Wind-up power source with spring motor and vehicle incorporating same

• US 5,880,532 A
• Filed: 09/20/1996
• Issued: 03/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Estate of Robert B Davies
• Original Assignee: The Estate of Robert B Davies
• Inventors: Stopher, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Nestor
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENAD, ELVIN GENARGUE
• Application Number:
  US08/716,988
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1 E, 180/165, 180/65 R, 362/192, 185/10, 310/12, 310/13
• US Class Current: 290/1.00E
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/10 by means of a chargeable mechanical accumulator, e.g. flywheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/00 Electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind
• 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: F21L 13/06 with mechanical drive, e.g. spring
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

A spring motor utilizes a series arrangement of alternately-wound coiled springs coupled to one another at common ends. The spring motor is coupled to a generator through a gear mechanism to provide a portable and reusable supply of electric power. In addition, the spring motor may be used in a vehicle to recapture wasted energy due to lost momentum during braking. The spring motor is coupled to a winding mechanism for driving the spring motor in response to application of the vehicle'"'"'s brakes.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

(a) a plurality of coiled springs coupled in a series arrangement, with each coiled spring counter-wound relative to an adjacent coiled spring in the series arrangement, the plurality of coiled springs including first and last coiled springs, the first and last coiled springs each having a free end;

(b) a winding coupler joined to the free end of the first coiled spring and rotatable about a common axis with the first coiled spring to wind the series arrangement of coiled springs;

(c) a drive coupler joined to the free end of the last coiled spring and rotatable by the series arrangement of coiled springs about a common axis with the last coiled spring; and

(d) a non-rotatable support shaft upon which the series arrangement of coiled springs, the winding coupler and the drive coupler are rotatably mounted.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each coiled spring includes an inner end and an outer end, said inner and outer ends including slots formed therein, the apparatus comprising a plurality of outer couplers, rotatably mounted about the support shaft, for joining the outer ends of a plurality of pairs of adjacent coiled springs, each outer coupler comprising:

(a) an annular flange having an inner surface extending parallel to the support shaft; and

(b) a pair of tabs spaced axially from one another on the inner surface of the flange and respectively engaging the slots in the outer ends of the respective pair of adjacent coiled springs;

and wherein the annular flanges of adjacent pairs of said outer couplers are disposed closely adjacent each other.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each outer coupler further comprises a disk mounted within the annular flange and extending perpendicular thereto to define a pair of oppositely disposed chambers for respectively receiving the respective pair of adjacent coiled springs, with one of the pair of tabs disposed within each chamber, the disk defining a central aperture for receiving the support shaft.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of inner couplers, rotatably mounted on the support shaft, for joining the inner ends of a plurality of second pairs of adjacent coiled springs, each inner coupler comprising:

(a) a sleeve receiving the support shaft; and

(b) a second pair of tabs spaced axially from one another on an outer surface of the sleeve and respectively engaging the slots in the inner ends of the respective second pair of adjacent coiled springs.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a winding mechanism coupled to the winding coupler, the winding mechanism including a pawl mechanism for inhibiting rotation of the winding coupler in a direction which releases tension from the series arrangement of coiled springs.

6. An apparatus, comprising:

(a) a spring motor including a plurality of coiled springs coupled in a series arrangement, with each coiled spring counter-wound relative to an adjacent coiled spring in the series arrangement, the plurality of coiled springs including first and last coiled springs, the first and last coiled springs each having a free end, the spring motor further including a rotatable winding coupler secured to the free end of the first coiled spring for winding the series arrangement of coiled springs, and a rotatable drive coupler secured to the free end of the last coiled spring and driven by the series arrangement of coiled springs;

(b) a non-rotatable support shaft rotatably supporting the series arrangement of coiled springs; and

(c) an electric generator including a drive shaft driven by the drive coupler, the generator outputting an electrical signal in response to rotation of the drive shaft by the drive coupler.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each coiled spring includes an inner end and an outer end, said inner and outer ends including slots formed therein, and the apparatus further comprising:

