Device for Generating Energy and Method for Use of the Device

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A device for generating energy comprising: an inverted pendulum comprising an arm oscillating about a pivot point and a mass arranged on the arm; and a spring preserving the equilibrium of the inverted pendulum; wherein the spring comprises at least one piezo generator for generating energy from the oscillating movement.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one piezo generator is a spring preserving the equilibrium of the inverted pendulum.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein mgl.sin <K. wherein: m is the mass arranged on the arm g is the gravitational acceleration l is the distance from the mass to the pivot point K is the spring constant of the spring including the spring constant of the at least one piezo generator is the angle of the arm to the direction of the force of gravity.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, comprising at least two piezo generators arranged diametrically opposite each other relative to the pivot point.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4, comprising a base and a support plate arranged parallel to the base, wherein the at least two piezo generators are arranged between the base and the support plate and wherein the arm is arranged perpendicularly of the support plate.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a battery and an electrical circuit for charging the battery with the energy generated by the at least one piezo generator.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a wind-break arranged on the free end of the arm.

8. A method for use of a device as claimed in claim 1, comprising: providing the device; deforming the at least one piezo generator of the device with a small force; and extracting from the piezo generator the energy obtained by the deformation.

9. The method as in claim 8, wherein the small force comes from at least one of: a gust of wind, a vibration of a vehicle, an external magnetic force, rain, waves or ambient vibrations, and force of gravity.

10. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein mgl.sin <K. wherein: m is the mass arranged on the arm g is the gravitational acceleration l is the distance from the mass to the pivot point K is the spring constant of the spring including the spring constant of the at least one piezo generator is the angle of the arm to the direction of the force of gravity.

11. The device as claimed in claim 3, comprising at least two piezo generators arranged diametrically opposite each other relative to the pivot point.

12. The device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a battery and an electrical circuit for charging the battery with the energy generated by the at least one piezo generator.

13. The device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a battery and an electrical circuit for charging the battery with the energy generated by the at least one piezo generator.

14. The device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a battery and an electrical circuit for charging the battery with the energy generated by the at least one piezo generator.

15. The device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a wind-break arranged on the free end of the arm.

16. The device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a wind-break arranged on the free end of the arm.

17. The device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a wind-break arranged on the free end of the arm.

18. The device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a wind-break arranged on the free end of the arm.

Description

[0040] These and other features of the invention are further elucidated with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0041] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the device according to the invention.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows schematically the energy generated by a piezo generator as a result of a brief external force.

[0043] FIG. 3 shows schematically the circuit of a piezo generator with a rectifier bridge.

[0044] FIG. 4 shows a top view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention.

[0045] FIGS. 5A and 5B show an embodiment of a device according to the invention in respectively a neutral position and a position in which it is not in equilibrium.

[0046] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of device 1 according to the invention. Device 1 has a base 2 and a support plate 3 arranged parallel thereto. Arranged between base 2 and the support plate are two piezo generators 4, 5, both having a resilient property as a result of the piezo material. An arm 6 with a mass 7 at the free end is positioned perpendicularly of support plate 3.

[0047] When a gust of wind F presses against mass 7, the equilibrium of arm 6 will be disturbed and the arm will start oscillating about the neutral position, which is drawn in full lines in FIG. 1.

[0048] Due to the oscillating movement of mass 7 and arm 6 piezo generators 4, 5 will be alternately compressed over a certain distance dx. When the one piezo generator 4 is compressed, the other piezo generator 5 will meet with less pressure or will even expand slightly. Because piezo generators 4, 5 act as a spring, the oscillating movement of arm 6 and mass 7 will be slowed down and device 1 will once again return to the neutral position.

[0049] In order to ensure that device 1 returns once again to the neutral position, it is necessary to comply at least with mgl.sin <K. . m is here the mass 7, g the gravitational acceleration (typically 9.8 m/s.sup.2), l the distance from the centre of gravity of mass 7 to the pivot point of support plate 3. is the angle of arm 6 to the direction of the force of gravity and K is the spring constant around the pivot point of support plate 3. This spring constant K is put together from the spring constants of piezo generators 4, 5. Although not recommended, additional spring elements can further optionally be provided in order to obtain a desired spring constant, wherein the equilibrium of the pendulum cannot be disturbed.

[0050] FIG. 2 shows schematically the energy E generated by piezo generators 4 plotted against the time t, from the moment that the force F disturbs the equilibrium of device 1. The energy E of the piezo generator is rectified here by a rectifier bridge 6, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0051] Because of the spring constant K device 1 will return once again to a neutral position after a number of oscillations, which is shown in FIG. 2 by the decreasing amplitude.

[0052] It is also apparent from FIG. 2 that it is not easy to use the energy E directly to provide an electrical component, such as for instance a lamp, with current. The lamp will flash during oscillation of device 1.

[0053] In order to equalize these fluctuations in the generated energy, a control can be provided which uses energy to charge a battery. The battery can then provide a constant current which can power for instance a lamp to be on continuously.

[0054] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment 10 of a device according to the invention. A base 11 is shown under which a number of piezo generators 12 are arranged with the centres distributed evenly on a circular path 13, on which generators the base 11 rests in the centre of path 13. On the upper side of base 11 a mass 14 is arranged in the centre of path 13.

[0055] FIGS. 5A and 5B show an embodiment 20 of a device according to the invention. In FIG. 5A the device 20, which is constructed from a piezo generator 22 fixed to ground 21 and a rigid mass 23 mounted thereon, is in the neutral position. At the moment that force G acts on rigid mass 23, device 20 will take on the position shown in FIG. 5B, in which it is temporarily not in equilibrium. Piezo generator 22 is deformed here. The energy from this conversion can be used. The gravity acting on mass 22 hereby ensures an efficient conversion.

[0056] Known in addition from the publication WO 2014/135551 A1 is an inverted pendulum comprising an arm oscillating about a pivot point and a mass arranged on the arm, and also comprising a piezo generator, although it is here not the piezo generator which preserves the equilibrium of the inverted pendulum.