Weather responsive treadle locking means for power generation system
First Claim
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1. A vehicle energy harvester comprising:
- a subunit having an upper surface forming a roadway surface;
a vehicle activated treadle on the subunit, the vehicle activated treadle moveable between a first position in which an upper surface of the treadle is at an angle with respect to the upper surface of the roadway surface and a second position in which the upper surface of the treadle is flush with the upper surface of the roadway surface;
a generator that generates power in response to movement of the vehicle activated treadle; and
a treadle locking device that includes a sliding locking pawl that selectively locks the vehicle activated treadle in the second position in response to a signal received from a sensor.
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Abstract
A vehicle energy harvester including a subunit having an upper surface forming a roadway surface; a vehicle activated treadle on the subunit, the vehicle activated treadle moveable between a first position in which an upper surface of the treadle is at an angle with respect to the upper surface of the roadway surface and a second position in which the upper surface of the treadle is flush with the upper surface of the roadway surface; a generator that generates power in response to movement of the vehicle activated treadle; and a treadle locking device that selectively locks the vehicle activated treadle in the second position.
93 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A vehicle energy harvester comprising:
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a subunit having an upper surface forming a roadway surface; a vehicle activated treadle on the subunit, the vehicle activated treadle moveable between a first position in which an upper surface of the treadle is at an angle with respect to the upper surface of the roadway surface and a second position in which the upper surface of the treadle is flush with the upper surface of the roadway surface; a generator that generates power in response to movement of the vehicle activated treadle; and a treadle locking device that includes a sliding locking pawl that selectively locks the vehicle activated treadle in the second position in response to a signal received from a sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A vehicle energy harvester comprising:
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a plurality of subunits each having an upper surface forming a roadway surface; a vehicle activated treadle on at least one of the plurality of subunits, the vehicle activated treadle moveable between a first position in which an upper surface of the treadle is at an angle with respect to the upper surface of the roadway surface and a second position in which the upper surface of the treadle is flush with the upper surface of the roadway surface; a generator that generates power in response to movement of the vehicle activated treadle; and a treadle locking device that includes a sliding locking pawl that selectively locks the vehicle activated treadle in the second position in response to a signal received from a sensor.
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14. A vehicle energy harvester means comprising:
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a subunit means having an upper surface forming a roadway surface; a vehicle activated treadle means on the subunit means, the vehicle activated treadle means moveable between a first position in which an upper surface of the treadle means is at an angle with respect to the upper surface of the roadway surface and a second position in which the upper surface of the treadle means is flush with the upper surface of the roadway surface; a generator means that generates power in response to movement of the vehicle activated treadle means; weather sensor means for sensing weather conditions; and treadle locking means that includes a sliding locking pawl means for selectively locking the vehicle activated treadle means in the second position in response to a signal received from the weather sensing means.
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Specification