Broadband energy harvester apparatus and method
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsDan J. Clingman, Jack Theisen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An energy harvesting apparatus and method for harvesting vibration energy over a wide frequency band and at low amplitudes. The apparatus includes a reaction component that is supported by a plurality of independent piezoelectric flexures from a base. The flexures are secured to the base and to portions of the reaction component so that they create equal but opposite constant moments applied to the reaction component that cancel one another out. As the base experiences lateral vibration energy, this causes a swinging or rolling motion of the reaction component, that causes changes in stress and/or strain experienced by the flexures. This causes the flexures to generate electrical signals that can be used powering external devices.
Claims20
An energy harvesting apparatus comprising:
- a base;
- a reaction component;
- a flexure being secured at one portion thereof to said base and at a different portion to said reaction component;
- said flexure further being flexible and being caused to flex in response to motion of said reaction component, in response to movement of said base;
- and
- said flexing of said flexure enabling said flexure to generate electrical signals.
An energy harvesting apparatus comprising:
- a base;
- a reaction component;
- a plurality of flexures each being secured adjacent a first end portion to said base and adjacent a second end portion thereof to said reaction component, such that said reaction component is biased into a predetermined position relative to, and adjacent to, said base;
- and
- said flexures further being flexible in response to motion of said reaction component, in response to movement of said base, to generate electrical signals.
A method for harvesting vibration energy from a vibrating structure, the method comprising:
- using a flexure secured at a first portion to a member experiencing a vibration;
- securing a second portion of said flexure to a reaction component;
- and
- using said flexure component to generate electrical signals in response to flexing movement thereof caused by motion of said reaction component, relative to said member, as said member experiences vibration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.