System for generating power by vehicle movement and methods of constructing and utilizing same

• US 4,739,179 A
• Filed: 03/17/1987
• Issued: 04/19/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Howard A. Stites
• Original Assignee: Howard A. Stites
• Inventors: Stites, Howard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/026,965
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1 R, 290/1 A, 290/1 C, 290/4 D, 290/43, 290/52, 290/54
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/00 Pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors

Abstract

A system for generating power by vehicular movement having treadle plates upon which a vehicle overpasses. Treadle plates are pivotally fitted to the top of the vertical shafts. Resilient, compressible bladders are each fitted with an inlet and an exhaust, pressure plates for compressing the bladders, a series of connecting links, fulcrums, levers and arms, directly or indirectly attached to the lower portion of the vertical shafts and also to the pressure plates, and a generating means for converting the compressed fluid into electricity. As the vehicle overpasses the treadle plates, the vertical shafts are forced downwardly, and, accordingly, force is applied to the upper and lower plates via the linking system, thus compressing the bladder and the working fluid therein. The compressed fluid is then driven through pipelines into the generator, causing the production of power. In an alternate embodiment, cylinders and pistons are substituted for the bladders, and upon the overpass of a vehicle, the vertical shafts are forced downward, the pistons are forced into the cylinders, and the resulting compressed fluid is expelled to the generating means.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating energy by utilizing the weight of vehicles moving on a predetermined surface, comprising:

one or more bladders containing a fluid;

a one-way intake value coupled to said bladder for allowing one-way intake of a working fluid into said bladder;

a one-way exhaust valve coupled to said bladder for allowing one-way exhaust of said working fluid from said bladder;

a pair of vertically movable, parallel pressure plates comprising an upper plate and a lower plate with said bladder fitted therebetween;

a pair of treadle plates operably interconnected with said predetermined surface, coupled together hingedly at a hinged point defining a position elevated above said predetermined surface;

a vertical shaft capable of vertical movement, being pivotally connected to said hinged point of said treadle plates at the uppermost point of said shaft;

a plurality of connecting links being pivotally connected to said vertical shaft, and which are pivotally fitted to lower levers operably mounted on lower fulcrums, with said lower levers pivotally connected by lower connecting arms with said lower plate;

a plurality of arms which are pivotally fitted to said connecting links at the lowest portions of said arms and which are pivotally fitted to upper levers at the uppermost portions of said arms, said upper levers being operably mounted on upper fulcrums and pivotally connected to said upper plate by means of a plurality of upper connecting arms;

compressible spring means fitted to the base of said vertical shaft for slightly resisting downward vertical movement;

means for storing pressurized working fluid received from said bladder; and

means for converting at least a portion of said pressurized working fluid into mechanical or electrical energy.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

each said bladder is composed of a resilient and compressible material.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

said bladder is fitted with a plurality of flexible internal supports which communicate with the interior walls of said bladder.

5. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

said bladder is comprised of a plurality of layers of a resilient and compressible material.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said means for converting to electrical energy includes a turbine.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said means for converting to electrical energy comprises a turbine-powered electric generator.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said working fluid is water.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said working fluid is a gas.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said working fluid is an oil.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

a vertical force sufficient to activate the apparatus is provided by pedestrian traffic passing thereover.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein:

said vertical force is provided by non-rail highway traffic passing thereover.

18. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein:

said vertical force is provided by rail traffic passing thereover.

2. An apparatus for generating energy by utilizing the weight of moving trains or similar vehicles on a highway, which comprises:

a plurality of pistons and cylinders;

a one-way intake valve coupled to each of said cylinders for allowing the one-way intake of working fluid into each of said cylinders;

a one-way exhaust valve coupled to each of said cylinders for allowing the one-way exhaust of working fluid from each of said cylinders;

a pair of treadle plates which communicate with a highway surface, coupled together hingedly with said plates capable of vertical movement relative to the highway;

one or more vertical shafts capable of vertical movement, pivotally connected with the hinged point of said treadle plates;

a plurality of connecting links pivotally connected at a point of said vertical shaft, and which are pivotally fitted to lower levers operably mounted on lower fulcrums, with said lower levers pivotally connected by a plurality of connecting rods to said pistons;

compressible spring means fitted to the base of said vertical shaft for slightly resisting downward vertical movement;

means for storing pressurized working fluid received from said cylinders; and

means for converting at least a portion of said pressurized working fluid into mechanical or electrical energy.

11. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

said means for converting to electrical energy includes a turbine.

12. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

said means for converting to electrical energy comprises a turbine-powered electric generator.

13. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

said working fluid is water.

14. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

said working fluid is a gas.

17. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

a vertical force sufficient to activate the apparatus is provided by non-rail highway traffic passing thereover.

19. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein:

said vertical force is provided by rail traffic passing thereover.

20. An apparatus for generating energy by utilizing the weight of vehicles moving on a predetermined surface, comprising:

one or more treadle plates operably interconnected with said predetermined surface;

compressing means containing a fluid operably interconnected with said treadle plates for receiving the downward force created by said moving vehicles passing over said treadle plates thereby compressing said fluid contained therein;

said compressing means comprising;

one or more bladders containing said fluid;

a pair of vertically movable, parallel pressure plates comprising an upper pressure plate and a lower pressure plate with said bladder fitted therebetween;

means operably connecting said treadle plate(s) with said upper and lower pressure plates, respectively, for imparting upward vertical movement to said lower pressure plate and downward vertical movement to said upper pressure plate when a downward force is applied to said treadle plate(s), whereby said bladder is compressed between said plates; and

generating means for receiving said compressed fluid and for utilizing said compressed fluid to generate energy thereby.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein:

said treadle plate(s) comprise a pair of treadle plates hingedly coupled together at a hinged point defining a position elevated above said predetermined surface.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein:

said connecting means comprises;

a substantially vertical shaft capable of vertical movement, said shaft having an upper end pivotally connected to said hinged point of said treadle plates;

at least one connecting link pivotally connected to said vertical shaft and pivotally fitted to at least one lower lever which is in turn pivotally connected with said lower pressure plate;

at least one arm having one end thereof pivotally connected to said connecting link and the other end thereof pivotally connected to at least one upper lever, said upper lever being pivotally connected to said upper pressure plate; and

said apparatus further comprises compressible spring means fitted to the base of said vertical shaft for slightly resisting downward vertical movement thereof.