Spring powered electric energy storage system

• US 7,834,471 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2007
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Criptonic Energy Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Criptonic Energy Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Cripps, Jeffrey L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; T C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cuevas; Pedro J
• Application Number:
  US11/956,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20090152867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.A, 290/1.E, 290/1.R
• US Class Current: 290/1.00E
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 1/02 characterised by shape or material of spring, e.g. helical, spiral, coil
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 6/001 having photovoltaic cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/04 Control effected upon non-electric prime mover and dependent upon electric output value of the generator
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/30 Wind power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/70 Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/30 Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/46 Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling or solar thermal engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

A self-sustaining electrical power generating system includes a spring system that stores stored energy, the spring system having an input for recharging the stored energy and an output for releasing the stored energy, wherein the spring system generates a monitor signal based on a status parameter of the spring system and wherein the spring system releases the stored energy in accordance with an output control signal. A generator converts the stored energy of the spring system into electric power. A spring recharge module recharges the stored energy of the spring system in response to a recharge control signal. A control module generates the recharge control signal and the output control signal, based on the monitor signal.

Claims

1. A electrical power generating system comprising:

a spring system that stores stored energy, the spring system having an input for recharging the stored energy and an output for releasing the stored energy, wherein the spring system includes a sensor that generates a monitor signal based on a status parameter of the spring system and wherein the spring system releases the stored energy in accordance with an output control signal;

a generator, coupled to the output of the spring system, that converts the stored energy of the spring system into output electric power;

a spring recharge module, coupled to the input of the spring system that includes a supplemental energy source and an electric motor that operates based on input electric power from the supplemental energy source to recharge the stored energy of the spring system in response to a recharge control signal; and

a control circuit, coupled to the spring system and the spring recharge unit, that generates the recharge control signal and the output control signal, based on the monitor signal.

2. The electrical power generating system of claim 1 wherein the supplemental energy source includes a solar panel that converts solar energy to the input electric power.

3. The electrical power generating system of claim 1 wherein the supplemental energy source includes at least one of, a wind generator, a geothermal power system, a hydroelectric power system, and a tidal power system.

4. The electrical power generating system of claim 1 wherein the supplemental energy source includes a waste water power generation system.

5. The electrical power generating system of claim 1 wherein the spring recharge module includes a battery for storing the input electric power.

6. The electrical power generating system of claim 1 wherein the spring recharge module includes a regeneration module that recharges the stored energy based on at least a portion of the released stored energy.

7. The electrical power generating system of claim 1 wherein the generator is coupled to an electrical power system for providing supplemental electrical power.

8. The electrical power generating system of claim 1 wherein the spring system output includes a drive shaft that drives the generator at a rotational velocity, wherein the monitor signal indicates the rotation velocity, and wherein the control module controls the rotation velocity to a substantially constant value.

9. A method comprising:

storing energy in a spring system having an input for recharging the stored energy and an output for releasing the stored energy;

generating via a sensor, a monitor signal based on a status parameter of the spring system;

releasing the stored energy in accordance with an output control signal;

converting the stored energy of the spring system into output electric power;

recharging the stored energy of the spring system in response to a recharge control signal, via an electric motor that operates from an input electric power generated by a supplemental energy source; and

generating via a control circuit, the recharge control signal and the output control signal, based on the monitor signal.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein recharging the stored energy of the spring system includes converting solar energy to the input electric power.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein recharging the stored energy of the spring system includes at least one of converting wind energy to the input electric power, converting waste water flow to the input electric power, converting water flow to the input electric power, converting geothermal energy to the input electric power, converting tidal energy to the input electric power.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein recharging the stored energy of the spring system includes storing the input electric power.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein recharging the stored energy of the spring system includes recharging the stored energy based on at least a portion of the released stored energy.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the spring system output includes a drive shaft that drives a generator at a rotational velocity, wherein the monitor signal indicates the rotation velocity, and wherein the output control signal controls the rotation velocity to a substantially constant value.