Linear generator

• US 20070278800A1
• Filed: 06/02/2006
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomas P. Galich
• Original Assignee: Thomas P. Galich
• Inventors: Galich, Thomas P.
• Application Number:
  US11/445,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20070278800A1
• 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: H02K 7/1876 with reciprocating, linearly oscillating or vibrating parts

Abstract

A linear generator which generates electric energy by reciprocal movement of magnets with inductive coils is provided. The linear generator has a plurality of elongate inductive coils, a plurality of magnets inserted into the respective inductive coils and slidable between two opposing ends of the inductive coils, a pulley assembly connected to top ends of the magnets, and an elevating motor generating and applying a lifting force to the magnets through the pulley assembly. The pulley assembly is operative to provide 1:N mechanical advantage, where N is preferably an even integer larger than 1. The pulley assembly is connected to the magnets by a plurality of rigid cables, rods, or strings, and a cable connected to the elevating motor is reeved through the pulley assembly, so as to exert a lifting force to the magnets via the pulleys.

Claims

1. A linear generator, comprising:

a plurality of elongate inductive coils;

a plurality of magnets inserted into the respective inductive coils and slidable between two opposing ends of the inductive coils;

an elevating motor for generating a force to lift the magnets against gravity thereof; and

a pulley assembly connecting the elevating motor to the magnets, wherein the pulley assembly provides a 1;

N mechanical advantage such that the force required to lift the magnets is only 1/N of the gravity of the magnets, where N is larger than one.

2. The linear generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the N is an even integer.

3. The linear generator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of rigid cables, rods, or strings connecting the magnets to the pulley assembly.

4. The linear generator as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a housing enclosing the inductive coils and the magnets.

5. The linear generator as claimed in claim 4, wherein the housing is fabricated from an electromagnetic interference and compatibility proof material.

6. The linear generator as claimed in claim 5, wherein the material includes lead.

7. The linear generator as claimed in claim 4, wherein the housing includes a vertical sidewall and a horizontal beam laterally extending between the pulley assembly and the magnets.

8. The linear generator as claimed in claim 7, wherein the horizontal beam includes a plurality of openings allowing the rigid cables to extend through between the pulley assembly and the magnets.

9. The linear generator as claimed in claim 8, wherein a top end of each rigid cable includes an expansion having a cross section larger than the corresponding opening.

10. The linear generator as claimed in claim 9, wherein a top portion of each rigid cable is tapered with a gradually widening cross sectional towards the expansion.

11. The linear generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongate inductive coils are substantially vertically arranged.

12. The linear generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongate inductive coils are arranged side by side in a row.

13. The linear generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongate inductive coils are arranged in an array which includes a plurality of rows.

14. The linear generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongate inductive coils are arranged with a cylindrical configuration.

15. The linear generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the magnets further comprises a pair of guiding posts laterally extending between two opposing sidewalls the magnets and the an interior sidewall of the corresponding inductive coil.

16. The linear generator as claimed in claim 15, wherein each of the guiding posts is terminated with a roller.

17. The linear generator as claimed in claim 15, wherein each of the inductive coils is configured with a pair of guiding channels for accommodating distal ends of the guiding posts to slide through a length thereof.

18. The linear generator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of counterweights or gas springs installed at a bottom portion inside each inductive coil.

19. The linear generator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a motor controller operative to activate and inactivate the elevating motor.

20. The linear generator as claimed in claim 19, wherein the motor controller includes an upper limit switch for inactivating the elevating motor when the magnets reach the top portions of the inductive coils and a lower limits switch for activating the elevating motor when the magnets reach the bottom portions of the inductive coils.

21. A linear generator, comprising:

at least one inductive coil operative to swing about a center thereof;

a permanent magnet disposed within the inductive coil, the permanent magnet being slideable between two opposing ends of the inductive coil;

at least one power pneumatic device connected to one end of the inductive coil to drive the inductive coil swinging about the center thereof.

22. The linear generator as claimed in claim 21, further comprising one shock absorption device mounted at each end of the inductive coil.

23. The linear generators as claimed in claim 21, comprising a plurality of inductive coils each comprising one permanent magnet sliding therein.

24. The linear generator as claimed in claim 21, wherein the power pneumatic device further comprises:

a rigid rod having an open end connected to the end of the inductive coil;

a cylinder telescoping the rigid rod;

a base pivotally supporting the cylinder;

a compressor to drive the rigid rod to move between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position; and

a motor for driving the compressor.

25. The linear generator as claimed in claim 21, wherein the motor driven by solar cell energy, mechanical energy, AC electricity or a batter.

26. The linear generator as claimed in claim 21, further comprising a gas spring for reducing power required to drive the swinging motion of the inductive coil.

27. A linear generator, comprising:

at least one inductive coil operative having a center pivotally supported by a stand and two free opposing ends;

a permanent magnet disposed within the inductive coil, the permanent magnet being slideable between two opposing ends of the inductive coil;

a pair of motors connected to the free opposing ends of the inductive coil.

28. The linear generator as claimed in claim 27, wherein each of the motors is connected to the corresponding end of the inductive coil through a pulley.

29. The linear generator as claimed in claim 27, further comprising a limit switch activate one of the motor and inactivate the other motor when the inductive coil swings to a predetermined limit.

30. The linear generator as claimed in claim 27, further comprising a pair of pulley assemblies for connecting the motors to the ends of the inductive coil.

31. The linear generator as claimed in claim 30, wherein each pulley assembly provides a mechanical advantages of 1:

N, where N is larger than 1.