Kinetic energy harvesting methods and apparatus

• US 9,780,633 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2015
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryde Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Stryde Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Shastry, Tejas Attreya, Geier, Michael, Smith, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, John K
• Application Number:
  US14/869,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20160020682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 310 17, 310 24, 310 30
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/00 Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/32 for charging batteries from a charging set comprising a non-electric prime mover rotating at constant speed
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

A system, method, and apparatus for kinetic energy harvesting are disclosed. An example kinetic energy harvesting apparatus includes first and second magnet housings configured to each have a tubular shape. Each of the first and second magnet housing contains a central magnet and a ferrous shield connected to the respective magnet housings. One of the ferrous shields is located on a first side of the first magnet housing that is opposite of a second side facing the second magnet housing. The other of the ferrous shields is located on a first side of the second magnet housing that is opposite of a second side facing the first magnet housing.

Claims

1. A kinetic energy harvesting apparatus comprising:

a first magnet housing configured to have a tubular shape, the first magnet housing including;

a first set of end-cap magnets each connected to an end of the first magnet housing,

a first central magnet configured to be located within the first magnet housing between the first set of end-cap magnets, and

a first ferrous sheet connected to the first magnet housing; and

a second magnet housing configured to have the same tubular shape, the second magnet housing including;

a second set of end-cap magnets each connected to an end of the second magnet housing,

a second central magnet configured to be located within the second magnet housing between the second set of end-cap magnets, and

a second ferrous sheet connected to the second magnet housing,

wherein the first ferrous sheet is located on a side of the first magnet housing that is opposite of the second magnet housing, and the second ferrous sheet is located on a side of the second magnet housing that is opposite of the first magnet housing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first ferrous sheet has a mass and a ferrous property configured to balance (i) a first magnetic force between the first central magnet and the second central magnet with (ii) a first opposite magnetic force between the first central magnet and the first ferrous sheet, and

wherein the second ferrous sheet has a mass and a ferrous property configured to balance (i) the first magnetic force between the first central magnet and the second central magnet with (iii) a second opposite magnetic force between the second central magnet and the second ferrous sheet.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a first wire coil connected to an outside of the first magnet housing and located between the first set of end-cap magnets; and

a second wire coil connected to an outside of the second magnet housing and located between the second set of end-cap magnets.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a center of the first central magnet is less than three inches from a center of the second central magnet and the use of the first ferrous sheet and the second ferrous sheet reduces frictional forces between the central magnets and respective interior side walls of the respective magnet housings such that current generation through the first and second wire coils from movement of the first and second central magnets is within 10% of the current generated as if the centers of the first and second central magnets were greater than three inches apart.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first ferrous sheet is located on an outside edge of the first wire coil and the second ferrous sheet is located on an outside edge of the second wire coil.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first ferrous sheet is located between the first wire coil and the first magnet housing and the second ferrous sheet is located between the second wire coil and the second magnet housing.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first ferrous sheet is located on an inside side of the first magnet housing and the second ferrous sheet is located on an inside side of the second magnet housing.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second ferrous sheets each includes at least one of iron, steel, or stainless steel and has a thickness between 0.005 inches and 0.5 inches.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second ferrous sheets each have a length along the respective magnet housings that is equal to a travel distance of the respective central magnets.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second ferrous sheets each wrap around between 1/20 and ⅔

of a circumference of the respective magnet housing.

11. A kinetic energy harvesting apparatus comprising:

a first tubular magnet housing including;

a first end-cap magnet configured to connect to a first end of the first tubular magnet housing such that a north-pole of the first end-cap magnet faces the first end,

a second end-cap magnet configured to connect to a second end of the first tubular magnet housing such that a south-pole of the second end-cap magnet faces the second end,

a first wire coil configured to be connected to the first tubular magnet housing between the first end and a center of the first tubular magnet housing,

a second wire coil configured to be connected to the first tubular magnet housing between the second end and the center of the first tubular magnet housing,

