Energy producing system

• US 4,239,975 A
• Filed: 04/30/1979
• Issued: 12/16/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arthur B. Chiappetti
• Original Assignee: Arthur B. Chiappetti
• Inventors: Chiappetti, Arthur B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Duggan, Donovan F.
• Application Number:
  US06/034,231
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1, 310/15, 310/69, 310/75
• US Class Current: 290/1.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/08 recovering energy derived from swinging, rolling, pitching or like movements, e.g. from the vibrations of a machine

Abstract

In an energy producing system, a movable device is mounted at least partially within a housing which, in turn, is mounted in the ground at the surface of a road or the like. The movable device at least partially extends through an opening in the housing and is positioned transversely within the path of travel of vehicles moving along the road for engaging the vehicles seriatim to be set into motion thereby. A coupling device connects drivingly the movable device and a generating device for transmitting drivingly the motion of the movable device to the generating device, such as an electrical generator. A flywheel is journaled for rotation about its axis for storing the energy in response to the movable device to provide a more continuous production of energy from the generating device.

Claims

1. In an energy producing system having energy generating means and apparatus for driving said energy generating means, said apparatus comprising:

housing means mounted in the ground at the surface of a road or the like, said housing having a top wall being disposed substantially flush with the upper surface of the road, said top wall having means defining an opening therein;

movable means being mounted at least partially within said housing and at least partially extending through said opening in the path of travel of wheels supporting the vehicles moving along the road for engaging the tires of the vehicles seriatim; and

coupling means connected drivingly between said movable means and said generating means for transmitting the motion of said movable means to said generating means;

said coupling means including a flywheel journaled for rotation about its axis for storing energy in response to said movable means;

said movable means including a drum rotatably mounted about its axis and having a portion thereof extending at least partially within said housing means and at least partially extending through the opening transversely to the path of travel of vehicles moving along the road;

said drum having a diameter substantially greater than the diameter of at least some of the tires of the vehicles rolling thereover;

said drum including a plurality of elongated resilient strips extending axially along the outer periphery thereof for engagement with the tires of vehicles moving along the road, said strips being triangular in cross section and having a radially extending face and a sloping face.

2. In an energy production system, said apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, said drum having a rotatably mounted hub and a series of radially extending plates.

3. In an energy producing system, said apparatus according to claim 1, further including a rigid housing mounted within an opening in the roadway and having an open bottom end, means defining drain holes in the concrete forming the roadway below said housing for draining water from the interior of the housing.

4. In an energy production system, said apparatus according to claim 1, further including a pair of parallel spaced-apart flexible sealing members defining an elongated opening for receiving therethrough the upper portion of said drum for reducing the amount of water entering said housing and for serving to scrape accumulations of snow and ice from said strips.

5. In an energy production system, said apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said drum having a rotatably mounted hub and a series of radially extending plates.

6. In an energy production system, said apparatus according to claim 5, further including a rigid housing mounted within an opening in the road and having an open bottom end, means defining drain holes in the concrete forming the road below said housing for draining water from the interior of the housing.