Apparatus for converting vibration energy into electric power

• US 7,009,315 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2002
• Issued: 03/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Godo Kaisha IP Bridge 1 (IP Bridge, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Takeuchi, Kesatoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): Comas, Yahveh
• Application Number:
  US10/125,567
• Publication Number:
  US 20020172060A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,418 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.R, 310 12- 15, 310/23, 310/36, 310/20, 310/24, 31015655-15661, 310/194, 310/67.R, 295/96
• US Class Current: 310/15
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/00 Generators with reciprocating, oscillating or vibrating coil system, magnet, armature or other part of the magnetic circuit arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with generators H02K7/00, e.g. H02K7/06

Abstract

An apparatus for converting vibration energy into electric power is provided, in which vibration of a power source is transmitted to a power-generating coil 14, and is then transmitted to an iron core 20 via helical compression springs 26 and 28, thereby causing relative movement between the iron core 20 and the power-generating coil 14 due to inertia, resulting in a change in the magnetic field. An electromotive force is thus generated due to electromagnetic induction, thereby causing a current to flow to an electric wire material 18. Specifically, use of vibration of the power source as energy for power generation can achieve efficient use of energy. The acquisition of electric energy by the power generation may also lead to mitigation of the vibration.

Claims

1. An apparatus for converting vibration energy into electric power which electrically converts vibration energy produced when a power system is working, comprising;

at least two bar magnet units to which the vibration produced when the power system is working is transmitted, each magnetic unit terminating in a flange at its axial end;

a coil unit helically wound around each magnet unit;

a damping unit including a spring positioned between the flange of each magnet unit and the coil unit for holding the magnet unit at the helically neutral position of the coil unit in its axial direction during non-vibration and for attenuating the transmission of vibration to the coil unit during vibration, said spring of said damping unit applying an axial damping force against said coil unit and said flange of the bar magnet unit; and

an electrical wire unit for picking up a current flowing to the winding of the coil unit by a change in the magnetic field generated when the vibration produced in the power system causes each magnet unit to move reciprocally along the helical axis of the coil unit,

wherein the magnet units cross into a cruciform, with one crossing portion having a through-hole formed therein, and the other crossing portion being inserted through the through-hole.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the damping unit holds the magnet unit with respect to the coil unit according to the principle of a spring-mass system.

3. An apparatus for converting vibration energy into electric power, comprising:

at least two elongated magnet units arranged transversely to one another and terminating in first and second flanges at their axial ends and which vibrate due to vibration transmitted from a power source;

damping units for damping the vibration of said magnet units, each damping unit including first and second springs captured between said first and second flanges of each magnet unit, respectively, and a coil unit, said springs holding the magnet unit at a helically neutral position in said coil unit in the magnet unit'"'"'s axial direction during non-vibration and for attenuating the transmission of the vibration energy from the power source to the coil unit during vibration, said springs of each damping unit positioned between a magnet unit and the coil unit to apply an axial damping force against said coil unit and an axial end of the magnet unit; and

means for generating electric power by a change in the magnetic field caused by the vibration of the magnet unit.

4. An apparatus for converting vibration energy into electric power which electrically converts vibration energy produced when a power system is working, comprising:

a pair of elongated magnet units having opposed ends that terminate in flanges, said magnet units receiving vibration energy from the power system when the power system is working;

a coil unit helically wound around each magnet unit;

a damping unit including a spring captured between each flange of the magnet units and the coil unit, the damping unit holding the magnet unit at a helically neutral position of the coil unit in its axial direction during non-vibration and for attenuating the transmission of the vibration energy from the power source to the coil unit during vibration, said spring of the damping unit applying an axial damping force against said coil unit and said flange of the bar magnet unit; and

an electrical wire unit for receiving a current flowing to the winding of the coil unit produced by a change in the magnetic field generated when the vibration produced in the power system causes the at least one magnet unit to move reciprocally along the helical axis of the coil unit,

wherein said magnet units cross into a cruciform.

5. An apparatus for converting vibration energy into electric power which electrically converts vibration energy produced when a power system is working, comprising:

at least one bar magnet unit to which the vibration produced when the power system is working is transmitted, the at least one bar magnet unit crossing into a cruciform, with one crossing portion having a through-hole formed therein, and the other crossing portion being inserted through the through-hole;

a coil unit helically wound around the magnet unit;

a damping unit positioned between the magnet unit and the coil unit for holding the magnet unit at the helically neutral position of the coil unit in its axial direction during non-vibration and for attenuating the transmission of vibration to the coil unit during vibration; and

an electrical wire unit for picking up a current flowing to the winding of the coil unit by a change in the magnetic field generated when the vibration produced in the power system causes the magnet unit to move reciprocally along the helical axis of the coil unit.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the center of the bar magnet unit becomes to middle of the coil unit, and depending on the weight of the magnet, the spring power of the damping unit is set.

7. An apparatus for converting vibration energy into electric power which electrically converts vibration energy produced when a power system is working, comprising:

at least two bar magnet units to which the vibration produced when the power system is working is transmitted, said bar magnet units being arranged transversely to one another, and having a central portion having a substantially uniform cross-sectional area throughout its length;

coil units helically wound around the magnet units;

a damping unit positioned between each magnet unit and its coil unit for holding each magnet unit at a helically neutral position of its coil unit during non-vibration and for attenuating the transmission of vibration to the coil unit during vibration,

an electrical wire unit for picking up a current flowing to the winding of each coil unit by a change in the magnetic field generated when the vibration produced in the power system causes each magnet unit to move reciprocally along the helical axis of its coil unit,

wherein opposing ends of each bar magnet unit extend beyond adjacent opposing ends of its coil unit, and each damping unit is captured between one bar magnet unit and the coil unit.

8. An apparatus for converting vibration energy into electric power which electrically converts vibration energy produced when a power system is working, comprising:

at least two permanent bar magnets to which the vibration produced when the power system is working is transmitted, the two bar magnets arranged transversely with respect to one another;

a coil unit helically wound around each bar magnet;

a damping unit positioned between each bar magnet and its surrounding coil unit for holding the magnet unit at a helically neutral position of its surrounding coil unit in its axial direction during non-vibration and for attenuating the transmission of vibration to the coil units during vibration; and

an electrical wire unit for picking up a current flowing to the winding of each coil unit by a change in the magnetic field generated when the vibration produced in the power system causes the magnet units to move reciprocally along the helical axis of its surrounding coil unit.