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 treadle gear coupled to the vehicle activated treadle;
a rotatable shaft below the roadway surface;
a drive gear mounted on the rotatable shaft, the drive gear being driven by the treadle gear during movement of the vehicle activated treadle;
a flywheel;
a torsion spring coupled between the rotatable shaft and the flywheel;
a generator that generates power in response to movement of the flywheel; and
a treadle locking device configured to selectively lock 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.
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Citations
20 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 treadle gear coupled to the vehicle activated treadle; a rotatable shaft below the roadway surface; a drive gear mounted on the rotatable shaft, the drive gear being driven by the treadle gear during movement of the vehicle activated treadle; a flywheel; a torsion spring coupled between the rotatable shaft and the flywheel; a generator that generates power in response to movement of the flywheel; and a treadle locking device configured to selectively lock 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 treadle gear coupled to the vehicle activated treadle; a rotatable shaft below the roadway surface; a drive gear mounted on the rotatable shaft, the drive gear being driven by the treadle gear during movement of the vehicle activated treadle; a flywheel; a torsion spring coupled between the rotatable shaft and the flywheel; a generator that generates power in response to movement of the flywheel; and a treadle locking device that selectively locks the vehicle activated treadle in the second position in response to a signal received from a sensor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. 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 treadle gear coupled to the vehicle activated treadle; a rotatable shaft below the roadway surface; a drive gear mounted on the rotatable shaft, the drive gear being driven by the treadle gear during movement of the vehicle activated treadle; a flywheel; a torsion spring coupled between the rotatable shaft and the flywheel; a generator that generates power in response to movement of the flywheel; and treadle locking means for selectively locking the vehicle activated treadle in the second position in response to a signal received from a sensor.
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Specification