Apparatus for generating power from passing vehicular traffic

• US 7,145,257 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tod A. Ricketts
• Original Assignee: Tod A. Ricketts
• Inventors: Ricketts, Tod A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US11/216,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20060001267A1
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.R, 290/1.A, 290/45, 290/3, 417/229, 417/231, 60/45
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/00 Pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 35/01 the means being mechanical

Abstract

An apparatus for generating power from over the road vehicular traffic and moving trains are disclosed. The apparatus include on or more hydraulic actuators, each of which has a piston at least partially slidably mounted in a fluid cavity contained therein. When a passing vehicle or train car engages the actuator, the weight of the vehicle pushes the piston into the fluid cavity and causes fluid to flow from the fluid cavity toward a turbine or other power conversion means. The flow causes the turbine to rotate, thereby producing useable energy.

Claims

1. An apparatus for capturing energy from a moving train car, the apparatus comprising:

at least one hydraulic actuator including a fluid cavity with at least one fluid port;

at least one manifold having an outer surface and an internal passage in fluid communication with said at least one fluid port;

at least one platform movably connected with said at least one manifold adjacent said outer surface and operably connected with said at least one hydraulic actuator, said at least one platform also being adapted for contact with at least a portion of the train car;

wherein said at least one hydraulic actuator and said at least one manifold are adapted for placement proximate to a set of train tracks; and

wherein the moving train car contacts said at least one platform, causing said at least one platform to engage said at least one hydraulic actuator and causing hydraulic fluid to flow through said at least one fluid port.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one manifold is a fluid supply manifold.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said at least one platform is pivotally connected with said fluid supply manifold.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said outer surface of said fluid supply manifold is adapted to limit a degree of rotation of said at least one platform.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one manifold is a fluid return manifold.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said at least one platform is pivotally connected with said fluid return manifold.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said outer surface of said fluid return manifold is adapted to limit a degree of rotation of said at least one platform.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said fluid supply manifold is fluidly coupled with a fluid source.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said fluid return manifold is fluidly connected with a power converter.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said power converter includes a hydraulic turbine.