Road piezoelectric energy collection device for inducing tension and compression vibration of elastic beam through transmission

Abstract

The invention relates to a road piezoelectric energy collection device for inducing tension and compression vibration of an elastic beam through transmission, and belongs to the technical field of new energy. The structure mainly comprises a gear rack, a reset spring, a sliding block, a cross rod, an elastic beam and a piezoelectric energy harvesting element on the beam. When a vehicle passes, a tire presses down a pedal to enable a rack to drive a gear to rotate, a connecting rod drives a sliding block to move leftwards, force is transmitted to left and right elastic beams through left and right cross rods and the connecting rods on the left and right cross rods at the same time, the left beam is pulled to deform, the right beam is pressed to bend, and piezoelectric energy harvesting elements on the beams convert deformation energy into electric energy; after the vehicle passes, the reset spring below the rack deforms and recovers to drive the rack to move upwards, elastic potential energy stored in the left beam and the right beam is converted into vibration kinetic energy, and continuous secondary energy collection is achieved. According to the device, the two groups of piezoelectric energy harvesting elements respectively harvest energy twice when a vehicle passes once, the energy harvesting efficiency of the piezoelectric energy harvesting device for the road is remarkably improved, and the harvested energy can be widely applied to energy supply of low-power-consumption microelectronic devices for the road.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of power generation devices, and in particular to a road-use piezoelectric energy harvesting device for transmitting induced tension and compression vibration of an elastic beam. Background Art

[0002] With the development of my country's economy, the mileage of highway construction has increased significantly. There is a wide range of mechanical energy in the road, including vehicle motion energy, road deformation strain energy and vibration energy. Using energy harvesting technology, the mechanical energy on the road surface can be converted into electrical energy to power various low-power electronic devices in the road, such as embedded sensors, and can also power road ancillary facilities such as traffic lights and electronic signs. This innovative technology is expected to play an important role in the field of highway construction, especially in the field of intelligent transportation, and contribute to sustainable energy utilization.

[0003] Environmental energy harvesting technologies are mainly divided into solar energy harvesting, thermal energy harvesting, vibration energy harvesting, etc. The disadvantages of solar energy harvesting are that seasonal changes, weather conditions, and the alternation of day and night will affect its power generation, and its energy density is low; thermal energy harvesting will cause environmental pollution, have a negative impact on climate change, and there will be a certain amount of energy loss. In contrast, vibration energy harvesting is environmentally friendly, and the source of vibration mechanical energy is wide.

[0004] At present, according to different conversion mechanisms, energy harvesting technologies can be roughly divided into friction, electromagnetic and piezoelectric types. Friction energy harvesting technology converts the mechanical energy during the relative sliding motion between two layers of friction materials into electrical energy. However, relative sliding requires overcoming friction, which leads to material wear and reduced device life. Electromagnetic energy harvesting technology uses Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction to convert the mechanical energy of the system into electrical energy during the relative motion of the coil and magnet. However, this technology generally requires larger magnets and coils, resulting in a larger device size. Piezoelectric energy harvesting technology uses the positive piezoelectric effect of piezoelectric materials to directly convert the mechanical energy of piezoelectric materials when they are deformed into electrical energy. Due to its simple structure and relatively high energy harvesting efficiency, piezoelectric energy harvesting technology has great development potential.

[0005] The Chinese patent application number 201620073159.0 discloses a high-load-bearing road sign luminous power supply device. The device converts the pressure generated by various vehicles on the road into impact vibration on the piezoelectric stack through the rack and pinion. It will not damage the piezoelectric stack even under high loads. It can convert the pressure generated by various vehicles on the road into impact vibration of the piezoelectric stack, thereby realizing the electromechanical energy conversion of the device. The device uses a stacked piezoelectric transducer to convert vehicle loads into electrical energy. Compared with the gear rack transmission mechanism with lower stiffness, the overall stiffness of the stacked piezoelectric transducer structure is larger. The mismatch between the stiffness of the two can easily cause damage to the transmission mechanism. At the same time, the stacked piezoelectric transducer has a small deformation and a relatively limited energy capture efficiency.

