Pulsed air to electric generator

• US 9,490,681 B1
• Filed: 09/18/2015
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Seith, Warren A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Waks, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US14/858,802
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.R
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1876 with reciprocating, linearly oscillating or vibrating parts

Abstract

An electric generator includes a housing with a stator positioned thereabout. A rotor (i.e., magnetic member) is positioned within the housing and is adapted to move within the housing in response to a pulsed air input, such as from a pulsed-air exhaust device. The pulsed air input creates a pressure chamber between the pulsed air input and the magnetic member, which forces the magnetic member to axially advance in a first direction through the housing to magnetically interact with the stator to generate electric current therein. A biasing member may be positioned within the housing and in operative communication with the magnetic member. The magnetic member may compress the biasing member in the first direction, but the biasing member may exert a spring-back force against the magnetic member to force the magnetic member in a second direction through the stator to magnetically interact therewith to generate additional electric current therein.

Claims

1. An electric power generator comprising:

a housing;

a stator proximate the housing;

a magnetic member in operative communication with the housing;

a pulsed air input; and

a biasing member in operative communication with the magnetic member;

wherein the stator and the magnetic member magnetically interact to generate electrical energy by the magnetic member axially advancing from a resting position in a first direction through the stator in response to a pulsed air input and returning to the resting position in a second direction through the stator in response to the biasing member.

2. The generator of claim 1, wherein the pulsed air input is exhausted from a pulsed-air exhaust device.

3. The generator of claim 1, wherein the magnetic member exhibits back-and-forth linear movement.

4. The generator of claim 1, wherein a shape of the magnetic member corresponds to a shape of the housing to establish a substantially air-tight seal therebetween.

5. The generator of claim 4, wherein the pulsed air input creates pressure in the housing between the pulsed air input and the magnetic member to axially advance the magnetic member in the first direction.

6. The generator of claim 1, wherein the biasing member is positioned within the housing and wherein the magnetic member transitioning in the first direction compresses the biasing member between the magnetic member and the housing.

7. The generator of claim 1, wherein the compressed biasing member exerts force against the magnetic member to axially advance the magnetic member in the second direction.

8. The generator of claim 1, further comprising one or more ports in the housing, the ports being in fluidic communication with ambient air.

9. The generator of claim 8, wherein the ports are covered when the magnetic member is in the resting position and the ports are exposed when the magnetic member moves from the resting position.

10. The generator of claim 9, wherein the pulsed air input exhausts out of the ports.

11. The generator of claim 1, further comprising a battery in electrical communication with the stator, wherein the battery receives electric energy from the stator.

12. The generator of claim 11, wherein the battery electrically powers a pulsed air exhaust device.

13. A pulsed-air exhaust device comprising:

a housing;

a magnetic member within the housing;

a stator proximate the housing and in operative communication with the magnetic member, the magnetic member transitioning with respect to the housing in response to pulsed air exhausted from the device, the stator and magnetic member producing electrical energy; and

control electronics of the device,

wherein the electrical energy powers the control electronics.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the magnetic member axially transitions within the housing from a first position in response to the pulsed air.

15. The device of claim 14, further comprising a biasing member positioned within the housing and in operative communication with the magnetic member, wherein the magnetic member transitions back to the first position in response to the biasing member.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the magnetic member transitioning to and from the first position causes the magnetic member to pass back and forth through the stator to produce the electric energy.

17. The device of claim 14, further comprising one or more ports in the housing, wherein the ports are in fluidic communication with ambient air, and wherein the ports are closed with the magnetic member in the first position and the ports are opened when the magnetic member transitions from the first position.

18. The pump of claim 17, wherein a portion of the pulsed air exits the housing to the ambient air through the one or more open ports.

19. A method of operating a pulsed air exhaust device, the method comprising:

pressurizing at least a portion of a housing with pulsed air exhaust of the device;

axially advancing a rotor through the housing by the pressurization;

generating electricity between the rotor and a stator positioned about the housing; and

operating control electronics of the device by the electricity.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising storing the electricity.