Electromagnetic device for converting mechanical vibrational energy into electrical energy

• US 7,795,763 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2005
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Southampton
• Original Assignee: University of Southampton
• Inventors: Tudor, Michael John, White, Neil Maurice, Harris, Nicholas Robert, Beeby, Stephen Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLINS, BURTON S
• Application Number:
  US10/599,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20080246346A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,001 Days
• Field of Search: 310 36- 39, 310330-332, 310/339, 310/12.16, 310/15, 310/28, 310/30, 290/1.R, 290/4.B, 290 53- 54, 324173-174, 324/76.49, 336/110, 181/0.5, 73/350.9, 736/51, 331/154, 318/114
• US Class Current: 310/12.16
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems

Abstract

An electromagnetic generator comprising two magnets and a coil disposed therebetween, the two magnets being configured to define therebetween a region of magnetic flux in which the coil is disposed whereby relative movement between the coil and the magnets generates an electrical current in the coil, and a vibratable first mount for each of the magnets and a vibratable second mount for the coil whereby each of the at least two magnets and the coil are respectively vibratable about a respective central position.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic generator comprising two magnets and a coil disposed therebetween, the two magnets being configured to define therebetween a region of magnetic flux in which the coil is disposed whereby relative movement between the coil and the magnets generates an electrical current in the coil, and a vibratable first mount for each of the magnets, a vibratable second mount for the coil, and a common mount, whereby each of the magnets and the coil are respectively vibratable relative to the common mount about a respective central position, wherein the vibratable first mount and the vibratable second mount are adapted to vibrate out of phase when excited to vibrate by a common input of vibration energy, so that the coil and its respective magnets vibrate out of phase with each other.

2. An electromagnetic generator according to claim 1 wherein the vibratable first mount and the vibratable second mount are adapted to vibrate substantially in anti-phase when excited to vibrate by a common input of vibration energy, so that the coil and its respective magnets vibrate substantially in anti-phase with each other.

3. An electromagnetic generator according to claim 1 wherein each of the vibratable first mount and the vibratable second mount comprises a cantilever beam, and the cantilever beam of each vibratable first mount has substantially one half of the mass of the cantilever beam of the vibratable second mount.

4. An electromagnetic generator according to claim 3 wherein the cantilever beam of each vibratable first mount is substantially the same length as the cantilever beam of the vibratable second mount.

5. An electromagnetic generator according to claim 3 wherein each magnet is mounted at a free end of the cantilever beam of each vibratable first mount and the coil is mounted at a free end of the cantilever beam of the vibratable second mount.

6. An electromagnetic generator according to claim 1 wherein each of the vibratable first mount and the vibratable second mount extend from the common mount.

7. An electromagnetic generator according to claim 6 wherein each of the vibratable first mount and the vibratable second mount are integral with the common mount.

8. An electromagnetic generator according to claim 1 wherein the at least two magnets and the coil are mounted along a common axis.