Electrostatic energy generators and uses of same

• US 6,936,994 B1
• Filed: 09/03/2002
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gideon Gimlan
• Original Assignee: Gideon Gimlan
• Inventors: Gimlan, Gideon
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US10/233,815
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 322/2.R, 322/2.A, 322/100, 320/166, 320/167, 320/101, 323/272, 323/276, 363/50
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/30 using propulsion power stored mechanically, e.g. in fly-wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/006 Converting flow of air into electric energy, e.g. by using wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/465 with solar battery as charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/02 Details electrodes H01M4/86 - H01M4/98
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/18 Regenerative fuel cells, e.g. redox flow batteries or secondary fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 15/00 Systems for storing electric energy mechanical systems therefor F01-F04; in chemical form H01M
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

Methods and devices are disclosed for electrostatically generating electrical energy in response to state changes of external energy sources. In a simple embodiment, a first diode directs priming current from a first rechargeable battery into a variable capacitor means when the latter means is in a charge desorbed mode (charge absorbing mode). An external energy source switches the variable capacitor means into a charge expelling mode while absorbed charge is trapped in the variable capacitor means. After a predefined increase in voltage is realized, a second diode directs expelled charge from the variable capacitor means to a series circuit composed of a profit-charge storing means (e.g. a second rechargeable battery) and the first rechargeable battery, thereby returning the invested charge back to the donor (the first rechargeable battery) and causing a profit amount of charge to be stored in the profit-charge storing means (the second rechargeable battery). The variable capacitor means may take on many forms including those which switch between their charge absorbing and charge expelling modes in response to thermal agitation. Various forms of nonelectrical energy sources and ways for electrostatically converting their energies into electrical energy are disclosed.

Claims

1. A charge investing and profit capturing (CIPR) energy production system comprising:

(a) a variable capacitor means that is adapted for having its capacitance varied by an external energy source;

(b) priming means coupled to supply electrical charge to the variable capacitor means for condensing the supplied charge in the variable capacitor means so as to establish a first voltage across the variable capacitor means; and

(c) purge control means for substantially trapping the condensed electrical charge in the variable capacitor means until a second voltage is defined across the variable capacitor means due to the external energy source decreasing and/or reversing the charge condensing abilities of the variable capacitor means, where the second voltage is greater than the first voltage; and

where the purge control means is further for releasing at least part of the trapped charge and directing the released charge to the priming means after said second voltage is defined across the variable capacitor means.

2. A method of producing electrical energy from other energy supplied by one or more energy sources, the method comprising:

(a) condensing an investment charge in a first variable capacitor means so as to establish a first voltage across the variable capacitor means;

(b) substantially trapping the condensed electrical charge in the first variable capacitor means;

(c) while the condensed electrical charge is substantially trapped, using the one or more energy sources to decrease and/or reverse the charge condensing abilities of the first variable capacitor means so as to establish a second voltage across the first variable capacitor means, where the second voltage is substantially greater than the first voltage;

(d) releasing the trapped electrical charge from the first variable capacitor means after the second voltage is established; and

(e) directing at least part of the released charge to an investment charge storing means that can then re-invest the directed charge as condensed investment charge in the first variable capacitor means and/or in another variable capacitor means.

3. A charge investing and profit capturing (CIPR) energy production system for producing electrical energy, the CIPR system comprising:

(a) a charge condensing and expelling means (QC&

E means) that is adapted for condensing charge in a charge condensing mode and for expelling the condensed charge in a charge purging mode, where said charge condensing and charge purging modes occur in response to variations of one or more external energy sources;

(b) charge investing means coupled to supply first electrical charge to the charge condensing and expelling means when the latter, QC&

E means is in its charge condensing mode; and

(c) expulsion control means for substantially trapping the condensed electrical charge in the charge condensing and expelling means until there is a substantial increase in voltage across the QC&

E means due to action of said one or more external energy sources;

where the expulsion control means is further for releasing at least part of the trapped charge and directing the released charge to the charge investing means and through a profit capturing means.

