Electromagnetic Kinetic Energy Harvester

Abstract

A harvesting system that includes a dynamo with a rotor and a stator, a push magnet that is attached to the rotor or is a part of it, a moving magnet that moves from a first position to a second position, and a push back magnet. The repulsive magnetic force that is exerted by the moving magnet on the push magnet in the second position is greater than that force in the first position. The moving magnet moves from the first position to the second position and causes the rotor to rotate from a dynamo first position to a dynamo second position that causes the dynamo to produce current. When the moving magnet moves back to the first position the dynamo returns to its first position due to magnetic force that the push back magnet exerts on the push magnet.

Claims

1. A harvesting system, comprising: a dynamo that comprises a rotor and a stator, the stator is designed to be connected to a body, a push magnet that is attached to the rotor or that is a part of the rotor, a moving magnet that is capable to move from a first position to a second position, a push back magnet; wherein a repulsive magnetic force that can be exerted by the moving magnet on the push magnet in the second position is greater than the repulsive magnetic force that can be exerted by the moving magnet on the push magnet in the first position; wherein when the moving magnet moves from the first position to the second position it can cause the rotor to rotate from a dynamo first position to a dynamo second position; wherein a rotation of the rotor from the dynamo first position to the dynamo second position causes the dynamo to produce current; wherein when the moving magnet moves back to the first position then the dynamo returns to the dynamo first position due to repulsive force that the push back magnet can exert on the push magnet.

2. The harvesting system according to claim 1, wherein said push magnet comprises an upper pole and a lower pole; wherein when said moving magnet is in said first position it is closer to the upper pole than to the lower pole and exerts an attractive magnetic force on the upper pole, and when said moving magnet is in said second position it is closer to the lower pole than to the upper pole and exerts a repulsive magnetic force on the lower pole that causes said dynamo to rotate from said dynamo first position to said dynamo second position.

3. The harvesting system according to claim 1, wherein said push back magnet comprises a right magnet and a left magnet, and wherein said moving magnet is positioned between the right magnet and the left magnet, and is designed to be away from the push magnet while in said first position and to be closer to the push magnet while in said second position.

4. The harvesting system according to claim 1, wherein said push back magnet comprises a right magnet and a left magnet, and wherein said moving magnet is positioned between the right magnet and the left magnet, and is designed to be away from the push magnet while in said first position and to be closer to the push magnet while in said second position; wherein said rotor of said dynamo comprises an inner magnet that constitute the push magnet, and wherein the stator comprises a coil that is attached to said body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0011] FIGS. 1, 2(a), 2(b) and 3 describe Prior art.

[0012] FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are General description of direction converter.

[0013] FIGS. 5(a)- 5(d) depict and embodiment of the invention using direction converter.

[0014] FIGS. 6(a)- 6(b) depict an embodiment described in FIG. 5 with an addition of restoring magnet.

[0015] FIGS. 7(a)-7(f) depict a second embodiment of the invention.

[0016] FIGS. 8(a)-8(c) depict a third embodiment of the invention.

[0017] FIGS. 9(a)-9(c) depict a fourth embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Reference is made to FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) that describe a direction converter in which a movement in one direction is converted to a movement in another direction. In FIG. 4(a), magnet (11) is in first position. The magnet is designed to move in the vertical direction when force F is applied on it. In FIG. 4a magnet (11) is forced to face magnet (12) because of the attractive force between the S side of magnet (11) and the N side of magnet (12). FIG. 4b describe the state of the harvester when a force F is applied on magnet (11) and moves it downwards such that the S side of magnet (11) is facing the S side of magnet (12). In this position, magnet (11) applies a repulsive force on magnet (12) and moves it to the left towards magnet (14). The movement of magnet (12) when the repulsive forces applied on it by magnets (11) and (14) equals zero. When the force F is removed the repulsive force between magnet (14) and magnet (12) and the attracting force between magnet (12) and magnet (11) are designed such that magnet (11) returns to the first position. The movements of magnet (12) relative to coil (15) induces current in the coil that may be harvested using an appropriated electric circuit.

[0019] Reference is made to FIG. 5 that describes a kinetic harvester (1) that uses the direction converter described in FIG. 2. In this embodiment device (2) is a dynamo such that (21) is the rotor and (22) is the stator. Magnet (3) is fixed to the rotor (21) of dynamo (2). Magnet (4) is fixed to cap (6) that may move downwards when a force is applied.

[0020] FIG. 5a describes the module in a first position. In this position the S side of a moving magnet (4) is facing the N side (upper pole (31)) of a push magnet (3) such that attractive force is formed between these two magnets. FIG. 5b describes the module in a second position when force F is applied on a cap (6) that displaces the moving magnet (4) downwards such that the S side of the moving magnet (4) is facing the S side of the push magnet 3. In this position magnet (4) applies a repulsive force on magnet (3) that rotates rotor (21) of dynamo (2) relative to the stator (22). The dynamo rotation is stopped by a counter force that the S side of a push bake magnet (5) applies on the S side (lower pole (32)) of the push magnet (3) as shown in FIG. 5c. When force F is removed, the repulsive force between magnet (5) and magnet (4) and the attractive force between the N side of magnet (4) and the S side of magnet (4) rotates the rotor back to its first state and moves cap (6) with magnet (4) back to the first state as described in FIG. 5d. The back and forth rotation of rotator (21) around stator (21) generates electricity in the dynamo that is harvested using an appropriated power management circuit.

[0021] Reference is made to FIG. 6 that shows the embodiment described in FIG. 5 with an addition of two keeping away magnets (61) and (62) that are arranged such that repulsive force is generated between the two magnets. FIG. 6a describes the device when a force is applied on the cap and the cap is pressed and FIG. 6b describes the device when the force is removed and the cap returns to its firs position, partly due to the repulsive force between magnet (61) and magnet (62). It is noted that a spring may be used as a restoring force.

