VIBRATION-TO-ELECTRIC ENERGY CONVERTER

Abstract

The subject matter of the invention is a vibration-to-electric energy converter by translating reciprocating motion of vibrating elements of a vehicle to circular motion of a driveshaft of an electric generator, fitted with at least one drive unit containing a toothed gearing and at least one freewheel.

The converter according to the invention has a movable element (1) that transmits vibrations to two ends of a drive chain (3), finished with fixing elements (4) with nuts (5) used for tension adjustments and with tensioning springs (6), whereby the chain (3) interacts with a small cogwheel (7) of at least one gearing (PZ), coupled via a freewheel (10) with a large cogwheel (9) of that gearing, connected by means of a short chain (12) with a drive wheel (13) of at least one electric generator (14), where both the axis (8) of the gearing (PZ) and the generator (14) are fitted to a base (11) constituting an immovable element.

Claims

1. A vibration-to-electric energy converter by translating reciprocating motion of vibrating elements of a vehicle to circular motion of a driveshaft of an electric generator, fitted with at least one drive unit containing a toothed gearing and at least one freewheel, characterized in that it has a movable element (1) that transmits vibrations to two ends of a drive chain (3), finished with fixing elements (4) with nuts (5) used for tension adjustments and with tensioning springs (6), whereby the chain (3) interacts with a cogwheel (7) of at least one gearing (PZ), coupled via a freewheel (10) with a large cogwheel (9) of that gearing, connected by means of a short chain (12) with a drive wheel (13) of at least one electric generator (14), where both the axis (8) of the gearing (PZ) and the generator (14) are fitted to a base (11) constituting an immovable element.

2. A vibration-to-electric energy converter as per claim 1, characterized in that its movable element (1) has the form of a body, and a drive chain (3) is stretched between two of the body's arms (2, 2).

3. A vibration-to-electric energy converter as per claim 1, characterized in that its movable element (1) is permanently fixed to an arm of a lever element (17) constituting a double arm lever, and its other arm has two holes for the installation of fixing elements (4) with nuts (5) and springs (6) of a drive chain (3).

4. A vibration-to-electric energy converter as per claim 1 or 2 or 3, characterized in that its drive chain 3 interacts with small cogwheels (7, 7) of gearings (PZ, PZ), coupled via freewheels (10, 10) with large cogwheels (9, 9), connected by means of short chains (12, 12) with drive wheels (13, 13) of electric generators (14, 14).

5. A vibration-to-electric energy converter as per claim 4, characterized in that its gearings (PZ, PZ) are positioned next to each other, on two axes (8, 8).

6. A vibration-to-electric energy converter as per claim 4, characterized in that its gearings (PZ, PZ) are positioned on a single axis (8).

7. A vibration-to-electric energy converter as per claim 1 or 2 or 3, characterized in that its power unit is connected with an immovable element (11) that does not vibrate when the vehicle is in motion and a flexibly suspended movable element (1) that changes its relative position to the immovable element (11) in up-and-down movements.

8. A vibration-to-electric energy converter as per claim 7, characterized in that its immovable element (11) is a part of the vehicle's body, preferably the floor.

9. A vibration-to-electric energy converter as per claim 7, characterized in that its movable element (1) is fitted between the vehicle's wishbone and body.

10. A vibration-to-electric energy converter as per claim 9, characterized in that its movable element (1) is the vehicle's suspension.

Description

[0022] Example embodiments of the present invention are shown in a schematic drawing, where

[0023] FIG. 1 shows the front view of the first embodiment vibration-to-electric energy converter,

[0024] FIG. 2the front view of the second embodiment vibration-to-electric energy converter,

[0025] FIG. 3the side view of the second embodiment vibration-to-electric energy converter, and

[0026] FIG. 4the front view of the third embodiment vibration-to-electric energy converter.

[0027] The first embodiment of the vibration-to-electric energy converter according to the present invention has a movable element 1 that transmits the vehicle's vibrations and constitutes (in this particular embodiment) the converter's body. Between arms 2, 2 of the movable element 1 a drive chain 3 is stretched, finished with fixing elements 4 with nuts 5 used for tension adjustments. Between the arms 2, 2 of the movable element and the nuts 5 tensioning springs 6 are positioned, also serving the function of tensioning and additional propulsion.

[0028] The drive chain 3 interacts with two cogwheels 7, 7 of the gearing PZ, PZ positioned on the same axes 8, 8 with large cogwheels 9, 9 and freewheels 10 connected with them.

[0029] The axes 8, 8 are fixed to an immovable base 11, being part of the vehicle's body. The large cogwheels 9, 9 constitute a gearing and simultaneously serve as flywheels. The cogwheels 9, 9 are connected by means of short chains 12, 12 with toothed drive wheels 13, 13 of direct current generators 14, 14.

[0030] The drive chain 3 and the gearings PZ, PZ constitute drive units of the electric generators 14, 14.

