Piezoelectric Power Generating Tire Apparatus

• US 20170084817A1
• Filed: 04/25/2016
• Published: 03/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Carlos Luis Fuentes Rojas, Gustavo Antonio Navarro
• Original Assignee: Carlos Luis Fuentes Rojas, Gustavo Antonio Navarro
• Inventors: Navarro, Gustavo Antonio, Rojas, Carlos Luis Fuentes
• Application Number:
  US15/138,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20170084817A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/00 Tyre parts or constructions not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/32 for charging batteries from a charging set comprising a non-electric prime mover rotating at constant speed
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/90 Energy harvesting concepts as power supply for auxiliaries' energy consumption, e.g. photovoltaic sun-roof

Abstract

A system and apparatus for generating electricity via at least one piezoelectric cable embedded within the tires of a vehicle is described. Electricity is converted from pressure exerted by the weight of the car compressing on the outer circumference of the tires as the tire rotates. The electricity is converted via the piezoelectric cable, and is then conveyed by induction to reinforce and supplement the electrical systems of the vehicle. The apparatus is configured as a complete circuit, facilitating the use of current within the circuit to harden or soften the piezoelectric cable, and therefore stiffen or soften the overall ride of the tires equipped with the apparatus.

Claims

1. A vehicle power recovery apparatus comprising:

a tire, said tire equipped with rubber lining;

at least one piezoelectric cable, said at least one piezoelectric cable integrated into said rubber tube lining of said tire;

a wireless inductive coupler, said wireless inductive coupler equipped with a wireless receiver;

at least one capacitor, said at least one capacitor disposed within said wireless inductive coupler;

wherein said at least one capacitor is configured to store electricity generated via said at least one piezoelectric cable;

a wireless receiver, said wireless receiver disposed adjacent to a rotor assembly of the vehicle;

a wireless transmitter, said wireless transmitter in communication with said wireless receiver;

wherein said wireless transmitter is in direct communication with said wireless inductive coupler;

a piezoelectric bank, said piezoelectric bank in communication with said at least one piezoelectric cable; and

wherein said piezoelectric bank is configured to convey electricity from said at least one piezoelectric cable to said at least one capacitor via induction across said wireless inductive coupler.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one piezoelectric cable is aligned such that it is centered within the tire, disposed between a tube of said tire and said rubber lining of said tire.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the supply of current to said at least one piezoelectric cable is adjustable from within a cabin of the vehicle.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wireless inductive coupler is ferrite shielded.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the supply of current to said at least one piezoelectric cable is increased via a battery of the vehicle to harden said at least one piezoelectric cable.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the supply of current to said at least one piezoelectric cable is adjustable from within a cabin of the vehicle.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said wireless inductive coupler is ferrite shielded.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the supply of current to said at least one piezoelectric cable is increased via a battery of the vehicle to harden said at least one piezoelectric cable.

9. A method for generating electricity via the compression of vehicle tires comprising:

embedding at least one piezoelectric cable within a rubber exterior of the vehicle tires;

wiring the at least one piezoelectric cable to an electric system of the vehicle via a wireless inductive coupler, a wireless transmitter, and a wireless receiver;

rolling the vehicle on the vehicle tires;

the weight of the vehicle compressing the vehicle tires during rotational movement;

the weight of the vehicle compressing the at least one piezoelectric cable within the vehicle tires, generating current;

allowing the current to flow from the at least one piezoelectric cable to the wireless transmitter;

conveying the current from the wireless transmitter to the wireless receiver and wireless inductive coupler via induction;

conveying the current to at least one capacitor;

using the current stored in the at least one capacitor for electrical systems of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

charging the battery of the vehicle via the current stored in the at least one capacitor.

11. A method for dynamically adjusting the rigidity of a rubber tire of a vehicle comprising:

embedding at least one piezoelectric cable within a rubber exterior of the vehicle tire;

wiring the at least one piezoelectric cable to an electric system of the vehicle via a wireless inductive coupler, a wireless transmitter, and a wireless receiver;

supplying current from a battery of the vehicle to the at least one piezoelectric cable via the wireless inductive coupler, hardening the at least one piezoelectric cable; and

the supply of current to the at least one piezoelectric cable hardening the rubber exterior of the vehicle tire, increasing gas mileage.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

decreasing the supply of current from the battery of the vehicle to the at leas tone piezoelectric cable via the wireless inductive coupler, softening the at least one piezoelectric cable.