Apparatus for generating power from passing vehicular traffic

• US 7,239,031 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Issued: 07/03/2007
• 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): Schuberg; Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mohandesi; Iraj A.
• Application Number:
  US11/216,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20060006653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.R, 290/45, 290/1.C, 290/1.A, 290/3, 60/45, 603/98
• 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. A power generation apparatus for placement on a travel surface subject to vehicles passing thereover, said apparatus comprising:

at least one cylinder adapted to receive a piston and a fluid cavity, wherein said piston engages said fluid cavity;

a fluid supply manifold in fluid communication with said at least one cylinder and supplying fluid to said fluid cavity;

a fluid return manifold in fluid communication with said at least one cylinder;

at least one platform adapted to engage said piston;

a power conversion means connected with said fluid return manifold; and

wherein as a passing vehicle engages said at least one platform, said at least one platform and said piston are pushed downwardly, causing fluid to flow from said fluid cavity through said fluid return manifold and to said power conversion means.

2. The power generation apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one cylinder includes a fluid port connected with a check valve fluidly connected with said fluid supply manifold and with said fluid return manifold.

3. The power generation apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one cylinder is mounted between said fluid supply manifold and said fluid return manifold.

4. The power generation apparatus of claim 3, wherein said at least one cylinder includes only one fluid port connected with a check valve, said check valve connected with said fluid supply manifold and said fluid return manifold.

5. The power generation apparatus of claim 4, wherein said check valve includes a valve body that provides for a stack-type configuration.

6. The power generation apparatus of claim 1, wherein said piston is biased upwardly by a spring.

7. The power generation apparatus of claim 6, wherein said piston includes:

an upper section and a lower section connected together by an intermediate rod;

an annular ledge extending into said cylinder from a cylinder wall thereof between said upper and lower piston sections; and

wherein said spring is a compression spring positioned between said upper section and said annular ledge.

8. The power generation apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one platform is pivotally connected with said fluid supply manifold.

9. The power generation apparatus of claim 8, wherein said fluid supply manifold is adapted to limit a degree of rotation of said at least one platform.

10. The power generation apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one platform is pivotally connected with said fluid return manifold.

11. The power generation apparatus of claim 10, wherein said fluid return manifold is adapted to limit a degree of rotation of said at least one platform.