WO2003020578A2

WO2003020578A2 - Generator controlling user devices with accumulator, particularly for bicyles

Info

Publication number: WO2003020578A2
Application number: PCT/EP2002/008763
Authority: WO
Inventors: Julio Giuriolo
Original assignee: Glow S.R.L.
Priority date: 2001-08-29
Filing date: 2002-08-06
Publication date: 2003-03-13
Also published as: WO2003020578A3; AU2002333345A1; ITPD20010209A1

Abstract

A current generator composed of a plurality of permanent magnets (18) arranged in succession and associated with a rotating part (12) of the cycle (10), which face fixed pole shoes (40) on which a current is generated induced by field variation caused by the permanent magnets (18) that transit during motion. A unit (23) for rectifying and leveling the current produced by generation unit (22) is provided, which charges an accumulation unit (24) constituted by electric accumulators. A unit (29) for controlling and managing the current generator (22) and its devices (22, 23, 31) as well as a plurality of user devices (32, 33, 34), in particular, a headlight (14) and a taillight (15) for the cycle (10) and a detector (35) for checking the state of the ambient lighting, for complementing and/or recharging the energy accumulation unit (24) and for actuating the user devices (14, 15) are further provided.

Description

CURRENT GENERATOR WITH DEVICES FOR ACTUATING AND CONTROLLING USER DEVICES AND ACCUMULATOR MEANS, PARTICULARLY FOR CYCLES OR OTHER VEHICLES Technical field The electric current generator according to the invention is applied conveniently in cycles, tricycles or other similar vehicles in which the availability of an electric source is required in order to supply user devices, such as the headlight and taillight. Background Art It is known that currently generators known as dynamos are used which are substantially alternators that receive motion from a toothed roller placed in contact, by way of elastic means, with one of the tires of the cycle.

These conventional dynamos have many drawbacks.

A first drawback is due to the energy losses caused by mechanical actuation, to the generated noise, to the friction of the toothed roller on the tire, which generates heat, to the low pressure or excessive pressure of the toothed roller on said tire.

Another problem of these generators is the fact that the generated voltage is a function of the angular rotation rate, which is a function of the speed of the cycle.

This causes unpleasant variations in the light stream intensity of the headlight and the taillight, which can be insufficient in low-speed situations and can burn out the lamps at high speeds.

Another problem that can cause serious problems for the cyclist user is that the supply of power to the headlight and taillight ceases when the motion of the cycle ceases, and this can cause danger, for example if the cyclist is standing still in the middle of the road to turn left.

In practice it has been found that at the very moment when it would be necessary for the cyclist to indicate his dangerous position this cannot occur because no current is available to supply the lighting systems. Moreover, since there are moving parts, be they the rotating shafts and all the transmissions and supports, such as ball bearings or sliding bearings, connected thereto, there is a problem of deterioration and wear that in addition to reducing the yield of the dynamo itself causes additional effects of unpleasant noise.

Disclosure of the invention

The aim of the present invention is to provide a generator that overcomes the problems of normal dynamos in favor of the safety of the user and of the durability and efficiency of the user devices, i.e., of the headlight and taillight.

A consequent primary object is to provide a generator that is integrated with current accumulation devices, so as to allow the operation of the user devices even when the cycle is not moving.

Another object is to provide a generator in which there are no sliding means and kinematic connections subject to wear or causing noise.

Another object is to provide a generator that is integrated with means for controlling and managing the input current that are such as to optimize and allow new and different functions with respect to the state of the art.

This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a current generator with devices for actuating and controlling user devices and with accumulator means particularly for cycles or other moving vehicles, characterized in that it comprises: a) at least one current generation unit, which is constituted by a plurality of permanent magnets arranged in succession and associated with a rotating part of the cycle, which face fixed pole shoes on which a current is generated which is induced by the field variation caused by the plurality of passing permanent magnets; b) a unit for rectifying and leveling the current produced by the generation unit, suitable to make it unidirectional and make it assume a set maximum value: c) a unit for accumulating the energy produced by the generator and processed by the rectifying and leveling unit; d) a unit for controlling and managing the current generator and its devices as well as a plurality of user devices; means being further provided for checking the state of the ambient lighting, for complementing and/or recharging the energy accumulation unit and for actuating said user devices. Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment, given only by way of non-limitative example and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view of a cycle where the parts of the generator, the accumulation unit and the user devices are shown; Figure 2 is a more detailed view of a sector on which permanent magnets are arranged;

Figure 3 is a more detailed view showing the arrangement of pole shoes; Figure 4 is a view of an embodiment for a connection of the pole shoes to the fork of the front wheel of the cycle; Figure 5 is a schematic view of the concatenation of the various units for producing, using, and controlling the produced current. Ways of carrying out the invention

With reference to the figures, the cycle is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 and it is of interest to highlight therein the frame 11, the front wheel 12, the fork 13 of the front wheel, the headlight 14 and the taillight 15.

Multiple arc-like sectors 17, shown more clearly in Figure 2, are fixed to the spokes 16 in the front wheel 12.

These arc-like sectors 17 support a plurality of successive permanent magnets 18. A support 20 is fixed to the fork 13 by means of a clamp 19 and contains a plurality of pole shoes 40 with corresponding windings on which the induced current due to the transit of the magnets 18 in front or by them, is generated; since said magnets are mutually spaced, they generate an alternating electrical field.

The arrangement of the pole shoes 40 follows the arc of the arc-like sectors 17, so that the relative movement of the magnets 18 is matched by the arrangement of the pole shoes 40.

A container 21 is provided in the cycle 10 and contains electrical accumulators.

Figure 5 illustrates a diagram of the concatenation of the means for managing, using, and controlling the generated current.

In this diagram, the generation unit is now designated by the reference numeral 22 and supplies the rectifying and leveling unit 23, which in turn supplies the accumulation unit 24.

The accumulation unit 24 can be supplied not only by the generation unit 22 but also by solar cells 25 with an adaptation assembly 26; said solar cells can reside directly on the cycle.

Conveniently, said solar cells can be of the flexible type, so as to adapt them for example to a fender.

The accumulators can also be recharged or complemented by means of another system of external accumulators 27 or by an equivalent means normally known as energy pack.

Another source for supplying and recharging the accumulation unit 24 is constituted by a power supply 28, which is connected to a normal current distribution network which, by virtue of a socket provided in the accumulation unit 24 or by means of a so-called contact-free device, allows to top up the accumulators of the accumulation unit 24 for example when the cycle is not moving, is not in use, during the night, et cetera. The system also has a control and management unit 29, which by means of sensors 30 controls the state of each unit while it also controls, by way of additional sensors and actuation devices 31, the user device 32, which is for example the headlight 14, the user device 33, which is the taillight 15, and additional user devices 34, all of which are supplied by the accumulation unit 24.

The control and management unit 29 also has a sensor 35 that checks the brightness of the environment.

Clearly, the layout is indicative but is sufficient for a person skilled in the art to understand the concatenation and composition of the current generator and of its controls.

From what has been described and illustrated, the structure of the generator and the functionality of the control systems are evident.

The generator does not have parts that are mechanically or kinematically interconnected, and this allows to avoid wear, noise, heating and any other energy loss.

Conveniently, the magnets, which have been shown as belonging to sectors connected to the spokes of the wheel, may be positioned on the wheel rim on the outside and even on the inside thereof.

Moreover, in order to avoid problems linked for example to the fact that the magnets attract and retain metallic particles that might interfere with motion, it is possible to place the magnets together with the pole shoes and to move sectors made of ferromagnetic material which, by creating a discontinuity or variation in the closure of the magnetic circuits, generates a field variation and therefore an induced current. In an equivalent manner, the magnets and the pole shoes can be arranged in the crank/multiplier assembly of the cycle, and therefore, in this case, they can be protected so as to avoid all problems.

The current generated by the generator depending on the speed of the cycle has variable frequency and voltage characteristics; accordingly, the rectifying and leveling unit ensures that the output current is unidirectional and has a constant maximum voltage.

This voltage is selected so as to be the one that supplies the accumulators in the optimum manner.

There might be more than one generation unit, and in this case said units can be connected in parallel and in series, indeed to be able to adapt in the best way the current and voltage characteristics that supply the accumulators.

As mentioned, the accumulation unit or units can have other recharging sources, such as solar cells provided on the cycle or external energy packs to be used when the cycle is not moving or mains recharges by virtue of suitable adaptors of a known type.

The brightness detector activates, by means of the control and management unit, the user devices when the environment has an excessively low brightness. The control unit 24, by way of movement sensors or by controlling the voltage or frequency of the generated current, establishes the state of motion of the cycle, so that when the cycle is not moving the user devices are switched off after a preset time.

Conveniently, the user devices can be switched off also when the frequency of the generated current that corresponds to the speed of the cycle is so low that it indicates that the cycle is being pushed by hand, a situation in which it is not necessary to activate the lighting system.

In the case of a temporary stop, which occurs for example when the cyclist is waiting to turn and the waiting time is due to the fact that the road to be crossed is not free, the headlight reduces its brightness in order to reduce consumption, while the taillight flashes so as to indicate more evidently the position of the cyclist, who is motionless for example in the center of the road, which is one of the greatest dangers for his safety.

The delay in switching off the lamps can be extended by reactivating the time manually if the wait is longer than the set time; obviously the control and management unit can be implemented with a plurality of other functions that can arise for example from the possibility to reverse the polarity in output of the accumulators, thus allowing to activate different functions.

From what has been described and illustrated it is evident that the proposed aim and objects have been achieved and that in particular a high- yield generator has been provided which allows a maximum safety system.

The materials and the dimensions may of course be any according to requirements.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. PD2001A000209 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A current generator with devices for actuating and controlling user devices and with accumulator means (24), particularly for cycles (10) or other moving vehicles, characterized in that it comprises: a) at least one generation unit (22), which is constituted by a plurality of permanent magnets (18) arranged in succession and associated with a rotating part (12) of the cycle (10), which face fixed pole shoes (40) on which a current is generated which is induced by the field variation caused by the plurality of permanent magnets (18) that pass during motion; b) a unit (23) for rectifying and leveling the current produced by the generation unit (22), adapted to make it unidirectional and make it assume a set maximum value; c) a unit (24) for accumulating the energy produced by the generation unit (22) and processed by the rectifying and leveling unit (23); d) a unit (29) for controlling and managing the current generating unit (2) and its devices (22,23,31) as well as a plurality of user devices (32,33,34); means (35) being further provided for checking the state of the ambient lighting, for complementing and/or recharging the energy accumulation unit

(24) and for actuating said user devices (32,33,34).

2. The generator according to claim 1, characterized in that said plurality of permanent magnets (18) is associated with the spokes (16) of one (12) of the wheels of the cycle (10) and is preferably constituted by a succession of arc-like sectors (17) arranged on an imaginary circle with which the magnets

(18) are associated.

3. The generator according to claim 1, characterized in that said plurality of permanent magnets (18), is associable with the rim of one (12) of the wheels of the cycle (10).

4. The generator according to claims 1 and 3, characterized in that said magnets (18) are arranged on the outer surface of said wheel rim.

5. The generator according to claims 1 and 3, characterized in that said magnets (18) are arranged on the inner part of the wheel rim of the cycle (10).

6. The generator according to claim 1, characterized in that said plurality of permanent magnets (18) is associated with the crank/multiplier assembly of the cycle (10).

7. The generator according to claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that said pole shoes (40) are fixed and arranged to face a region of transit of said permanent magnets (18), so as to be affected by a variable magnetic field.

8. The generator according to claim 1, characterized in that said magnets (18) are located together with the pole shoes (40) and are fixed with respect to the structure (11) of the cycle (10), with ferromagnetic sectors transiting in front of them to produce field variation and therefore induced current.

9. The generator according to claim 1, characterized in that said rectifying and leveling unit (23) for the current produced by the generation unit (22) converts the alternating or pulsed current of the generation unit (22) into a unidirectional current having a constant maximum value suitable to recharge the accumulators of the accumulation unit (24).

10. The generator according to claims 1 and 6, characterized in that it comprises multiple generation units (24) and multiple rectifying and leveling units (23), the outputs of which are connectable in parallel and in series so as to adapt the resulting current to the energy accumulators (24).

11. The generator according to claim 1, characterized in that said accumulation unit (24) is supplied by solar panels with cells (25) provided at said cycle (10).

12. The generator according to claims 1 and 11, characterized in that said solar cells (25) are conveniently of the flexible type and arrangeable, for example, on the fenders of the cycle.

13. The generator according to claim 1, characterized in that said accumulation unit (24) is complemented or recharged by an external accumulator or energy pack (27).

14. The generator according to claim 1, characterized in that said accumulation unit (24) is provided with a socket or with a contact-free system to be recharged from the mains by way of a power supply (28).

15. The generator according to claim 1, characterized in that it has an ambient brightness detector (35) that activates the user devices, in particular the headlight (14) and the taillight (15), at a preset level of darkness.

16. The generator according to claim 1, characterized in that said control and management unit (29) checks the rotational state of the wheels (12) of the cycle (10), switching off the user devices (14,15) in the condition in which the speed of the controlled wheel (12) is zero, in a stationary cycle, and/or lower than a set angular velocity of the wheels, in a hand-pushing cycle.

17. The generator according to claims 1 and 16, characterized in that said user control and management unit (29) delays the switching off of said user devices (14,15) for a preset time after sensing the state in which the wheel (12) is not moving, for a temporary stop, said delay time being manually triggerable.

18. The generator according to claims 1 and 16, characterized in that said control and management unit (29) is adapted, when the cycle (10) is not moving, to reduce the brightness of the headlight (14) and to activate the flashing of the taillight (15).