Apparatus for generating power from passing vehicular traffic

• US 20060001267A1
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tod A. Ricketts
• Original Assignee: Tod A. Ricketts
• Inventors: Ricketts, Tod A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,145,257 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/1.R
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/08 recovering energy derived from swinging, rolling, pitching or like movements, e.g. from the vibrations of a machine
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/00 Pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 35/01 the means being mechanical

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. An apparatus for capturing energy from a moving train car, the apparatus comprising:

at least one hydraulic actuator including a fluid cavity with at least one fluid port;

at least one manifold in fluid communication with said at least one fluid port;

at least one platform connected with said at least one manifold and adapted for contact with at least a portion the train car;

wherein said at least one hydraulic actuator and said at least one manifold are adapted for placement proximate to a set of train tracks; and

wherein the moving train car contacts said at least one platform causing hydraulic fluid to flow through said at least one fluid port.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one manifold is a fluid supply manifold.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said at least one platform is pivotally connected with said fluid supply manifold.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said fluid supply manifold is adapted to limit a degree of rotation of said at least one platform.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one manifold is a fluid return manifold.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said at least one platform is pivotally connected with said fluid return manifold.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said fluid return manifold is adapted to limit a degree of rotation of said at least one platform.