US 12,698,021 B1Granted

Systems and methods of wheel based power generation for electronic components on retail carts

AssigneeWalmart Apollo, LLC

InventorsJon Alferness, Andrew J. Grignon, Darrell Whitelaw, Matthew S. Brown, William J. Yergin, Ankoor-Anish K. Hazari, Brittany N. Leek

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Abstract

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to wheel-based power generation on a cart for transporting commercial products. In some embodiments, a system may include at least one wheel that rotates in multiple directions; a first shaft coupled to the at least one wheel; a rotation transmitter coupled to the at least one wheel and the first shaft; a first gear coupled to the first shaft; a second gear coupled to the first gear; a second shaft coupled to the second gear; and a generator coupled to the second shaft to generate power by converting rotation of the at least one wheel into an alternating current power output. The system may include a control unit coupled to the generator to convert the alternating current power output into a direct current power, and a power storage component coupled to the generator, to store the direct current power output.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A system of wheel-based power generation on a cart for transporting commercial products, the system comprising:

at least one wheel that rotates in multiple directions including a first direction and a second direction opposite of the first direction;
a first shaft, wherein the at least one wheel is coupled to the first shaft, and wherein rotation of the at least one wheel causes rotation of the first shaft;
a rotation transmitter coupled to the at least one wheel and the first shaft, wherein the rotation transmitter translates the rotation of the at least one wheel into the rotation of the first shaft;
a first gear coupled to the first shaft, wherein the rotation of the first shaft causes rotation of the first gear;
a second gear coupled to the first gear such that the rotation of the first gear causes rotation of the second gear;
a second shaft coupled to the second gear, wherein the rotation of the second gear causes rotation of the second shaft;
a housing that encloses at least a portion of the at least one wheel, rotation transmitter, first gear, second gear, first shaft, and second shaft, wherein the housing includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion coupled to the first housing portion, wherein the first housing portion encloses at least a portion of the at least one wheel, rotation transmitter and first shaft, and wherein the second housing portion encloses at least a portion of the first gear, second gear, first shaft, and second shaft;
a generator coupled to the second shaft, wherein the generator generates power by converting the rotation of the second shaft into an alternating current power output when the rotation of the at least one wheel is present;
a control unit coupled to the generator, wherein the control unit converts the alternating current power output into a direct current power output;
and
a power storage component coupled to the generator, wherein the power storage component stores the direct current power output.

8 more elements

A method of wheel-based power generation on a cart for transporting commercial products, the method comprising:

rotating at least one wheel, wherein the at least one wheel rotates in multiple directions including a first direction and a second direction opposite of the first direction, and wherein the at least one wheel is coupled to a first shaft such that rotation of the at least one wheel causes rotation of the first shaft;
translating, by a rotation transmitter coupled to the at least one wheel, the rotation of the at least one wheel into the rotation of the first shaft;
causing, by the rotation of the first shaft, rotation of a first gear coupled to the first shaft;
causing, by the rotation of the first gear, rotation of a second gear coupled to the first gear;
causing, by the rotation of the second gear, rotation of a second shaft coupled to the second gear;
enclosing, by a housing, at least a portion of the at least one wheel, rotation transmitter, first gear, second gear, first shaft, and second shaft, wherein the housing includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion coupled to the first housing portion, wherein the first housing portion encloses at least a portion of the at least one wheel, rotation transmitter and first shaft, and wherein the second housing portion encloses at least a portion of the first gear, second gear, first shaft, and second shaft;
generating, by a generator coupled to the second shaft, power by converting the rotation of the second shaft into an alternating current power output when the rotation of the at least one wheel is present;
converting, by a control unit coupled to the generator, the alternating current power output into a direct current power output;
and
storing, by a power storage component coupled to the generator, the direct current power output.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.