METHOD OF GENERATING ELECTRICITY AND ELECTRICAL GENERATOR

• US 3,696,251 A
• Filed: 06/30/1970
• Issued: 10/03/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David N.E. Rowe, James David Last
• Original Assignee: David N.E. Rowe, James David Last
• Inventors: Last, James David, Rowe, David N. E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilheany, Bernard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duncanson, Jr., W. E.
• Application Number:
  US05/051,281
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1,42,43,53,54 310/15
• US Class Current: 290/53
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/1855 where the connection between wom and conversion system takes tension and compression F03B13/187, F03B13/1875 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 1/00 Spring motors spring-driven toys A63H; springs in general F16F; precision time mechanisms, e.g. for clocks or watches, G04B
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/707 of the linear type
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/00 Generators with reciprocating, oscillating or vibrating coil system, magnet, armature or other part of the magnetic circuit arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with generators H02K7/00, e.g. H02K7/06
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1853 driven by intermittent forces
• 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: Y02E 10/30 Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient

Abstract

An electric generator for deriving electrical energy from oscillatory motion such as that of buoys, vehicles and animals. The generator has a stator and an armature coupled together by spring means and effective to generate current when bodily movement of the generator causes, by inertia effects, relative movement of the armature and stator. Particular application is in powering oceanographic buoys.

Claims

1. An electric generator comprising a stator with a longitudinal axis, the stator having a magnetic core extending along said axis;

a multi-polar permanent magnet assembly fixed with respect to the core and spaced apart therefrom to define therewith a longitudinal gap parallel to the axis and establishing a magnetic field across the gap;

an armature winding situated in the gap, the armature winding being composed of a plurality of distributed phase windings and being movable longitudinally in the gap;

spring means coupling the armature winding to the stator, the arrangement being such that bodily acceleration of the generator causes movement of the armature winding in the gap; and

means for extracting electrical power from the armature resulting from said movement.

2. An electric generator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the natural period of oscillation of the armature winding and permanent magnet assembly is between 0.25 and 20 seconds.

3. An electric generator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the armature winding is carried on a carrier, the output therefrom is rectified by rectifiers carried on the armature carrier and the rectified output is used to charge storage batteries.

4. An electric generator as claimed in claim 3 wherein the storage batteries are also carried on the armature carrier.

5. An electric generator as claimed in claim 1 carried in a buoy adapted to float in the sea.

6. An electric generator as claimed in claim 5 wherein the natural period of oscillation of the armature winding and permanent magnet assembly is approximately 1.5 seconds.

7. An electric generator as claimed in claim 1 included in a sealed housing which is evacuated or filled with nitrogen.