[0022] Reference is made to FIG. 7a describing another embodiment of this patent. This embodiment companies the same components as the embodiment descried in FIG. 5 except for that magnets (3), (4) and (5) are repeated every 90 degrees around dynamo (2). In FIG. 7b cap (6) with four of magnets (4) is in a first position. In FIG. 7b an impact force F is applied on the cap that pushes the cap and four magnets (4) down to the second position. A fast impact will generate a high force between magnets (4) and magnets (3) that will rotate rotor (21) such that magnets (3) is shifted to position B that is beyond magnets (5) as described in FIG. 7d. Once the impact is removed and the cap with magnets (4) is shifted to the first position, the rotor will rotate in the same direction to position C which is the same as position A but at 90 degrees rotation.

[0023] Reference is made to FIG. 8 that describes another embodiment of this invention. This embodiment comprises a moving magnets, (4), and pushback magnets (5) such that magnets (5) are fixed to the device body (7), and magnet (4) is designed to be positioned in its first position at the upper side of the magnets (5) and is designed to move in the vertical direction when a vertical force is applied. Magnet (3) is preferably a cylindrical magnet that is supported by a hinge (31) that is fixed to the body (7) and is free to rotate around it. In FIG. 8a Magnet (4) is at is first position.

[0024] When force F is applied on magnet (4), it is displaced downwards until it reached a stop (8) and rotates magnet (3) as described in FIG. 8b. When the force is removed magnet (4) returns to its first position due to repulsive force that is applied by the S side of magnets (5) on the S side of magnet (4), and as a result of attractive force that is applied by the S side of magnets (5) and the N side of magnet (4). In addition, magnet (3) rotates back to its first position due to the repulsive force between the S side of magnets (5) and the S side of magnet (3)

[0025] The rotations of magnet (3) generate electricity in coil (22) that is harvested using an appropriated power management circuit. For simplicity, coil (22) is represented in FIG. 8 by a small rectangular. Magnet-coil configurations for converting movement into electricity are well known, and it is clear that any such magnet-coil configuration may be used.

[0026] Reference is made to FIG. 9 that describes another embodiment of this invention. This embodiment comprises a moving magnets, (4), and pushback magnets (5) such that magnets (5) are fixed to the device body (7), and magnet (4) is designed to be positioned in its first position at the upper side of the magnets (5) and is designed to move in the vertical direction when a vertical force is applied. Magnet (3) is preferably a cylindrical magnet that is supported by a hinge (31) that is fixed to the body (7) and is free to rotate around it. In FIG. 9a Magnet (4) is at is first position.

[0027] When force F is applied on magnet (4), it is displaced downwards until it reached a stop (8) and rotates rotor (21) of dynamo (2) due to repulsive force that is generated on magnet (3) that is fixed to the rotor as described in FIG. 9b. When the force is removed magnet (4) returns to its first position due to repulsive force that is applied by the S side of magnets (5) on the S side of magnet (4), and as a result of attractive force that is applied by the S side of magnets (5) and the N side of magnet (4). In addition, rotor (2) rotates back to its first position due to the attractive force between the S side of magnets (5) and the N side of magnet (3).

[0028] The rotations of rotor (2) generate electricity in the dynamo (2) that is harvested using an appropriated power management circuit. The dynamo may be comprised of different magnet-coil configurations for converting movement into electricity and is a well-known art. It is clear that any such magnet-coil configuration may be used.

[0029] In general, we can say that the present invention discloses the harvesting system (1) that includes the dynamo (2) that comprises the rotor (21) and the stator (22) that is designed to be connected to the body (7). The harvesting system (1) also includes the push magnet (3) that is attached to the rotor (21) or that is a part of the rotor, and the moving magnet (4) that is capable to move from the first position to the second position, and the push back magnet (5). As explained above, the repulsive magnetic force that is exerted by the moving magnet (4) on the push magnet (3) in the second position is greater than the repulsive magnetic force that is exerted by the moving magnet (4) on the push magnet (3) in the first position, and when the moving magnet (4) moves from the first position to the second position it causes the rotor (21) to rotate from a dynamo first position to a dynamo second position, and the rotation of the rotor (21) from the dynamo first position to the dynamo second position causes the dynamo to produce current. When the moving magnet (4) moves back to the first position then the dynamo returns to the dynamo first position due to repulsive force that the push back magnet (5) exerts on the push magnet (3).

[0030] In another embodiment, the push magnet (3) comprises an upper pole (31) and a lower pole (32), and when the moving magnet (4) is in the first position it is closer to the upper pole than to the bottom pole and exerts an attractive magnetic force on the upper pole, and when the moving magnet (4) is in the second position it is closer to the lower pole than to the upper pole and exerts a repulsive magnetic force on the lower pole that causes the dynamo to rotate from the dynamo first position to the dynamo second position.

[0031] In another embodiment, the said push back magnet (5) comprises a right magnet (51) and a left magnet (52), and the moving magnet (4) is positioned between the right magnet and the left magnet, and is designed to be away from the push magnet while in the first position and to be closer to the push magnet while in the second position.

[0032] In another embodiment, the push back magnet (5) comprises the right magnet (51) and the left magnet (52), and the moving magnet (4) is positioned between the right magnet and the left magnet, and is designed to be away from the push magnet while in the first position and to be closer to the push magnet while in the second position, and the rotor (21) comprises an inner magnet (211) that constitute the push magnet (3), and the stator (22) comprises a coil (221) that is attached to said body (7).