4. The CIPR system of claim 3 wherein said QC&

E means includes;

(a.1) a first set of charge collecting members coupled to the charge investing means and to the expulsion control means; and

(a.2) a second set of charge collecting members that are electrostatically coupled to the first set of charge collecting members and moveable relative to the first set of charge collecting members such that movement of one or more charge collecting members in the second set causes charge to alternatively condense within and be expelled from electrostatically coupled, counterpart members of the first set.

5. The CIPR system of claim 4 wherein said QC&

E means further includes;

(a.3) charge trapping means coupled to the second set of charge collecting members and moveable with the second set of charge collecting members for causing charge to accumulate and be substantially trapped in the charge collecting members of the second set.

6. The CIPR system of claim 4 wherein said QC&

E means further includes;

(a.3) a secondary charge condensing and expelling means (QC&

E2 means) that is coupled to the second set of charge collecting members and moveable with the second set of charge collecting members for causing charge to fluctuate in the charge collecting members of the second set, the QC&

E2 means being adapted for condensing charge in a charge condensing mode and for expelling the condensed charge in a charge purging mode, where said charge condensing and charge purging modes of the QC&

E2 means occur in response to variations of one or more, additional, external energy sources.

7. The CIPR system of claim 4 wherein:

(a.1a) the first set of charge collecting members at least partially surround the second set to define an outer shell and at least one of the charge investing means and the expulsion control means integrally extends from the outer shell.

8. The CIPR system of claim 4 wherein:

(a.2a) the second set of charge collecting members are coupled to an oscillating means which causes the second set to move in oscillating relationship relative to the first set in response to the oscillating means being tickled by a surge of energy from at least one of said one or more external energy sources.

9. The CIPR system of claim 8 wherein at least one of said one or more external energy sources is selected from the group consisting of:

a wind energy collector, a liquid wave energy collector, and a thermal energy collector.

10. The CIPR system of claim 4 wherein:

(a.2a) the second set of charge collecting members at least partially surround the first set to define an outer shell and at least one of the charge investing means and the expulsion control means integrally extends from an inner shell defined by the first set of charge collecting members.

11. The CIPR system of claim 10 wherein said outer shell rotates relative to the inner shell in response to energy supplied by at least one of a fluid current energy collector, a fluid wave energy collector, and a thermal energy collector.

12. The CIPR system of claim 3 wherein:

(a.1) said charge condensing and expelling means (QC&

E means) that is adapted for switching between said charge condensing and charge purging modes occur in response to variations of temperature.

13. The CIPR system of claim 12 wherein:

(a.1a) said QC&

E means includes a moveable radiation reflector for causing said variations of temperature.

14. The CIPR system of claim 12 wherein:

(a.1a) said QC&

E means includes a moveable balloon that rises and descends at least in response to variations of temperature.

15. The CIPR system of claim 12 wherein:

(a.1a) said QC&

E means includes a moveable fluid flow director which alternatingly directs flows of relatively cool fluid and relatively hotter fluid towards the QC&

E means to thereby induce at least part of said variations of temperature.

16. The CIPR system of claim 12 wherein:

(a.1a) said QC&

E means includes at least one of;

(a.1a1) a temperature-variable dielectric whose dielectric constant varies in response to local variations of temperature;

(a.1a2) a resilient dielectric whose dielectric constant and/or thickness vary in response to local variations of pressure; and

(a.1a3) a combination of material layers having counterpart, relatively high and relatively low coefficients of thermal expansion (COTE'"'"'s) for effecting changes in at least one of charge condensing and charge purging characteristics of said QC&

E means in response to variations of temperature.

17. The CIPR system of claim 3 wherein said charge investing means includes at least one of:

(b.1) a rechargeable electric battery;

(b.2) a capacitor;

(b.3) a bidirectional DC to AC converter;

(b.4) a photovoltaic array;

(b.5) an RF-to-DC demodulator; and

(b.6) a variable capacitor means.

