WO1990008670A1

WO1990008670A1 - Apparatus for energy conversion

Info

Publication number: WO1990008670A1
Application number: PCT/NO1990/000015
Authority: WO
Inventors: Knut GÅSEIDNES; Inge Wengstad
Original assignee: Gaaseidnes Knut; Inge Wengstad
Priority date: 1989-01-25
Filing date: 1990-01-22
Publication date: 1990-08-09
Also published as: EP0455669A1; NO890316L; NO173292B; AU4943890A; NO890316D0; NO173292C

Abstract

A device for transforming energy from vibrating, periodically oscillating, and/or in other ways unwanted moved objects in connection to a carrier of a driving system for a transportation device. The object is connected to an energy transformer (9) that transforms kinetic energy to a form of energy that can be utilized for the driving system or to an energy consumer on the transportation device. An execution of the energy transformer (9) with a shock absorber (1) with a piston (2) on a piston rod (3) which together with the cylinder forms two chambers (5), utilize the pressure difference between the two chambers (5) with that it includes a pump (13, 14) which has the opposite compression stroke as the shock absorber (1). It can inside the shock absorber (1) be fitted a multi-stage membrane pump (9) with many chambers (22). With engines and/or machine shoe, the energy transformer (9) is constructed as elastic pillows (37) at the clamping point.

Description

Apparatus for energy conversion

The invention includes arrangements to transform energy in connection with movements as described in claim 1 of the patent. Background for the patent

A lot of constructions vibrate with intention or as a natural result of the way they arfa used. This movements can have different frequency and amplitude and involve diff¬erent amounts and kinds of mass, according to the types of equipment which are used, and whore they are used. Examples of processes and equipment with a movement which can be used after this model are: vehicles like cars, excavators, elevators and cranes, boats and other vehicles which are moved by waves, engines of different types and other equipment which because of theirs construction do not run smoothly or have vibrations in the shafts. It is known from some cases to transform such movements to useful energy. Existing examples of such utilization are normal wave power stations. Unloading pumps used in boats and a movable baffles which use the beates movements in waves to drive them forwards are other kinds of utilization of the wave energy. Similar principals are used for utilisation of an objects inertia. For instance when buses brake can the energy be stored on an oscillating wheel and be used to make the bus accelerate again.

To prevent that vibrations or other natural movements are making damages or unpleasantness it is usual to make them less perceptible with shock absorbers or similar arrangements. In conventional shock absorbers the natural movement energy is transformed to warmth which is lost to the surroundings. The purpose with the invention .

The main purpose with the invention is to produce art arrangement which transform the energy which normally are lost by different means off dampening the movements, to useful energy. Another purpose of the invention is to use the energy to regulate the levels of vehicles. A third purpose with the invention is to store energy for later use.

The basic principals of the invention.

The principal of this invention is to utilize the energy in said movements, vibrations or oscillations by using a shock absorber on the movements, which in the same time completely or partly, is a transformer of energy to a form which can do useful work, just as given in the patent claims.

With this invention the movement energy is used byplacing an energy transformer as an addition to or as compensation to the press, vibration or movement dampener.

The energy transformer itself can be of different types: - a pump which transforms the movement energy to pressure energy in an hydraulic or pneumatic system.

- an electrical generator which has linear or rotating movements

- friction which give heat and utilise it in a heat pump, store it in & magazine or use it to heating.

Examples of executions of the inventions

In the following pages the invention is described withexamples of executions with references to enclosed drawings where:

Fig.1 shows a principal sketch for a conventional shockabsorber. Fig.2 shows a principal sketch of an execution of a shock absorber in accordance to the invention.

Fig: 3 shows a horizontal axial cut through a shock absorber formed in accordance to the invention in a schematically form.

Fig: 4 shows a horizontal axial cut through another shock absorber formed in accordance to the invention in a schematically form.

Fig.5 shows a detail of the shock absorber in Fig.4.

Fig.6 shows an engine mounted on machine shoes in accordance to the invention.

Fig.7 shows the machine shoe in Fig.6 in details.

Fig.1 shows a conventional shock absorber 1, filled with oil or gas 5. This is used in several places today. The most usual application is to remove shock and smooth the movement of vehicles. Ordinary shock absorbers 1 works when piston 2, with a piston rod 3 moves inside a cylinder. The piston is furnished with openings 4 which give a leakage and absorbs the movement.

Instead of constructing the piston with an imagined leakage which results in friction and transport of the movement energy into warmth in the shock absorber, one can do according to in Fig.2 and put a restriction, a turbine 7 , in the sub loop 6. This turbine 7, can give energy to a generator of electricity, or a hydraulically or pneumatically operated pump (not shown).

Such a turbine 7, or another energy transformer can be placed both in an oil or gas stream outside the absorbing cylinder as shown in Fig.2. The execution in Fig 2 make use of that the movement in the piston pole 3 and in the piston 2, would lead to low and respectively high presssure in the two chambers made by the piston and the piston house. It is provided that the piston is tight to the inner walls of the cylinder. The difference of pressure is equalised through the pipe 6, which together with a turbine or similar 7 forms an energy transformer 3. Of course are other executions possible too with help of worm gear or other transforming devices.

An important fact in this case is that in shock absorber 1 or an energy transformer 9 which are constructed in this way is that the stiffness of the shock absorber easily can be adjusted.

Generators can also be made as own units and coupled against the equipment together with conventional shock absorbers and further utilisation of the rest of the energy. In shock absorbers can the linear movement utilization be used to operate other forms of energy, or instance in a pressure generator formed as a piston or an membrane pump. An execution of a membrane pump with a piston pump is shown in Fig.4

The shock absorber in Fig.4 with general reference 1, has an external house 8 (formed as a cylinder) with the fasten ca se 10 in the closed end and an inner piston 2 with a fasten case 11. The house 8 and the piston 2 are both generally formed as pipes and have integrated good known absorbing elements like springs and tightening systems for shock absorber media which are not shown.

Connected to or outside the shock absorber 1 it is placed a pump 9 with a house 13 and a piston 14. These parts can be fastened to each of the parts of the shock absorber with clamping brackets 15, 16 as shown. Another way is to draw the pump away from the shock absorber 1 without they been fastened to each other. In the example where the execution in accordance to the invention is meant for pneumatic operations, the piston 14 is formed as a pipe. In the end of the piston it is installed a valve 17 for air and a one way valve which lets air in when it is low pressure in the pump 9. An alternative way of forming the piston 14 on , is to tighten the valve 17 there, this gives better compression in the pump.

From the end of the house 13 it is led a preferably flexible pipe 20 with an one way valve 28 which lets compressed air into the upper part of the shock absorber 8 from the pump 9. When the absorber 1 moves like it is supposed while driving on a uneven foundation or road, the pump will get air from the suction valve. When the pump expands, something which happens in the same time as the shock absorber itself 1 are pushed together. The pump 9 strengthen the shock absorbers expansion movement by using the pressure which was made when the shock absorber got pressed together. If the shock absorber is placed between two parts of the vehicle which can be moved mutual in the vertical direction, this parts will get further apart from each other. This means in practice that the main part of the vehicles raised in respect to the ground. The shock absorber do not necessarily has to be installed vertically.

The lifting cylinder in the shock absorber does not has compression stroke at the same time as the pumping cylinder. This will result in that pressure will be built up in the pump when the wheels of the vehicle moves down wards, or with other words on the lowest level of the lifting cylinder. The compression power that is available for the pump 9 are after this restricted to the power spring (inclusive the air pressure.") which works downwards on the shock absorber 1. To take an ordinary small car as an example, there is available a spring power of 200 - 250 kg per wheel. In the practical execution of the shock absorber there have to be built in enough stages in the pump to give enough pressure to lift the main cylinder (or 1/4 of the weight of the car). A multi-stage pump should be used where the stages or pump chambers have the same stroke length as the lifting cylinder.

To regulate the level which the shock absorbers lifts the vehicle to, it is in the eκέimple made an outlet 18 which is opened by the piston 2 at a particular expansion. Through this opening pressurised air form inside the shock absorber will ventilated and take away the lifting action when a given level is reached. The example in Fig. 4 is simplified to make the explanation easier. In practice the pump 9 could fas integrated in the shock absorber itself as shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 shows the execution of a shock absorber 1 in accordance to the invention, where a pump 9 is integrated in the absorber 1 itself.

The shock absorber is of a common type, with main body like cylinders 8, piston 2 on a piston rod 3. in a surrounding capsule there is placed a membrane pump with multi stages 9, in the example with 5 chambers 22. An one way valve 25 is placed against the surrounding capsule and a one way valve 17 on the outside against the surroundings. These are placed in such a way that air can come in through the valve 17 with lew pressure in the pump, e.a. when it is pulled down by the movement of the housing 8 (this happens when the shock absorber expands). Air is blown into the chamber through the valve 25, in a similar way as shown in Fig. 3. Between each of the chambers 22 in the membrane pump 9 there are placed one way valves 234, a valve for regulating of levels 18 is placed to let out air with to much expansion of the shock absorber 1.

In Fig. 5 it is shown an enlarged detail 21 from Fig. 4 The piston rod 3 is shown, to the housing there are fixed a rod 24 with an cut in notch near the upper end. On the membrane pump 9 there is put in a spring loaded tap constructed to fit into the notch on the rod 24. When the cylinder housing 8 is being moved from the membrane pump 9, it is pulled downwards and because it is fastened at the upper part, pressure will be built up. This pressure is used to expand the shock absorber 1 and by this rise the vehicle. If the absorber is compressed too much, the tap 26 will get into the notch on the rod 24.

Energy transformers of this type will get a surplus energy, which can be used to load electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic accumulators and other energy stores. Pressurised air for instances can be used to level the vehicle as shown in Fiq. 4 and 5. Another important use of the pressurized air is for operation of pneumatic brake systems. Vehicles with a

"vibration compressor" on each wheel will have an essentially better security then a simple motor driven compressor system together with a pressure tank which are used with heavier vehicles to day.

Hydraulic and pneumatic energy which are gained on this can also be used for operating different servos and utility systems on the vehicle,

Combustion engines and other driving devices, process machines and similar ofteen run unevenly which gives vibrations and simultaneously lost of energy. This energy can be used by forming the engine and equipment clamping devices such that they are the energy transformers.

Different executions can be imagined. Among others it is possible to fasten the machine quiet loosely, and dampen the movements and vibrations with energy absorbing shock absorbers as written before.

Another possibility is to form the foundations or cla¬mps with elastic pillows, preferably rubber blisters that are filled with air or liquid and a one way valve system. Devices like this also makes it possible to adjust the stiffness of the clamps.

Fig, 6 shows a clamping element 35 like the one described used to fix a boats engine 30 into a boat 31, in a hollow in the floor. On the engine 30 there is fixed shoulders 34, that rests on the clamping elements 35, which again is fixed against the foundations 33.

Fig. 7 shows a detailed layout of the clamping element35 from Fig. 6. Here the energy transformer 9 according to the invention is formed as the clamping element 35 includes a rubber pillow 37, filled with a medium that under low pressure in the pillow flows in through the intake tube 38, through the one way valve 39. It assumed that the parts of the pillow that is placed against the engine shoulders 34 and respectively the foundation 33, is fixed to these in such a way that low pressure is formed when the engine is declining a way from the machine shoe. When the engine is declining the other way, against the machine shoe, high pressure is formed in the rubber pillow, with the result that the medium is flowing out through the tube 40 through a one way valve 41, and to a pressure transforming element 43. The element 43 is transforming the pressure to usable energy in a commonly know way. The amount of dampening and energy transforming can be regulated by means of the regulating valve 42.

The hydraulic energy that are formed in the energy transformer 9 at the engine clamps, especially when running idling and reversing, can be stored on a pneumatical hydraulic accumulator and used for instance to start the engine. A similar possibility is given for lawn mowers and other garden equipment that uses combustion engines.

It is also possible to use the energy which is liberated when an object are being moved from a high to a lower position. A good example of this is a hydraulic excavator. The arm of the excavator is lowered by the oil that is guided in to both sides of a duplex working eylinder, but very often also by the oil being choked through a valve and down to a low pressure tank. This continuously absorption of new energy very often rise problems with over heating the hydraulic system and cavitation of the pressure pump.

To solve the problem and use the energy when the excavator or the fork l ift are lowered whit cargo on one can replace the draining part of the regulating valves with turbines which again can drive different forms of energy transformers for instance as shown in the figures 2 - 7.

Claims

Patent claims

1. Device on vibrating, periodically oscillating, and/or in another way unwanted moved body that is integrated in a driving system ore are being linear moved and/or rotated in connection to a carrier for a driving system, this driving system is a part of a transportation device, where elements are used to dampen the unwanted movements, characterised by that the body is connected to a energy transformer (9) for transforming the kinetic energy to a form of energy fitted to be brought back to the driving system, or be used on an energy consumer on board the transportation device.

2. Device according to claim 1, with shock absorbers for vehicles, particularly cars, wheel running heavy construction equipment etc. where shock absorbers is fixed between a wheel bearing part that are following the ground and the vehicle's frame or support construction, and/or in connection with lifting/hoisting devices, specially when lowering heavy bodies from a higher to a lower position, said shock absorber (1) comprises a piston (2) on a piston rod (3) that together with the cylinder forms at least two chambers (5), characterised with that an energy transformer (9) is arranged to use the pressure difference between the chambers (5).

3. Device according to claim 1 - 2 , characterized with that the energy transformer (9) is a hydraulic or pneumatic pump that utilises the movement of the shock absorber.

4. Device according to claim 1 - 2, characterised by that the energy transformer (9) is formed by that chamber (5) is connected by a tube (6) that is guided through a turbine (7 ) , to drive it.

5. Device according to claim 1 - 4, characterised by that the energy transformer (9 ) is located inside the shock absorber (1) .

6. Device according to claim 1 - 4, characterised by that it includes a pump (13, 14) which has opposite compression stroke as the shock absorber (1) and which is arranged to generate pumping action with oscillating, linear power action, by that a one way valve (17) is located against a expansion chamber (19) such that pressure is risen in the pump (9), the high pressure is guided to a expansion chamber (19) in the shock absorber (1) to make it longer, and that there is fitted a device (18) which stops the expansion when it has reached a given predetermined elongation, to in this way to keep the vehicle's carrying construction on a given regulated level independent of its loading conditions.

7. Device according to claims 1 - 5, characterized by that inside the shock absorber (1) there is placed a multistage diaphragm pump (9) with many chambers (22) between which there are placed one way valves, the pump (9) is equipped with a spring loaded pin (26), which fits into a notch on a rod (24) fixed to the shock absorber main body (8), to pull, the membrane pump (9) down while the shock absorber (1) is expanding.

8. Device according to claim 1, on clamps for engines, and/or machine-shoe, characterised by that the clamping consist of one or more pillows (37) of an elastic material, preferably rubber, that is fixed to the engine on one side and to the transportation devices frame etc on the other side, in to which pillows (37) there arts guided a hydraulic medium through a tube (38) with a one way valve (39), when low pressure is formed in the pillows (37) by the engines taken a way from the clamps, and the medium is led cut from the pillows (37) through a tube (40) with a one way valve (41, regulating valve (42) to the energy transformer (43) when high pressure is formed in the pillows (37) when the engine are moved to wards the clamps.

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized by that the pressure is stored on a pneumatic/ hydraulic accumulator, preferably for driving the starting device of the engine.