Power generating device and tire provided therewith

• US 7,423,350 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2005
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yokohama Rubber Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Yokohama Rubber Company Limited
• Inventors: Hatano, Yasuo, Hattori, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Waks; Joseph
• Application Number:
  US11/660,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20070205691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,126 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1
• US Class Current: 290/1.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/041 Means for supplying power to the signal- transmitting means on the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0411 Piezoelectric generators
• 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: H02K 35/04 with moving coil systems and stationary magnets
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1846 structurally associated with wheels or associated parts dynamos arranged in the wheel hub of cycles B62J6/12
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1892 Generators with parts oscillating or vibrating about an axis
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/304 Beam type

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a power generating device which makes it possible to easily generate electric power in a rotating system, such as a wheel including a tire, without impairing the performance and reliability of the rotating system. In the case where the power generating device is mounted to a rotating body such as a tire, the direction of gravity applied to a weight is changed with the rotation of the rotating body to cause beams to be deflected, so that the positions of the deflected beams and the weight are fluctuated in synchronization with the period of the rotation to cause the position of a coil to be displaced. Thereby, the weight is vibrated in the vertical direction in synchronization with the period of the rotation of the rotating body to change the magnetic flux density crossing the coil. As a result, AC electromotive forces are generated in the coil to enable electric power to be generated.

Claims

1. A power generating device which has a predetermined rotating shaft in a direction different from the direction of gravity, which is provided in a rotating body rotating about the rotating shaft at a predetermined period, and which generates electric power while rotating about the rotating shaft, characterized by having a generator comprising:

a flexible beam which is fixed to a substrate;

a weight which is supported by the beam and the position of which is fluctuated in synchronization with the period of the rotation by deflection of the beam caused in accordance with the rotation; and

AC generating means which generates AC power synchronized with the period of the rotation by the fluctuation of the position of the weight.

2. The power generating device according to claim 1,

wherein the beam is arranged in an opening part of a cavity formed in the substrate, and the weight is supported to be positioned at the center of the opening part of the cavity, and

wherein the AC generating means comprises:

a permanent magnet provided in the cavity formed on the substrate; and

a coil formed in at least one of the weight and the beam.

3. The power generating device according to claim 2, further comprising a rectifying circuit whose input side is connected to ends of the coil.

4. The power generating device according to claim 3, further comprising a power storage means connected to an output side of the rectifying circuit.

5. The power generating device according to claim 2 further comprising a plurality of the generators, the respective coils of which are mutually connected in series or in parallel via rectifying elements.

6. The power generating device according to claim 2, further comprising a plurality of the generators, the output sides of which are mutually connected in series or in parallel.

7. A tire comprising the power generating device according to claim 2.

8. The power generating device according to claim 1,

wherein the beam is arranged in an opening part of a cavity formed in the substrate, and the weight includes a permanent magnet which is supported by the beam, to be positioned at the center of the opening part of the cavity, and

wherein the AC generating means comprises:

the permanent magnet; and

a coil formed in a predetermined position in the cavity.

9. The power generating device according to claim 8, further comprising a rectifying circuit whose input side is connected to ends of the coil.

10. The power generating device according to claim 9, further comprising a power storage means connected to an output side of the rectifying circuit.

11. The power generating device according to claim 8, further comprising a plurality of the generators, the output sides of which are mutually connected in series or in parallel.

12. The power generating device according to claim 8, further comprising a plurality of the generators, the respective coils of which are mutually connected in series or in parallel via rectifying elements.

13. A tire comprising the power generating device according to claim 8.

14. The power generating device according to claim 1, wherein the AC generating means comprises a piezoelectric element which is provided for the beam and has power output terminals.

15. The power generating device according to claim 14, further comprising a rectifying circuit whose input side is connected to the power output terminals.

16. The power generating device according to claim 15, further comprising power storage means connected to an output side of the rectifying circuit.

17. The power generating device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of the generators, the output sides of which are mutually connected in series or in parallel.

18. The power generating device according to claim 1, wherein the generator is formed in a silicon wafer substrate.

19. A tire comprising the power generating device according to claim 1.