18. The CIPR system of claim 3 wherein said expulsion control means includes:

(c.1) one or more solid state diodes.

19. The CIPR system of claim 3 and further comprising as said one or more external energy sources at least one of:

(d.1) alternate action radiators of a thermally driven engine;

(d.2) a vibration damping means which converts vibration energy into other forms of energy;

(d.3) a mechanically oscillating member;

(d.4) a wind driven member;

(d.5) a liquid flow or wave driven member;

(d.6) a shock absorbing member; and

(d.7) a motion braking member.

20. The CIPR system of claim 3 wherein said QC&

E means includes;

(a.1) a plurality of electrically conductive nanofibers.

21. An energy converter comprising:

(a) a rechargeable lender of electrical investment charge;

(b) a dischargeable collector of electrical profit charge;

(c) a variable charge condenser that is drivable between a charge condensing first state and a charge de-condensing second state;

(d) a first selective charge router, operatively coupled to the rechargeable lender and to the variable charge condenser for selectively routing the investment charge from the lender to the variable charge condenser when the variable charge condenser is in or substantially near the first state;

(e) a second selective charge router, operatively coupled to the variable charge condenser and to the dischargeable collector for selectively routing the profit charge from the variable charge condenser to the collector when the variable charge condenser is in or substantially near the second state; and

(f) investment recoupment means, operatively coupled to the variable charge condenser and to the rechargeable lender for returning to the lender, an investment recoupment charge equal to at least a substantial portion of the investment charge.

22. The energy converter of claim 21 and further comprising:

(g) profit sharing means operatively coupled to the collector and to the lender for recharging the lender with at least part of the profit charge collected by the collector so that even if said investment recoupment charge is insufficient to fully compensate the lender for charge lost by the lender in having lent said investment charge, the at least part of the profit charge that is used to recharge the lender will account for at least part of the difference, if any, between the lent investment charge and the investment recoupment charge.

23. The energy converter of claim 21 wherein the dischargeable collector includes a rechargeable battery.

24. The energy converter of claim 21 wherein the rechargeable lender includes a rechargeable battery.

25. The energy converter of claim 21 wherein the first selective charge router includes a series of unidirectional current routers.

26. A system for generating electrical charge in response to energy supplied from one or more energy sources, the system comprising:

(a) a rechargeable lender of electrical investment charge;

(b) a dischargeable collector of electrical profit charge;

(c) a variable charge condenser that is drivable by one or more energy sources to switch between a charge condensing first state and a charge de-condensing second state; and

(d) current routing means for causing at least one of a priming current and a purging current to flow through a series of condensors, said series of condensers including said variable charge condenser, said flow of current through the series of condensors being such that the lender recoups a substantial portion of its loaned investment charge and such that the dischargeable collector collects a profit charge generated from said at least one of the priming current and purging current flowing through the series of condensers.

27. The charge generating system of claim 26 wherein said one or more energy sources is a fluctuating energy source and the system further includes:

(e) a mechanical energy storing subsystem for causing the variable charge condenser to continue switching between the charge condensing first state and the charge de-condensing second state even when the fluctuating energy source temporarily stops providing drive energy.

28. The charge generating system of claim 27 wherein said mechanical energy storing subsystem includes a flywheel.

29. The charge generating system of claim 27 wherein said mechanical energy storing subsystem includes an oscillatory spring-mass combination.

30. The charge generating system of claim 26 wherein:

(c.1) said variable charge condenser includes charge attraction/repulsion means for condensing charge with use of charge attraction and for de-condensing charge with use of charge repulsion.

31. The charge generating system of claim 26 wherein:

(c.1) said variable charge condenser includes a fluid dielectric.

32. The charge generating system of claim 26 wherein:

(c.1) said variable charge condenser includes a temperature-variable dielectric whose dielectric constant varies substantially in response to variations of temperature.

