Lossless short-duration electrical storage means for power generation system
First Claim
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 from the first position to the second position and from the second position to the first position;
a capacitor coupled to the generator, the capacitor storing power generated by the generator;
a transient absorption device coupled between a gear and the generator, the transient absorption device configured to absorb a transient force acting on the vehicle activated treadle;
a flywheel coupled between the transient absorption device and the generator; and
a shaft,wherein the gear and transient absorption device are on the shaft,wherein the vehicle activated treadle includes a treadle gear engaging the gear on the shaft, andwherein the transient absorption device is a torsion spring coupled to the shaft between the gear and the flywheel, and configured to absorb the transient force acting on the vehicle activated treadle.
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Accused Products
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 from the first position to the second position and from the second position to the first position; and a capacitor coupled to the generator, the capacitor storing power generated by the generator.
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Citations
25 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 from the first position to the second position and from the second position to the first position; a capacitor coupled to the generator, the capacitor storing power generated by the generator; a transient absorption device coupled between a gear and the generator, the transient absorption device configured to absorb a transient force acting on the vehicle activated treadle; a flywheel coupled between the transient absorption device and the generator; and a shaft, wherein the gear and transient absorption device are on the shaft, wherein the vehicle activated treadle includes a treadle gear engaging the gear on the shaft, and wherein the transient absorption device is a torsion spring coupled to the shaft between the gear and the flywheel, and configured to absorb the transient force acting on the vehicle activated treadle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A vehicle energy harvester comprising:
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a plurality of subunits each having an upper surface forming a roadway surface; a plurality of vehicle activated treadles on the plurality of subunits, each of the plurality of vehicle activated treadles 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 plurality of generators that generate power in response to movement of each of the plurality of vehicle activated treadles; a plurality of capacitors coupled to the plurality of generators, the plurality of capacitors storing power generated by the plurality of generators; a plurality of transient absorption devices coupled between a plurality of gears and the plurality of generators, the plurality of transient absorption devices configured to absorb transient forces acting on the plurality of vehicle activated treadles; and a plurality of flywheels coupled between the plurality of transient absorption devices and the plurality of generators; and a plurality of shafts, wherein each of the plurality of gears and the plurality of transient absorption devices is on a respective shaft of the plurality of shafts, wherein each of the plurality of the vehicle activated treadles includes a treadle gear engaging a respective gear of the plurality of gears on the respective shaft, and wherein each of the plurality of the transient absorption devices is a torsion spring coupled to the respective shaft between the respective gear and a respective flywheel of the plurality of flywheels, and configured to absorb the transient force acting on a respective treadle of the plurality of vehicle activated treadles. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. 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 from the first position to the second position and from the second position to the first position; short-duration electrical storage means, coupled to the generator, for storing power generated by the generator; a torsion spring coupled between a gear and the generator, the torsion spring configured to absorb a transient force acting on the vehicle activated treadle, and a flywheel coupled between the torsion spring and the generator.
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Specification