Electrical energy generator
First Claim
1. An electrical energy generator comprising:
- a housing having a longitudinal axis, an interior cavity, an interior cavity surface, and an exterior surface;
electrically conductive material engaged about at least a portion of said exterior surface of said housing and extending along at least a portion of said longitudinal axis, said electrically conductive material comprising an induction coil;
an electromagnetically active mass positioned within said housing reciprocally movable along at least a portion of said longitudinal axis;
a first spring having first and second ends, wherein one of said ends is engaged to said electromagnetically active mass; and
a second spring having first and second ends, wherein one of said ends is engaged to said electromagnetically active mass; and
at least one spring deflection adjustor engaged with said housing and at least one of said springs;
wherein said electromagnetically active mass does not comprise a permanent magnet, and said generator comprises a shroud at least partially covering said induction coil, wherein said shroud comprises a permanent magnet.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical energy generator that converts kinetic energy harvested from voluntary motor activity of a human or animal to electrical energy. The electrical energy generator includes a housing, a coil of electrically conductive material, a reciprocally movable electromagnetically active mass, springs connecting the mass to either the housing or to adjustment means engaged with said housing, and, optionally, means for constraining non-linear motion of the electromagnetically active mass, and/or means of mitigating motion retardation of the electromagnetically active mass within any existing housing atmosphere. The electrical energy generator may be associated with a carried item, such as a backpack.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An electrical energy generator comprising:
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a housing having a longitudinal axis, an interior cavity, an interior cavity surface, and an exterior surface; electrically conductive material engaged about at least a portion of said exterior surface of said housing and extending along at least a portion of said longitudinal axis, said electrically conductive material comprising an induction coil; an electromagnetically active mass positioned within said housing reciprocally movable along at least a portion of said longitudinal axis; a first spring having first and second ends, wherein one of said ends is engaged to said electromagnetically active mass; and a second spring having first and second ends, wherein one of said ends is engaged to said electromagnetically active mass; and at least one spring deflection adjustor engaged with said housing and at least one of said springs; wherein said electromagnetically active mass does not comprise a permanent magnet, and said generator comprises a shroud at least partially covering said induction coil, wherein said shroud comprises a permanent magnet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An electrical energy generator comprising:
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a housing having a longitudinal axis, an interior cavity, an interior cavity surface, and an exterior surface; electrically conductive material engaged about at least a portion of said exterior surface of said housing and extending along at least a portion of said longitudinal axis; an electromagnetically active mass positioned within said housing reciprocally movable along at least a portion of said longitudinal axis; a first spring having first and second ends, wherein one of said ends is engaged to said electromagnetically active mass; a second spring having first and second ends, wherein one of said ends is engaged to said electromagnetically active mass; at least one spring deflection adjustor engaged with said housing and at least one of said springs; and means to mitigate motion retardation of said electromagnetically active mass within the housing comprising fluid connections between regions of said housing. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification