Device for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy

• US 20070267946A1
• Filed: 05/22/2007
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Hillenmayer, Franz, Haas, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US11/805,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20070267946A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/339
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0411 Piezoelectric generators
• 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: H02K 7/1876 with reciprocating, linearly oscillating or vibrating parts
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01

Abstract

A device for converting mechanical energy into useful electrical energy has a first component, a second component that is mechanically linked to the first component, and a mechanical-electrical energy converter. The second component is linked to the first component by way of a movement-damping device in such a way that when it is moving, with a direction of motion, the second component moves relative to the first component and the mechanical-electrical energy converter is mechanically decoupled from the applied forces on the first component and on the second component. The device is particularly suitable for tire pressure monitoring systems for vehicles

Claims

1. A device for converting mechanical energy into useful electrical energy, comprising:

a first component;

a second component;

a mechanical-electrical energy converter;

a movement-damping device mechanically linking said second component to said first component such that, upon movement in a direction of motion, said second component moves relative to said first component and said mechanical-electrical energy converter is only subject to a load from a force resulting from a weight and an acceleration thereof.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said movement damping device incorporates at least one element representing an arm of a pendulum.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said mechanical-electrical energy converter comprises a piezo-ceramic material.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said mechanical-electrical energy converter comprises an inductive converter.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said mechanical-electrical energy converter comprises a capacitive converter.

6. The device according to claim 1, which further comprises an additional mass attached to said mechanical-electrical energy converter, and said mass being connectible to said first component.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first component, said second component, or said additional mass is a circuit board, a housing, an antenna, or another component already deployed in an existing measuring device.