has a width sufficient to accommodate a plurality of said spaced-apart elongated hollows disposed in rows perpendicular to the direction of vehicular traffic on said roadway.

6. The motor vehicle-actuated electrical generating system of claim 1 wherein said induced electrical energy is produced by the direct motion of said vertically spaced-apart plunger magnets in effective proximity to said vertically spaced-apart electrical coils without the use of additional mechanical movers other than as herein claimed in order to capture, transmit, translate and convert mechanical energy into electrical energy.

7. The motor vehicle-actuated electrical generating system of claim 1 wherein at least two of said spaced-apart elongated hollows are positioned in close proximity to each other to comprise at least one electrical generating module, said module having a hinged top plate comprising a cam wherein said cam is in mechanical contact with said plungers of said at least two of said spaced-apart elongated hollows, said cam being rotatably movable between a raised position and a depressed position when actuated by downwardly directed vehicle tire pressure;

said cam downwardly depressing simultaneously each plunger within said at least two said spaced-apart elongated hollows for synchronizing the electrical output of said at least two spaced-apart elongated hollows.

8. The motor vehicle-actuated electrical generating system of claim 1 wherein said vertically spaced-apart electrical coils are wired in series to produce electrical output with synchronous polarity.

9. The motor vehicle-actuated electrical generating system of claim 8, further comprising a bridge rectifier for preventing reverse current flow during electrical generation.

10. The motor vehicle-actuated electrical generating system of claim 7 wherein said vertically spaced-apart electrical coils are wired in series and wherein said at least one electrical generating module comprises at least one bridge rectifier to produce high-voltage uni-directional voltage pulses with each stroke of said plungers within said at least two spaced-apart elongated hollows.

11. The motor vehicle-actuated electrical generating system of claim 7 wherein said electrical generating modules are wired in parallel and wherein the electrical output of said electrical generating modules is sent to at least one electrical storage device.

12. The motor vehicle-actuated electrical generating system of claim 11, wherein said electrical storage device comprises electrical charge storage device, a sensor sensing the state and sufficiency of said stored electrical charge, a trigger synchronous inverter, said synchronous inverter supplying the energy stored electrical charge to AC lines when triggered to do so by said trigger.

13. The motor vehicle-actuated electrical generating system of claim 1 wherein said spaced-apart elongated hollows comprise sealing gaskets disposed at the surface of said roadway for sealing said elongated hollows;

said treadle having a noise reducer damping the sounds of tires contacting said treadle.

14. The motor vehicle-actuated electrical generating system of claim 7 comprising a plurality of said generating modules, and further comprising said electrical storage device storing the electrical output of said plurality of generating modules.

15. The motor vehicle-actuated electrical generating system of claim 14 wherein said electrical storage device comprises at least one battery.

16. The motor vehicle-actuated electrical generating system of claim 14 wherein said electrical storage means comprises at least one capacitor.