[0006] The Chinese patent application number 202310516874.1 discloses an energy capture device based on a buckled piezoelectric composite beam. The piezoelectric composite beam buckles under the action of a compressive load. After the load is removed, the composite buckled beam rebounds instantly, converting the stored elastic potential energy into high-frequency excitation that facilitates energy capture. The piezoelectric material on it converts the vibration energy into electrical energy. At the same time, the vibration of the beam is transmitted to the motor for power generation through a transmission device. The device uses the buckling deformation of the piezoelectric beam under the direct action of an external load to collect energy. However, repeated buckling deformation of the piezoelectric beam can easily lead to fatigue damage of the structure, reducing the service life of the structure.

[0007] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the present invention converts traffic loads into tensile and compressive vibrations of elastic beams through a transmission mechanism. The force transmission path inside the structure is clear, and the deformation between components is relatively coordinated. This not only avoids the structural damage and low energy capture efficiency caused by the mismatch between the structural stiffness of the existing stacked piezoelectric transducer and the transmission mechanism, but also avoids the structural fatigue damage caused by repeated buckling of the composite beam in the buckled piezoelectric composite beam. In addition, the structural design of the present invention enables the two groups of piezoelectric energy capture elements to capture energy twice each when a vehicle passes once, which can significantly improve the energy capture efficiency of the road piezoelectric energy harvesting device and has good economic value. Summary of the invention

[0008] The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a road-use piezoelectric energy harvesting device with high energy harvesting efficiency and long service life.

[0009] The technical solution adopted by the present invention is: a road-use piezoelectric energy harvesting device that transmits the tensile and compressive vibrations of an elastic beam. The structure mainly includes a gear rack, a reset spring, a slider, a cross bar, an elastic beam, and a piezoelectric energy-harvesting element on the beam. When a vehicle passes by, the tire presses down on the rack to drive the gear to rotate, and the slider moves to the left through the connecting rod, and the force is transmitted to the left and right elastic beams through the left and right cross bars and the connecting rods thereon at the same time. The left beam is deformed by tension and the right beam is buckled by compression, and the piezoelectric energy-harvesting element on the beam converts the deformation energy into electrical energy; after the vehicle passes, the reset spring under the rack recovers its deformation and drives the rack to move upward, and the elastic potential energy stored in the left and right beams is converted into vibration kinetic energy, thereby realizing continuous secondary energy harvesting.

[0010] The beneficial effects of the present invention are: the traffic load is converted into tensile and compressive vibrations of the elastic beam through the transmission mechanism, the force transmission path inside the structure is clear, the deformation between the components is relatively coordinated, and the service life of the structure is improved. The invention avoids the problems of structural damage and low energy capture efficiency that may be caused by the mismatch between the structural stiffness of the existing stacked piezoelectric transducer and the transmission mechanism, and also avoids the problem of structural fatigue damage caused by repeated buckling of the composite beam in the buckled piezoelectric composite beam. In addition, the structural design of the present invention enables the two groups of piezoelectric energy capture elements to each capture energy twice when a vehicle passes once, which can significantly improve the energy capture efficiency of the road piezoelectric energy harvesting device. In some embodiments, a slide rail is fixedly connected to the shell, and a slider is provided on the slide rail for lateral movement, and the slider is fixedly connected to the cross bar. By adopting the above structure, a guide is provided for the movement of the cross bar, and the movement stability of the cross bar is improved.

[0011] In some embodiments, the transmission assembly includes a rack, a gear, a second connecting rod, and a third connecting rod. The rack is arranged on the housing along the vertical movement, the upper end of the rack extends out of the housing, the gear is rotatably connected to the housing through a rotating shaft and meshes with the rack, one end of the second connecting rod is fixedly connected to the gear, the other end of the second connecting rod is hinged to the third connecting rod, and the end of the third connecting rod away from the second connecting rod is hinged to the slider. By adopting the above structure, the vertical movement of the vibration on the road surface is converted into the lateral movement of the cross bar, the transmission connection is reliable, and the transmission reliability of the transmission assembly is improved.

[0012] In some embodiments, a pedal is connected to the upper end of the rack, the pedal is used to extend out of the road surface, the upper end surface of the pedal is an arc-shaped structure, and a baffle for the pedal to slide vertically is installed on the housing. By adopting the above structure, the contact reliability with the wheels of the car on the road surface is increased, and the rack moves stably in the vertical direction.

[0013] In some embodiments, a guide rail is fixedly connected in the housing, a guide bar is vertically movable on the guide rail, and the guide bar is fixedly connected to the rack. By adopting the above structure, a guide is provided for the movement of the rack, thereby improving the movement stability of the rack.

[0014] In some embodiments, the cross section of the guide bar is dovetail-shaped. By adopting the above structure, the movement stability of the rack is further improved.

[0015] In some embodiments, a return spring is provided in the housing to drive the rack to move upward, the upper end of the return spring is connected to the rack, and the lower end of the return spring is connected to the housing. By adopting the above structure, the rack can be reset and moved upward, and the vibration on the road surface causes the rack to move downward again, which is beneficial to the continuous power output of the device.

[0016] In some embodiments, the number of the elastic beams is four, and the four elastic beams are divided into two groups and are symmetrically distributed left and right. By adopting the above structure, the power output is increased. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of a road-use piezoelectric energy collection device for transmitting induced tension and compression vibration of an elastic beam according to the present invention; Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the use state of a road-use piezoelectric energy collection device for transmitting induced tension and compression vibration of an elastic beam according to the present invention; Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A partial enlargement of Figure 1 ; Figure 4 yes Figure 2 A partial enlargement of Figure 2 ; Figure 5 yes Figure 2 A partial enlargement of Figure 3 ; Description of reference numerals: 1. Shell; 11. Baffle; 2. Elastic beam; 21. First snap block; 22. Second snap block; 3. Piezoelectric energy capture element; 4. First connecting rod; 5. Cross bar; 6. Transmission assembly; 61. Rack; 611. Pedal; 62. Gear; 63. Second connecting rod; 64. Third connecting rod; 65. Rotating shaft; 7. Slide rail; 8. Slider; 9. Guide rail; 10. Guide strip; 20. Return spring; 100. Road surface; 101. Asphalt layer; 102. Concrete layer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] In order to make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and easy to understand, specific embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the directions or positional relationships indicated by terms such as “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right”, “front” and “back” are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description. They do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific direction. Therefore, they cannot be understood as limitations on the present invention.

[0020] like Figures 1 to 5 As shown, this embodiment provides a piezoelectric energy harvesting device for road use that induces tension and compression vibration of an elastic beam through transmission, which comprises a shell 1, in which an elastic beam 2, a piezoelectric energy harvesting element 3, a first connecting rod 4, a cross bar 5 and a transmission assembly 6 are installed; the elastic beam 2 is arranged in a transverse direction, one end of the elastic beam 2 is hinged to the shell 1 through a first snap block 21, and the other end of the elastic beam 2 is hinged to the shell 1 through a second snap block 22; the piezoelectric energy harvesting element 3 is bonded to the elastic beam 2, and a wire for power output is connected to the piezoelectric energy harvesting element 3; one end of the first connecting rod 4 is fixedly connected to the second snap block 22, and the other end of the first connecting rod 4 is fixedly connected to the cross bar 5; the cross bar 5 is arranged in the shell 1 for transverse movement; the input end of the transmission assembly 6 is arranged on the road surface 100 for inputting vibration from the road surface 100, and the output end of the transmission assembly 6 is connected to the cross bar 5 for driving the cross bar 5 to move.

[0021] As can be known from the above structure, by setting up the transmission component 6, the car wheels from the road surface 100 are used as the driving source, driving the cross bar 5 to move laterally in the shell 1, and the cross bar 5 drives the second buckle block 22 to rotate through the first connecting rod 4, so that the elastic beam 2 is elastically bent, and the elastic beam 2 drives the piezoelectric energy capture element 3 to generate electricity, and the electricity is output through the wire, so that the vibration on the road surface 100 is converted into electrical energy and collected for utilization.

