Wheel generator

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wheel generator, i.e. a transducer for generating electrical energy from the deformation of a vehicle wheel tyre in contact with the road surface in a rolling wheel of a vehicle, to a system for generating electrical energy comprising said transducer, and to a vehicle or wheel comprising said system.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a wheel generator, specifically a converter for obtaining electrical energy from the rolling wheels of a vehicle from the deformation of the wheel tires due to contact with the road surface. The invention also relates to a system for obtaining electrical energy, and a vehicle or wheel including said system. Existing technology

[0002] Vehicle tires, especially pneumatic tires, deform under load on their contact surface area during rolling. In this process, the tire flexes, losing energy due to heat during power transmission. This effect is called flexing.

[0003] The force required to cause tire flexing is a major component of rolling resistance and is opposite to the vehicle's driving force. On the one hand, increased flexing directly leads to increased fuel consumption and further shortens tire life. On the other hand, a certain degree of tire deformation and the resulting increase in tire contact area with the ground is beneficial, helping to increase the vehicle's traction coefficient and improve driving comfort. Therefore, the tire pressure setting for pneumatic tires usually involves a trade-off between flexing and vehicle traction.

[0004] Energy loss due to tire flex is one of the major components of a vehicle's total energy loss, along with air resistance. Therefore, especially in the field of electric vehicles, the development of energy recovery systems that utilize vehicle tire flex (energy recovery, particularly for powering vehicle batteries) has been a focus for many years.

[0005] Various methods and systems exist in the prior art for harvesting energy from or within vehicle tires, primarily for supplying electrical power to various tire monitoring sensors (such as tire pressure sensors) located within the tires.

[0006] WO 2015 / 054763 A1 discloses a generator in a tire, in which reciprocating motion is generated by the slight deformation and reduction of the space between the wheel and the tire that occurs inside the tire when the wheel contacts the ground, and the device is activated to make the generator rotate.

[0007] Furthermore, EP 3 540 921 A1 discloses an energy converter for generating electrical energy in the rolling wheel of a vehicle by utilizing the elastic deformation of the wheel between the drive plane and the wheel's central axis. The energy converter has a lever element with a protruding arm rotatably mounted about a rotation axis, wherein the lever element is configured to be arranged in the wheel of the vehicle such that deformation of the tire tread toward the wheel's central axis generates a force acting on a contact surface of the protruding arm, and the force acting on the contact surface causes the protruding arm to rotate in a pump-like reciprocating rotational direction about the rotation axis.

[0008] However, in converters known in the prior art, there is direct contact between the wheel tire and the lever or protruding arm firmly attached to the rim. It has been shown that at higher speeds (typically, a car tire may not exceed approximately 50 km / h), this direct contact between the lever and the wheel tire causes considerable heat generation in the tire material at the contact point, leading to softening and increased stickiness, damaging the wheel, and ultimately causing generator failure.

[0009] US 2004 / 0130157 A1 discloses a wheeled vehicle that has a mechanical pump, preferably a hydraulic pump, in its tires. As the tires roll, the weight of the vehicle inflates a reservoir. The pressure in the reservoir is used to directly or indirectly drive the vehicle. The pump is driven by supports for load-bearing rollers. These contact a specially designed bead on the inside of the tire.

[0010] In all known transducers in the prior art, the lever elements are further arranged at an angle much smaller than 45º to the inner surface of the tire. On the one hand, this reduces the force generated due to the direct contact between the lever and the inner surface of the tire at the contact point. However, on the other hand, this reduces the effective displacement of the lever elements, i.e., the range of angles they sweep during movement. Summary of the Invention

[0011] The purpose of this invention is to provide a converter for obtaining electrical energy from the rolling wheels of a vehicle from the deformation of the wheel tires due to contact with the road surface. This converter does not have the problems of the prior art and, in particular, can ensure reliable operation with high efficiency even at high speeds.

[0012] According to the invention, this objective is achieved by a converter for obtaining electrical energy from the rolling wheels of a vehicle from the deformation of a wheel tire due to contact with the road surface. The converter comprises: at least one lever element, rotatably encapsulated at a first end and configured at a second end to contact the inside of the wheel tire via at least one contact element, such that the deformation of the wheel tire due to contact with the road surface causes rotational movement of the lever element; a mechanical coupling element adapted to transmit the force generated by the rotational movement of the lever element; and at least one generator configured to convert the force, preferably transmitted by the mechanical coupling element, into electrical energy. The contact element is rotatably encapsulated about a rotation axis at the second end of the lever element, such that the contact element establishes contact between the lever element and the wheel tire. The rotation axis of the contact element extends substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the wheel, and the sum of the distance A from the fulcrum N of the lever element (1) to the wheel center M and the distance B from the fulcrum N to the contact point K between the contact element and the inside of the wheel tire is (A+B). The ratio (A+B) / R relative to the radius R of the inner side of the wheel tire is in the range of 102% to 110%, wherein, in the case of multiple contact elements in each lever element, the contact point is the contact point with the largest distance from the fulcrum N. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0013] This invention is based on the understanding that, in the case of known generators, the levers or protruding arms of the generator, which are firmly attached to the rim, generate friction when they are in direct contact with the wheel tire, thus generating a large amount of localized heat. During its flexural motion, the wheel tire performs a non-linear motion relative to the rim; that is, starting from the rim as a reference system, the movement of the defined portion of the wheel tire in contact with the road surface during wheel rotation is not linear, but rather occurs on a single surface. In the case of levers or protruding arms that are only rotatably mounted, when the wheel rotates, the wheel tire and the corresponding contact surfaces of the levers or protruding arms thus undergo relative motion, resulting in friction between them. The latter appears to cause malfunctions in known generators, especially at higher speeds, below approximately 50 km / h for typical automobile tires. Furthermore, the angle between the lever element and the inner surface of the tire is much less than 45º. On the one hand, this reduces the force generated due to the direct contact between the lever and the wheel tire at the contact point, thereby reducing friction. However, on the other hand, this reduces the effective displacement of the lever element, i.e., the range of angles they sweep during movement.

[0014] According to the present invention, it has now been surprisingly discovered that this problem can be solved by a combination of several measures, namely, by the fact that, on the one hand, at least one contact element (typically a roller or a portion of a roller (roller segment)) is rotatably encapsulated at the second end of the lever element, such that the contact element establishes contact between the lever element and the wheel tire, and the axis of rotation of the contact element extends substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel. The contact element is rotatably encapsulated at the second end of the lever element about its axis of rotation and establishes contact between the lever element and the wheel tire. Due to its rotatable mounting, it is able to compensate for the relative movement between the wheel tire and the lever element through its own rolling motion, thereby minimizing or preventing friction between the wheel tire and the lever element. On the other hand, if the ratio (A+B) / R of the sum of the distance A from the fulcrum N of the lever element to the wheel center M and the distance B from the fulcrum N to the contact point K (the contact point with the largest distance from the fulcrum N in the case of multiple contact elements for each lever element) relative to the radius R of the inner side of the wheel tire is in the range of 102% to 110%, then the displacement of the lever elements (i.e., the range of angles they sweep during movement) increases significantly. This range of values ​​for (A+B) / R means that the arrangement of the lever elements is more "stretched" compared to the prior art, such that these lever elements are arranged almost perpendicularly opposite the inner side of the tire. Although this increases the force and relative motion between the wheel tire and the lever elements, it achieves high efficiency because the effective drive of the generator can only be ensured by increasing the range of angles swept by the lever elements during their movement.

[0015] The invention will now be described in further detail based on preferred embodiments.

[0016] The converter according to the invention for obtaining electrical energy from the rolling wheels of a vehicle (where the wheels typically include wheel tires filled with compressed air) from the deformation of the wheel tire due to contact with the road surface includes at least one lever element, which is rotatably encapsulated at a first end and configured to contact the inside of the wheel tire via at least one contact element, such that the deformation of the wheel tire due to contact with the road surface causes rotational movement of the lever element.

[0017] The rotational motion of a lever element is generally understood as a partial rotation (pivoting motion) of the lever element at its first end about the axis of rotation N. Therefore, the lever element is specifically designed to detect, by means of contact elements, the deformation of the wheel / tire occurring in the contact surface area during the rolling motion of the loaded wheel on a substantially flat drive plane, and convert this deformation into rotational motion about the axis of rotation N at the first end of the lever element. Thus, the lever element itself does not directly contact the inner surface of the tire, but only via at least one contact element. According to one embodiment of the converter, it or the lever element is therefore configured such that the contact surfaces of the contact elements of the lever element are designed to establish contact with the inner surface of the wheel / tire.

[0018] The lever element is rotatably mounted at its first end, preferably on a support structure or the rim of a wheel. In principle, due to the flexural motion of the inner side of the wheel tire (i.e., movement toward the rim), the lever element can thus rotate partially, and the direction of rotation N of the first end of the lever element can have any direction substantially parallel to its corresponding contact surface inside the wheel tire. In a preferred embodiment, the fulcrum of the lever element extends substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel.

