Tunable Fluid Flow Generator
First Claim
1. A tunable fluid flow generator for generating energy from a surrounding medium comprising:
- a frame having a surface adjacent to a surrounding medium comprising;
a plurality of frame portions;
a mechanical guide system joining said plurality of frame portions so that at least one of said frame portions is adjustable relative to a second one of said frame portions and relative to said surface of said frame; and
a control member coupled to said adjustable frame portion and capable of moving said adjustable frame portions relative to said second frame portion and relative to said exterior surface of said frame;
a contacting member connected to said frame at a first end of said contacting member, said contacting member comprising;
a first surface of said contacting member adjacent to said surrounding medium and a second surface of said contacting member that is not adjacent to said surrounding medium, wherein said contacting member is positioned relative to said frame to contact a flow of said surrounding medium along said surface of said frame with said first surface;
a plurality of elastic members, a first of said elastic members coupled to one of said adjustable frame portions and a second of said elastic members coupled to said second frame portion;
an electrogenerative portion mechanically coupled between said contacting member and said frame and capable of generating electricity from a movement of said contacting member relative to said frame; and
an electrical output line electrically coupled between said electrogenerative portion and an electrical load.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tunable generator has a surface structure for contacting an exterior fluid flow relative to a base structure. The contacting surface structure also has an electrogenerative portion positioned relative to the contacting structure and the base structure. The electrogenerative portion is preferably a piezoelectric or electromagnetic structure, although other types of structures are known within the art. The contacting surface is mechanically coupled to portions of the base structure through one or more elastic elements. The various portions of the base structure can be positioned relative to other base structure portions to alter the elasticity of the system or the tensioning of the elastic elements. The field of flow exerts forces upon the contacting structure which causes movement in the contacting surface structure relative to the base structure through the electrogenerative portion.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A tunable fluid flow generator for generating energy from a surrounding medium comprising:
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a frame having a surface adjacent to a surrounding medium comprising; a plurality of frame portions; a mechanical guide system joining said plurality of frame portions so that at least one of said frame portions is adjustable relative to a second one of said frame portions and relative to said surface of said frame; and a control member coupled to said adjustable frame portion and capable of moving said adjustable frame portions relative to said second frame portion and relative to said exterior surface of said frame; a contacting member connected to said frame at a first end of said contacting member, said contacting member comprising; a first surface of said contacting member adjacent to said surrounding medium and a second surface of said contacting member that is not adjacent to said surrounding medium, wherein said contacting member is positioned relative to said frame to contact a flow of said surrounding medium along said surface of said frame with said first surface; a plurality of elastic members, a first of said elastic members coupled to one of said adjustable frame portions and a second of said elastic members coupled to said second frame portion; an electrogenerative portion mechanically coupled between said contacting member and said frame and capable of generating electricity from a movement of said contacting member relative to said frame; and an electrical output line electrically coupled between said electrogenerative portion and an electrical load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A fluid flow generator for generating energy from a surrounding medium comprising:
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a frame comprising; a surface adjacent to said surrounding medium;
a first frame portion; and
an opening in said surface of said frame;a fluid contacting member having a curvilinear surface shape positioned relative to said opening of said frame surface and rotationally coupled to said first frame portion frame to be capable of protruding into said surrounding medium through said opening; a first elastic member connected to said first frame portion and said fluid contacting member; and an electrogenerative member mechanically coupled between said contacting member and to said first frame portion and capable of generating electricity from a movement of said contacting member relative to said frame and said first frame portion; and an electrical output line electrically coupled to said electrogenerative member and capable of being connected to an electrical load. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A method of controlling an elastic member in a fluid flow generator having a plurality of frame portions comprising the steps of:
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receiving an input signal indicating a characteristic of said fluid flow generator in a fluid flow of a surrounding medium on an input signal line electrically coupled to a controller circuitry; converting said input signal into a controller output signal with said controller circuitry; sending said controller output signal to an output signal line electrically coupled to a controller and driving said controller to reposition an adjustable one of said frame portions which is coupled to said elastic member. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification