Electrical Generators For Low-Frequency and Time-Varying Rocking and Rotary Motions

• US 20110193350A1
• Filed: 08/12/2010
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnitek Partners LLC
• Original Assignee: Omnitek Partners LLC
• Inventors: Spinelli, Thomas, Rastegar, Jahangir S., Murray, Richard T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,410,667 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/1.00C
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/08 recovering energy derived from swinging, rolling, pitching or like movements, e.g. from the vibrations of a machine
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1876 with reciprocating, linearly oscillating or vibrating parts
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1892 Generators with parts oscillating or vibrating about an axis
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/304 Beam type
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/306 Cantilevers

Abstract

An apparatus for generating electrical energy from a first motion having a low and/or variable frequency. The apparatus including: a first device to which the first motion is transferred; and a second device to which the first motion is transferred from the first device, the second device operating at a second motion having a frequency which is higher and/or more constant that the first motion. Wherein the first device comprises one of a first rotating shaft or first translating mass; the first shaft or first mass includes a tip interacting with the second device to transfer the first motion thereto, the second device comprises a mechanism having an electrical energy generator for converting the second motion to electrical energy; and the electrical energy generator comprises a rotary or linear coil and magnet generator or a piezoelectric generator. The interaction of the tip with the shaft or mass can be contactless.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating electrical energy from a first motion having a low and/or variable frequency, the apparatus comprising:

a first device to which the first motion is transferred; and

a second device to which the first motion is transferred from the first device, the second device operating at a frequency which is higher and/or more constant that the first motion;

wherein the first device comprises one of a rotating shaft or translating mass;

the shaft or mass includes a tip interacting with the second device to transfer the first motion thereto, the second device comprises a member having an electrical energy generator to generate electrical energy; and

one or more magnets arranged on one or both of the tips and member to create a magnetic repulsion or attraction force between the tips and member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the tip or member includes a first magnet and the other of the tip or member includes second and third magnets, wherein north and south poles of the first, second and third magnets are arranged such that each of the north poles are repulsed by a north pole and each of the south poles are repulsed by a south pole when the first magnet interacts with the second and third magnets.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the tip or member includes a first magnet and the other of the tip or member includes second and third magnets, wherein north and south poles of the first, second and third magnets are arranged such that each of the north poles are attracted by a south pole and each of the south poles are attracted by a north pole when the first magnet interacts with the second and third magnets.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the tip or member includes a first magnet and the other of the tip or member includes a second magnet, wherein north and south poles of the first and second magnets are arranged such that each of the north poles are repulsed by a north pole and each of the south poles are repulsed by a south pole when the first magnet interacts with the second magnet.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the tip or member includes a first magnet and the other of the tip or member includes a second magnet, wherein north and south poles of the first and second magnets are arranged such that each of the north poles are attracted by a south pole and each of the south poles are attracted by a north pole when the first magnet interacts with the second magnet.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the tip or member includes a first magnet and the other of the tip or member includes a magnetic material.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy electrical energy generator comprises a piezoelectric generator.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy electrical energy generator comprises a coil and magnet generator.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the coil and magnet generator is a rotary coil and magnet generator.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the coil and magnet generator is a linear coil and magnet generator.

11. An apparatus for generating electrical energy from a first motion having a low and/or variable frequency, the apparatus comprising:

a first device to which the first motion is transferred; and

a second device to which the first motion is transferred from the first device, the second device operating at a second motion having a frequency which is higher and/or more constant that the first motion;

wherein the first device comprises one of a first rotating shaft or first translating mass;

the first shaft or first mass includes a tip interacting with the second device to transfer the first motion thereto, the second device comprises a mechanism having an electrical energy generator for converting the second motion to electrical energy; and

the electrical energy generator comprises a coil and magnet generator.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the coil and magnet generator is a rotary coil and magnet generator.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the coil and magnet generator is a linear coil and magnet generator.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the mechanism of the second device comprises:

a second rotary shaft;

a link attached at a first position on the second rotary shaft, the link having a portion interacting with the first device;

a torsional spring having one end attached to the second rotary shaft; and

the rotary coil and magnet generator being attached to a second position on the second rotary shaft.

15. The Apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a second mass positioned along the length of the link.

16. The Apparatus of claim 14, further comprising one of a one-way clutch or spring rewinding mechanism operatively connected to the second shaft for converting an intermittent motion to a continuous rotary motion.

17. The Apparatus of claim 13, wherein the mechanism of the second device comprises:

a second mass movable in a linear direction and having a portion interacting with the first device;

a spring attached to a first portion of the second mass;

a second shaft attached to a second portion of the second mass; and

the linear coil and magnet generator attached to the second shaft.

18. The Apparatus of claim 11, further comprising one or more magnets arranged on one or both of the tips and mechanism to create a magnetic repulsion or attraction force between the tips and mechanism.

19. An apparatus for generating electrical energy from a first motion having a low and/or variable frequency, the apparatus comprising:

a first device to which the first motion is transferred; and

a second device to which the first motion is transferred from the first device, the second device operating at a second motion having a frequency which is higher and/or more constant that the first motion;

wherein the first device comprises one of a first rotating shaft or first translating mass;

the first shaft or first mass includes a tip interacting with the second device to transfer the first motion thereto, the second device comprises a mechanism having an electrical energy generator for converting the second motion to electrical energy; and

the electrical energy generator comprises a linear piezoelectric generator comprising;

a translating second mass having a portion interacting with the first device;

one or more piezoelectric members;

one or more springs attached at one end to the second mass and attached to another end to the one or more piezoelectric members.

20. An apparatus for generating electrical energy from a first motion having a low and/or variable frequency, the apparatus comprising:

a first device to which the first motion is transferred; and

a second device to which the first motion is transferred from the first device, the second device operating at a second motion having a frequency which is higher and/or more constant that the first motion;

wherein the first device comprises one of a first rotating shaft or first translating mass;

the first shaft or first mass includes a tip interacting with the second device to transfer the first motion thereto, the second device comprises a mechanism having an electrical energy generator for converting the second motion to electrical energy; and

the electrical energy generator comprises a rotary piezoelectric generator comprising;

a rotating second shaft having a portion extending therefrom interacting with the first device;

one or more piezoelectric members extending from the second shaft and attached to a structure of the device.