a first central magnet configured to be located within the first tubular magnet housing between the first end and the second end such that a north-pole of the first central magnet faces the north-pole of the first end-cap and a south-pole of the central magnet faces the south-pole of the second end-cap causing the first central magnet to be suspended between the first and second end-caps of the first tubular magnet housing, and

a first ferrous substance located on a first side of the first tubular magnet housing; and

a second tubular magnet housing including;

a first end-cap magnet configured to connect to a first end of the second tubular magnet housing such that a north-pole of the first end-cap magnet faces the first end,

a second end-cap magnet configured to connect to a second end of the second tubular magnet housing such that a south-pole of the second end-cap magnet faces the second end,

a first wire coil configured to be connected to the second tubular magnet housing between the first end and a center of the second tubular magnet housing,

a second wire coil configured to be connected to the second tubular magnet housing between the second end and the center of the second tubular magnet housing,

a second central magnet configured to be located within the second tubular magnet housing between the first end and the second end such that a north-pole of the second central magnet faces the north-pole of the first end-cap and a south-pole of the second central magnet faces the south-pole of the second end-cap causing the second central magnet to be suspended between the first and second end-caps of the magnet housing, and

a second ferrous substance located on a first side of the second tubular magnet housing,

wherein the first ferrous substance is located on the first side of the first tubular magnet housing that is opposite of a second side facing the second tubular magnet housing, and the second ferrous substance is located on the first side of the second tubular magnet housing that is opposite of a second side facing the first tubular magnet housing.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the north-pole of the first central magnet is vertically aligned in parallel with the south-pole of the second central magnet when the central magnets are at rest or are moving through the respective tubular magnet housings.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first and second ferrous substances each include at least one of a ferrous sheet, a ferrous shield, a ferrous rod, a ferrous thin film, a ferrous plate, a ferrous powder, and a ferrous coating.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising

a battery;

circuitry configured to;

rectify an AC voltage generated by the first and second wire coils of the first and second tubular magnet housings into a DC voltage, and

charge the battery using the DC voltage; and

a device housing configured to enclose the first tubular magnet housing, the second tubular magnet housing, the battery, and the circuitry.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a first foam layer connected to an inside of the first tubular magnet housing; and

a second foam layer connected to an inside of the second tubular magnet housing,

wherein the first foam layer and second foam layer are each configured to reduce noise caused by the receptive central magnetic contacting the inside of the respective tubular magnet housings.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the kinetic energy harvesting apparatus is included within a portable electronic device.

17. A kinetic energy harvesting apparatus comprising:

a first magnet housing configured to have a tubular shape, the first magnet housing including;

a first central magnet configured to be located within the first magnet housing, and

a first magnet balancer connected to the first magnet housing;

a second magnet housing configured to have the same tubular shape, the second magnet housing including;

a second central magnet configured to be located within the second magnet housing, and

a second magnet balancer connected to the second magnet housing; and

a third magnet housing located between the first magnet housing and the second magnet housing and configured to have the same tubular shape, the third magnet housing including a third central magnet configured to be located within the third magnet housing,

wherein the first magnet balancer is located on a side of the first magnet housing that is opposite of another side facing the third magnet housing, and the second magnet balancer is located on a side of the second magnet housing that is opposite of another side facing of the third magnet housing.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein

a first magnetic force exists between the first central magnet and the third central magnet;

a second magnetic force exists between the second central magnet and the third central magnet;

a third magnetic force exists between the first central magnet and the first magnet balancer;

a fourth magnetic force exists between the second central magnet and the second magnet balancer, and

wherein the first magnetic force balances with the second magnetic force to reduce frictional forces between the third central magnet and the first and second central magnets.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first magnet balancer has a mass and a ferrous property configured to balance the first magnetic force with the third magnetic force to reduce frictional forces between the third central magnet and the first central magnet.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second magnet balancer has a mass and a ferrous property configured to balance the second magnetic force with the fourth magnetic force to reduce frictional forces between the third central magnet and the second central magnet.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising n-number of magnet housings located between the first magnet housing and the second magnet housing and configured to have the same tubular shape, each of the n-number of magnet housings including a respective central magnet configured to be located within the respective magnet housing.