[0022] In this embodiment, a slide rail 7 is fixedly connected inside the shell 1, and a slider 8 is provided on the slide rail 7 for lateral movement. The slider 8 is fixedly connected to the cross bar 5, thereby providing guidance for the movement of the cross bar 5 and improving the movement stability of the cross bar 5.

[0023] In this embodiment, the transmission assembly 6 includes a rack 61, a gear 62, a second connecting rod 63, and a third connecting rod 64. The rack 61 is arranged on the shell 1 along the vertical movement. The upper end of the rack 61 extends out of the shell 1. The gear 62 is rotatably connected to the shell 1 through a rotating shaft 65 and meshes with the rack 61. One end of the second connecting rod 63 is fixedly connected to the gear 62, and the other end of the second connecting rod 63 is hinged to the third connecting rod 64. The end of the third connecting rod 64 away from the second connecting rod 63 is hinged to the slider 8, thereby converting the vertical movement of the vibration on the road surface into the lateral movement of the cross bar 5. The transmission connection is reliable, thereby improving the transmission reliability of the transmission assembly 6.

[0024] In this embodiment, a pedal 611 is fixedly connected to the upper end of the rack 61, and the pedal 611 is used to extend out of the road surface 100. The upper end surface of the pedal 611 is an arc-shaped structure, and a baffle 11 is installed on the shell 1 for the pedal 611 to slide vertically, thereby increasing the contact reliability with the car wheels on the road surface and making the rack 61 stable in vertical movement.

[0025] In this embodiment, a guide rail 9 is fixedly connected inside the shell 1, and a guide bar 10 is provided on the guide rail 9 for vertical movement. The guide bar 10 is fixedly connected to the rack 61, thereby providing guidance for the movement of the rack 61 and improving the movement stability of the rack 61.

[0026] In this embodiment, the cross section of the guide bar 10 is dovetail-shaped, thereby further improving the movement stability of the rack 61 .

[0027] In this embodiment, a return spring 20 for driving the rack 61 to move upward is provided in the shell 1. The upper end of the return spring 20 is connected to the rack 61, and the lower end of the return spring 20 is connected to the shell 1, so that the rack 61 can return to its original position and move upward. The vibration on the road surface 100 causes the rack 61 to move downward again, which is beneficial to the continuous power output of the device.

[0028] In this embodiment, the number of the elastic beams 2 is four, and the four elastic beams 2 are divided into two groups and are symmetrically distributed left and right, thereby increasing the power output.

[0029] In this embodiment, the road surface 100 includes an asphalt layer 101 and a concrete layer 102 , the asphalt layer 101 is located above the concrete layer 102 , and the piezoelectric energy harvesting device is disposed between the asphalt layer 101 and the concrete layer 102 .

[0030] In this embodiment, the piezoelectric energy harvesting element 3 is a prior art and will not be described in detail here.

[0031] The entire device is installed inside the road, with the upper end of the pedal 611 exposed on the road surface 100. When pedestrians or cars pass by the pedal 611 of the device, the pedal 611 moves downward under pressure, driving the rack 61 downward, and the rack 61 drives the gear 62 to rotate clockwise, thereby driving the slider 8 and the crossbar 5 to move to the left. The leftward movement of the crossbar 5 causes the two beams arranged up and down on the right to bend and deform, causing the piezoelectric energy harvesting element 3 bonded to the elastic beam 2 to deform, and using the positive piezoelectric effect of the piezoelectric energy harvesting element 3 to convert its mechanical energy into electrical energy. When the crossbar 5 moves to the left, the two beams arranged up and down on the left end will change from the initial bending to a horizontal state.

[0032] On the contrary, when a pedestrian or a car leaves the device, due to the reset effect of the reset spring 20, the rack 61 will move upward, driving the gear 62 to rotate counterclockwise, thereby driving the slider 8 and the crossbar 5 to move to the right. The rightward movement of the crossbar 5 causes the two horizontal beams arranged up and down on the left to bend and deform, causing the piezoelectric energy harvesting element 3 bonded to the beam to deform, and using the positive piezoelectric effect of the piezoelectric energy harvesting element 3 to convert its mechanical energy into electrical energy. When the crossbar 5 moves to the right, the two beams arranged up and down on the right end will change from the initial bending to a horizontal state.

