WO2014198341A1

WO2014198341A1 - Device for generating energy using energy from impacts or vibrations

Info

Publication number: WO2014198341A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/062421
Authority: WO
Inventors: Laurent Villerouge
Original assignee: Laurent Villerouge
Priority date: 2013-06-14
Filing date: 2013-06-14
Publication date: 2014-12-18

Abstract

The device for producing energy, designed to be placed between a moving or vibrating element and an inert element, comprises means for recovering part of the impact energy generated by an impact or vibrations of the moving element with respect to the inert element. These means comprise an electrical generator positioned between a first part and a second part, which are movable relative to one another, the electrical generator comprising: - an upper part that is vertically movable relative to a lower part, one of those parts being rigidly connected to the stator of an electric motor, - mechanical means for converting the relative vertical movement between the two parts into a rotating movement of the rotor of said electric motor.

Description

ENERGY GENERATING DEVICE USING SHOCK ENERGY

OR VIBRATIONS

The object of the present invention is an electro-active device for the recovery of energy from shocks or vibrations.

Objectives of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide an autonomous power generation device coupled to a minimum storage member that is robust, long-lasting and inexpensive to install and maintain.

Presentation of the invention

The invention relates to a device for producing energy, intended to be placed between a mobile or vibrating element and an inert element, said device comprising means for recovering part of the impact energy generated by shock or vibration of the movable element vis-à-vis the inert element, these means comprising an electric generator disposed between a first part and a second parts, movable relative to each other, said electrical generator comprising

an upper part vertically movable relative to a lower part, one of these two parts being secured to the stator of an electric motor,

mechanical means for transforming the relative vertical movement of the two parts into rotary movement of the rotor of said electric motor.

According to a preferred embodiment, the mechanical means for transforming the relative vertical movement of the two parts of the generator, into rotary movement of the rotor of said electric motor, comprise a worm secured to the rotor of the electric motor, said worm being driven into rotation by the vertical displacement of a nut.

According to a particular implementation, the device also comprises a helical spring disposed between the upper and lower parts of the generator.

In a particular embodiment, the device comprises at least one damper adapted to serve for the suspension of the movable element vis-à-vis the inert element, said damper being of the type comprising a cylinder and a movable piston in the cylinder, a chamber being formed inside said cylinder, and an electromagnetic generator being disposed inside said chamber.

The invention aims in a second aspect a machine comprising an element rotated by an electric motor, and at least one device as exposed disposed between the rotated element, and an inert portion of said machine.

The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising at least one device as described. Presentation of figures

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better appreciated thanks to the description which follows, description which sets out the characteristics of the invention through a non-limiting example of application.

The description is based on the appended figures which represent:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of the elements involved in the implementation of a device according to the present description, in the case of a washing machine with frontal opening,

FIGS. 2a and 2b: two side views of an electromagnetic screw generator, complete, or showing the internal elements,

FIGS. 3a to 3c: detailed views of a model of an electromagnetic screw generator, in sectional view (FIG. 3a), in perspective view of a detail (FIG. 3b) and in full perspective view (FIG. 3c) ,

FIG. 4: a block diagram of an electrical assembly using the device of the invention,

Figure 5 is a schematic view of the elements involved in the implementation of a device according to the present description, in the case of an upper opening washing machine.

Description of an embodiment

In a first embodiment, given here by way of non-limiting example, a vibration energy recovery device is installed on a front-opening drum type washing machine 1 (see FIG. 1).

As can be seen in the figure, which illustrates such a machine without its outer cover and its electronics, the washing machine 1 comprises, in a manner known per se, a rotary drum 2, disposed within a sealed housing 3. The rotary drum 2 is driven by an electric motor 4, here disposed under the rotary drum 2. The assembly formed by the rotary drum 2, its housing 3 and the electric motor 4 is suspended on four dampers 5, which are recovered on a frame 6 of the machine support and ground support.

In the present implementation, each damper 5 comprises an electromagnetic screw ball generator (not shown in Figure 1).

In the present example, the dampers are of the type comprising a cylinder and a piston movable in the cylinder. A chamber is provided inside said cylinder, and an electromagnetic generator is disposed within the chamber. In an exemplary embodiment, an electromagnetic screw ball generator has in the upper part a flap 122, here secured to the frame of the rotary drum 2, having a flat portion and a rounded tip 121. In the lower part, the base 123 of the electromagnetic screw generator 108 is secured, via the bottom of the damper 5, to the frame 6. The flap 122 is freely movable along the vertical axis Z opposite the base 123.

A helical spring 124, comprising in the present nonlimiting example two to three turns, is disposed between the flange 122 and the base 123, as shown in Figures 2a, 2b, 3a, 3c. This helical spring 124 is dimensioned such that the bearing force generated by the vibrations of the rotary drum 2, distributed on the electromagnetic screw generators 108 does not cause a movement bringing the flap 122 into abutment.

This coil spring 124 brings the flap 122 upwards in the rest position, after a compression of the coil spring 108 connected to a support on said flap.

Inside the flange 122 is disposed a nut 125 in which a worm 126 moves (see Figure 3a). The nut 125 and the worm 126 are arranged along the vertical axis Z. The worm 126 can not move vertically with respect to the base 123. The worm 126 is secured against the mobile part of a ball bearing, whose fixed part is secured to the base 123 of the generator 108.

Therefore, during a vertical movement of the flap 122, the nut 125, driven downward along the vertical axis Z, causes a rotation of the worm 126 around this vertical axis Z. The worm 126 rotates the axis 129 of the rotor 127 of an electric motor. This drive is achieved through a bearing and a coupling disposed between the worm 126 and the axis of the motor 129. Alternatively, it is possible to directly integrate a worm gear in the motor gear to reduce the height of the generator and remove the coupling.

The stator 128 of this electric motor is secured to the base of the electromagnetic screw generator 108.

The operating principle of an electromagnetic screw generator 108 is as follows.

A vertical linear displacement of the flap 122 is transformed into rotary motion by the ball screw device 125, 126. The worm 126 is secured to the shaft of the electric motor, thereby driving the rotor 127 in rotation. The electric motor is used in generator operation. In this example, it supplies a battery 109.

The generator has a free axis to allow an endless rotation of the stator as long as there is movement between the upper part and the lower part of the generator, thus using a principle of spinning top and bottom bracket.

In the case of a generator integrated in a damper, a reservation is made within the damper, to house the electric motor and the ball screw is secured to the lower or upper part of the damper. With each movement of the latter, the crushing of the internal components causes the ball screw which itself rotates the engine, the device also includes a free axis, type of what is used on the rear wheels of the bicycle so that when the damper relaxes (elongation), the motor continues to rotate like a router and maintains the movement, itself maintained by shock or vibration. The kinematic chain of this electromagnetic screw generator 108 and the components used give it a very good energy efficiency. The development of this electromagnetic screw generator 108 is based on the use of "shelf" components, with respect to the ball screws 125, 126 and the motor 127, 128.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram given here by way of non-limiting example, of a conversion electronics that can be used in association with a generator as described above.

The operating principle is as follows:

The output voltage of an electromagnetic screw generator 108 is rectified by a full-wave bridge 130. A storage capacitor C1, visible in FIG. 10, is dimensioned to promote the efficiency of the system, ensuring a wide range of current conduction.

A DC / DC boost converter 131 known per se, with an average output power of 3W and a maximum transient of 5W, makes it possible to extract the energy from the storage capacitor C1, starting from a voltage of 0.9. V (and up to about 5V) to a DC bus 2 regulated at 5V.

The battery charger 132 is a component dedicated to Lithium-ion type batteries and allows good management of the charge of the battery 109.

Two diodes D2 and D3 make it possible to improve the efficiency of the DC / DC boost 131 converter. Indeed, if the electronics is in charge, and that the BUS DC 1 is loaded by activations related to bearings on ball screw generators, the output current is provided directly by the BUS DC 2. The The output current of the battery charger 132 is then only dedicated to the charging of the battery 109.

The battery 109 only provides power if the voltage of the storage capacity

C1 is less than 0.9V, which limits the close charging and discharging cycles of the battery, and increases its life.

In the event of a failure of the system in an open circuit, or of non-charging of the battery 9, a diode Dp allows a current flow.

In the implementation example described here, the recovered energy is used to heat the water entering the washing machine, or to participate in the power supply of the electric motor. This results in a decrease in the consumption of the machine to which these damper generator are associated.

In an implementation variant, illustrated in FIG. 5, the washing machine is of rotary drum type around a vertical axis (this is the case of a washing machine with an opening on the top). In this variant, it is customary for the driving motor 4 to be placed under the drum 2, in the axis of said drum. The block comprising the rotary drum 2 and the electric motor 4 is suspended from four dampers 5 arranged, for example, in the corners of the support frame 6. Each damper 5 (here represented in the purely schematic but non-limiting form of a spring helical) comprises an electromagnetic screw ball generator as described above. In yet another implementation, an intermediate device for energy recovery is placed between the floor and a washing machine with or without energy recovery damper. In this case, the intermediate device comprises an upper portion which supports a washing machine. This upper part is suspended on a lower part by means of a set of dampers ball screw generators. The lower part is adapted to be placed on the ground, and is optionally equipped with anti-slip systems, so as to maximize energy recovery. More generally, a generator (or a set of generators ball screw) is disposed between a vibrating machine (industrial machine, washing machine, etc.) and the ground or a fixed vertical wall. The energy of the vibrations is transformed into electrical energy, and a damping effect is simultaneously obtained. The stiffness of the helical spring is then adapted 1 / to the amplitude of the vibrations considered, this amplitude being previously determined, and 21 to the frequency of these vibrations.

In the case of an industrial machine, the generator comes to bring electrical energy to the latter.

Advantages

The device as described is feasible low cost, with a view to carrying out large series of a system of energy recovery.

variants

In an alternative embodiment, a ball screw generator is disposed in the upper part of a motor vehicle damper, so as to be biased with each movement of said damper. In this way, each shock or vibration related to the movement of the vehicle generates energy production, while contributing to the damping effect.

We mean by vehicles, any type of land vehicle such as, auto, motorcycle, scooter, subway train wagon, tram, locomotive, bus, truck, aircraft landing gear.

The impact on the generator takes place on the return to the shock absorbers, or the descent on the cylinder blocks, see the oscillation of the latter.

It can also be placed outdoors. The rod included in the damper then serves to actuate it. In a variant, the oscillation of the arm connecting the chassis to the dampers causes a rotation of the engine in the cylinder block. For vehicles, the generator comes to power either the electric motors if they are hybrid or electric vehicles, or any other electrical device on board. In another embodiment, a generator may be disposed at the trunk of a vehicle between the opening part and the fixed part. In this configuration, the generator is driven by the helical spring during opening, and produces energy, for example to power a ceiling lamp or a light-emitting diode lamp illuminating said trunk. The principle of the generator can also be used when closing the doors or tailgates.

Claims

1. A device for producing energy, intended to be placed between a mobile or vibrating element and an inert element,

characterized in that it comprises at least one damper adapted to serve for the suspension of the movable element vis-à-vis the inert element, said damper being of the type comprising a cylinder and a piston movable in the cylinder, a chamber being provided inside said cylinder, said device comprising means for recovering part of the impact energy generated by an impact or vibration of the movable element with respect to the inert element, said means being formed of an electromagnetic generator disposed within said chamber.

said electric generator comprising:

an upper part movable relative to a lower part along a so-called vertical axis, one of these two parts being secured to the stator of an electric motor,

mechanical means of transforming the relative vertical movement of the two parts into rotary movement of the rotor of said electric motor

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the mechanical means of transforming the relative vertical movement of the two parts of the generator (8) in rotary motion of the rotor of said electric motor comprises a worm secured to the rotor of the electric motor. said auger being rotated by the vertical displacement of a nut, the device having a free axis, of the type used on the rear wheels of the bicycle so that when the damper relaxes (elongation) , the electric motor continues to turn like a top and maintains the movement, itself maintained by shocks or vibrations.

3. Device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it also comprises a coil spring disposed between the upper and lower parts of the generator (8), the coil spring being dimensioned so that the force of support generated by the vibrations the mobile part does not cause a displacement bringing said moving part in abutment.

4. Washing machine of the type comprising a rotary drum suspended by a set of dampers which are recovered on a support frame of the washing machine, characterized in that it comprises at least one device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3.

5. Machine comprising an element rotated by an electric motor, characterized in that it comprises at least one device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, arranged between the rotated element, and an inert portion of said machine.

6. Vehicle, characterized in that it comprises at least one energy recovery device according to one of claims 1 to 4.

7. Motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises at least one energy recovery device according to one of claims 1 to 4, a ball screw generator being disposed in the upper part of at least one damper of said vehicle automobile, so as to be solicited for each movement of said damper.

8. Motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises at least one energy recovery device according to claim 3, a generator being disposed at a luggage compartment of said vehicle between an opening part and a fixed part, the generator being driven by the helical spring during opening, and producing energy, for example to supply a ceiling lamp or a light-emitting diode lamp illuminating said trunk.