Spring operated current generator for supplying controlled electric current to a load

A portable electric device comprising:

• a generator having a rotatable shaft;
• a gear train having a first gear and a last gear, said last gear being coupled to said rotatable shaft;
• a mechanical energy storage device coupled to said first gear, said mechanical energy storage device storing mechanical energy and selectively releasing said mechanical energy therefrom;
• a handle coupled to said source, whereby rotating said handle adds mechanical energy to said source;
• a power control circuit coupled to said generator and configured to prevent an uncontrolled release of said mechanical energy from said source by controlling a voltage output of said generator;
• and,
• a radio coupled to said power control circuit.

A generator device for providing a controlled electric output current to a load, comprising:

• a source of mechanical energy;
• a gear train connected to the source;
• a generator connected to the gear train;
• and
• a control circuit connected to the generator;
• wherein the control circuit is configured to prevent an uncontrolled release of mechanical energy from the source by controlling a voltage output of the generator;
• wherein the control circuit comprises positive and negative output wires extending from the generator, and a brake circuit for electronically braking the generator by shorting the generator output when the voltage output rises above a predetermined value,
• wherein the brake circuit comprises a transistor, the base electrode of which is controlled by the voltage from the positive wire of the generator, a storage capacitor connected across the positive and negative output wires of the control circuit, and wherein the transistor is switched on when the output exceeds said predetermined value.

A generator device for providing a controlled electric output current to a load, comprising:

• a source of mechanical energy;
• a gear train connected to the source;
• a generator connected to the gear train;
• and
• a control circuit connected to the generator;
• wherein the control circuit is configured to prevent an uncontrolled release of mechanical energy from the source by controlling a voltage output of the generator;
• wherein the control circuit comprises a pair of input terminals, a pair of output terminals, an output capacitor connected across said pair of output terminals, switch means adapted to monitor the output of the generator, a clamp circuit responsive to the switch means for clamping the output of the source of mechanical energy by applying a short circuit to the generator output, and a power switch operative when the clamp circuit is clamping the generator output to isolate the capacitor from the generator output and when the clamping circuit is not clamping the generator output to enable the generator output to charge the capacitor and to provide output to the load.