METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOTIONAL/VIBRATIONAL ENERGY HARVESTING VIA ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION

• US 20110187207A1
• Filed: 08/02/2010
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Bowers, Benjamin James, ARNOLD, DAVID P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,729,747 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/11
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems

Abstract

A method and apparatus for motional/vibrational energy harvesting are disclosed. Embodiments of the subject invention utilize the non-resonant chaotic behavior of a free-rolling magnet to generate power. In one embodiment, the magnet can be spherical, cylindrical, or elliptical. The magnet can roll about a linear, cylindrical, helical, or cage-like track. The changing magnetic flux due to the magnet rolling about the track induces current in surrounding coils. The coils can be provided around the track using a continuous winding placement, segmented winding placement, or fractional winding placement. Multiple coil phases are also possible. For embodiments utilizing multiple magnets, spacers can be used to maintain a separation between magnets.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a magnet;

a spheroidal housing; and

at least one coil positioned such that as the magnet moves within the spheroidal housing, a corresponding at least one electric current is induced in the at least one coil.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the housing is an oblate spheroid.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the housing is a prolate spheroid.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the housing is a sphere.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the magnet is spheroidal.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the magnet is spherical.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the magnet is an oblate spheroid.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the magnet is prolate spheroid.

9. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

circuitry, wherein the circuitry receives power produced by the at least one electric current.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the inside surface of the spheroidal housing is smooth.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the inside surface of the spheroidal housing is rough.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one coil is a single coil positioned proximal an equator of the spheroidal housing.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one coil comprises a first coil offset from an equator of the spheroidal housing in a first direction and a second coil offset from the equator in a second direction opposite the first direction.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the first coil and the second coil are in series.

15. The device according to claim 13, wherein the first coil and the second coil are parallel.

16. The device according to claim 14, wherein the second coil is counter rotating with respect to the first coil.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein an inside surface of the spheroidal housing comprises a material that allows elastic interactions between the spheroidal magnet and the inside surface.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein an outer surface of the magnet comprises a second material that allows elastic interactions between the spheroidal magnet and the inside surface.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the second material and the first material are the same.

20. The device according to claim 1, wherein the magnet is allowed to experience rotational movement within the spheroidal housing.

21. The device according to claim 1, wherein the magnet is allowed to experience translational movement within the spheroidal housing.

22. The device according to claim 19, wherein the magnet is allowed to experience translational rotational movement in any direction.

23. The device according to claim 1, wherein the diameter ratio of a diameter of the magnet and a diameter of the housing is greater than 0.1.

24. The device according to claim 1, wherein the diameter ratio of a diameter of the magnet and a diameter of the housing is greater than 0.5.

25. The device according to claim 1, wherein the diameter ratio of a diameter of the magnet and a diameter of the housing is greater than 0.8.

26. The device according to claim 1, wherein a diameter of the housing is in a range 1 mm to 1 meter.

27. The device according to claim 1, wherein a diameter of the housing is in a range 1 mm to 1 cm.

28. The device according to claim 1, wherein a diameter of the housing is in a range 1 cm to 2 cm.

29. The device according to claim 1, wherein the cavity has a partially flattened wall.

30. The device according to claim 1, wherein the outside surface of the spheroidal housing comprises a material that increases the permeability of the surrounding media.

31. The device according to claim 30, wherein the material that increases the permeability of the surrounding media is a ferrofluid.

32. The device according to claim 1, wherein the magnet comprises a permanent magnet shell, wherein the permanent magnet shell comprises a high permeability material.

33. The device according to claim 1, wherein the cavity is an oval shaped cavity.

34. The device according to claim 1, wherein the inside surface of cavity contains bumps or ridges.

35. The device according to claim 17, wherein the material that allows elastic interactions between the spheroidal magnet and the inside surface comprises a ferrofluid.

36. The device according to claim 17, wherein the material that allows elastic interactions between the spheroidal magnet and the inside surface comprises a lubricating fluid introduced between the sphere and cavity wall.

37. The device according to claim 1, wherein the cavity and/or sphere wall contains coating layers or coating materials.

38. The device according to claim 18, wherein the second material that allows elastic interactions between the spheroidal magnet and the inside surface comprises a ferrofluid.

39. A device, comprising:

a cylindrical magnet;

a track, wherein the cylindrical magnet is allowed to roll along the track;

at least one coil positioned such that as the cylindrical magnet rolls along the track, a corresponding at least one electric current is induced in the at least one coil.

40. A device, comprising:

a spheroidal magnet;

a track, wherein the spheroidal magnet is allowed to roll along the track, wherein the track is continuous; and

at least one coil positioned such that as the spheroidal magnet rolls along the track, a corresponding at least one current is induced in the at least one coil.