Electric power generating system

• US 8,148,832 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2010
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey L. Cripps
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey L. Cripps
• Inventors: Cripps, Jeffrey L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuevas, Pedro J
• Application Number:
  US12/901,593
• Publication Number:
  US 20110025056A1
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.E
• US Class Current: 290/1.E
• 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

An 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 released by 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, based on a supplemental source of power. A control module generates the recharge control signal and the output control signal, based on the monitor signal.

Claims

1. A 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 spring recharge module, coupled to the input of the spring system that includes means that operates based on input power from a 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 based on the monitor signal.

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

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

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

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

7. 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;

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

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

8. The method of claim 7 wherein recharging the stored energy of the spring system includes converting solar energy to the input power.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein recharging the stored energy of the spring system includes at least one of converting wind energy to the input power, converting waste water flow to the input power, converting water flow to the input power, converting geothermal energy to the input power, converting tidal energy to the input power.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein recharging the stored energy of the spring system includes storing the input power.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the spring system output includes a drive shaft that turns at a rotational velocity, wherein the monitor signal indicates the rotation velocity, and wherein the output control signal is generated by the control circuit to control the rotation velocity to a substantially constant value.