# US 9,438,138 B2 · Magnetostrictive devices and systems

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- Number: US 9,438,138 B2
- Document ID: US9438138B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/181,574
- Filed: 2014-02-14
- Published: 2014-08-14
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-02-14
- Assignees: Oscilla Power Inc.
- Applicants: Oscilla Power Inc.
- Inventors: Balakrishnan Nair; Jesse Alan Nachlas; Zachary Murphree
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9438138B2

## CPC

- H02N 2/18: producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators (for measurement devices G01)
- F03B 13/18: where the other member, {i.e. rem} is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore
- F03B 13/188: {and the wom is flexible or deformable}
- F03B 13/1885: {and the wom is tied to the rem}
- F03B 13/189: {acting directly on the piston of a pump}
- H10N 35/101: {with mechanical input and electrical output, e.g. generators, sensors}
- Y02E 10/30: Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient
- H02N: ELECTRIC MACHINES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F03B: MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS (positive-displacement engines for liquid F03C; machines for liquids and gases F01; positive-displacement machines for liquids F04, rotary fluid gearing of the hydrokinetic type F16H41/00)
- H10N: ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

The device generates electrical energy from mechanical motion. The device includes at least one magnetostrictive element and at least one force modifier. The force modifier is coupled to the magnetostrictive element. The force modifier receives an input force and applies a modified force to the magnetostrictive element.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device for generating electrical energy from mechanical motion, the device comprising:
a buoy housing;
at least one magnetostrictive element disposed within an interior of the buoy housing; and
at least one force modifier disposed at least partially within the interior of the buoy housing and mechanically coupled to the magnetostrictive element, the force modifier to receive an input force and apply a modified force to the magnetostrictive element, wherein the force modifier comprises a hydraulic system, and wherein the hydraulic system comprises a first hydraulic piston having a first area and a second hydraulic piston having a second area, wherein the first area and the second area are not equal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the force modifier comprises a mechanical system.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2, wherein the mechanical system comprises a lever.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2, wherein the mechanical system comprises a pulley.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2, wherein the mechanical system comprises a block-and-tackle system.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the modified force applied to the magnetostrictive element is greater in magnitude than the input force.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the modified force applied to the magnetostrictive element comprises a compressive force and the input force comprises a tensile force.

### Claim 8

A method for generating electrical energy from mechanical motion, the method comprising:
receiving an input force from a mechanical motion;
modifying the input force, wherein modifying the input force further comprises operating a hydraulic system, and wherein the hydraulic system comprises a first hydraulic piston having a first area and a second hydraulic piston having a second area, wherein the first area and the second area are not equal; and
applying a modified output force to a magnetostrictive element disposed within an interior of a buoy housing.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein modifying the input force further comprises operating a mechanical system.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the mechanical system comprises at least one of a list of systems, the list comprising:
a lever;
a pulley; and
a block-and-tackle.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein modifying the input force comprises transforming a tensile input force to a compressive output force.

### Claim 12

A buoy apparatus for generating electrical energy from motion of ocean waves, the device comprising:
a buoy housing;
a magnetostrictive element disposed within an interior of the buoy housing;
a tether coupling point;
a force modifier disposed at least partially within the interior of the buoy housing and coupled to the tether coupling point, the force modifier to receive an input force from the tether coupling point and apply a modified output force to the magnetostrictive element, wherein the force modifier comprises a hydraulic system, and wherein the hydraulic system comprises a first hydraulic piston having a first area and a second hydraulic piston having a second area, wherein the first area and the second area are not equal; and
a coil disposed within a magnetic field of the magnetostrictive element.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the force modifier is configured to apply a compressive force to at least one magnetostrictive element while the input force is tensile in nature.