(a) a plurality of outer couplers, rotatably mounted about the support shaft, for joining the outer ends of a plurality of first pairs of adjacent coiled springs; and

(b) a plurality of inner couplers, rotatably mounted on the support shaft, for joining the inner ends of a plurality of second pairs of adjacent coiled springs;

and wherein the annular flanges of adjacent pairs of said outer couplers are disposed closely adjacent each other.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein each outer coupler comprises:

(a) an annular flange having an inner surface extending parallel to the support shaft; and

(b) a disk mounted within the annular flange and extending perpendicular thereto to define a pair of oppositely disposed chambers for respectively receiving the respective first pair of adjacent coiled springs, the disk defining a central aperture for receiving the support shaft; and

(c) a pair of tabs respectively disposed in the pair of chambers on the inner surface of the flange and respectively engaging the slots in the outer ends of the respective first pair of adjacent coiled springs.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein each inner coupler comprises:

(a) a sleeve receiving the support shaft; and

(b) a pair of tabs spaced axially from one another on an outer surface of the sleeve and respectively engaging the slots in the inner ends of the respective second pair of adjacent coiled springs.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the series arrangement of coiled springs includes twelve coiled springs, with the first coiled spring coupled to a second coiled spring through one of said outer couplers to form a first spring group, and with each subsequent group of two coiled springs coupled through additional said outer couplers to form additional spring groups, wherein each spring group is coupled to adjacent spring groups through one of said inner couplers, and wherein the first coiled spring is wound clockwise such that tension is applied to the series arrangement of springs via clockwise rotation of the winding coupler.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a gear mechanism coupling the drive coupler to the drive shaft of the generator.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the gear mechanism provides a 30:

1 gear reduction between the drive coupler and the drive shaft.

13. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a winding mechanism coupled to the winding coupler, the winding mechanism including a pawl mechanism for inhibiting rotation of the winding coupler in a direction which releases tension from the series arrangement of coiled springs.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the winding mechanism comprises a handle and an input speed increasing mechanism, coupled between the handle and the winding coupler, for increasing the rotational speed of the winding coupler relative to the handle and thereby reducing the winding time of the spring motor.

15. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a brake, coupled to the drive coupler, for selectively restricting rotation of the drive coupler.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of coiled springs coupled in a series arrangement, with each coiled spring counter-wound relative to an adjacent coiled spring in the series arrangement, the plurality of coiled springs including first and last coiled springs, the first and last coiled springs each having a free end, and wherein each coiled spring includes an inner end and an outer end, said inner and outer ends including slots formed therein;

a winding coupler joined to the free end of the first coiled spring and rotatable about a common axis with the first coiled spring to wind the series arrangement of coiled springs;

a drive coupler joined to the free end of the last coiled spring and rotatable by the series arrangement of coiled springs about a common axis with the last coiled spring;

a non-rotatable support shaft upon which the series arrangement of coiled springs, the winding coupler and the drive coupler are rotatably mounted;

a plurality of outer couplers rotatably mounted about the non-rotatable support shaft, for joining the outer ends of a plurality of pairs of adjacent coiled springs, each outer coupler having an annular flange with an inner surface extending parallel to the support shaft and a pair of tabs spaced axially from one another on the inner surface of the flange and respectively engaging the slots in the outer ends of the respective pair of adjacent coiled springs, and wherein the annular flanges of adjacent pairs of said outer couplers are disposed closely adjacent each other; and

a plurality of inner couplers rotatably mounted on the non-rotatable support shaft, for joining the inner ends of a plurality of second pairs of adjacent coiled springs, each inner coupler including a sleeve receiving the non-rotatable support shaft and a second pair of tabs spaced axially from one another on an outer surface of the sleeve and respectively engaging the slots in the inner ends of the respective second pair of adjacent coiled springs, wherein a length of each sleeve along the non-rotatable support shaft is less than or equal to a width of each annular flange along the non-rotatable support shaft.