Combination flywheel and electrical storage cell and method of use

• US 5,905,359 A
• Filed: 02/10/1998
• Issued: 05/18/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carl L. Jimena
• Original Assignee: Carl L. Jimena
• Inventors: Jimena, Carl L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US09/021,496
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101, 320/107, 320/112, 320/114, 320/FOR 101, 320/FOR 104, 320/FOR 160, 362/159, 362/176, 362/177, 362/192, 290/1 R, 290/50, 290/54, 322/2 R, 322/3, 322/4
• US Class Current: 320/114
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 13/06 with mechanical drive, e.g. spring
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A portable, light-weight, electrically powered device that derives at least part of its power from manual mechanical input means having a rotatively mounted battery which provides electrical power but also acts as an mechanical inertial storage mechanism. The kinetic energy of the moving battery is capable of being utilized via a generator to energize the device'"'"'s electrically powered element. In one embodiment, a compact high-output generator is disclosed for providing increased current over a given time period for recharging the battery. In another embodiment a rotatively mounted canister is provided for mounting one or more batteries or other variable mass materials if generator power is used exclusively. Manual input occurs via enclosed gear-based hand levers.

Claims

1. An electrically powered apparatus comprises:

a framework;

an electrical power consuming element mounted to said framework;

a battery;

means for dynamically mounting said battery to said framework;

means for converting movement of said battery with respect to said framework to electrically energize said element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for converting comprise an electrical generator mounted to said framework.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for dynamically mounting comprise:

a canister sized to contain said battery; and

said canister rotatively mounted to said framework.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, which further comprises means for electronically wiring said battery to said element.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said means for electronically wiring comprise:

first and second contact plates mounted on the outer surface of said canister, and in electrical contact with the positive and negative poles of said battery;

an arcuate strip made from conductive resilient material having a first end portion positioned to contact said first plate, and a second end portion positioned to contact said second plate when said strip is in a closed position.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, which further comprises means for recharging said battery from an output of said generator.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, which further comprises means for manually imparting an amount of mechanical momentum on said canister, wherein said means for manually imparting comprise:

a drive shaft releasably coupled to said canister; and

manual means for spinning said shaft.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said means for spinning comprises:

a pinion gear;

means for temporarily coupling said pinion to said shaft;

a rack gear meshing with said pinion;

a movable handle coupled to said rack gear; and

a covering over said rack gear.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, which further comprises means for biasing said handle toward a first position.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said generator comprises a substantially disk-shaped magnet oriented upon an axis, said magnet comprises:

first and second angularly adjacent dipolar regions; and

,

wherein the North pole of said first region is proximate to the North pole of said second region.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, which further comprises a third dipolar region located diametrically opposite to said first region;

wherein the North pole of said first region is diametrically opposite the South pole of said third region.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said generator further comprises a first coil structure rotatively mounted about a radial periphery of said magnet.

13. In a portable handheld electrically powered device comprising an electrical power consuming element energizable by a hand operable electric generator, an improvement comprises:

a flywheel comprising an electrical storage cell.

14. A handheld portable electrically powered device comprises:

a housing;

an electrical power consuming element mounted to said housing;

an electrical generator mounted to said housing;

a battery dynamically mounted to said housing; and

said battery mechanically driving said generator.

15. A handheld portable electrically powered device comprises:

a housing;

an electrical power consuming element mounted to said housing;

an electrical generator mounted to said housing; and

a mass-adjustable flywheel mechanically coupled to said generator;

wherein said mass-adjustable flywheel comprises an openable canister rotatively mounted to said housing.

16. A method for powering a portable electrically powered device comprises:

dynamically mounting a battery on said device;

imparting said battery with an amount of mechanical momentum;

transmitting said amount of mechanical momentum from said battery to an electrical generator; and

electrically powering said device from said generator.

17. The method of claim 16, which further comprises securing said battery within a canister rotatively mounted within said device.

18. A flywheel which comprises an electrical storage cell.

19. The flywheel of claim 18, which further comprises means for facilitating electrically recharging said cell.