Apparatus For Piezoelectric Generation of Power To Propel An Automobile and Method of Making
First Claim
1. An automotive propulsion system, comprising:
- a piezoelectric power source coupled to conversion circuitry for transferring power to a battery, wherein said battery is coupled to an automobile engine for powering said engine to propel an automobile.
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Abstract
A standard automotive tire is altered to include a piezoelectric layer coupled to a battery driven propulsion system. The weight of the automobile when moving creates a force that presses against the portion of the piezoelectric layer between the automobile and the road, thereby creating a voltage according to the piezoelectric effect. Electrodes couple the layer to the battery driven propulsion system, preferably through an inductive coupling arrangement, causing a useful current to flow and assist in propelling the car. Piezoelectric materials create a piezoelectric voltage only when a force is applied to the material, or when the force is released. Placement of the piezoelectric material in the tire causes the gravitational force of the automobile (i.e., its weight) to be asserted against a varying portion of the piezoelectric material while the car is moving. A series of electrical pulses is thereby created, vastly increasing the amount of energy that can be harvested from the piezoelectric material.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An automotive propulsion system, comprising:
a piezoelectric power source coupled to conversion circuitry for transferring power to a battery, wherein said battery is coupled to an automobile engine for powering said engine to propel an automobile. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An automotive tire assembly, comprising:
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a radial tire formed of a plurality of layers, including at least one piezoelectric layer disposed beneath a tread layer of said radial tire, said piezoelectric layer having disposed thereon a plurality of electrodes configured to transmit electrical current from said layer, wherein said electrodes are electrically connected to conductors formed in said tire and at least a portion of which are disposed beneath said tread layer, and - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of making a piezoelectric tire device, comprising the steps of:
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(A) forming a first portion of said tire device by extruding rubber; (B) forming a second portion of said tire device that includes steel wire; (C) forming a third portion of said tire device that includes a piezoelectric material; (D) joining said first, second and third portions of said tire device; and (E) vulcanizing said first, second and third portions of said tire device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification