Integrated energy generating damper
First Claim
1. A damper system comprising:
- a hydraulic motor comprising a first port and a second port;
an electric generator operatively coupled to the hydraulic motor;
a first volume in fluid communication with the first port;
a second volume in selective fluid communication with the second port and in selective fluid communication with the first volume, wherein, upon pressurization of fluid in the first volume relative to the second volume, fluid flows from the first volume into the first port and from the second port to the second volume, wherein upon pressurization of fluid in the second volume relative to the fluid in the first volume, fluid flows from the second volume into the first volume and from the first volume into the first port; and
a third volume in fluid communication with the second port, and in selective fluid communication with the second volume.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A linear energy harvesting device that includes a housing and a piston that moves at least partially through the housing when it is compressed or extended from a rest position. When the piston moves, hydraulic fluid is pressurized and drives a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor drives an electric generator that produces electricity. Both the motor and generator are central to the device housing. Exemplary configurations are disclosed such as monotube, twin-tube, tri-tube and rotary based designs that each incorporates an integrated energy harvesting apparatus. By varying the electrical characteristics on an internal generator, the kinematic characteristics of the energy harvesting apparatus can be dynamically altered. In another mode, the apparatus can be used as an actuator to create linear movement. Applications include vehicle suspension systems (to act as the primary damper component), railcar bogie dampers, or industrial applications such as machinery dampers and wave energy harvesters, and electro-hydraulic actuators.
190 Citations
54 Claims
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1. A damper system comprising:
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a hydraulic motor comprising a first port and a second port; an electric generator operatively coupled to the hydraulic motor; a first volume in fluid communication with the first port; a second volume in selective fluid communication with the second port and in selective fluid communication with the first volume, wherein, upon pressurization of fluid in the first volume relative to the second volume, fluid flows from the first volume into the first port and from the second port to the second volume, wherein upon pressurization of fluid in the second volume relative to the fluid in the first volume, fluid flows from the second volume into the first volume and from the first volume into the first port; and a third volume in fluid communication with the second port, and in selective fluid communication with the second volume. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An active linear actuator, comprising:
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a first housing segment comprising an interior volume containing a first quantity of hydraulic fluid; a hydraulic piston with a first side and a second side, wherein the piston is slideably received in the interior volume and separating the interior volume into a compression volume and an extension volume, wherein the compression volume is adjacent to the first side of the hydraulic piston and the extension volume is adjacent to the second side of the hydraulic piston; a piston rod attached to the second side of the hydraulic piston; and a second housing segment, containing a second quantity of hydraulic fluid, comprising a hydraulic motor with a first port and a second port and an electric generator operatively coupled to the hydraulic motor; wherein the first housing segment is attached to the second housing segment, wherein the first port is in fluid communication with the compression volume and a second port is in fluid communication with the extension volume, and wherein the linear actuator is actively driven during at least one mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. An actuator, comprising:
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an interior volume containing a first quantity of hydraulic fluid; a hydraulic piston, with a first side and a second side, slideably received in the interior volume and separating the interior volume into a compression volume and an extension volume, wherein the compression volume is adjacent to the first side of the hydraulic piston and the extension volume is adjacent to the second side of the hydraulic piston; a piston rod, attached to the second side of the hydraulic piston; and a hydraulic motor with a first port and a second port and an electric generator operatively coupled to the hydraulic motor; wherein the first port is in fluid communication with the compression volume and the second port is in fluid communication with the extension volume, wherein the actuator is housed in a single housing that is hydraulically sealed, wherein the actuator is configured as a hydraulically independent system, and wherein, for at least one operating mode of the actuator, the generator is operated as an electric motor to drive the hydraulic motor as a hydraulic pump. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification