A gravity-assist energy harvesting system incorporates a gravitational positive displacement pump. The gravitational positive displacement pump has a cylinder and a reciprocating piston inside the cylinder. The piston is adapted for movement along a compression stroke and an opposite extension stroke in response to a gravitational bounce. A fluid drive assembly is operatively connected to the gravitational positive displacement pump and a fluid source, such that operational movement of the gravitational positive displacement pump circulates the fluid thereby actuating the fluid drive assembly. A generator is operatively connected to the fluid drive assembly and is adapted for generating electrical energy upon actuation of the fluid drive assembly.

A gravity-assist energy harvesting system incorporates a gravitational positive displacement pump. The gravitational positive displacement pump has a cylinder and a reciprocating piston inside the cylinder. The piston is adapted for movement along a compression stroke and an opposite extension stroke in response to a gravitational bounce. A fluid drive assembly is operatively connected to the gravitational positive displacement pump and a fluid source, such that operational movement of the gravitational positive displacement pump circulates the fluid thereby actuating the fluid drive assembly. A generator is operatively connected to the fluid drive assembly and is adapted for generating electrical energy upon actuation of the fluid drive assembly.

For driving a power plant with linear motion, an arc clutch engages and drives a power plant shaft in response to the arc clutch being rotated in a first angular direction and disengages from the power plant shaft in response to the arc clutch being rotated in a second angular direction that is opposite the first angular direction. The power plant is driven by the rotating power plant shaft. A motivator is physically connected to the arc clutch and transfers a linear motion to the arc clutch.

A system for employing gravity to provide electrical power for mining operations in a mine includes a battery configured to power an electric vehicle. The vehicle includes a kinetic energy capture system that can charge the battery as the vehicle conveys a loaded vehicle down a ramp from an ore face to a chamber. Traveling down the ramp produces a surplus charge in the battery due to a weight differential between a loaded vehicle traveling down a ramp producing more energy via the kinetic energy capture system than energy used by the vehicle to convey the empty vehicle up the ramp to the ore face. A discharging device disposed in the chamber is configured to discharge the surplus energy out of the battery and into the mine's power grid. One or multiple trips between the ore face and the chamber may fully charge the battery.

A system for employing gravity to provide electrical power for mining operations in a mine includes a battery configured to power an electric vehicle. The vehicle includes a kinetic energy capture system that can charge the battery as the vehicle conveys a loaded vehicle down a ramp from an ore face to a chamber. Traveling down the ramp produces a surplus charge in the battery due to a weight differential between a loaded vehicle traveling down a ramp producing more energy via the kinetic energy capture system than energy used by the vehicle to convey the empty vehicle up the ramp to the ore face. A discharging device disposed in the chamber is configured to discharge the surplus energy out of the battery and into the mine's power grid. One or multiple trips between the ore face and the chamber may fully charge the battery.

A suspension assembly includes a shock absorber arranged to damp linear motion of a piston portion relative to a surrounding cylinder portion. A lead screw is disposed within the shock absorber for conversion between linear kinetic energy and rotational kinetic energy. The suspension assembly also includes an electric motor displaced externally from the shock absorber, for conversion between rotational kinetic energy and electricity, and a transmission arrangement disposed outside the shock absorber, mediating between the shock absorber and the motor, and configured to transfer a resistance torque from the motor to the lead screw so as to modulate the damping of the linear motion.

A suspension assembly includes a shock absorber arranged to damp linear motion of a piston portion relative to a surrounding cylinder portion. A lead screw is disposed within the shock absorber for conversion between linear kinetic energy and rotational kinetic energy. The suspension assembly also includes an electric motor displaced externally from the shock absorber, for conversion between rotational kinetic energy and electricity, and a transmission arrangement disposed outside the shock absorber, mediating between the shock absorber and the motor, and configured to transfer a resistance torque from the motor to the lead screw so as to modulate the damping of the linear motion.

An electric vehicle comprises an electrical system and a hydraulic system. The electrical system comprises an electric power supply and an electric motor-generator connected to the drive train of the vehicle. The hydraulic system includes a pump, and a hydraulic actuator. At least one of the electrical system and the hydraulic system includes energy recovery means arranged to convert kinetic energy from the drive train to electrical energy or to convert kinetic energy from the hydraulic actuator into hydraulic pressure respectively. The electrical and hydraulic systems are connected such that the recovered energy may be converted from electrical to hydraulic energy and/or vice versa. The hydraulic system may further include a hydraulic accumulator.

An electric vehicle comprises an electrical system and a hydraulic system. The electrical system comprises an electric power supply and an electric motor-generator connected to the drive train of the vehicle. The hydraulic system includes a pump, and a hydraulic actuator. At least one of the electrical system and the hydraulic system includes energy recovery means arranged to convert kinetic energy from the drive train to electrical energy or to convert kinetic energy from the hydraulic actuator into hydraulic pressure respectively. The electrical and hydraulic systems are connected such that the recovered energy may be converted from electrical to hydraulic energy and/or vice versa. The hydraulic system may further include a hydraulic accumulator.

Methods and apparatus are provided for a vehicle electronic power system. In one exemplary embodiment an energy harvesting device is configured to generate electricity in response to vibration of the vehicle occurring during normal vehicle operation. The energy harvesting device may be tuned to a frequency that falls within a peak energy region in a vibration profile of the vehicle. The power system may further include a charging circuit connecting the energy harvesting device to a rechargeable battery provides electrical power to an electro-mechanical vehicle component or system.