Traffic-based energy conversion system
OwnerJohn Runnerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system is provided for converting mechanical motion of vehicles into electrical energy. The system includes a plurality of motion converter assemblies each including a rod which remains in communication with a vertical motion delivery mechanism via a gearing mechanism for rotating the rod in response to traffic flowing thereover. Also included is a plurality of pumps each connected to the rotating rod for generating pressurized fluid in response thereto. A fluid turbine is provided for generating electrical energy upon the receipt of the pressurized fluid.
Claims7
A system for converting mechanical motion of vehicles into electrical energy comprising, in combination:
- a one-way road having a plurality of laterally spaced gaps formed therein;
- a plurality of motion converter assemblies each including a thin rectangular base defined by a top face, a bottom face, and a peripheral side wall mounted between the top face and the bottom face to define an interior space with a plurality of supports formed therein for maintaining the shape of the base, the base of each motion converter assembly being situated within one of the gaps of the road and further having a rod rotatably mounted within the base wherein the rod extends along a length of the base, each motion converter assembly further including a pair of planar rectangular lever plates each having an elongated inboard end pivotally coupled to the top face of the base adjacent to one of the elongated edges thereof, a plurality of coil springs each mounted within a recess formed in the top face of the base and further in engagement with an underside of the associated lever for urging the same upwardly, at least one gear strip with a plurality of gear teeth having a top end pivotally coupled to the underside of the lever plate adjacent to a free edge thereof and a second end slidably situated within a slot formed in the base adjacent to the rod such that the gear teeth of the gear strip are in engagement with a disk-shaped ratchet gear mounted on the rod, wherein the rod is adapted to rotate in a single direction upon the flow of traffic over the lever plates of the motion converter assemblies;
- a plurality of pumps each mounted to the base of an associated one of the motion converter assemblies and further in communication with the rotating rod thereof for generating pressurized air in response thereto;
- a plurality of air reservoirs each connected to one of the pumps for receiving and storing the pressurized air therefrom, wherein each of the air reservoirs are interconnected with respect to each other;
- and
- an air turbine connected to the air reservoirs for generating electrical energy upon the receipt thereof from the air reservoirs.
A system for converting mechanical motion of vehicles into electrical energy comprising:
- a plurality of motion converter assemblies each including a rod which remains in communication with a vertical motion delivery mechanism via a gearing mechanism for rotating the rod in response to traffic flowing thereover;
- a plurality of pumps each connected to the rotating rod for generating pressurized fluid in response thereto;
- and
- a fluid turbine for generating electrical energy upon the receipt of the pressurized fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.