A low frequency energy converter

Abstract

A low frequency energy converter apparatus, including: an input axle coupled to a drive wheel, wherein when an input axle is driven by a rotational or oscillating motion, said input axle drives said drive wheel to rotate incrementally only in one direction, said drive wheel having at least one node that rotates with said drive wheel; an accumulator mechanism including a biasing member adapted to move between a neutral position and a charged position, wherein when said node engages said accumulator mechanism, an incremental rotation of said drive wheel causes said biasing member to move incrementally towards said charged position, wherein when said accumulator mechanism reaches said charged position, further rotation of said drive wheel causes said node to disengage with said accumulator mechanism, allowing said biasing member to move towards said neutral position under bias; wherein the gradual movement of said biasing member towards said neutral position drives a power generator to produce an electrical charge for use with an electrical device.

Description

1 A LOW FREQUENCY ENERGY CONVERTER FIELD The present invention relates to a low frequency energy converter, and in particular, to a 5 mechanical apparatus for converting energy from a rotational or oscillating motion of low periodicity into electrical energy. BACKGROUND 10 There are certain electronic devices that are designed for use in remote or isolated environments, such as the light of a navigational buoy. Such devices are typically powered by a battery, and do not have access to a consistent or reliable source of electrical power. It is therefore necessary for such devices to incorporate means for capturing or generating electrical power based on the environment in which the device will be used. 15 For example, solar panels can be used to generate electrical power from sunlight. However, this may not be practical where the device is required to be always on (e.g. when used to provide a safety or warning indication) and to continue operation in environments where there may not be regular sunlight, or in dark environments (e.g. at night). Alternatively, such devices may be adapted to generate 20 electrical power from a wind turbine or through a mechanism that captures kinetic energy from the movement of the device in the environment in which it is used (e.g. by wave motion when the device is placed in open water). Since it is not possible to ensure the availability, regularity or sufficiency of natural sunlight, wind power or wave motion, it is not possible to ensure the consistency or reliability of power generated by these sources. 25 It is important that a device as described above can generate electrical power consistently over a range of operating conditions. For example, since wave conditions in open water can vary significantly, it is not practical to design a generator that can generate electrical power only in strong wave conditions (high amplitude). It is desirable for such a device to be able to generate electrical 30 power even in weaker wave conditions which may occur intermittently (i.e. lower amplitude, lower frequency / periodicity). Solving such a problem presents significant technical challenges. For example, in a weaker wind or wave environment, the magnitude of wind or wave energy at any particular time may not be sufficient to generate a required (or minimum) level of electrical power. 35 HK 30138175 A 2 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention aim to address one or more of the above problems by proposing a solution that mechanically accumulates energy from a rotational motion (e.g. from a rotation of a rotor or turbine driven by a flow of air or fluid) or oscillating motion (e.g. from movement of a pendulum driven by the 5 movement of waves in open water) over a period of time, where the accumulated energy is released within or over a shorter period of time to produce a required level of electrical power (or electrical charge) for use with an electrical device. According to a representative embodiment of the invention, there is provided a low frequency 10 energy converter apparatus, including: an input axle coupled to a drive wheel, wherein when an input axle is driven by a rotating or oscillating motion, said input axle drives said drive wheel to rotate incrementally in one direction, said drive wheel having at least one node that rotates with said drive wheel; an accumulator mechanism including a biasing member adapted to move between a neutral 15 position and a charged position, wherein when said node engages said accumulator, an incremental rotation of said drive wheel causes said biasing member to move incrementally towards said charged position, wherein when said accumulator reaches said charged position, further rotation of said drive wheel causes said node to disengage with said accumulator, allowing said biasing member to move towards said neutral position under bias; 20 wherein the gradual movement of said biasing member towards said neutral position drives a rotary power generator to produce