Fluid pulsating generator

• US 7,362,000 B1
• Filed: 11/22/2006
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Defrank
• Original Assignee: Michael Defrank
• Inventors: DeFrank, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Waks; Joseph
• Application Number:
  US11/603,599
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.R
• US Class Current: 290/1.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/083 the pulsating mechanism comprising movable parts liquid driven rotating elements, e.g. turbines, arranged upstream the outlet B05B3/04
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/086 with a resiliently deformable element, e.g. sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/265 the liquid or other fluent material being symmetrically deflected about the axis of the nozzle

Abstract

A fluid pulsating generator utilizes a repeating pulsating component in conjunction with one or more piezoelectric members to generate a piezoelectric affect which creates an electrical voltage. The fluid pulsating generator can be incorporated into a pulsating sprinkler device which produces a continuous pulsating motion which causes the piezoelectric members to deform to generate the piezoelectric effect that produces the electrical voltage.

Claims

1. A fluid pulsating generator, comprising:

a fluid inlet;

an actuating mechanism associated with the fluid inlet, the actuating mechanism developing a repetitive motion in response to contact with fluid flowing through the fluid inlet;

a piezoelectric element associated with the actuating mechanism, the repetitive motion developed by the actuating mechanism creating a repetitive force which strikes the piezoelectric element to generate an electrical voltage; and

a housing for housing the fluid inlet and actuating mechanism, the piezoelectric element being attached to a portion of the housing with a portion of the actuating mechanism designed to repetitively strike the piezoelectric element to generate the electrical voltage.

2. The fluid pulsating generator of claim 1, further including an energy storage device associated with the piezoelectric element for storing the generated electrical voltage.

3. The fluid pulsating generator of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric element is a ceramic piezoelectric element.

4. The fluid pulsating generator of claim 1, further including a plurality of piezoelectric elements associated with the actuating mechanism.

5. An irrigation pulsating generator, comprising:

a housing including a water inlet and a water outlet;

an inflatable bladder having an inlet portion for receiving water from the water inlet and an outlet portion for releasing stored up water, the inflatable bladder developing an intermittent and pulsating water flow there through which is ejected through the water outlet of the housing, the inflatable bladder being adapted to expand and contract when developing the intermittent and pulsating water flow there through; and

a piezoelectric element associated with the inflatable bladder, the expansion and contraction of the inflatable bladder deforming the piezoelectric element to generate an electrical voltage.

6. The irrigation pulsating generator of claim 5, further including an energy storage device associated with the piezoelectric element for storing the generated electrical voltage.

7. The irrigation pulsating generator of claim 5, wherein the piezoelectric element is attached to the inflatable bladder.

8. The irrigation pulsating generator of claim 5, wherein the piezoelectric element is formed into the wall of the inflatable bladder.

9. The irrigation pulsating generator of claim 5, wherein the piezoelectric element undergoes repetitive tensioning and non-tensioning in order to generate the electrical voltage.

10. The irrigation pulsating generator of claim 5, wherein the piezoelectric element undergoes repetitive contact with a structure to generate the electrical voltage.

11. The irrigation pulsating generator of claim 5, wherein the generator is adapted to be placed in an irrigation line used to supply water to a plurality of irrigation devices.

12. The irrigation pulsating generator of claim 5, further including a water dispersing component associated with the water outlet for dispersing water to an area surrounding the generator.