[0019] Within the scope of this invention, "basically parallel" preferably means a deviation from parallelism of less than 10º, more preferably less than 5º.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the lever element is designed as a single unit. In this embodiment, it preferably supports one (especially only one) contact element on which it is rotatably mounted. In an equally preferred alternative embodiment, the lever element is formed as at least two parts, i.e., composed of at least two (preferably only two) parts, which are mechanically connected and preferably partially rotatable relative to each other. For example, a first part of the lever element forms a first end on which the lever element is rotatably mounted, and a second part constitutes a second end supporting the one or more contact elements. The partial rotatability of the first part relative to the second part allows the rotational movement (rocking movement) of the lever element to be compensated during contact between the contact element and the inside of the flexed tire, while maintaining contact between the contact element and the inside of the tire. In this alternative embodiment, the lever element preferably supports at least two (especially only two) contact elements on which it is rotatably mounted, particularly on the second part. Particularly preferably, in an alternative embodiment, the lever element is thus composed of a first part and a second part, the first part having a first end, and the second part constituting a retaining element for at least two, preferably two, contact elements, and therefore preferably constituting a rolling slider. The latter is configured such that two contact elements can simultaneously contact the inner side of the wheel tire (the inner surface of the tire). In this way, the contact surface on the inner side of the wheel tire is increased, thus reducing the point force and point load on the wheel tire. The second part (hereinafter also referred to as the "slider") is mounted in such a way that it is partially rotatable on the lever element, i.e., when the lever element is, for example, "pulled out" from the rest position, contact is achieved between all the contact elements carried by the slider and the wheel tire. In a preferred embodiment, when the contact elements contact the inner side of the wheel tire, the distance between the axes of rotation of the contact elements carried by (each) slider is approximately equal to (±10%, preferably ±5%) the distance between the axes of rotation of two adjacent contact elements of the second (directly) adjacent lever element. For example, the distance between the axes of rotation of the second contact elements carried by each slider of preferably 8 or 12 lever elements is preferably approximately equal to (±10%, preferably ±5%) the distance between the axis of rotation of the contact element of the first slider and the axis of rotation of the nearest contact element of the (directly) adjacent slider. In other words, the angle β spanned by the two rotation axes of the slider's contact element relative to the rotation axis of the wheel is preferably approximately 360º / 2*n, where n is the number of lever elements or sliders. Therefore, the angle β spanned by the two rotation axes of the slider's contact element relative to the rotation axis of the wheel is preferably approximately half (±10%, preferably ±5%) of the angle α between the two lever elements. Angle α is the rotation axis of two adjacent lever elements (or...) Figure 14As shown, the lever elements are positioned identically (and the axis of rotation of the slider is also the angle spanned by the axis of rotation of the wheel relative to the axis of rotation of the wheel). Therefore, angle α corresponds to 360º / n, where n is the number of lever elements. In this embodiment, when the contact elements contact the wheel tire at approximately the same distance, the force distribution is uniformly distributed on the wheel tire (the inner surface of the tire). With 12 lever elements and two rollers for each slider, 24 approximately equal (±10%, preferably ±5%) spaced contact elements contact the inner surface of the tire (the angle β between the two contact elements of one slider and the respective adjacent contact elements of two adjacent sliders is approximately 15º (±10%, preferably ±5%)). The approximately equal spacing of contact elements on the inner surface of the tire also results in a more uniform transfer of energy to the lever elements, because this means that in typical flexural deformation, such as in a car or truck tire, at least two lever elements always shift simultaneously through their sliders.

[0021] In one embodiment, the (preferably two) contact elements of the slider (preferably, when they are designed as rollers) are surrounded or wound with a belt. For example, the belt runs directly around the two rollers, or also around a deflection roller, which may also be disposed on the slider. The surrounded contact elements (preferably rollers) make contact with the inside of the tire via the belt. This increases the effective contact surface between the contact elements and the inside of the tire, and thus reduces the point load, thereby reducing the load on the tire. For example, the belt may be designed as a V-belt or multiple V-belts to prevent it from detaching from the rollers.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the converter has at least two (particularly at least 6 to 16, most preferably 8 to 12) lever elements arranged rotationally symmetrically about the axis of rotation of the wheel.

[0023] The lever element of the converter according to the invention includes at least one contact element. The lever element contacts the inside of the tire via the contact element, such that deformation of the wheel and tire due to contact with the road surface causes (partial) rotational movement of the lever element. This means that the lever element has at least one contact element rotatably mounted in or on the lever element at a second end, such that the contact element establishes contact between the lever element and the wheel and tire.

[0024] The lever element preferably does not directly contact the inside of the wheel tire at any position (under normal operation) where it rotates about its axis of rotation at its first end. Instead, if the lever element has been correspondingly rotated about its axis of rotation towards the tire surface (away from the rim), only the one or more contact elements contact the inside of the wheel tire. The axes of rotation of the one or more contact elements are substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel. If there is more than one contact element on the lever element, their axes of rotation are parallel. The possibility that the contact element is rotatably mounted on the lever element on the one hand and rotates about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel on the other allows the relative movement between the wheel tire and the lever element to be compensated, thereby minimizing friction between the wheel tire and the lever element. The contact element is preferably substantially rotationally symmetrical about its axis of rotation in terms of its dimensions, at least in the area in contact with the inside of the wheel tire. Specifically, it is therefore a roller or a partial roller (roller segment). The roller has a substantially cylindrical shape (the axis of rotation of the contact element corresponds to the cylindrical axis) and may have a cylindrical outer surface that curves outward in a circular shape (barrel roller). A typical suitable radius for the contact element, i.e., the preferred roller radius, is a radius in which the ratio of the contact element's radius to the inner radius of the wheel tire (around the wheel center) is in the range of 0.04 to 0.08, preferably in the range of 0.05 to 0.07. Therefore, particularly for automobile tires, a typical suitable roller radius is in the range of 18 mm to 30 mm. The contact element is preferably free to rotate relative to its fulcrum, particularly 360º. This means that the contact element can preferably rotate freely about its axis of rotation, especially completely about its own axis, which is rotatably mounted and fixed to a lever element or slider about the axis of rotation. This ensures uniform contact between the contact element and the inner side of the wheel tire, even at higher speeds.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment, the ratio A / R of the distance A from the fulcrum N of the lever element to the center M of the wheel to the inner radius R of the wheel tire is in the range of 0.55 to 0.60 (preferably, 0.56 to 0.59).

[0026] According to a preferred embodiment, the ratio B / R of the distance B from the fulcrum N of the lever element to the contact point K between the contact element and the inner side of the wheel tire (the one with the largest distance from the fulcrum N in the case of multiple contact elements in each lever element) to the inner radius R of the wheel tire is in the range of 0.44 to 0.55 (preferably 0.45 to 0.53, particularly 0.46 to 0.50).

[0027] In the converter according to the invention, a lever element rotatably encapsulated at its first end can contact the inside of the wheel tire via at least one contact element. This means that the sum (A+B) of the distance A from the fulcrum N of the lever element to the center M of the wheel and the distance B from the fulcrum N to the contact point K (where, in the case of multiple contact elements for each lever element, the contact point is the one furthest from the fulcrum N) between the contact element and the inside of the wheel tire is greater than the radius R of the inside of the wheel tire. According to the invention, the ratio (A+B) / R of A+B to the radius R of the inside of the wheel tire is in the range of 102% to 110%, particularly in the range of 103% to 107%.

[0028] The radius R here always refers to the radius of the unloaded tire from the center of the wheel to the inner side of the tire (the inner surface of the tire). The fulcrum of the lever element N refers to the point where the lever element is fulcrumped at its first end.

[0029] The converter according to the invention also includes a mechanical coupling element. This is configured and adapted to transmit the force generated by the rotational movement of the lever elements, preferably to the one or more generators. Typical suitable mechanical coupling elements are gears and axles, belts, chains, etc. The mechanical coupling element preferably includes at least one ring, chain, or belt with external or internal teeth, particularly toothed belts and / or multi-V belts. The force of all the lever elements of the converter is preferably transmitted to a common mechanical coupling element, such as a ring, chain, or belt with external or internal teeth, particularly toothed belts and / or multi-V belts. The latter mechanical coupling element is thus frictionally connected to all the lever elements of the converter. This allows the one or more generators to be driven more continuously. The mechanical coupling element is also preferably frictionally connected to all the generators. By distributing the total energy generated by the lever elements to several generators, they can operate continuously, which allows for efficient energy recovery with minimal material input.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment, the converter includes a mechanical coupling element designed as a belt, particularly a V-belt, toothed belt, or multi-V-belt, which establishes frictional connections between all the converter's lever elements (preferably eight or particularly twelve) and all the generators (preferably three). Preferably, the belt is guided around rollers connected to the lever elements, and alternately around free-rotating rollers (deflection rollers) or rollers connected to the generators (generator drive rollers). Optionally, and particularly preferably, the belt is guided on two rollers, each connected to an adjacent lever element, followed by a free-rotating roller or optionally a roller connected to the generator. Thus, in the last embodiment, the belt most preferably runs on 12 rollers, each connected to a lever element, with three free-rotating rollers and three rollers connected to the generators.

[0031] Finally, the converter according to the invention includes a generator configured to convert the force obtained through the rotational movement of the one or more lever elements and preferably transmitted by a mechanical coupling element into electrical energy. In a preferred embodiment, the converter has at least two (particularly at least 2 to 12, most preferably 3 to 8, for example three or four) generators arranged rotationally symmetrically about the axis of rotation of the wheel. The number of lever elements is preferably a multiple of the number of generators.

[0032] The rotor of a generator typically moves via a mechanical coupling element, while the stator is connected to a wheel support element / rim. All generators are preferably driven simultaneously via mechanical coupling elements.

[0033] Optionally, the generator rotor moves via a direct connection to a lever element, such as a flywheel clutch or a coupling element attached to or connected thereto, such as a connecting wheel; the stator is connected to a support element / rim of the wheel. In this embodiment, the force of the lever element is transmitted via a mechanical coupling element to all flywheel clutches of the lever element, and through these flywheel clutches to the generators, preferably simultaneously to all generators, thereby driving these generators.

[0034] For example, in order for the generator to be driven at a suitable speed even with relatively small displacement of the lever element and therefore small movement of the mechanical coupling element, the converter has a gearbox or transmission (preferably via the mechanical coupling element, preferably present in each generator) according to a further preferred embodiment, which is configured to generate a defined transmission between the (partial) rotational movement of the lever element and the rotational movement of the generator's rotor. For example, the gearbox and / or transmission is configured to generate a transmission between the rotational movement of the lever element and the higher-speed rotational movement of the rotor toward the rotor, particularly a transmission with a ratio of 1:2 to 1:10. Alternatively or optionally, the corresponding transmission can be ensured by frictional connection between the lever element and the mechanical coupling element and / or between the mechanical coupling element and the generator. Preferably, the appropriate speed of the generator is ensured solely by the transmission between the lever element and the mechanical coupling element and / or between the mechanical coupling element and the generator.

[0035] To ensure continuous movement of the mechanical coupling element and thus power transmission, it is preferable that the one or more lever elements transmit force to the mechanical coupling element via a flywheel clutch (i.e., a clutch dependent on the direction of rotation). Therefore, the converter preferably has a flywheel clutch for each lever element, configured to couple according to the direction of rotation, i.e., having a coupling direction for generating action coupling and a freewheeling direction. Typically, the flywheel clutch is configured such that frictional engagement occurs when the lever element moves toward the axis of rotation of the wheel, and correspondingly, freewheeling occurs when the lever element moves away from the axis of rotation of the wheel. The lever element, flywheel clutch, mechanical coupling element, and generator are preferably arranged and configured such that the rotational motion of the lever element is transmitted via the flywheel clutch in the coupling direction to the rotor of the generator via the mechanical coupling element, and converted into electrical energy by the generator.

[0036] According to another preferred embodiment, the converter according to the invention has a biasing device, in particular a spring, for the one or more lever elements. This biasing device biases the rotation of the lever elements about their first end using a force generated by the deformation of the wheel tire due to contact with the road surface, i.e., in the direction of rotation of the lever elements toward the wheel's axis of rotation. The biasing device ensures that when the wheel is stationary or moving only at a low speed, the one or more lever elements do not contact the wheel tire, i.e., the lever elements remain in a "retracted" state. The latter makes wheel repair and tire replacement easier. The biasing device is then properly configured such that, starting from a suitable rotational speed of the wheel, movement of the lever elements away from the wheel's axis of rotation is allowed (centrifugal force thus exceeds the biasing force), and the contact element of the lever element can contact the wheel tire. The biasing device is preferably configured such that, starting from a wheel speed of at least 100 rpm, more preferably at least 120 rpm, movement of the lever elements away from the wheel's axis of rotation is allowed. A typical speed is approximately 125 rpm, equivalent to a speed of approximately 15 km / h (in a car).

[0037] To prevent damage to the converter or its components from excessive impact and / or deformation of the tire treads due to forces acting on the lever element, appropriate protective mechanisms, particularly overload protection devices, are preferably provided. Preferably, the flywheel clutch, the clutch within or connected to the mechanical coupling element, and / or the clutch connected to the generator are safety clutches with overload protection, allowing rotation without effective coupling if a defined maximum force is exceeded.

[0038] The present invention also relates to a system for obtaining electrical energy from the rolling wheel of a vehicle from the deformation of the wheel tire due to contact with the road surface, the system comprising the converter as described above and a support element / rim as a support structure. In a preferred embodiment, the lever element including the contact element does not protrude above the rim flange, i.e., does not protrude above the outer surface of the cylinder defined by the rim flange.

