Energy converter
First Claim
1. An energy converter, comprising:
- a resonator adapter to operate at a range of frequencies at which the resonator generates a sound wave progressing like a beam in a medium; and
a rotatable member disposed in a progressive direction of a sound wave generated by said resonator, and adapted for being rotated directly by an acoustic radiation pressure resulting from the progression of said sound wave.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An energy converter includes a resonator adapted for generating a sound wave in a medium, and a movable member disposed in a progressive direction of the sound wave generated by the resonator, and adapted for being driven by an acoustic radiation pressure resulting from the progression of the sound wave. Since the vibrational energy of the resonator is conveyed to the movable member as the acoustic radiation pressure by way of the medium, the present energy converter exhibits an excellent energy conversion efficiency. Namely, the loss is reduced during the conversion of the vibration of the resonator into the driving force for the movable member, and accordingly the present energy converter exhibits a high conversion efficiency. The present energy converter may further include a stator adapted for holding the stator thereto and disposing the liquid therein. If such is the case, the energy converter can be applied to liquid media.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An energy converter, comprising:
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a resonator adapter to operate at a range of frequencies at which the resonator generates a sound wave progressing like a beam in a medium; and a rotatable member disposed in a progressive direction of a sound wave generated by said resonator, and adapted for being rotated directly by an acoustic radiation pressure resulting from the progression of said sound wave.
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2. An energy converter, comprising
a resonator adapted to operate at a range of frequencies at which the resonator generates a sound wave progressing like a beam in a medium; -
a movable member disposed in a progressive direction of said sound wave generated by said resonator, and adapted for being driven by an acoustic radiation pressure resulting from the progression of said sound wave, the movable member including an inclining surface which is inclined 45 degrees with respect to said progressive direction of said sound wave; and a reflector adapted for further reflecting said sound wave reflected from the inclining surface of said movable member. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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3. An energy converter, comprising:
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a resonator adapted to operate at a range of frequencies at which the resonator generates a sound wave progressing like a beam in a medium; a rotor disposed in a progressive direction of said sound wave generated by said resonator, and adapted for being driven by an acoustic radiation pressure resulting from the progression of said sound wave, the rotor including a blade made of a sound wave reflectible material and disposed in said progressive direction of said sound wave; and a stator to which said resonator is fixed, the stator including a side wall disposed in said progressive direction of said sound wave generated by said resonator, the side wall being adapted for reflecting said sound wave in a direction facilitating a rotation of said rotor. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 23)
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8. An energy converter, comprising;
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a resonator adapted to operate at a range of frequencies at which the resonator generates a sound wave progressing like a beam in a medium; a rotor disposed in a progressive direction of said sound wave generated by said resonator, and adapted for being driven by an acoustic radiation pressure resulting from the progression of said sound wave, the rotor including means disposed in said progressive direction of said sound wave and adapted for receiving said acoustic radiation pressure; said resonator being adapted for rotating said rotor in a clockwise direction and in a counterclockwise direction. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 24)
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11. An energy converter, comprising:
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a resonator adapted to operate at a range of frequencies at which the resonator generates a sound wave progressing like a beam in a medium; and a movable piston disposed in a progressive direction of said sound wave generated by said resonator, and adapted for being driven by an acoustic radiation pressure resulting from the progression of said sound wave. - View Dependent Claims (12, 25)
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14. An energy converter, comprising:
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a stator; a resonator held to said stator, and adapted to operate at a range of frequencies at which the resonator generates a sound wave progressing like a beam; a medium disposed in said stator, and adapted for generating a sound field with said sound wave generated by said resonator; and a movable member disposed in a progressive direction of said sound wave generated by said resonator in said stator, and adapted for being driven in opposite directions by an acoustic radiation pressure resulting from the progression of said sound wave in said sound field generated by said medium. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. An energy converter, comprising:
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a stator; a resonator held to said stator, and adapted to operate at a range of frequencies at which the resonator generates a sound wave progressing like a beam; a medium disposed in said stator, and adapted for generating a sound field with said sound wave generated by said resonator; and a rotor disposed in a progressive direction of said sound wave generated by said resonator in said stator, and adapted for being driven by an acoustic radiation pressure resulting from the progression of said sound wave in said sound field generated by said medium, the rotor including a plurality of blades made of a sound wave reflectible material. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. An energy converter, comprising:
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a stator; a pair of resonators held at least to said stator, disposed in a predetermined angular relationship, and adapted to operate at a range of frequencies at which the resonators generate a sound wave progressing like a beam in a medium; and a movable member held movably relative to said stator and including at least a pair of surfaces, the surfaces being disposed in a progressive direction of said sound wave and being adapted for receiving an acoustic radiation pressure resulting from the progression of said sound wave, said movable member being adapted to be driven in opposite directions when the surfaces receive acoustic radiation pressure.
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22. An energy converter, comprising:
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a resonator adapted to operate at a range of frequencies at which the resonator generates a sound wave progressing like a beam in a medium; and a movable member disposed in a progressive direction of said sound wave generated by said resonator, and adapted for being driven by an acoustic radiation pressure resulting from the progression of said sound wave, the movable member being adapted for being driven in opposite directions by the acoustic radiation pressure. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification