Vibration Harvester Flat Spring Resilient Device
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vibration energy harvesters face challenges in manufacturing complexity and accuracy due to the use of frustoconical springs, which are difficult to manufacture and assemble precisely, especially when subjected to large dynamic ranges of vibration, leading to potential damage from excessive oscillation amplitudes.
Innovation Solution
An electromechanical generator design incorporating a central mast, electrically conductive coil assembly, magnetic core assembly, and a biasing device with plate springs and flat annular springs to limit excessive vibration, allowing for accurate control of motion and easy manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If frustoconical springs are used to limit excessive vibration, then the generator can accommodate large dynamic ranges, but the manufacturing complexity and assembly difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex frustoconical springs with simple flat spring elements that are easier and cheaper to manufacture. These flat springs achieve the same vibration limiting function through a simpler geometry that can be produced using standard manufacturing processes, eliminating the need for complex forming operations required for frustoconical springs.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient device is segmented into multiple flat spring elements arranged in parallel between the biasing device and magnetic core assembly. This segmentation allows each element to be simple and easy to manufacture, while collectively they provide the required vibration limiting capability through distributed elastic deformation.
2Reliability
If frustoconical springs are used to limit oscillation amplitude, then damage from excessive vibration is prevented, but the assembly precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the resilient device from frustoconical shape to flat spring elements. This parameter change simplifies the assembly process because flat springs can be positioned and secured more easily than frustoconical springs, reducing the precision requirements for maintaining the critical gap between the mass and outer casing.
3Reliability
If frustoconical springs are used as resilient devices, then vibration limiting function is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs simple flat spring elements instead of complex frustoconical springs, reducing the structural complexity of the resilient device. These flat springs maintain the vibration limiting function through their elastic properties while having a simpler geometry that reduces the overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The flat spring elements are designed to deform dynamically under load, allowing the magnetic core assembly to move freely within normal operating ranges while automatically engaging to limit excessive oscillations. This dynamic behavior achieves vibration control without requiring complex mechanical structures.
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 design effectively limits excessive vibration, enhances manufacturing simplicity, and maintains high accuracy, reducing wear and increasing the reliability and longevity of the energy harvester by using flat annular springs as resilient devices, which are easier to manufacture and assemble compared to frustoconical springs.
Implementation Method 1
when the system vibrates, a coil cuts through the flux formed by a magnetic core
Implementation Method 2
the resilient device is then deformed, e.g. compressed, between the biasing device and the one of the mass and the body, to act as a limiter that limits the oscillation amplitude
Data Source
AI summary
An electromechanical generator for converting mechanical vibrational energy into electrical energy, the electromechanical generator comprising: a central mast, an electrically conductive coil assembly fixedly mounted to the mast, a magnetic core assembly movably mounted to the mast for linear vibrational motion a biasing device mounted between the mast and the magnetic core assembly, the biasing device comprising a pair of first and second plate springs, and a resilient device mounted between the biasing device and the magnetic core assembly, the resilient device being configured to be deformed between the biasing device and the magnetic core assembly when the magnetic core assembly has moved, by the linear vibrational motion, away from an equilibrium position by a predetermined non-zero threshold amplitude, the resilient device comprising a pair of first and second flat spring elements, each having an outer edge fitted to the magnetic core assembly and a free inner edge.