Method and apparatus for mechanical energy harvesting using variable inductance magnetic flux switch

• Main Authors: Krupenkin, Thomas Nikita, Taylor, Joseph Ashley
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 02.03.2021
• Subjects: BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; BLASTING; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF,TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, E.G. STENTS; DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES; ELECTRICITY; FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; FIRST-AID KITS; FOMENTATION; GENERATION; HEATING; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; LIGHTING; MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOTOTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISEPROVIDED FOR; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER; PROSTHESES; SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; WEAPONS; WIND, SPRING WEIGHT AND MISCELLANEOUS MOTORS

A method of mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion utilizes a mechanical spring in combination with a rapid-action variable inductance magnetic flux switch to convert a spring-loaded mechanical energy into a change in magnetic flux captured by an electrical coil element within the magnetic flux switch. The change in coil inductance and magnetic flux induces a current to flow through the electrical coil in the form of a a pulse of electrical energy that may be stored. The electrical coil is coupled to the mechanical spring so that each time the spring is released, the coil moves with respect to a magnetic core and a change in flux is created. The application of an external mechanical force (such as human locomotion) functions to compress and subsequently "unlock" the mechanical switch, allowing for the electrical energy associated with the application of aperiodic forces to be harvested.