an electrical charge for use with an electrical device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 25 Representative embodiments of the present invention are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is front view of a representative embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a front right top perspective view of a representative embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a rear top perspective view of a representative embodiment of the invention; 30 Figure 4 is a front left top perspective view of a representative embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 is a front view of a representative embodiment of the invention in a neutral state; Figure 6 is a front view of a representative embodiment of the invention in a charged state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENTS 35 HK 30138175 A 3 Figure 1 is front view of a low frequency energy converter apparatus 100 according to a representative embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 100 includes a weight 102, an input shaft 104, an input axle 106, a first uni-directional gear 108A, a second uni-directional gear 108B, a drive gear 110, a drive wheel 112, an axle 114, a node 116, a lever 118, an accumulator gear 120, an axle 122, a gear 124, a winding barrel 126, a power generator 128 (not shown in Figure 1), an axle 130, 5 a self-retracting cable 132 and a cable box 134. Figures 2 to 4 show the apparatus 100 in Figure 1 from different perspectives. Figures 5 and 6 show the apparatus 100 in Figure 1 in different states of use (i.e. a charged state and a neutral state). In Figures 1 to 6, like numbers indicate like features. 10 The apparatus 100 includes two main mechanisms: (i) an actuator mechanism for receiving kinetic energy from a rotational or oscillating movement and using it used to drive the apparatus 100; and (ii) an accumulator mechanism for capturing or accumulating the kinetic energy received by the actuator mechanism and releasing such energy to generate an electrical charge for use with an electrical 15 device. The actuator mechanism described above may include a gear box arrangement that couples the input shaft 104, rotor or turbine to the input axle 106 and / or the first uni-directional gear 108A. Such a gear box is adapted so that the kinetic energy from a small degree or magnitude of oscillating movement 20 of the input shaft 104 (or rotation of the rotor or turbine) is magnified through mechanical advantage to an extent sufficient to enable the input axle 106 and / or the uni-directional gear 108A to rotate. According to one exemplary embodiment, where the actuator mechanism of an apparatus 100 adapted to be driven an oscillating motion, the actuator mechanism may include: an input shaft 104, 25 input axle 106, first uni-directional gear 108A, second uni-directional gear 108B, drive gear 110, drive wheel 112, axle 114 and node 116. In such an embodiment, the input axle 106 extends along a longitudinal axis A-A. Preferably, one end of the input shaft 104 is adapted to pivot about the axis A- A, where the body of the input shaft 104 extends away from (e.g. perpendicular to) the axis A-A. Preferably, a weight 102 is provided at a distal end of the shaft 104. In this way, the input shaft 104 30 and weight 102 serves as a pendulum that swings or oscillates about the axis A-A, which drives (e.g. via a ratchet and pawl mechanism, or a similar or equivalent one-way-drive mechanism) the input axle 106 and / or the first uni-directional gear 108A to rotate incrementally in one direction. According to another exemplary embodiment, where the actuator mechanism of an apparatus 35 100 adapted to be driven by rotational motion, the actuator mechanism may include: an input shaft 104, input axle 106, first uni-directional gear 108A, drive gear 110, drive wheel 112, axle 114 and node 116. HK 30138175 A 4 In such an embodiment, the second uni-directional gear 108B is optional. In such an embodiment, the input axle 106 may be coupled to rotor or turbine that drives the input axle 106 and / or the uni-directional gear 108A to rotate incrementally in one direction. Therefore, the weight 102 and input shaft 104 are optional in such an embodiment. 5 Generally, the input axle 106 is coupled to the drive wheel 112 such that, when the input axle 106 is driven by a rotating or oscillating motion, the input axle 106 drives the drive wheel 112 to rotate incrementally only in one direction. According to an embodiment where the input shaft 104 is adapted to be driven by an oscillating 10 motion (e.g. as shown in Figure 2), the drive gear 110 and drive wheel 112 (which are provided on an axle 114 that extends along a longitudinal axis B-B) are coupled to (or alternatively, directly engages) each other so that both components can rotate together about axis B-B. The drive gear 110 is coupled to a first uni-directional gear 108A and a second uni-directional gear 108B so as to enable the drive gear 110 to rotate incrementally only in one direction, and resist rotation in an opposite (or reverse) direction. 15 For example, this can be achieved by adapting both the first uni-directional gear 108A and second uni- directional gear 108B to be rotatable only in the same direction (e.g. an anti-clockwise direction). The drive wheel 112 may include one or more nodes 116. Each node 116 is a rigid protrusion that outwardly extends from an outer surface of the drive wheel 122. The nodes 116 are radially spaced 20 apart (and preferably equally spaced apart) from each other about the rotational axis B-B of the drive wheel 122. The nodes 116 are adapted to rotate together with the drive wheel 122. The accumulator mechanism may include: a lever 118, accumulator gear 120, axle 122, gear 124, winding barrel 126, electrical power generator 128, axle 130, self-retracting cable 132 and cable 25 box 134. In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 2, the lever 118 and accumulator gear 120 (which are provided on an axle 122 that extends along a longitudinal axis C-C) are coupled to (or alternatively, directly engages) each other so that both components can rotate together about the axis 30 C-C. The accumulator gear 120 is coupled to the gear 124, such that rotation of the accumulator gear 120 causes the gear 124 to rotate. The gear 124, winding barrel 126 and electrical power generator 128 (which are provided on an axle 130 that extends along a longitudinal axis D-D) are coupled so that: (i) the gear 124 can rotate together with the winding barrel 126 in a charging direction; and (ii) when the winding barrel 126 is allowed to move in a discharging direction (i.e. a direction 35 opposite to the charging direction), the winding barrel 126 can rotate together with the electrical HK 30138175 A 5 power generator 128 such that the electrical power generator 128 can produce an electrical charge. The cable box 143 has a self-retracting cable 132. One end of the cable 132 is attached to a winding surface of the winding barrel 126. When the winding barrel 126 rotates in a charging direction, 5 the winding barrel 126 pulls and extends a length of cable 132 from the cable box 134, thus moving the winding barrel 126 and cable 132 towards a charged position or state. When the winding barrel 126 rotates in a discharging direction (i.e. a direction opposite to the charging direction), the cable 132 is retracted into the cable box 134 (under bias from biasing means, e.g. a coil spring, inside the cable box 132), thus moving the winding barrel 126 and cable 132 towards a neutral position or state. 10 The lever 118 and accumulator gear 120 can rotate together in either a forward direction or a reverse direction (and between a neutral position or state, and a charged position or state). Figure 5 shows the configuration of the lever 118 when the winding barrel 126 and cable 132 15 is placed in a neutral position or state. In this configuration, a portion of the cable 132 remains retracted in the cable box 134. As the drive gear 110, drive wheel 112 and nodes 116 incrementally rotate together in one direction (e.g. clockwise in Figure 5), a node 116 engages the lever 118, and incrementally moves the lever 118 (in a forward direction) towards a charged position or state (as shown in Figure 6). As the lever 118 moves towards the charged position or state, the accumulator gear 120, 20 gear 124 and winding barrel 126 are driven to also incrementally rotate in a charging direction, which extends a length of cable 132 from the cable box 134. Figure 6 shows the configuration of the lever 118 when the winding barrel 126 and cable 132 is placed in a charged state. In this configuration, a portion of the cable 132 (which was retracted in the 25 cable box 134 in the neutral position or state) is pulled or extended from the cable box 134 by the winding barrel 126. Further incremental rotation of the drive gear 110, drive wheel 112 and nodes 116 causes the node 116 to disengage with the lever 118, which allows the lever 118 to gradually move (in a reverse direction) towards the neutral position or state (as shown in Figure 5) under bias from biasing means used for retracting an extend portion of the cable 132 back into the cable box 134. 30 Preferably, the electrical power generator 128 is a rotary power generator (e.g. a dynamo or equivalent component), wherein the movement of the winding barrel 126 and cable 132 from the charged position towards the neutral position drives the rotary power generator to rotate and produce an electrical charge. 35 HK 30138175 A 6 The torque and rate of the movement of the winding barrel 126 and cable 132 moving from the charged position towards the neutral position should be suitable for rotating the electrical power generator 128 to produce at least a predetermined level of electrical charge (e.g. having a predetermined voltage at any one of 1.5V, 3V, 5V, 6V, 9V, 12V, 24V, 36V, 48V or a predetermined voltage selected from a set of one or more predetermined integer voltage levels between 1V and 240V inclusive; and / or 5 having a predetermined current at any one of 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A to up to 50A in 1A increments, or a predetermined amperage selected from a set of predetermined integer amperage levels between 2A and 50A inclusive) and / or for at least a predetermined period of time (e.g. a predetermined period of time of 2 seconds, 3 seconds, 4, seconds, 5 seconds, 6 seconds, 7 seconds, 8 seconds or a predetermined period of time selected from a set of one or more predetermined time periods in seconds between 2 10 seconds to 60 seconds inclusive). Preferably, the electrical power generator 128 is adapted to produce one or more electrical pulses for use with an electrical device, which may include: a light emitting apparatus; and / or a battery for storing an electrical charge produced by the electrical power generator 128. 15 In this specification, unless specified otherwise, the terms "comprising", "comprise", and grammatical variants thereof, intended to represent open or inclusive language such that they include the recited elements but also permit inclusion of additional, non-explicitly recited elements. 20 While this invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes can be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, modification may be made to adapt the teachings of the invention to particular situations and materials, without departing from the essential scope of the invention. Thus, the invention is not limited 25 to the particular examples that are disclosed in this specification, but encompasses all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. 30 HK 30138175 A 1 CLAIMS 1. A low frequency energy converter apparatus, including: an input axle coupled to a drive wheel, wherein when an input axle is driven by a rotational or oscillating motion, said input axle drives said drive wheel to rotate incrementally 5 only in one direction, said drive wheel having at least one node that rotates with said drive wheel; an accumulator mechanism including a biasing member adapted to move between a neutral position and a charged position, wherein when said node engages said accumulator mechanism, an incremental rotation of said drive wheel causes said biasing member to move 10 incrementally towards said charged position, wherein when said accumulator mechanism reaches said charged position, further rotation of said drive wheel causes said node to disengage with said accumulator mechanism, allowing said biasing member to move towards said neutral position under bias; wherein the gradual movement of said biasing member towards said neutral position 15 drives a power generator to produce an electrical charge for use with an electrical device. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said drive gear is coupled to a first uni-directional gear and a second uni-directional gear, said first and second uni-directional gears being adapted to allow rotation in only one and 20 the same direction; wherein, when said input axle is driven by an oscillating motion, said first and second uni-directional gears enable said drive gear to rotate incrementally only in one direction and resist rotation in an opposite direction. 25 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said accumulator mechanism includes a lever coupled to said biasing member; wherein when said node engages said lever, the movement of said lever by said node drives said biasing member to move towards said charged position; and wherein the disengagement of said node from said lever allows said biasing member to 30 move towards said neutral position under bias. 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said biasing member includes a retractable cable coupled to a winding barrel, wherein when said node engages with said accumulator mechanism, said winding barrel pulls to extend said cable and move towards said charged position, and 35 when said node disengages with said accumulator mechanism, said winding barrel allows said cable to retract and move towards said neutral position under bias. HK 30138175 A 2 An apparatus according to claim 1,5. wherein said power generator is a rotary power generator; and wherein movement of said biasing member from said charged position towards said neutral position drives said rotary power generator to rotate to produce said electrical charge. 5 An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said6. power generator produces one or more electrical pulses for use with an electrical device being one of the following: (i) a light emitting apparatus; and (ii) a battery for storing electrical charge. 10 HK 30138175 A 1 Figure 1 100 102 104 106 108A 110 116 118 120 126 124 132 134 122 108B 130 114 HK 30138175 A 2 Figure 2 A A B B C C D D 100 102 104 108A 106 108B 112 110 116 118 122 120 128 126 132 134 130 124 114 HK 30138175 A 3 Figure 3 A A B B C C D D 100 128 126 102 104 124 118 134 120 112 116 110 108A 114 122 130 106 132 108B HK 30138175 A 4 Figure 4 A B C D D 100 102 104 106 108A 110 112 116 118 120 124 132 126 128 134 130 108B 122 114 HK 30138175 A Figure 5 Figure 6 5 100 116 110 108A 104 102 120 126 118 134 132 108B 100 110 108A 104 102 120 126 134 132 118 116 108B HK 30138175 A

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