Apparatus using magnets for harvesting energy on a metrology device
AssigneeNatural Gas Solutions North America, LLC
InventorFrancisco Manuel Gutierrez
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Abstract
An apparatus comprising a meter device with a rotating component configured to rotate in response to a flowing fluid, an indexing unit coupled with the meter device and configured to process signals from the meter device resulting in values for measured parameters of a flowing fluid, and an energy harvester coupled to the pair of impellers, the energy harvester comprising a first harvesting unit and a second harvesting unit that co-operate to generate an electrical signal, the first harvesting unit configured to co-rotate with the pair of impellers, the second harvesting unit comprising a hollow, magnetic core disposed proximate the first harvesting unit.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a meter device with a rotating component including a pair of impellers configured to rotate in response to a flowing fluid;
- an indexing unit coupled with the meter device and configured to process signals from the meter device resulting in values for measured parameters of a flowing fluid;
- and an energy harvester coupled to the rotating component, the energy harvester comprising a first harvesting unit and a second harvesting unit that co-operate to generate an electrical signal, the first harvesting unit configured to co-rotate with the pair of impellers, the second harvesting unit comprising a hollow, magnetic core disposed proximate the first harvesting unit, wherein the energy harvester comprises a field shaper disposed on the hollow, magnetic core, the field shaper configured to collapse magnetic flux lines towards an outer surface of the hollow, magnetic core.
A gas meter, comprising:
- a meter body comprising impellers configured to counter-rotate in response to material flow;
- and an energy harvester comprising:
- a first member comprising an annular ring magnet coupled with the impellers so as to co-rotate with the impellers, the annular ring magnet configured to generate a magnetic field;
- a second member comprising a magnetic core disposed proximate the magnetic field, the magnetic core forming a hollow tube;
- and a wire wound about the hollow tube so as to manifest an electrical signal in response to changes in the magnetic field relative to the hollow tube, wherein the hollow tube has a through bore forming a longitudinal axis that extends through diametrically opposed parts of the annular ring, and wherein the hollow tube has a peripheral wall that comprises a plurality of material layers that bound the longitudinal axis.
A gas meter, comprising:
- a meter body comprising impellers configured to counter-rotate in response to material flow;
- and an energy harvester comprising:
- a first member comprising an annular ring magnet coupled with the impellers so as to co-rotate with the impellers, the annular ring magnet configured to generate a magnetic field;
- a second member comprising a magnetic core disposed proximate the magnetic field, the magnetic core forming a hollow tube;
- and a wire wound about the hollow tube so as to manifest an electrical signal in response to changes in the magnetic field relative to the hollow tube;
- and a bent wire having ends extending into the hollow tube, wherein the ends are spaced apart from one another and a longitudinal segment outside of and spaced apart from the interior of the hollow tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.