Energy collection and storage system

• US 7,205,732 B1
• Filed: 03/06/2006
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Great Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Great Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Gold, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): IP, SHIK LUEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US11/368,933
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 318/140, 318/141, 318/142, 290/1.A, 290/1.R, 320/103, 320/117, 320/125, 700/297
• US Class Current: 318/142
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/48 Arrangements for obtaining a constant output value at varying speed of the generator, e.g. on vehicle H02P9/04 - H02P9/46 take precedence

Abstract

A power generation and/or storage device utilizes human motion inputs or other power sources (i.e. hydraulics, pneumatics or explosive gases) to create mechanical kinetic energy that is stored (preferably in springs) and later released on demand to rotate a generator to produce electricity.

Claims

1. A power system comprising:

a. an electrical generator;

b. a spring motor driving the generator;

c. a power outlet;

d. batteries; and

e. a power controller controlling the connections between the power outlet, the batteries, and the electrical generator, wherein;

(1) one or more of the batteries have switchable connections allowing their selective connection to one of the electrical generator and the power outlet; and

(2) at least some of the batteries are chargeable by the electrical generator while others are discharging electricity through the power outlet,

and wherein the power outlet may receive electricity from one or both of the batteries and the electrical generator.

2. The power system of claim 1 wherein the power input means includes at least one of the following:

a. a pivotable lever;

or

b. a reciprocable shaft.

3. The power system of claim 1:

a. wherein the spring motor includes;

(1) a spring having opposing ends, the spring being biased to unwind from one end while winding at the opposing end;

(2) a spring motor input shaft which;

(a) winds one end of the spring when rotated in an input direction, and

(b) freely rotates when rotated in the opposite direction; and

(3) a spring motor output shaft which;

(a) drives the generator when one of the ends of the spring unwinds in an output direction, and

(b) freely rotates when this same end of the spring winds in the opposite direction.

4. The power system of claim 3 further comprising one or more gears coupling the electrical generator to the spring motor output shaft, wherein the gears adapt the rotary output of the spring motor output shaft into a higher-speed rotary input to the electrical generator.

5. The power system of claim 3 further comprising a power input means for providing a rotary input to the spring motor input shaft.

6. The power system of claim 1 wherein at least some of the batteries also have switchable connections allowing them to be selectively connected to other ones of the batteries in series or parallel.

7. The power system of claim 6 wherein at least some of the batteries also have switchable connections allowing them to be selectively disconnected from electrical communication with all of the other batteries, the electrical generator, and the power outlet simultaneously.

8. The power system of claim 1 wherein the spring motor only drives the generator when the electricity in the batteries drops below a threshold level.

9. A power system comprising:

a. a spring motor, the spring motor including;

(1) a spring having opposing ends, the spring being biased to unwind from one end while winding at the opposing end;

(2) a spring motor input shaft which;

(a) winds one end of the spring when rotated in an input direction, and

(b) freely rotates when rotated in the opposite direction; and

(3) a spring motor output shaft which;

(a) rotates in an output direction when one of the ends of the spring unwinds, and

(b) freely rotates when this same end of the spring winds;

b. power input means for providing a rotary input to the spring motor input shaft in the input direction when an energy input is provided to the power input means;

c. an electrical generator coupled to the spring motor output shaft, the generator producing electricity when the spring motor output shaft rotates in the output direction;

d. at least one battery;

e. a power outlet; and

f. a power controller providing switchable connections;

(1) supplying electricity from the generator to the battery, whereby the battery stores electricity from the generator, and

(2) discharging electricity to the power outlet from one or more of the battery and the generator.

10. The power system of claim 9 wherein multiple batteries store the energy from the generator, the multiple batteries being connectable to both the power outlet and the electrical generator, wherein:

a. one or more of the batteries have switchable connections allowing their selective connection to the electrical generator or to the power outlet;

b. some of the batteries are chargeable by the electrical generator while others are discharging electricity through the power outlet.

11. The power system of claim 10 wherein at least some of the batteries also have switchable connections allowing them to be selectively switched between series and parallel connections with other ones of the batteries.

12. The power system of claim 10 wherein at least some of the batteries also have switchable connections allowing them to be selectively disconnected from electrical communication with all of the other batteries, the electrical generator, and the power outlet simultaneously.

13. The power system of claim 9 further comprising one or more pawls engageable with the spring motor output shaft, wherein the engaged pawls restrain the spring motor output shaft from rotating in the output direction.

14. The power system of claim 13 wherein the pawls are actuated to disengage the spring motor output shaft when the electricity in the batteries drops below a threshold level.

15. The power system of claim 9 further comprising one or more gears coupling the electrical generator to the spring motor output shaft, wherein the gears provide a rotary input to the electrical generator at a higher speed than the rotary output of the spring motor output shaft.

16. The power system of claim 9 wherein the power input means includes at least one of the following:

a. a pivotable lever;

or

b. a reciprocable shaft.

17. A power system comprising:

a. a spring motor, the spring motor including;

(1) a spring having opposing ends, the spring being biased to unwind from one end and wind at the opposing end;

(2) a spring motor input shaft which;

(a) winds one end of the spring when rotated in an input direction, and

(b) freely rotates when rotated in the opposite direction; and

(3) a spring motor output shaft which;

(a) rotates in an output direction when one of the ends of the spring unwinds, and

(b) freely rotates when this same end of the spring winds;

b. power input means for providing a rotary input to the spring motor input shaft;

c. an electrical generator coupled to the spring motor output shaft, the generator producing electricity when the spring motor output shaft rotates in the output direction;

d. a power outlet;

e. batteries;

f. a power controller providing connections between the power outlet, the batteries, and the electrical generator, wherein;

(1) one or more of the batteries have switched connections allowing their selective connection to the electrical generator or to the power outlet;

(2) at least some of the batteries are chargeable by the electrical generator while others are discharging electricity through the power outlet.

18. The power system of claim 17 wherein at least some of the batteries also have switched connections allowing them to be selectively:

a. switched between series and parallel connections with other ones of the batteries, and

b. disconnected from electrical communication with the electrical generator and the power outlet simultaneously.

19. The power system of claim 18 further comprising one or more pawls engageable with the spring motor output shaft, wherein:

a. the engaged pawls restrain the spring motor output shaft from rotating in the output direction, and

b. the pawls are actuated to disengage the spring motor output shaft when the electricity in the batteries drops below a predetermined level.

20. The power system of claim 18 wherein the power input means includes at least one of:

a. a pivotable lever;

or

b. a reciprocable shaft,

driven by expanding gases.