Energy extraction system
First Claim
1. A tire inflation system configured to mount to a wheel, the wheel having a rotational axis, the inflation system comprising:
- a drive mechanism that rotatably mounts to the wheel, the drive mechanism comprising;
a channel that encircles the rotational axis;
multiple masses movably contained within the channel, the multiple masses operable between;
a pumping mode, wherein the masses are arranged in a pumping configuration; and
a non-pumping mode, wherein the masses are arranged in a non-pumping configuration;
a pumping mechanism that statically mounts to the wheel and fluidly connects to a tire interior, the pumping mechanism comprising an actuating element and a chamber; and
a force translation mechanism statically connected to the channel, the force translation mechanism configured to transform a relative rotation between the drive mechanism and the pumping mechanism during the pumping mode into actuating element reciprocation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An energy extraction system for a rotational surface including a drive mechanism having a rotational axis and configured to rotatably couple to the rotational surface and an energy extraction mechanism coupled to the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism includes a cam rotatable about the rotational axis and an eccentric mass coupled to the cam that offsets a center of mass of the drive mechanism from the rotational axis, the eccentric mass cooperatively formed by a first and a second section, the eccentric mass operable between a connected mode wherein the first and second sections are adjacent and a disconnected mode wherein the first and second sections are separated. The energy extraction mechanism is connected to the cam and is statically coupled to the rotating surface, wherein the energy extraction mechanism configured to extract energy from relative rotation between the energy extraction mechanism and the cam.
133 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A tire inflation system configured to mount to a wheel, the wheel having a rotational axis, the inflation system comprising:
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a drive mechanism that rotatably mounts to the wheel, the drive mechanism comprising; a channel that encircles the rotational axis; multiple masses movably contained within the channel, the multiple masses operable between;
a pumping mode, wherein the masses are arranged in a pumping configuration; and
a non-pumping mode, wherein the masses are arranged in a non-pumping configuration;a pumping mechanism that statically mounts to the wheel and fluidly connects to a tire interior, the pumping mechanism comprising an actuating element and a chamber; and a force translation mechanism statically connected to the channel, the force translation mechanism configured to transform a relative rotation between the drive mechanism and the pumping mechanism during the pumping mode into actuating element reciprocation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An energy extraction system configured to mount to a rotating surface having a rotational axis, the system comprising:
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an eccentric mass comprising; a channel that encircles the rotational axis; and multiple masses enclosed within the channel, the multiple masses capable of translating between a pumping configuration and a non-pumping configuration, a pumping mechanism rotatably coupled to the eccentric mass, the pumping mechanism comprising a piston and a chamber; and a force translation mechanism statically connected to the channel, the force translation mechanism configured to transform a relative rotation between the eccentric mass in the pumping configuration and the pumping mechanism into piston reciprocation. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification