Apparatus for footwear-embedded mechanical energy harvesting using modular elements
First Claim
1. A modular apparatus for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy comprisingan energy-producing channel comprising a plurality of rigid channel modules longitudinally disposed along the channel, with adjacent rigid channel modules separated by a section of flexible tubing, each rigid channel module including either one or both of a plurality of dielectric-coated electrodes and a plurality of conductive coils;
- andan energy-producing chain disposed within the energy-producing channel and comprising a plurality of rigid chain modules disposed along and attached to a flexible string in a spaced-apart manner, each rigid chain module including either one or both of a plurality of magnets disposed in an alternating polarity configuration and a plurality of conductive droplets,wherein the movement of the energy-producing chain within the energy-producing channel provides for alignment between the plurality of rigid channel modules with the plurality of rigid chain modules, generating electrical energy by the alignment, while permitting flexing of the modular apparatus by the permissible movement of the sections of flexible tubing and the flexible string; and
utilization of rigid modules in both the channel and the chain function to eliminate flexing of the channel and maintain alignment between energy-producing elements within the chain modules with energy-producing elements within the channel modules.
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Abstract
An energy harvesting apparatus utilizes a modular structure to preserve the proper alignment between a chain of energy-producing elements and an energy-producing channel (within which the chain is located and free to slide along, creating electrical energy from mechanical movement). The channel includes a plurality of rigid modules that are separated by flexible segments of tubing. The rigid channel modules house the energy-producing electrodes and/or coils. The chain includes a plurality of rigid modules that are attached along a flexible string in a spaced-apart configuration. The rigid chain modules house the energy-producing magnets and/or conductive droplets. The combination of the flexible channel segments and chain string allow for freedom of motion of the apparatus (required for human locomotion, for example), while providing the desired “fixed” alignment between the rigid energy-producing modules.
41 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A modular apparatus for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy comprising
an energy-producing channel comprising a plurality of rigid channel modules longitudinally disposed along the channel, with adjacent rigid channel modules separated by a section of flexible tubing, each rigid channel module including either one or both of a plurality of dielectric-coated electrodes and a plurality of conductive coils; - and
an energy-producing chain disposed within the energy-producing channel and comprising a plurality of rigid chain modules disposed along and attached to a flexible string in a spaced-apart manner, each rigid chain module including either one or both of a plurality of magnets disposed in an alternating polarity configuration and a plurality of conductive droplets, wherein the movement of the energy-producing chain within the energy-producing channel provides for alignment between the plurality of rigid channel modules with the plurality of rigid chain modules, generating electrical energy by the alignment, while permitting flexing of the modular apparatus by the permissible movement of the sections of flexible tubing and the flexible string; and
utilization of rigid modules in both the channel and the chain function to eliminate flexing of the channel and maintain alignment between energy-producing elements within the chain modules with energy-producing elements within the channel modules. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of converting mechanical energy into electrical energy comprising:
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providing a chain of energy-producing rigid chain modules disposed in a spaced-apart relationship along a flexible string, each rigid chain module including either one or both of a plurality of magnets disposed in an alternating polarity configuration and a plurality of conductive droplets; providing a energy-producing channel comprising a plurality of rigid channel modules separated by a plurality of flexible sections of tubing, each rigid module including either one or both of a plurality of dielectric-coated electrodes and a plurality of conductive coils; inserting the energy-producing chain into the energy-producing channel; and using mechanical energy to translate the position of the chain with respect to the channel such that electromagnetic energy is created when the magnetic elements align and misalign with individual coils of the plurality of coils and electrostatic energy is created when the conductive droplets align and misalign with individual dielectric-coated electrodes of the plurality of dielectric-coated electrodes, the utilization of rigid modules in both the channel and the chain functioning to eliminate flexing of the modules and maintain alignment between energy-producing elements within the chain modules with energy-producing elements within the channel modules.
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Specification