Electricity Generating Shock Absorber for Vehicle Energy Recovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current regenerative vehicle suspension systems face challenges such as insufficient vibration control, unsatisfactory energy harvesting, high complexity, prohibitive costs, and inefficiency, limiting their adoption in the transportation industry despite their potential for continuous energy recovery.

Innovation Solution

The development of an electricity generating shock absorber comprising a coil assembly wrapped around a hollow tube with annular axial magnets and a central shaft, which converts kinetic energy from vehicle vibrations into electrical energy through relative motion between the magnet and coil assemblies, integrated with a concentric outer cylinder and a base for efficient energy harvesting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If regenerative suspension systems are implemented, then energy recovery is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy recoveryVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the shock absorber and generator into a single integrated unit. The shock absorber housing serves as the generator housing, the shock absorber rod serves as the generator shaft, and the spring chamber serves as the magnet housing. This merging eliminates the need for separate mounting structures and reduces overall system complexity while maintaining energy recovery functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shock absorber components serve dual functions: the shock absorber rod acts as both the suspension rod and the generator shaft, the spring chamber serves as both the suspension spring housing and the generator magnet housing, and the shock absorber housing serves as both the suspension housing and the generator housing. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Loss of energy

If regenerative suspension systems are implemented, then energy recovery is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy recoveryVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By merging the shock absorber and generator into a single integrated unit, the patent eliminates the need for separate manufacturing processes for mounting structures and housing assemblies. The existing shock absorber components are repurposed as generator components, reducing material costs and assembly operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shock absorber's existing structural components (housing, rod, spring chamber) serve as the generator's structural components. This self-service approach means the shock absorber system provides its own housing, mounting structures, and shaft, eliminating the need for additional dedicated generator components that would increase manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of energy

If regenerative suspension systems are implemented, then energy recovery is achieved, but vibration control becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy recoveryVSAvoidvibration control

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful vibration energy that would normally be dissipated as heat into useful electrical energy through electromagnetic induction. The relative motion between the magnets and coils during suspension operation generates electricity, transforming the problematic vibration into a beneficial energy source while maintaining vibration damping through the electromagnetic resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

The solution effectively generates electricity from vehicle vibrations, providing both energy recovery and vibration damping, capable of charging vehicle batteries and reducing energy consumption, while maintaining or enhancing suspension damping performance and being retrofittable for existing vehicles.

Implementation Method 1

converts kinetic energy from vehicle vibrations into electrical energy through relative motion between the magnet and coil assemblies

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS8941251B2Electricity generating shock absorbers

Publication Date: 2015.01.27 THE RES FOUNDATION FOR THE STATE UNIV OF NEW YORK

AI summary

An electricity generating shock absorber includes a coil assembly having a length of electrically conducting material wrapped around an outside perimeter, and along a length, of a hollow tube formed of electrically resistant material; a magnet unit formed of at least one annular axial magnet; a central shaft having a magnetic reluctance on which a plurality of the magnet units are mounted, the central shaft dimensioned for insertion through a central opening of the at least one annular axial magnet, the central shaft combined with the plurality of magnet units forming a magnet assembly dimensioned to slideably insert into a central cavity of the hollow tube; and a cylindrical shell having a first end attached to a terminal end of the magnet assembly, the cylindrical shell extending a length of the magnet assembly, the cylindrical shell having an inner diameter sized to slideably accommodate an outside diameter of the coil assembly.