Mechanical energy harvesting devices and methods
First Claim
1. An energy harvesting apparatus for regenerating mechanical energy into electrical energy, the energy harvesting apparatus comprising:
- a housing having a fluid disposed therein;
a piston assembly arranged within the housing, the piston assembly comprising;
a piston rod connected to a source of the mechanical energy, the piston rod configured to move the piston assembly within the fluid in one of an extension stroke and a compression stroke responsive to receiving the mechanical energy, anda bidirectional turbine arranged within the piston assembly, the bidirectional turbine configured to rotate as the piston assembly moves within the fluid in either of the extension stroke and the compression stroke, wherein the bidirectional turbine is configured to rotate in a single direction irrespective of whether the piston assembly is moving in the extension stroke or the compression stroke; and
a rotary generator directly connected to the piston rod at one end and connected to the bidirectional turbine, via a shaft, at other end, wherein the rotary generator is configured to generate the electrical energy responsive to rotation of the bidirectional turbine.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for harvesting mechanical energy for transformation into electrical energy are described. An energy harvesting apparatus may include a housing having fluid disposed therein and a piston assembly configured to move within the housing in one of an extension stroke and a compression stroke. The piston assembly may include a bidirectional rotor configured to rotate responsive to the piston assembly moving in either of the extension stroke and the compression stroke. The bidirectional rotor may be connected to a rotary generator such that rotational energy generated by rotation of the bidirectional rotor may be transferred to the rotary generator. Electrical energy may be produced by the rotary generator responsive to receiving the rotational energy.
20 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. An energy harvesting apparatus for regenerating mechanical energy into electrical energy, the energy harvesting apparatus comprising:
-
a housing having a fluid disposed therein; a piston assembly arranged within the housing, the piston assembly comprising; a piston rod connected to a source of the mechanical energy, the piston rod configured to move the piston assembly within the fluid in one of an extension stroke and a compression stroke responsive to receiving the mechanical energy, and a bidirectional turbine arranged within the piston assembly, the bidirectional turbine configured to rotate as the piston assembly moves within the fluid in either of the extension stroke and the compression stroke, wherein the bidirectional turbine is configured to rotate in a single direction irrespective of whether the piston assembly is moving in the extension stroke or the compression stroke; and a rotary generator directly connected to the piston rod at one end and connected to the bidirectional turbine, via a shaft, at other end, wherein the rotary generator is configured to generate the electrical energy responsive to rotation of the bidirectional turbine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method of manufacturing an energy harvesting device configured to regenerate mechanical energy into electrical energy, the method comprising:
-
arranging a piston assembly within a housing having a fluid disposed therein, wherein the piston assembly comprises; a piston rod connected to a source of the mechanical energy, the piston rod configured to move the piston assembly within the fluid in one of an extension stroke and a compression stroke responsive to receiving the mechanical energy, a bidirectional turbine arranged within the piston assembly, the bidirectional turbine configured to rotate as the piston assembly moves within the fluid in either of the extension stroke and the compression stroke, wherein the bidirectional turbine is configured to rotate in a single direction irrespective of whether the piston assembly is moving in the extension stroke or the compression stroke, and an inner chamber that encompasses the bidirectional turbine, wherein the inner chamber comprises a venturi, created by inner walls of the inner chamber of the piston assembly, configured to increase a velocity of the fluid in contact with the bidirectional turbine by constricting a flow of the fluid as the fluid approaches the bidirectional turbine; and connecting a rotary generator to the bidirectional turbine, via a shaft, at one end, and directly to the piston rod at other end, wherein the rotary generator is configured to generate the electrical energy responsive to rotation of the bidirectional turbine. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method of regenerating mechanical energy into electrical energy, the method comprising:
-
providing a piston assembly arranged within a housing having a fluid disposed therein, wherein the piston assembly comprises; a piston rod connected to a source of the mechanical energy, and a bidirectional turbine arranged within the piston assembly; exposing the piston rod to the mechanical energy produced by the source such that the piston rod moves the piston assembly within the fluid in each of an extension stroke and a compression stroke; generating rotational energy by rotating the bidirectional turbine as the piston assembly moves within the fluid in each of the extension stroke and the compression stroke, wherein the bidirectional turbine rotates in a single direction irrespective of whether the piston rod is moving in the extension stroke or the compression stroke; and imparting the rotational energy to a rotary generator, which is directly connected to the piston rod at one end and connected to the bidirectional turbine, via a shaft, at other end, wherein the rotary generator is configured to generate the electrical energy responsive to receiving the rotational energy. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
-
-
17. An energy harvesting apparatus for regenerating mechanical energy into electrical energy, the energy harvesting apparatus comprising:
-
a housing having a fluid disposed therein; a first mount and a second mount; a piston assembly arranged within the housing, wherein the piston assembly comprises; a piston rod connected to a frame of a source of the mechanical energy via the first mount and connected to an axis of the source of the mechanical energy via the second mount, wherein the piston rod is configured to move the piston assembly within the fluid in each of an extension stroke and a compression stroke responsive to receiving the mechanical energy, and a bidirectional turbine arranged within the piston assembly, the bidirectional turbine configured to rotate as the piston assembly moves within the fluid in each of the extension stroke and the compression stroke, wherein the bidirectional turbine is configured to rotate in a single direction irrespective of whether the piston assembly is moving in the extension stroke or the compression stroke; and a rotary generator directly connected to the piston rod at one end and connected to the bidirectional turbine, via a shaft, at other end, wherein the rotary generator is configured to generate the electrical energy responsive to rotation of the bidirectional turbine. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification