Force stand for electrical energy producing platform

• US 6,376,925 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2000
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John P. Galich
• Original Assignee: Thomas P. Galich
• Inventors: Galich, Thomas P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US09/634,042
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.R, 290/1.A, 290/1.E, 290/54, 60/45, 603/98, 310/12, 310/13
• 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

A force stand for an energy platform system which is operative to generate electrical energy from the weight of a moving vehicle. The force stand comprises a vertical beam and an electricity producing stage moveably attached thereto. The translation of the stage on the beam is operative to produce electrical energy. The force stand further comprises a drive assembly mechanically coupled to the stage and the energy platform. The drive assembly is configured to translate the stage upwardly on the beam as the vehicle moves over the energy platform system and translate the stage downwardly when the vehicle is not moving over the energy platform system. In this respect, the stage produces electricity as it is moved both upwardly and downwardly on the vertical beam in order to produce a constant flow of electricity. In the preferred embodiment, the drive assembly may be either a hydraulic cylinder or a scissor lift operative to translate the stage upwardly. The stage is translated downwardly by the weight of stage.

Claims

1. A force stand for an energy platform system operative to generate electrical energy from the weight of a moving vehicles, the force stand comprising:

a vertical beam;

an electricity producing stage movably attached to the beam, the translation of the stage on the beam operative to produce electrical energy; and

a drive assembly mechanically coupled o the stage and the energy platform system, the drive assembly being configured to translate the stage upwardly on the beam as the vehicle moves over the energy platform system and translate the stage downwardly when the vehicle is not moving over the energy platform system;

wherein the stage produces electricity as the stage is translated both upwardly and downwardly on the vertical beam in order to produce a constant flow of electricity.

2. The force stand of claim 1 wherein the drive assembly is a hydraulic cylinder.

3. The force stand of claim 1 wherein the drive assembly is a scissor lift.

4. The force stand of claim 3 wherein the scissor lift includes a hydraulic cylinder mechanically coupled to the scissor lift and the energy platform system, and operative to extend the scissor lift.

5. The force stand of claim 1 wherein the electricity producing stage comprises:

a gear mechanism mechanically coupled to the vertical beam; and

a generator attached to the gear mechanism and operative to produce electricity from the movement of the gear mechanism.

6. The force stand of claim 5 wherein the gear mechanism comprises:

a gear mechanically coupled to the vertical beam; and

a gear box attached to the gear and the generator such that as the stage translates upwardly and downwardly on vertical beam, the gear rotates thereby turning the generator via the gear box.

7. The force stand of claim 6 wherein the vertical beam comprises a gear rack cooperatively engaged to the gear.

8. The force stand of claim 7 wherein the gear rack comprises a set of teeth and the gear comprises a set teeth formed complementary to the teeth of the gear rack such that the teeth of the gear cooperatively engage the teeth of the gear rack.

9. A method of storing energy with a force stand from an energy platform system operative to pressurize a fluid from the weight of a moving vehicle, the method comprising:

a) driving the vehicle over the energy platform system to pressurize the fluid;

b) translating an electricity producing stage of the force stand upwardly on a vertical beam by the pressurized fluid;

c) generating electricity as the stage moves upward on the vertical beam;

d) translating the stage downwardly when the vehicle is not driven over the energy platform system; and

e) generating electricity with the stage as the stage moves downward on the vertical beam.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step:

f) repeating steps (a)-(e) for subsequent vehicles driven over the energy platform system.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein steps (c) and (e) comprise generating electricity with an electrical generator of the stage.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein step (b) comprises translating the stage upwardly with a hydraulic cylinder.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein step (b) comprises translating the stage upwardly with a scissor lift.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein steps (c) and (e) comprise generating electricity by rotating a gear of the stage against a beam of the force stand.