Harvesting energy from vehicular vibrations

• US 8,063,498 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2009
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Namuduri, Chandra S., McMahon, Nancy, Elliott, Robert B., Li, Yunjun, Talty, Timothy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): TA, THO DAC
• Application Number:
  US12/394,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20100219641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.R, 180/165, 180/166, 180/65.31
• US Class Current: 290/1.R
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 13/14 having dampers accumulating utilisable energy, e.g. compressing air fluid springs with an accumulator B60G11/30
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/60 Vehicles using regenerative power
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/22 Magnetic elements
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/00 Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus if the apparatus aspects are predominant, see the relevant subclasses for such apparatus, e.g. H02K7/18; Power stations or aggregates incorporating only machines or engines of positive-displacement type F03C; hydraulic engineering aspects E02B; combinations with wind energy converters F03D9/008
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/602 with energy recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1823 structurally associated with turbines or similar engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/50 Hydropower in dwellings

Abstract

An energy harvesting apparatus is deployed on a vehicle and comprises a vehicular shock absorber capable of reciprocating translational movement in response to roadway perturbations. A coil is mounted within the shock absorber. An engine is also mounted within the shock absorber for converting the translational movement into rotational movement. A magnet is coupled to the engine and is configured to be rotated in the vicinity of the coil to produce electrical energy in the coil.

Claims

1. An energy harvesting apparatus, for deployment on a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a vehicular shock absorber capable of reciprocating translational movement;

a coil mounted within the shock absorber;

an engine mounted within the shock absorber for converting the translational movement into rotational movement; and

a magnet coupled to the engine and configured to be rotated in the vicinity of the coil to produce electrical energy in the coil.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the engine comprises a micro-turbine.

3. An apparatus according claim 2 wherein the shock absorber includes a fluid chamber divided into first and second parts by a piston, and wherein fluid flows between the first and second parts in response to the reciprocating translational movement, and wherein the micro-turbine is mounted proximate the piston.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the micro-turbine comprises:

a housing coupled to the piston;

a spindle rotatably coupled to the housing;

at least one turbine-blade coupled proximate a first end of the spindle and exposed to the fluid for rotating the spindle in response to fluid flow; and

a base coupled proximate a second end of the spindle and rotatable therewith.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the magnet is fixedly coupled to the base and wherein the coil is mounted proximate the magnet so as to have current induced therein when the magnet is rotated by the micro-turbine.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the induced current is alternating current.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising an energy converter coupled to the coil.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the energy converter comprises a rectifier.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the energy converter comprises a filter.

10. An apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising an energy storage device coupled to the energy converter.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the energy storage device is a battery.

12. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the energy storage device is a capacitor.

13. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the vehicle includes an electrical system and wherein the electrical system is coupled to the energy storage device.

14. An energy harvesting apparatus for use on a vehicle of the type comprising a sprung mass, an unsprung mass, and a shock absorber coupled between the sprung mass and the unsprung mass, the shock absorber comprising a first member coupled to the sprung mass and a second member coupled to the unsprung mass, and the shock absorber containing two fluid-filled compartments separated by a piston, the second member configured for reciprocating translational movement within the first member, the apparatus comprising:

a coil mounted on the piston;

an engine mounted on the piston for converting movement of the second member into rotational movement; and

a magnet coupled to the engine and configured to be rotated in the vicinity of the coil to produce electrical energy in the coil.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the engine comprises a micro-turbine.

16. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein fluid flows between the two fluid-containing compartments in response to the reciprocating translational movement.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16 further comprising an energy converter coupled to the coil.

18. An apparatus according to claim 16 further comprising an energy storage device coupled to the energy converter.

19. An energy harvesting apparatus for use on a vehicle including a sprung mass and an unsprung mass, the apparatus comprising:

a shock absorber coupled between the sprung mass and the unsprung mass and configured for reciprocating translational movement;

a permanent magnet;

a coil; and

an engine coupled within the shock absorber that rotates in response to the reciprocating translational movement, the engine comprising;

a housing for positioning the coil;

a spindle rotatably mounted on the housing;

at least one turbine blade coupled proximate a first end of the spindle for rotating the spindle in response to the reciprocating translational movement; and

a base coupled to a second end of the spindle and rotatable therewith, the magnet fixedly coupled to the base for rotation therewith in the vicinity of the coil.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19 further comprising an energy converter coupled to the coil for converting AC energy to DC energy.