Energy converter arranged on rotating elements and used to convert mechanical energy into electric energy

• US 20080258581A1
• Filed: 06/19/2006
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EnOcean GmbH
• Original Assignee: EnOcean GmbH
• Inventors: Schmidt, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 7,667,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/348
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/041 Means for supplying power to the signal- transmitting means on the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0411 Piezoelectric generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/306 Cantilevers

Abstract

An energy converter arranged on a rotating element and used for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, having a converter element (2) for converting the mechanical energy into electrical energy and a first mass (M1) and a second mass (M2), the second mass (M2) being connected to the rotating element. The converter element (2) is arranged between the first mass (M1) and the second mass (M2) such that a mechanical relative movement of the two masses (M1, M2) acts on the converter element (2) so as to generate electrical energy.

Claims

1. An energy converter arranged on a rotating element and used for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, comprising:

a converter element for converting the mechanical energy into electrical energy;

a first mass;

a second mass, coupled to the rotating element;

wherein the converter element is arranged between the first mass and the second mass such that a mechanical relative movement of the two masses acts on the converter element so as to generate electrical energy;

wherein a mechanically movable connection between the first mass and the second mass is formed by the converter element such that the first mass can only be moved in a first plane; and

wherein the second mass is movably connected to the rotating element such that the plane is at right angles to a rotational centrifugal force.

2. The energy converter as claimed in claim 1,

wherein

the converter element is a piezoelectric or a magnetostrictive or an electromagnetic converter element.

3. The energy converter as claimed in claim 1,

wherein

the arrangement of the converter element with respect to the first mass is designed to be flexible, resilient or fixed.

4. The energy converter as claimed in claim 1,

wherein

the first mass is flexibly, resiliently or fixedly connected to the converter element.

5. The energy converter as claimed in claim 1,

wherein

the second mass is connected to the rotating element by means of a mechanical bearing and/or a spring and an axis of rotation.