Method and apparatus for charging batteries using variable capacitors

• US 4,054,826 A
• Filed: 12/04/1975
• Issued: 10/18/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sven E. Wahlstrom
• Original Assignee: Sven E. Wahlstrom
• Inventors: Wahlstrom, Sven E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hickey, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US05/637,536
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2, 320/61, 320/1, 310/4, 310/6, 310/5, 322/2, 322/2 A, 58/23 BA
• US Class Current: 322/2.00A
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 19/02 Conversion or regulation of current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/14 for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 1/08 with conductive charge carrier, i.e. capacitor machines

Abstract

Method and apparatus for charging a battery or other electrical energy storage means by converting random mechanical motion into electrical energy by utilizing gravitational and acceleration forces. The apparatus includes two variable capacitors and a bias supply connected to the battery or electrical energy storage means. The variable capacitors have their capacitance varied in an alternating manner by the physical displacement of a conductive member that forms one plate in each of the capacitors. The moving conductive member causes the electrical charge on the capacitors to be passed back and forth. The apparatus further includes a plurality of diodes located in the circuit so that each time the electrical charge passes between the capacitors the current formed thereby passes through the battery and charges it.

Claims

1. Apparatus for generating electrical power for consumption by converting mechanical motion to electrical energy, comprising:

a. capacitor means for storing electrical energy;

b. bias supply means for providing an electrical charge on said capacitor means;

c. a conductive liquid responsive to mechanical motion and cooperating with said capacitor means for changing the capacitance thereof; and

d. circuit means for transferring electrical energy from said capacitor means to power consumption means in response to changes in the stored electrical energy in said capacitor means as a result of said mechanical motion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the conductive liquid is mercury.

3. Apparatus for operating an electrical energy storage means by converting mechanical motion to electrical energy, comprising:

a. means for storing electrical energy;

b. first capacitor means for storing electrical charges connected to said energy storage means;

c. second capacitor means for storing electrical charges connected to both said energy storage means and said first capacitor means;

d. mechanical means cooperating with said first and second capacitor means for inversely alternating the capacitance therebetween, said mechanical means includes a quantity of conductive liquid movable between said first capacitor means and said second capacitor means; and

e. circuit means for transferring electrical charges between said first and second capacitor means and through said energy storage means in response to the alternating capacitance.

4. Apparatus for charging a battery by converting mechanical motion to electrical energy, comprising:

a. a rechargeable battery;

b. first capacitor means for storing electrical charges connected to said battery;

c. second capacitor means for storing electrical charges connected to both said battery and said first capacitor means;

d. mechanical means cooperating with said first and second capacitor means for alternating the capacitance therebetween, said mechanical means includes a quantity of conductive liquid movable between said first capacitor means and said second capacitor means; and

e. circuit means for transferring electrical charges between said first and second capacitor means and through said battery in response to the alternating capacitance so that the battery is charged by the transfer of said charges.

5. Method for charging a battery by converting mechanical motion to electrical energy, comprising the steps of:

a. providing circuit means for transferring charge between first and second variable capacitor means and the battery;

b. precharging the first and second variable capacitor means with a fixed quantity of charge;

c. generating an electrostatic force field in the first capacitor means;

d. moving a body against the electrostatic force field in the first capacitor means by accelerating the body by subjecting it to exterior physical forces so that said charge is transferred from the first capacitor means to the second capacitor means through said battery, charging said battery thereby, said body being a quantity of liquid mercury movable within the cavity;

e. generating an electrostatic force field in the second capacitor means; and

f. moving the body against the electrostatic force field in the second capacitor means by accelerating the body by subjecting it to exterior physical forces so that said charge is transferred from the second capacitor means back to the first capacitor means through said battery, charging said battery thereby, said body being a quantity of liquid mercury movable within the cavity.

6. Apparatus for charging a battery by converting mechanical motion to electrical energy, comprising:

a. a battery rechargeable by passing a charging current therethrough;

b. first and second diode means connected across said battery;

c. third and fourth diode means connected across said battery, said first and second diode means being connected in parallel with said third and fourth diode means and all said beforementioned diode means being forward biased with respect to the charging current;

d. bias supply means connected to said battery;

e. first variable capacitor means connected between the first and second diode means and the bias supply means;

f. second variable capacitor means connected between the third and fourth diode means and the bias supply means, said bias supply means placing a fixed quantity of charge on said first and second variable capacitor means; and

g. mechanical means cooperating with said first and second capacitor means for inversely alternating the capacitance therebetween so that the fixed quantity of charge transfers between the first and second capacitor means in response thereto and generates the charging current through the battery.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the bias supply means includes a DC to DC converter powered by said battery.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the bias supply means includes resistor means connected to the battery for self-biasing said first and second variable capacitor means.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the bias supply means includes voltage doubling means connected to said first and second capacitor means.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the voltage doubling means includes third variable capacitor means connected to said first capacitor means, said third variable capacitor means inversely varies in capacitance with respect to said first variable capacitor means.

11. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the bias supply means includes first voltage doubling means connected to said first and second capacitors and second voltage doubling means connected to said first and second capacitors, said first and second voltage doubling means being connected so that the multiplied output of the first voltage doubling means is multiplied by the second voltage doubling means.

12. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the bias supply means includes third and fourth variable capacitor means each connected to the battery, said third and fourth capacitor means share a common electrical terminal.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the third variable capacitor means varies in capacitance inversely with respect to the fourth variable capacitor means.

14. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the bias supply means includes blocking oscillator means and pulse transformer means connected to the battery and powered thereby, said bias oscillator means and pulse transformer means providing the bias voltage to said first and second variable capacitor means.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said blocking oscillator means includes amplifying means for increasing the bias voltage output of the bias supply means.

16. The apparatus of claim 6 further including blocking oscillator means and pulse transformer means to the output of the first and second variable capacitor means so that the first and second capacitor means operate at a substantially higher voltage than the voltage of the battery.

17. Apparatus for operating an electrical energy storage means by converting mechanical motion to electrical energy, comprising:

a. means for storing electrical energy by passing a charging current therethrough;

b. first and second diode means connected across said energy storage means;

c. third and fourth diode means connected across said energy storage means, said first and second diode means being connected in parallel with said third and fourth diode means and all said beforementioned diode means being forward biased with respect to the charging current;

d. bias supply means connected to said energy storage means;

e. first variable capacitor means connected between the first and second diode means and the bias supply means;

f. second variable capacitor means connected between the third and fourth diode means and the bias supply means, said bias supply means placing a fixed quantity of charge on said first and second variable capacitor means; and

g. mechanical means cooperating with said first and second capacitor means for inversely alternating the capacitance therebetween so that the fixed quantity of charge transfers between the first and second capacitor means in response thereto and generates the charging current through the energy storage means.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the bias supply means includes a DC to DC converter powered by said energy storage means.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the bias supply means includes resistor means connected to the energy storage means for self-biasing said first and second variable capacitor means.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the bias supply means includes voltage doubling means connected to said first and second capacitor means.

21. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the electrical energy storage means includes a capacitor that can be charged up by said charging current and can be discharged into a load.

22. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the electrical energy storage means includes a fly wheel rotated by a DC motor that is powered by said charging current.

23. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the electrical energy storage means includes a power distribution system.