Energy generating expansion joint
First Claim
1. An expansion joint system comprising:
- at least one transversely extending vehicular load bearing member;
elongated support members having opposite ends positioned below said at least one transversely extending vehicular load bearing member and extending longitudinally across said expansion joint; and
an electrical energy generator comprising;
means connected to a component of said expansion joint system for capturing displacements having kinetic energy;
an amplifier for amplifying said captured displacements; and
an energy converter for converting said kinetic energy of said amplified displacements to electrical energy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An expansion joint system incorporating means for harvesting kinetic energy and generating electrical energy from the kinetic energy is provided. The incorporation of an energy harvesting and generating means within the expansion joint system actively improves the health, safety, and performance of the system. The electrical energy generator captures a portion of the kinetic energy delivered to the expansion joint via vehicular impacts and converts that kinetic energy to electrical energy for use in a variety of structural health, safety, and performance functions. Various embodiments including an electrical junction box, a cathodic protection system, dampers, and/or data acquisitions systems integrated with the electrical energy generator are also provided. The system generates increases in the overall structural health and reliability indices through the application of the integrated expansion joint electrical energy generator.
31 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An expansion joint system comprising:
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at least one transversely extending vehicular load bearing member; elongated support members having opposite ends positioned below said at least one transversely extending vehicular load bearing member and extending longitudinally across said expansion joint; and an electrical energy generator comprising; means connected to a component of said expansion joint system for capturing displacements having kinetic energy; an amplifier for amplifying said captured displacements; and an energy converter for converting said kinetic energy of said amplified displacements to electrical energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An expansion joint system for roadway construction wherein a gap is defined between adjacent first and second roadway sections, said expansion joint system extending across said gap to permit vehicular traffic, said expansion joint system comprising:
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transversely extending, spaced-apart, vehicular load bearing members; elongated support members having opposite ends positioned below said transversely extending vehicular load bearing members and extending longitudinally across said expansion joint; and an electrical energy generator in connection with a component of said expansion joint system. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for converting kinetic energy to electrical energy comprising:
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capturing displacements having kinetic energy from an expansion joint system, wherein said expansion joint system comprises transversely extending, spaced-apart, vehicular load bearing members, elongated support members having opposite ends positioned below said transversely extending vehicular load bearing members and extending longitudinally across said expansion joint; and
an electrical energy generator in connection with a component of said expansion joint system;amplifying said displacements; converting the kinetic energy of said amplified displacements into electrical energy; and
optionally transmitting the electrical energy to an application apparatus.
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Specification