Energy transducer module and light apparatus

• US 20080022920A1
• Filed: 07/10/2007
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft Fur Elektrische Gluhlampen mbH (Ams-Osram AG)
• Original Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft Fur Elektrische Gluhlampen mbH (Ams-Osram AG)
• Inventors: Custodis, Udo
• Application Number:
  US11/827,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20080022920A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 116/202
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/00 Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus if the apparatus aspects are predominant, see the relevant subclasses for such apparatus, e.g. H02K7/18; Power stations or aggregates incorporating only machines or engines of positive-displacement type F03C; hydraulic engineering aspects E02B; combinations with wind energy converters F03D9/008
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/028 rechargeable by using hydropower, e.g. using water powered turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/046 driven by hydropower, e.g. by water powered turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/10 using rotating vanes with axial admission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

An energy transducer module (1) which has a turbine (2) for converting the flow energy of a fluid (4) to rotation energy, and has a generator (3) for converting the rotation energy to electrical energy, with the energy transducer module (1) being provided as an energy source for a unit which produces radiation. The energy transducer module (1) can alternatively be used as a flow sensor.

Claims

1. An energy transducer module comprising:

a turbine for converting the flow energy of a fluid to rotational energy; and

a generator for converting the rotational energy to electrical energy;

wherein the energy transducer module is adapted to be an energy source for a unit which produces radiation.

2. The energy transducer module as claimed in claim 1, adapted for a low-energy range, which extends between 0 W and 100 W.

3. The energy transducer module as claimed in claim 2, with the turbine being a miniature turbine, and with the generator being a miniature generator.

4. The energy transducer module as claimed in claim 1, with the fluid being a liquid or gas.

5. The energy transducer module as claimed in claim 1, which is integrated in a channel or is arranged at the end of a channel through which the fluid flows.

6. The energy transducer module as claimed in claim 5, with the channel being a water pipe or water hose.

7. The energy transducer module as claimed in claim 1, with the radiation intensity being proportional to the fluid flow.

8. The energy transducer module as claimed in claim 1, with the unit which produces radiation comprising at least one semiconductor component which produces radiation.

9. A light apparatus which has an energy transducer module as claimed in claim 1, and a unit which produces radiation.

10. The light apparatus as claimed in claim 9, with the unit which produces radiation being mechanically connected to the energy transducer module.

11. The light apparatus as claimed in claim 10, which comprises a housing to which the unit which emits radiation is attached and in which the energy transducer module is arranged.

12. The light apparatus as claimed in claim 9, which is provided for illumination.

13. The light apparatus as claimed in claim 9, with the radiation intensity being proportional to the fluid flow, wherein the light apparatus is adapted to provide a flow indication.

14. The light apparatus as claimed in claim 9, which is intended to indicate the temperature of the fluid.

15. The light apparatus as claimed in claim 14, which has a temperature sensor for determining the temperature of the fluid.

16. The light apparatus as claimed in claim 14, with a subunit which produces first radiation emitting radiation when the temperature of the flow is in a first temperature range, and with a subunit which produces second radiation emitting radiation when the temperature of the fluid is in a second temperature range.

17. The light apparatus as claimed in claim 16, with the temperature ranges at most partially overlapping.

18. The light apparatus as claimed in claim 16, with the first subunit emitting radiation at a first wavelength, and with the second subunit emitting radiation at a second wavelength.

19. The light apparatus as claimed in claim 9, with the unit which produces radiation being arranged such that the fluid is illuminated.

20. The light apparatus as claimed in claim 9, with the unit which produces radiation comprising at least one light-emitting diode.

21. The light apparatus as claimed in claim 9, which is integrated in a channel or is arranged at the end of a channel through which the fluid flows, wherein the light apparatus is adapted to be plugged on to a fluid inlet, fluid outlet or fluid passage opening of the channel.

22. A flow sensor comprising an energy transducer module which includes a turbine for converting the flow energy of a fluid to rotational energy, and a generator for converting the rotational energy to electrical energy.

23. The flow sensor as claimed in claim 22, adapted for a low-energy range, which extends between 0 W and 100 W.

24. The flow sensor as claimed in claim 23, with the turbine being a miniature turbine, and with the generator being a miniature generator.

25. The flow sensor as claimed in claim 22, which is integrated in a channel or is arranged at the end of a channel through which the fluid flows.

26. The flow sensor as claimed in claim 25, with the channel being a water pipe or water hose.

27. The flow sensor as claimed in claim 22, comprising means for determining the fluid flow with an output voltage at the energy transducer module, which output voltage is proportional to the fluid flow.