[0039] In one embodiment, the system has a converter as described above and a support structure, wherein the support structure is typically configured to hold the energy converter in a fixed arrangement around the central axis of the wheel. Specifically, the support structure itself may be designed as or integrated into the rim of the wheel, or the system may have a rim (specifically configured to be coupled to the support structure) configured to receive the support structure in a fixed manner. The rim is preferably designed as a single component.

[0040] According to another embodiment, the system has a multi-part rim, which simplifies the installation of the converter or support structure in the wheel. For example, the multi-part rim is designed as a two-part rim with a rim groove and a rim sleeve, or as a three-part rim with a rim groove, a rim sleeve, and a rim star structure. In this case, the converter or support structure and the multi-part rim can be configured, for example, such that the converter or support structure is mounted on the rim groove of the multi-part rim.

[0041] Finally, the present invention relates to a land vehicle (preferably a motor vehicle or truck) or wheel that includes the above-described system.

[0042] The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0043] Figure 1 A schematic side view of the converter according to the present invention is shown.

[0044] Figure 2 A schematic side view of the converter according to the present invention is shown.

[0045] Figure 3 A schematic side view of the converter according to the present invention is shown.

[0046] Figure 4 A schematic side view of the converter according to the present invention is shown.

[0047] Figure 5 An isometric view of the lever element, including the contact element, is shown.

[0048] Figure 6 An isometric view of the lever element, including the contact element, is shown.

[0049] Figure 7An isometric view of a converter according to the invention is shown, the converter having a lever element having a contact element that contacts a rim having a tire.

[0050] Figure 8 An isometric view of a converter according to the invention is shown, the converter having a lever element having a contact element that contacts a rim having a tire.

[0051] Figure 9 An isometric view of a converter according to the invention is shown, the converter having lever elements, each lever element having two contact elements.

[0052] Figure 10 An isometric view of a converter according to the invention is shown, the converter having lever elements, each lever element having two contact elements.

[0053] Figure 11 The ratio of the distance from the axis of rotation of lever element N to the wheel center M and the distance from the contact point K is shown.

[0054] Figure 12 Three implementation schemes of the lever element are shown.

[0055] Figure 13 A schematic side view of a converter according to the invention is shown, the converter having lever elements, each lever element having two contact elements.

[0056] Figure 14 A schematic side view of a converter according to the invention is shown, the converter having lever elements, each lever element having two contact elements.

[0057] The converter according to the present invention, such as Figure 1 As shown, it includes a lever element 1, which includes a contact element 2, in this case a roller. The deformation of the tire 8 due to contact with the road surface causes the lever element to abut against the inside of the tire 8 via the contact element in the area of ​​contact with the road surface. The lever element rotates at its first end about a rotation axis, as shown... Figure 1 The bottom is shown. The generated force is transmitted to the generator 5 via the flywheel clutch 3 and the mechanical coupling element 4, which is designed here as a free-floating central ring with internal teeth. The generated electrical energy is fed into the vehicle via the controller 6 through the power output connection 9. Typical connections according to the invention are wiring, sliding contacts (brushes), or electromagnetic transmission. The lever element 1 is arranged rotationally symmetrically about the rim 7.

[0058] Figure 2An optional converter according to the invention is shown, comprising a lever element 1, which includes a contact element 2, in this case a roller. Deformation of the tire 8 due to contact with the road surface causes the lever element to abut against the inside of the tire 8 via the contact element in the area of ​​contact with the road surface. The lever element partially rotates at its first end about a rotation axis, as... Figure 2 As shown at the bottom. On the other hand, the generated force is directly transmitted to the generator 5 via the flywheel clutch 3, and to other flywheel clutches and generators via the mechanical coupling element 4. The generated electrical energy is fed into the vehicle via the controller 6 through the power output connection 9. The lever element 1 is arranged rotationally symmetrically around the rim 7.

[0059] Figure 3 An optional converter according to the invention is shown, comprising a lever element 1, which includes a contact element 2, in this case a roller. Deformation of the tire 8 due to contact with the road surface causes the lever element to abut against the inside of the tire 8 via the contact element in the area of ​​contact with the road surface. The lever element partially rotates at its first end about a rotation axis, as... Figure 3 The bottom is shown. On the other hand, the generated force is transmitted to the generator 5 via the flywheel clutch 3 and the connecting gear 10 with external teeth, and to other flywheel clutches and generators via the mechanical coupling element 4. The generated electrical energy is fed into the vehicle via the controller 6 through the power output connection 9. The lever element 1 is arranged rotationally symmetrically about the rim 7.

