An electric power generator for a projectile moving through the air is based on vibrational, rather than rotational motion. The electric power generator uses an air stream through, which the projectile is traveling typically 100-250 m/s for mortars to up to 1,500 m/s for sabot or even higher electrically fired rounds. A typical 223 rifle round after being fired has energy of over 1700 J, which is equivalent to 1700 W seconds. If a Nano computer was able to extract energy of for example 50 nanowatts during bullet flight which rarely exceeds two seconds the power needed during the flight would be only a few parts per billion of the bullet's energy. Even allowing for very inefficient extraction of power, the necessary power to operate on onboard electronic devices such as computers and sensors can be extracted from the airstream through which the projectile travels.

The invention relates to a device for generating energy, which includes an inverted pendulum having an arm oscillating about a pivot point and a mass arranged on the arm and spring means preserving the equilibrium of the inverted pendulum. The spring means includes at least one piezo generator for generating energy from the oscillating movement. The invention also relates to a method for use of a device according to the invention.

A downhole assembly including a turbine to be disposed within a wellbore and a rotating array. The rotating array includes magnetic material and is coupled to the turbine. The downhole assembly also includes a magnetostrictive material coupled to the rotating array to strain the magnetostrictive material to induce an electric current in a conductor coupled to the magnetostrictive material.

An energy harvester for an aircraft comprises a first portion, a movable element and a kinetic-to-electric-energy-converter. The first portion includes a charge collecting device having an electrical permittivity different to that of air. The charge collecting device is configured to be exposed to an air flow. The movable element is configured to be driven by the charge of the charge collecting device, and the kinetic-to-electric-energy-converter is configured to generate energy by the movement of the movable element.

A hydraulic system includes a hydraulic circuit and a sensor for sensing a characteristic of hydraulic fluid of the hydraulic circuit. An energy harvester is configured to harvest energy from the hydraulic circuit. A controller interfaces with the sensor and is powered at least in part by the energy harvester. Various types of sensors are employed, including pressure and temperature sensors. A battery may further be included for powering the controller in addition to the energy harvester.

A device for transport of air in the tire P or close to it consisting of a chamber K in the shape of a hollow compressible channel, placed along at least a part of the tire perimeter, characterized by the fact that a ring OK is placed at the inner side of the chamber K with the distance of its outer side from the tire axis of rotation equal to 1 to 1.1 multiple of the distance of the bottom side of the chamber K from the axis of rotation of the tire P.

A propellant flow actuated piezoelectric igniter device using one or more hammer balls retained by one or more magnets, or other retaining method, until sufficient fluid pressure is achieved in one or more charging chambers to release and accelerate the hammer ball, such that it impacts a piezoelectric crystal to produce an ignition spark. Certain preferred embodiments provide a means for repetitively capturing and releasing the hammer ball after it impacts one or more piezoelectric crystals, thereby oscillating and producing multiple, repetitive ignition sparks. Furthermore, an embodiment is presented for which oscillation of the hammer ball and repetitive impact to the piezoelectric crystal is maintained without the need for a magnet or other retaining mechanism to achieve this oscillating impact process.

Power generators that incorporate porous electric generation layers composed of mechanoradical-forming polymers are provided. Also provided are methods for using the generators to convert mechanical energy into and electrical signal to power electronic devices. The porous electric generation material includes an organic polymer that forms free radicals when covalent bonds are homolytically ruptured upon the application of a compressive force to the porous structure.

A floating piezoelectric assembly for generating energy from waves is provided. The assembly includes a flexible buoyant planar member, an elastic planar member coupled to the same, and two spaced-apart layers of piezoelectric elements extending on and firmly attaching to the top and bottom of the elastic planar member. The elements of a first of the layers are staggered relative to the elements of a second of the layers. The assembly includes a weighted planar member coupled to the buoyant planar member. According to a second aspect, the assembly comprises a first plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart elongate buoyant planar members, a second plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart elongate buoyant planar members, and a series of piezoelectric elements extending between the first and second plurality of buoyant planar members. The assembly further includes a plurality of elastic planar members to which respective ones of the piezoelectric elements couple.

A wind power generation system including a power generation unit having an elastically deformable base material in a shape of a longitudinal flat plate and a piezoelectric element disposed on the base material, and which generates electricity as the power generation unit is vibrated; the piezoelectric element is repeatedly bent and deformed by the vibration and stacked on the base material, the wind power generation system being configured to include a tension adjusting device that, when a wind speed is increased, moves the movable member to increase a tensile force that pulls the power generation unit in the longitudinal direction, and the tension adjusting device being a lift generating member that is formed integrally with the movable member so as to be extended and to have wing shape to both sides of the movable member and that moves the movable member based on lift generated according to the wind speed.