[0033] By collecting mechanical energy in the road environment, the device can provide the necessary energy for nearby electronic devices, street lights or sensors, reducing dependence on traditional batteries.

[0034] Although the disclosure is disclosed as above, the protection scope of the disclosure is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, and these changes and modifications will fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A piezoelectric energy harvesting device for road use that induces tension and compression vibration of an elastic beam, characterized in that: It comprises a shell (1), wherein an elastic beam (2), a piezoelectric energy harvesting element (3), a first connecting rod (4), a cross bar (5) and a transmission assembly (6) are installed in the shell (1); one end of the elastic beam (2) is hinged to the shell (1) through a first snap block (21), and the other end of the elastic beam (2) is hinged to the shell (1) through a second snap block (22); the piezoelectric energy harvesting element (3) is arranged on the elastic beam (2), and a wire for power output is connected to the piezoelectric energy harvesting element (3); one end of the first connecting rod (4) is fixedly connected to the second snap block (22), and the other end of the first connecting rod (4) is fixedly connected to the cross bar (5); the cross bar (5) is arranged in the shell (1) for transverse movement; the input end of the transmission assembly (6) is arranged on the road surface (100) for inputting vibration from the road surface (100), and the output end of the transmission assembly (6) is connected to the cross bar (5) for driving the cross bar (5) to move.

2. A road-use piezoelectric energy harvesting device for transmission-induced elastic beam tension and compression vibration according to claim 1, characterized in that: A slide rail (7) is fixedly connected inside the housing (1), a slider (8) is provided on the slide rail (7) for transverse movement, and the slider (8) is fixedly connected to the cross bar (5).

3. The piezoelectric energy harvesting device for road use that induces tension and compression vibration of elastic beams according to claim 2 is characterized in that: The transmission assembly (6) comprises a rack (61), a gear (62), a second connecting rod (63), and a third connecting rod (64); the rack (61) is arranged on the housing (1) in a vertically movable manner; the upper end of the rack (61) extends out of the housing (1); the gear (62) is rotatably connected to the housing (1) via a rotating shaft (65) and meshes with the rack (61); one end of the second connecting rod (63) is fixedly connected to the gear (62); the other end of the second connecting rod (63) is hinged to the third connecting rod (64); and one end of the third connecting rod (64) away from the second connecting rod (63) is hinged to the slider (8).

4. The piezoelectric energy harvesting device for road use that induces tension and compression vibration of elastic beams according to claim 3 is characterized in that: The upper end of the rack (61) is connected to a pedal (611), the pedal (611) is used to extend out of the road surface (100), the upper end surface of the pedal (611) is an arc-shaped structure, and a baffle (11) is installed on the housing (1) for the pedal (611) to slide vertically.

5. The piezoelectric energy harvesting device for road use that induces tension and compression vibration of elastic beams according to claim 3 is characterized in that: A guide rail (9) is fixedly connected inside the housing (1), a guide bar (10) is vertically movable on the guide rail (9), and the guide bar (10) is fixedly connected to the rack (61).

6. A road-use piezoelectric energy harvesting device for transmission-induced elastic beam tension and compression vibration according to claim 5, characterized in that: The cross section of the guide strip (10) is dovetail-shaped.

7. The piezoelectric energy harvesting device for road use that transmits and induces tension and compression vibration of elastic beams according to claim 5, characterized in that: A return spring (20) for driving the rack (61) to move upward is arranged in the housing (1); the upper end of the return spring (20) is connected to the rack (61), and the lower end of the return spring (20) is connected to the housing (1).

8. The piezoelectric energy harvesting device for road use that transmits and induces tension and compression vibration of elastic beams according to claim 1, characterized in that: The number of the elastic beams (2) is four, and the four elastic beams (2) are divided into two groups and are respectively distributed symmetrically left and right.

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