[0060] Figure 4 An optional converter according to the invention is shown, comprising a lever element 1, which includes a contact element 2, in this case a roller. Deformation of the tire 8 due to contact with the road surface causes the lever element to abut against the inside of the tire 8 via the contact element in the area of ​​contact with the road surface. The lever element partially rotates at its first end about a rotation axis, as... Figure 4 As shown at the bottom. On the other hand, the generated force is transmitted to the generator 5 via the flywheel clutch 3 and the connecting gear 11 with internal teeth, and to other flywheel clutches and generators via the mechanical coupling element 4. The generated electrical energy is fed into the vehicle via the controller 6 through the power output connection 9. The lever element 1 is arranged rotationally symmetrically about the rim 7.

[0061] Figure 5 A detailed view of an embodiment of lever element 1 with contact element 2 is shown, in which the contact element is designed as a roller. Force is transmitted to the gear via a wheel axle at the first end of the lever element. It transmits force to the mechanical coupling element and can be directly transmitted to the generator (not shown). Flywheel clutch 3 transmits the movement of the lever element in only one direction; overload protection device 12 ensures that excessive force is not transmitted.

[0062] Figure 6 A detailed view of an embodiment of lever element 1 with contact element 2 is shown, in which the contact element is designed as a roller. Force is transmitted to the gear via a wheel axle on the first end of the lever element. It transmits force to the mechanical coupling element and can be directly transmitted to the generator (not shown). Flywheel clutch 3 transmits the movement of the lever element in only one direction; overload protection device 12 ensures that excessive force is not transmitted. A spring is used as a biasing element 13.

[0063] Figure 7 A converter according to the invention is shown integrated into a wheel having a tire 8. The converter includes a set of lever elements 1, each lever element having a contact element 2 in a retracted state, i.e., in close contact with the base of the rim 7. A mechanical coupling element 4 is designed as a toothed belt and connects all the drive shafts of the lever elements 1 and the drive shaft of a generator (not shown).

[0064] Figure 8 A converter according to the invention is shown integrated into a wheel having a tire 8. The converter includes a set of lever elements 1, each lever element having, as shown in the diagram... Figure 7 The contact element 2 shown is in an extended state, for example, folded away from the rim 7 due to the centrifugal force at a sufficiently high rotational speed of the wheel. In this state, the contact element 2 contacts the inside of the tire 8. The flexural motion of the tire due to its contact with the road surface causes a corresponding rotational motion of the lever element. The mechanical coupling element 4 is designed as a toothed belt and connects all the drive shafts of the lever element 1 and the drive shaft of the generator (not shown).

[0065] Figure 9 A converter according to the invention, integrated into a wheel, is shown. The converter includes a set of lever elements 1, each lever element having two contact elements 2, said contact elements being positioned according to... Figure 7 The retracted state, that is, in close contact with the base of the rim.

[0066] Figure 10 A converter according to the invention, integrated into a wheel, is shown. The converter includes a set of lever elements 1, each lever element having, as shown in... Figure 9 The two contact elements 2 shown are in an extended state (according to...) Figure 8 For example, due to the centrifugal force at a sufficiently high rotational speed of the wheel, it folds away from the rim. In this state, contact element 2 contacts the inside of the tire. The flexural motion of the tire due to its contact with the road surface causes a corresponding rotational motion of the lever element.

[0067] Figure 11The diagram shows the length A of the distance from the fulcrum N (which acts as a lever element) to the center M of the wheel, and the length B of the distance B of the distance from the fulcrum N to the contact point K. The latter is the maximum distance from the fulcrum N of the lever element to the contact element that contacts or can contact the inside of the wheel tire.

[0068] Figure 12 Detailed views of three embodiments of a lever element 1 having one or more contact elements 2, wherein the contact elements are designed as rollers. In embodiment A, the lever element 1 supports rollers as contact elements 2. In embodiment B, the lever element 1 supports a slider 14 (second part), which supports two rollers as contact elements 2. In embodiment C, the lever element 1 also supports a slider 14 (second part), which supports two rollers as contact elements 2. In embodiment C, the two rollers serving as contact elements 2 are surrounded by a belt 15, which is also guided to another roller (not shown) mounted on the slider.

[0069] Figure 13 A converter according to the invention, integrated into a wheel with tires, is shown. The converter includes a set of lever elements 1, each lever element having two contact elements 2 mounted in a slider 14. The lever elements shown are in a retracted state, i.e., in close contact with the base of the rim 7. A mechanical coupling element 4 is designed as a toothed belt and connects all drive shafts of the lever elements 1 and the drive shaft of the generator 5. The toothed belt alternately runs on the lever element drive roller 18 and either the deflection roller 16 or the generator drive roller 17. The generator 5 is driven via the generator drive roller 17 and also via the belt.

[0070] Figure 14 A converter according to the invention is shown integrated into a wheel having a tire 8. The converter includes a set of lever elements 1, each lever element having two contact elements 2, which are mounted in a slider 14. Angle α is the angle spanned by the rotation axes of two adjacent lever elements (or, as shown, the lever elements are in the same position, which is also the rotation axis of the slider) relative to the rotation axis of the wheel. Therefore, angle α corresponds to 360º / n, where n is the number of lever elements. Angle β is the angle spanned by the two rotation axes of the contact elements of the slider relative to the rotation axis of the wheel. However, as... Figure 7As shown, the lever element is in an extended state, for example, folded away from the rim 7 due to the centrifugal force at a sufficiently high rotational speed of the wheel. In this state, the contact element 2 contacts the inside of the tire 8. The flexural motion of the tire due to its contact with the road surface causes a corresponding rotational motion of the lever element. The mechanical coupling element 4 is designed as a toothed belt and connects all the drive shafts of the lever element 1 and the drive shaft of the generator 5. The toothed belt alternately runs on the lever element drive roller 18 and the deflection roller 16 or the generator drive roller 17. The generator 5 is driven via the generator drive roller 17 and also via the belt.

[0071] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram:

[0072] 1 lever element

[0073] 2 contact elements

[0074] 3 Flywheel Clutch

[0075] 4 Mechanical coupling elements

[0076] 5 generators

[0077] 6 controllers

[0078] 7-inch rims

[0079] 8 tires

[0080] 9 Power Output Connections

[0081] 10 Connecting gears with external teeth

[0082] 11 Connecting gears with internal teeth

[0083] 12 Overload protection devices

[0084] 13 bias components

[0085] 14 sliders

[0086] 15. The strip on the contact element

[0087] 16 deflection rollers

[0088] 17 Generator Drive Rollers

[0089] 18 lever elements drive roller

Claims

1. A converter for obtaining electrical energy from the rolling wheels of a vehicle from the deformation of the wheel tires due to contact with the road surface, the converter comprising: a) At least one lever element (1), which is rotatably encapsulated at a first end and its second end is configured to contact the inside of a wheel tire via at least one contact element (2), such that deformation of the wheel tire due to contact with the road surface causes rotational movement of the lever element. b) A mechanical coupling element (4) adapted to transmit the force generated by the rotational motion of the lever element (1), and c) At least one generator (5) configured to convert the transmitted force into electrical energy. in, At the second end of the lever element (1), the contact element (2) is rotatably encapsulated on the lever element about a rotation axis, such that the contact element (2) establishes contact between the lever element and the wheel tire, and the rotation axis of the contact element (2) extends substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the wheel. The characteristic feature is that the ratio (A+B) / R of the sum of the distance A from the fulcrum N of the lever element (1) to the center M of the wheel and the distance B from the fulcrum N to the contact point K between the contact element and the inner side of the wheel tire is in the range of 102% to 110%, wherein, in the case of multiple contact elements for each lever element, the contact point is the contact point with the largest distance from the fulcrum N.

2. The converter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The generator (5) is configured to convert the force transmitted by the mechanical coupling element (4) into electrical energy.

3. The converter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The contact element (2) has a shape that is substantially rotationally symmetric about its pivot point, and is particularly presented as a roller.

4. The converter according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, In terms of rotation, the contact element (2) can rotate freely about its fulcrum.

5. The converter according to claim 1, characterized in that, In terms of rotation, the contact element (2) can rotate freely 360º about its fulcrum.

6. The converter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fulcrum N of the lever element (1) extends substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel.

7. The converter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The converter has at least two lever elements (1) arranged rotationally symmetrically about the axis of rotation of the wheel.

8. The converter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The converter has at least two generators (5) arranged rotationally symmetrically about the axis of rotation of the wheel.

9. The converter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The one or more lever elements (1) transmit force to the mechanical coupling element (4) via the flywheel clutch (3).

10. The converter according to claim 7, characterized in that, All lever elements (1) transmit the force to the common mechanical coupling element (4).

11. The converter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mechanical coupling element (4) is configured to transmit the force experienced by the lever element (1) to all generators (5).

12. The converter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mechanical coupling element (4) includes a ring, chain, or belt with external or internal teeth, particularly a toothed belt.

13. The converter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The converter also has a biasing device for the lever element (1), which uses the force in the rotational motion of the lever element caused by the deformation of the wheel tire due to contact with the road surface to bias the rotation of the lever element (1) about its first end.

14. A system for obtaining electrical energy from the rolling wheel of a vehicle from the deformation of the wheel tire due to contact with the road surface, the system comprising the converter according to claim 1, and a rim as a support structure.

15. A vehicle or wheel comprising the system according to claim 14.

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