33. The charge generating system of claim 26 wherein:

(c.1) said variable charge condenser includes first and second charge retaining electrodes and a dielectric layer interposed between the first and second charge retaining electrodes, where the first charge retaining electrode is movable relative to the second charge retaining electrode and where the interposed dielectric layer is movable independently of the first and second charge retaining electrodes.

34. The charge generating system of claim 26 wherein:

(c.1) said variable charge condenser includes a pressure-variable dielectric whose dielectric constant varies substantially in response to variations of pressure.

35. The charge generating system of claim 26 wherein:

(c.1) said variable charge condenser is mechanically coupled to a cable that transmits electrical energy.

36. A method for generating electrical charge comprising:

(a) condensing an obtained amount of investment charge;

(b) de-condensing at least part of the condensed investment charge;

(c) recouping an amount of charge substantially equal to the amount of de-condensed investment charge; and

(d) collecting additional profit charge in excess of the difference between the obtained amount of investment charge and the recouped amount of charge so as to provide a net gain of charge.

37. The charge generating method of claim 36 wherein:

(b.1) said de-condensing is driven by energy of a moving object.

38. The charge generating method of claim 36 wherein:

(b.1) said de-condensing is driven by a fluctuating heat source.

39. The charge generating method of claim 36 wherein:

(b.1) said de-condensing is driven by a fluctuating pressure source.

40. An electrical current manufactured from a generating method comprising:

(a) condensing an obtained amount of investment charge,

(b) de-condensing at least part of the condensed investment charge,

(c) recouping an amount of charge substantially equal to the amount of de-condensed investment charge, and

(d) collecting additional profit charge so as to provide a net gain of charge;

where the manufactured electrical current increases as a result of said collecting of the additional profit charge.

41. A structure comprising:

(a) a first structure part that provides a fluctuating or moving source of energy; and

(b) charge investing and profit capturing means operatively coupled to the first structure part so as to convert the fluctuating or moving energy of the first structure part into electrical energy by way of condensing an obtained amount of investment charge, de-condensing at least part of the condensed investment charge, recouping an amount of charge substantially equal to the amount of de-condensed investment charge, and collecting additional profit charge so as to provide a net gain of charge.

42. The structure of claim 41 wherein said structure includes a building and further wherein:

(a.1) said first structure part comprises a first movable part of the building; and

(a.2) said physical reference comprises a second part of the building.

43. The structure of claim 41 wherein said structure includes a transportation vehicle that is energetically propelled at least partially by electrical energy and further wherein:

(a.1) said first structure part comprises a first movable part of the transportation vehicle; and

(b.1) said charge investing and profit capturing means contributes at least part of said net gain of charge for the electrical propulsion of said vehicle.

44. The structure of claim 41 wherein said structure includes an electrical energy transmitting system and

(b.1) said charge investing and profit capturing means contributes at least part of said net gain of charge for transmission through the electrical energy transmitting system.

45. The structure of claim 44 wherein said electrical energy transmitting system includes a moveable cable and

(a.1) said first structure part is moved at least partially by movement of the moveable cable.

46. The structure of claim 41 wherein:

(a.1) the first structure part has a temperature that changes substantially; and

(b.1) the charge investing and profit capturing means is operatively coupled to the first structure part so as to convert the temperature changes of the first structure part into electrical energy.

47. The structure of claim 46 wherein said charge investing and profit capturing means includes a ferroelectric material having a Curie temperature (Tc) of less than about 1000 °

C.

48. The structure of claim 46 wherein said charge investing and profit capturing means includes a ferroelectric material having a Curie temperature (Tc) of less than about 300°

C.

49. The structure of claim 46 wherein said charge investing and profit capturing means includes first and second materials of substantially different coefficients of thermal expansion.

50. The structure of claim 46 wherein said first structure part is operatively coupled to a fluid director that alternatingly directs relatively hot and comparatively cooler fluid towards the first structure part.