GENERATOR UTILIZING FLUID-INDUCED OSCILLATIONS
First Claim
1. An electrical generator comprising:
- a flexible membrane having at least two fixed ends, wherein the membrane vibrates when subject to a fluid flow;
an electrical conductor and a magnetic field generator configured to apply a magnetic field to the electrical conductor, wherein one of the electrical conductor and the magnetic field generator is attached to the membrane and configured to move with the membrane;
wherein the vibration of the membrane caused by the fluid flow causes a relative movement between the electrical conductor and the applied magnetic field;
whereby the relative movement causes a change in the strength of the magnetic field applied to the electrical conductor; and
the change in the strength of the magnetic field applied to the electrical conductor induces a current flowing in the conductor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical generator including a magnetic field generator and at least one energy converter for converting energy present in fluid flows into vibrations or oscillations. The converter includes a flexible membrane having at least two fixed ends. The membrane vibrates when subject to a fluid flow. One of the electrical conductor and the magnetic field generator is attached to the membrane and configured to move with the membrane. The vibration of the membrane caused by the fluid flow causes a relative movement between the electrical conductor and the applied magnetic field. The relative movement causes a change in the strength of the magnetic field applied to the electrical conductor, and the change in the strength of the magnetic field applied to the electrical conductor induces a current flowing in the conductor.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An electrical generator comprising:
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a flexible membrane having at least two fixed ends, wherein the membrane vibrates when subject to a fluid flow; an electrical conductor and a magnetic field generator configured to apply a magnetic field to the electrical conductor, wherein one of the electrical conductor and the magnetic field generator is attached to the membrane and configured to move with the membrane; wherein the vibration of the membrane caused by the fluid flow causes a relative movement between the electrical conductor and the applied magnetic field; whereby the relative movement causes a change in the strength of the magnetic field applied to the electrical conductor; and
the change in the strength of the magnetic field applied to the electrical conductor induces a current flowing in the conductor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An electrical generator comprising:
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flexible vibration means, having at least two fixed ends, for creating vibrations when subject to a fluid flow; conductor means for conducting electricity; magnetic field generation means for generating a magnetic field applying to the conductor means; wherein; one of the conductor means and the magnetic field generation means is attached to the vibration means and configured to move with the vibration means; and the vibrations of the vibration means caused by the fluid flow causes a relative movement between the conductor means and the magnetic field generation means; whereby the relative movement causes a change in the strength of the magnetic field applied to the conductor means, and the change in the strength of the magnetic field applied to the conductor means induces an electrical signal flowing in the conductor means. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. An energy converter for use in an electrical generator including one of at least one magnetic field generator and at least one electrical conductor, the converter comprising:
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at least one flexible membrane, each membrane having at least two fixed ends, wherein each membrane vibrates when subject to a fluid flow; and the other one of the at least one magnetic field generator and the at least one electrical conductor attached to the membrane; wherein the vibration of each membrane caused by the fluid flow creates a relative movement between the at least one conductor and a magnetic field generated by the at least one magnetic field generator; and whereby the relative movement creates a change in the strength of the magnetic field applied to the at least one electrical conductor; and
the change in the strength of the magnetic field applied to the at least one electrical conductor induces a current flowing in the at least one electrical conductor. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification