Apparatus for Generating Energy from a Fluid Flow Induced Movement of a Contacting Surface Structure Relative to an Opening to a Cavity in a Frame

Abstract

A generator moving through a medium has a contacting surface structure relative to a frame with a spring coupled between the two. The contacting surface structure also has an electrogenerative portion coupled to the contacting surface structure and the frame, such as a piezoelectric or electromagnetic structure, although other types of structures are known within the art. The movement of the frame through the medium exerts forces upon the contacting surface structure which causes contacting surface structure movement relative to the base structure through the electrogenerative portion. The spring provides a force upon the contacting surface structure in response to the force from the fluid flow.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 61 / 508,694, filed Jul. 18, 2011, in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and is a divisional of application Ser. No. 13 / 551,593 filed Jul. 17, 2012.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The preferred embodiments of the invention are directed to the field of power generation.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Generators harnessing energy from a fluid flow (such as air) are known within the art, however such generators typically have turbines or propellers which have a large cross-section. The movement of the medium creates a motive force upon the turbine or propeller, which is connected to a device to convert the movement into electricity. But the large cross-sections of these traditional designs increase the amount of wind resistance presented by the generators, limiting the practicality of their application in certain fields.[0006]For example,...

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Benefits of technology

[0014]It is also an object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide a generator that operates more independently of the direction of movement of a particular medium. It is also an object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide a generator that is less susceptible to large motive forces and more structurally robust under such extreme circumstances. It is another object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide a generator design more capable of accommodating a number of varied flow speeds. It is another object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide a generator design that is reduced is size, complexity, and cost.

[0015]It is also an object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide a generator with a small form-factor. It is also an object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide an electric generator that utilizes wind power with a relatively limited cross-section. It is also an object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide an electric generator that does not significantly increase drag or alter the aerodynamics and / or wind resistance of the base structure. It is also an object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide a generator which is modular, stackable in series and / or parallel, and scalable, providing multiples of combinations depending on available space and power requirements.

Problems solved by technology

But the large cross-sections of these traditional designs increase the amount of wind resistance presented by the generators, limiting the practicality of their application in certain fields.

For example, the prior art describes a vehicle having a wind tunnel and turbine generator, but the aerodynamic limitations of the turbine are not ideal for vehicular applications.

Those disclosures created wind resistances which would substantially decrease fuel efficiency.

The designs introduce drag and a blocking obstacle in the fluid flow and require supporting structures which greatly affect the cross-sectional aerodynamics.

Prior devices typically required large structures and / or large motive forces, which often mean that the devices could only be operated under certain conditions or in certain locations.

These devices also typically have many moving parts, which increase the need for maintenance and the potential for breakdown.

These devices also face increased stresses as motive forces increased, requiring designs or use that compensated for high speed or shut down to avoid damage.

Furthermore, the output from these devices varies substantially with the relative velocity of the medium, often requiring the design to compensate for velocities outside of a tolerance range.

For example, the aerodynamic cost from the cross-sectional shapes of many of these designs is too high for certain applications, such as in vehicular applications.

Additionally, the mechanical complexities of some of the devices have been a noted concern, resulting in high cost, difficult maintenance, and overall complicated manufacturing.

Other designs are unidirectional and not able to be accommodating of changing directions of fluid flow without additional rotational structures.

Some of the designs are also dependent on the speed of fluid flow, with limited efficiency or effectiveness outside of a narrower range of preferred flow speeds.

Some designs may even break down at excessive speeds, as has been shown in test flights of generators at altitude.

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