[0031] In the second embodiment, the design of the converter is similar to that in the first embodiment, however a drive chain 3 interacts with one cogwheel 7, shared by both gearings PZ, PZ and with a wheel of a tensioner 15, while big cogwheels 9, 9 of the gearings PZ, PZ are positioned on the same axis 8 with the wheel 7 and receive torque from that axis via freewheels 10, 10. With the help of short chains 12, 12, the toothed wheels 9, 9 drive two opposite drive wheels 13, 13 of generators 14, 14, fixed on a base 11.

[0032] In the third embodiment, a drive chain 3 of the converter interacts with two small wheels 7, 7 of gearings PZ, PZ positioned on the same axes 8, 8 with large cogwheels 9, 9 and freewheels 10, 10 connected with them. A chain 3 goes through sprockets 16, 16 towards the center of the converter and is setby means of its fixing elements 4 with nuts 5 and tensioning springs 6 in two openings of a lever element 17 rotationally fixed on a support 18 and transmitting vibrations of a movable element 1, e.g. a vehicle's suspension.

[0033] Vibration-to-electric energy converters according to the present invention have been used in a passenger car at every wheel, thus obtaining eight independent power sources (electric generators), which proved to be a significant source of energy for the vehicle. Each vibrations converter was permanently connected with an immovable element 11 (in this case the vehicle's floor) that does not vibrate when the vehicle is in motion and with a movable element 1 (the vehicle's suspension) whose relative position to the immovable element (floor) 11 changes in up-and-down movements.

[0034] Energy in each of these devices was generated upon each change of the position of the movable element 1, i.e. the vehicle's suspension, in relation to the immovable element 11, i.e. the vehicle's floor. Such changes occurred both when the vehicle was in motion, i.e. from the time of opening the vehicle and starting the engine, when the vehicle started, when gears were shifted, while driving over uneven surface, when the vehicle tilted on turns, and finally while braking, turning off the engine and getting out of the vehicle, and while the vehicle was stationary, when micro vibrations were caused for instance by a passing vehicle or by a driver or passengers entering the vehicle, thus initiating kinetic energy through vibrations. Each time, the movable element 1 moved up and down. Each such movement was transmitted via the drive chain 3 to the small cogwheels 7 and 7 of the two independent drive units of the electric generators 14, 14. The drive chain 3 transmitted the entire energy of vibrations to two independent systems. Vibrations had different amplitudes and speeds, which could result in breaking the chain upon sudden movement. Therefore, the drive chain 3 is fastened by means of a system consisting of a threaded fixing element 4, allowing for adjusting its tension by means of locking and clamping nuts 5. In their turn, each of two tensioning (and simultaneously starting and propelling) springs 6 served important functions. The first one dampened sudden start of the system by becoming compressed. The other compressed spring, once it has reached its maximum compression, became released, smoothly returning the accumulated energy, thus reinforcing the system's impact on the electric generators 14, 14. As a result, the system was more efficient than it would have been without the springs.

[0035] When the movable element 1 (in this case: the vehicle's suspension) was moving up, the spring 6 was compressed between the suspension 1 and the locking and clamping nuts 5; subsequently it was released and set the small cogwheel 7 in motion. The cogwheel 7 was connected with the big cogwheel 9 by means of the freewheel 10. Once set in motion, the big cogwheel 9 transmitted energy via circular motion to the short chain 12 and then to the drive wheel 13 installed on the axis of the generator 14. As a result, even when the upward motion stopped, the system continued to operate, gradually reducing its power being slowed down by internal resistances and receivers of energy from the generator 14. The system's action was sustained or initiated by another upward movement of the movable element 1 (i.e. the vehicle's suspension).

[0036] The system behaved similarly during downward movement of the movable element 1. The spring 6 fitted between the movable element 1 (i.e. the vehicle's suspension) and the locking and clamping nuts 5 was compressed; when the spring's compression energy became smaller than the system's resistance, the spring began to release and thus to initiate the motion of the small cogwheel 7, positioned on the same axis as the large cogwheel 9, connected through the freewheel 10. The cogwheel 9 transmitted its energy by means of the short chain 12 to the drive wheel 13 of the generator 14, as a result of which the generator 14 generated electric energy, being the ultimate effect of the system's operation.

[0037] The use of the short chains 12, 12 to drive the generator 14, as shown in the above examples, does not preclude the possibility of using other solutions; for instance, the said chains could be replaced with another form of transmission. However, in the examples presented above, the chain was used because of the greatest efficiency in transmitting energy.

[0038] Furthermore, the said generators 14, 14 can generate direct or alternating current, depending on the needs. Such current can either be accumulated (as in the above examples), but it can just as well be immediately consumed.

KEY

[0039] 1.movable element, [0040] 2.arms of movable element, [0041] 3.drive chain, [0042] 4.fixing element, [0043] 5.locking and clamping nut, [0044] 6.tensioning spring, [0045] 7.small cogwheel of gearing, [0046] 8.gearing axis, [0047] 9.large cogwheel of gearing, [0048] 10.freewheel, [0049] 11.immovable element, [0050] 12.short chain, [0051] 13.drive wheel of electric generator, [0052] 14.electric generator, [0053] 15.wheel of tensioner, [0054] 16.sprocket, [0055] 17.lever element [0056] 18.support, [0057] PZ.gearing.