MOBILE ENERGY GENERATOR
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A mobile power generation system for an assembly line, the system comprising:
- a plurality of conveyances, each conveyance configured to move along the assembly line while supporting an assembly, and each conveyance including a mobile power generation device having;
a drive wheel configured to be placed in an interference position with a stationary surface, such that movement of the platform past the stationary surface when the drive wheel is in the interference position causes rotation of the drive wheel; and
a generator having a rotatable element in mechanical contact with the drive wheel, such that movement of the platform past the stationary surface causes rotation of the rotatable element, resulting in production of electrical power.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for recycling energy within an assembly line includes a mobile power generator attached to a conveyer platform (a.k.a. a “skillet”) or other conveyance within the assembly line. The mobile power generator has a drive wheel that contacts an adjacent surface, such as a floor, and is rotated by movement of the conveyance along or past the surface. Rotation of the drive wheel is transmitted to a low RPM electrical generator to produce electrical energy at the conveyance.
-
Citations
13 Claims
-
1. A mobile power generation system for an assembly line, the system comprising:
a plurality of conveyances, each conveyance configured to move along the assembly line while supporting an assembly, and each conveyance including a mobile power generation device having; a drive wheel configured to be placed in an interference position with a stationary surface, such that movement of the platform past the stationary surface when the drive wheel is in the interference position causes rotation of the drive wheel; and a generator having a rotatable element in mechanical contact with the drive wheel, such that movement of the platform past the stationary surface causes rotation of the rotatable element, resulting in production of electrical power. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
9. A mobile power generation device comprising:
-
a drive wheel configured to be placed in an interference position with a stationary surface, such that movement of the device past the stationary surface when the drive wheel is in the interference position causes rotation of the drive wheel; a generator having a rotatable element, such that rotation of the rotatable element causes the generator to produce electrical power; a transmission configured to transmit rotation of the drive wheel to the rotatable element at a gear ratio less than 0.1, such that a rotation rate of the rotatable element, in rotations-per-minute (RPM), is more than ten times greater than a rotation rate of the drive wheel, in RPM; and a suspension member in mechanical communication with the drive wheel and configured to modify a contact force applied by the drive wheel on the stationary surface, the contact force effective to prevent the drive wheel from slipping. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method of providing lighting to an assembly conveyance, the method comprising:
-
coupling a friction-driven, mobile power generation device to the conveyance, the device comprising; a drive wheel configured to be placed in an interference position with a stationary surface, such that movement of the platform past the stationary surface when the drive wheel is in the interference position causes rotation of the drive wheel; and a generator having a rotatable element in mechanical contact with the drive wheel, such that movement of the platform past the stationary surface causes rotation of the rotatable element, resulting in production of electrical power; moving the conveyance relative to the stationary surface resulting in rotation of the drive wheel; generating power by transmitting rotation of the drive wheel to rotation of the rotatable element; and illuminating a platform space with one or more lights that are in electrical communication with the generated power.
-
Specification