INTEGRATED ENERGY GENERATING DAMPER

• Main Authors: Wendell, Ross J, Schneider, Johannes, Tucker, Clive, Jackowski, Zachary J, Morton, Sean C, Anderson, Zackary Martin, Moen, Evan
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 31.12.2020
• Subjects: BLASTING; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; HEATING; LIGHTING; MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOTOTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISEPROVIDED FOR; OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT ENGINES DRIVEN BY LIQUIDS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER; ROTARY-PISTON OR OSCILLATING-PISTON MACHINES OR ENGINES; SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; STEAM ENGINES; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; WEAPONS; WIND, SPRING WEIGHT AND MISCELLANEOUS MOTORS

A linear energy harvesting device that includes a housing and a piston that moves at least partially through the housing when it is compressed or extended from a rest position. When the piston moves, hydraulic fluid is pressurized and drives a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor drives an electric generator that produces electricity. Both the motor and generator are central to the device housing. Exemplary configurations are disclosed such as monotube, twin-tube, tri-tube and rotary based designs that each incorporates an integrated energy harvesting apparatus. By varying the electrical characteristics on an internal generator, the kinematic characteristics of the energy harvesting apparatus can be dynamically altered. In another mode, the apparatus can be used as an actuator to create linear movement. Applications include vehicle suspension systems (to act as the primary damper component), railcar bogie dampers, or industrial applications such as machinery dampers and wave energy harvesters, and electro-hydraulic actuators.