Method and apparatus for conversion of movement to electrical energy

• US 7,023,100 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2003
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hfg-L.C.
• Original Assignee: Glykon Technologies Group, Llc
• Inventors: Vlad, Vladimir
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mohandesi, Iraj A.
• Application Number:
  US10/736,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20050127676A1
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.R, 290/1.A, 290/40, 322/3, 310/800, 310/339, 310/309, 152/152.1
• US Class Current: 290/1.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 310/80 Piezoelectric polymers, e.g. PVDF

Abstract

The present invention includes apparatus and methods for powering movement of a structure by generating electricity from movement. In one aspect of the invention, electricity is generated from changes in thickness of a pad integrated into a tire. The tire can include a tire body having an outer wall and opposite sidewalls, a plurality of radial plies, and at least one pad integrated between the radial plies.

Claims

1. An apparatus for converting rotational movement against a surface into electrical energy, comprising:

a tire body;

the tire body having an outer wall for contact with the surface and opposite sidewalls;

the tire body comprising a plurality of radial plys;

at least one pad integrated between the radial plys to produce an electrical current as the outer wall of the tire body is in rotational movement against the surface; and

wherein the pad comprises a ceramic material.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a wheel associated with the tire body, the tire body mounted to the wheel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pad comprises a ceramic material.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pad comprises a plurality of layers and a plurality of voids between the layers.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising an electrical connection between each of the at least one pad and a circuit positioned on the wheel.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the circuit portion includes an operational amplifier.

4. An apparatus for converting rotational movement against a surface into electrical energy, comprising:

a tire body;

the tire body having an outer wall for contact with the surface and opposite sidewalls;

the tire body comprising a plurality of radial plys;

at least one pad integrated between the radial plys to produce an electrical current as the outer wall of the tire body is in rotational movement against the surface; and

wherein the pad comprises a polymeric film material.