Drive Shaft Energy Recovery Rollers for On-Vehicle EV Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wired and wireless charging systems for electric vehicles are inconvenient and inefficient, requiring specific locations for charging and experiencing energy transference degradation, thus alternatives for efficient and safe energy transfer are desirable.
Innovation Solution
A system for generating energy in response to a vehicle's movement, utilizing an energy recovery mechanism to capture rotational energy from a drive shaft, which includes an energy storage device and a motor to convert and store electrical output, with flexible arms and rollers to adjust force based on vehicle conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If wired or wireless stationary charging systems are used, then electric vehicles can be charged, but the systems are inconvenient and experience energy transference degradation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of bringing stationary charging infrastructure to the vehicle (traditional approach), the patent inverts the approach by making the energy generation system mobile and attached to the vehicle itself. The energy recovery mechanism is mounted on the vehicle and generates electricity from the vehicle's own motion, eliminating the need for external charging infrastructure and reversing the traditional charging paradigm.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle becomes self-sufficient by generating its own energy through the energy recovery mechanism that captures kinetic energy from the drive shaft during vehicle operation. This self-service approach eliminates dependence on external charging stations and allows the vehicle to recharge itself during normal driving, improving both convenience and energy efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If wired charging connections are used, then energy can be transferred to the vehicle, but cables and connectors are required to be physically connected to a stationary power supply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the energy generation capability from stationary infrastructure and integrates it directly into the vehicle. By removing the need for external charging stations, cables, and connectors, the system simplifies the charging process to merely requiring vehicle motion, thereby reducing device complexity while improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical connection system (cables and connectors physically linking vehicle to power supply) with a mechanical energy conversion system that generates electricity directly from the vehicle's motion. This substitution eliminates the need for physical electrical connections while maintaining energy transfer capability.
3Ease of operation
If wireless charging antennas are used, then energy can be transferred wirelessly, but antennas and power supply structures are required to generate wireless fields
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex wireless charging infrastructure (antennas and power supply structures) entirely and replaces it with a compact energy recovery mechanism that generates electricity directly on the vehicle. This extraction of the essential function (energy generation) while removing unnecessary complexity aligns with the principle of taking out.
4Power
If energy recovery mechanism is secured to drive shaft, then rotational energy can be captured, but the mechanism must handle varying vehicle conditions and forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the energy recovery mechanism adaptable to varying vehicle conditions. The mechanism includes components that can adjust their operation based on the vehicle's motion characteristics, allowing it to efficiently capture energy across different driving scenarios while maintaining reliability through dynamic adaptation rather than rigid fixed connections.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and mobile energy generation for electric vehicles, overcoming the limitations of stationary charging systems by converting kinetic energy into electrical energy for vehicle use.
Implementation Method 1
one or more rollers positioned tangentially adjacent the drive shaft and configured to rotate in response to a rotation of the drive shaft
Implementation Method 2
a generator rotatably coupled to the energy recovery mechanism and configured to generate an electrical output in response to the rotation of the roller
Implementation Method 3
a capacitor electrically coupled with the generator and configured to receive a portion of the electrical output to store as capacitor energy
Data Source
AI summary
A system may generate energy in response to a movement of a vehicle. The system may include an energy recovery mechanism, a generator, an energy storage, and a motor. The energy recovery mechanism may include one or more rollers configured to rotate in response to a rotation of a drive shaft of the vehicle. The generator may be rotatably coupled to the roller and may be configured to generate an electrical output in response to a rotation of the roller. The energy storage may be electrically coupled with the generator and may be configured to receive a portion of the electrical output to store as energy. The motor may be electrically coupled with the energy storage and may be configured to receive a portion of the energy.