Conveyor Belt Driven Generator
First Claim
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1. A generator for generating electricity from a rotating conveyor belt roller of a bulk material conveyor belt assembly, the generator comprising:
- a stator having a center axis and being configured and adapted to be supported by a portion of conveyor belt support structure from a first axial end of the stator, the stator having an opposite second axial end configured and adapted to support an end of a conveyor belt roller in a manner such that the stator is able to structurally support the end of the conveyor belt roller from the portion of conveyor belt support structure, the stator further comprising armature windings spaced circumferentially about the center axis; and
a rotor encircling the stator, the rotor being configured and adapted to operatively connect to the conveyor belt roller in a manner such that the rotor can be rotationally driven by the conveyor belt roller about the stator, the rotor comprising a plurality of permanent magnets spaced circumferentially about the central axis of the stator.
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Abstract
A generator comprises a stator having a central axis and a rotor. The stator is configured and adapted to be supported by a portion of conveyor belt support structure. The stator comprises an opening aligned with the central axis configured and adapted to receive at least a portion of a shaft of a conveyor belt roller. The rotor is configured and adapted to connect to the conveyor belt roller in a manner such that the rotor and conveyor belt roller can collectively rotate about the central axis. The rotor encircles the stator and comprises a plurality of permanent magnets.
21 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A generator for generating electricity from a rotating conveyor belt roller of a bulk material conveyor belt assembly, the generator comprising:
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a stator having a center axis and being configured and adapted to be supported by a portion of conveyor belt support structure from a first axial end of the stator, the stator having an opposite second axial end configured and adapted to support an end of a conveyor belt roller in a manner such that the stator is able to structurally support the end of the conveyor belt roller from the portion of conveyor belt support structure, the stator further comprising armature windings spaced circumferentially about the center axis; and a rotor encircling the stator, the rotor being configured and adapted to operatively connect to the conveyor belt roller in a manner such that the rotor can be rotationally driven by the conveyor belt roller about the stator, the rotor comprising a plurality of permanent magnets spaced circumferentially about the central axis of the stator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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- 9. A conveyor belt roller having a main body and a generator, the main body having a cylindrical outer surface that is configured and adapted to engage a conveyor belt of a conveyor belt assembly and that defines an axis of rotation, the generator being connected to an axial end portion of the main body, the generator comprising a stator and a rotor, the rotor being configured and adapted to rotate relative to the stator about the axis of rotation, the stator comprising a plurality of armature windings circumferentially spaced around the axis of rotation, the rotor comprising a cylindrical outer surface and a plurality of permanent magnets, the cylindrical outer surface of the rotor and the cylindrical outer surface of the main body being of a same diameter, the plurality of permanent magnets being circumferentially spaced around the axis of rotation, the cylindrical outer surface of the rotor and the permanent magnets encircling the armature windings of the stator, the main body being connected to the rotor in a manner such that rotation of the roller can rotationally drive the rotor relative to the stator.
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12. A method of supporting a conveyor belt roller from support structure via a generator, the generator comprising a rotor and a stator, the rotor being configured to rotate around the stator, the method comprising:
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supporting an axial end portion of the conveyor belt roller via an axial end portion of the stator; supporting an opposite axial end of the stator from the support structure in a manner such that the stator indirectly supports the conveyor belt roller from the support structure. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification