Prime-mover dynamo plants – Miscellaneous – Drive gearing
Patent
1981-09-14
1984-02-28
Truhe, J. V.
Prime-mover dynamo plants
Miscellaneous
Drive gearing
417 1R, F04B 914, F04B 3506
Patent
active
044343744
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to an improved device for generating electricity and utilizing vehicular traffic or pedestrian traffic so that the weight of the moving traffic is utilized to generate electricity by rotating a generator shaft through a mechanism to be described more fully hereinafter.
BACKGROUND ART
This invention is an improved structure for carrying out the concept disclosed in my earlier granted U.S. Pat. No. 4,250,395. That earlier U.S. patent disclosed a device which captured energy expended by pedestrian or vehicular traffic and included a plurality or tread plates which were depressed by traffic thereover to rotate a shaft through depression of rocker arms mounted to the shaft by one-way clutches. The rocker arms are normally spring-biased to a first position yet yieldable in response to the weight to movement downwardly so that the shaft, which is connected to a generator, is rotated to convert the mechanical energy into electrical energy. That structure described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,250,395 included a plurality of tread plates. This invention is of an improved tread plate means and general overall structure which is relatively simple to manufacture and assemble and constitutes an improved structure for accomplishing the use of vehicular or pedestrian traffic to convert the mechanical energy of the traffic to electrical energy.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In the earlier patent described above, a base or support was provided for the shaft and rocker arms connected to it by one-way clutch means and which support was beneath a tread plate. That structure was relatively difficult to manufacture and assemble. The present invention provides an improved structure for the base and the tread plate as well as other improved components as is described more fully hereinafter.
The base of the instant invention comprises a channel-form member with the upstanding standards in spaced relation from one another and with holes therethrough to accommodate the shaft and, spot welded at spaced locations along the web a plurality of spring steel members to normally urge rocker arms connected to the shaft by one-way clutch means into a first normal position yet yieldable in response to the weight of traffic passing over it to permit rotation of the shaft as the rocker arms are displaced.
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved device of the type described which comprises a base of channel form having spaced upstanding side walls of equal height on opposite sides of a web and which side walls terminate in outturned flanges or ears which intercooperate with a generally channel-form member tread plate and wherein upstanding standards are struck from the web so as to provide a simple inexpensive construction.
It is another object of this invention to provide an improved tread plate wherein the plate is provided with a weakened or flexible zone so that a portion of the tread plate is adapted to respond to the application of weight to it to downward movement so that this downward movement can be transmitted through the rocker arms and one-way clutch means to rotate a shaft and thereby generate electricity from the traffic.
In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the tread plate of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of another embodiment of a tread plate of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of rocker arms mounted on a torque transmitting shaft, connected to the base of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a vertical cross section of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, with the tread plate and rocker arm in normal non-depressed position;
FIG. 5 is a vertical cross section of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, with the tread plate and rocker arm in the depressed position;
FIG. 6 is a partial top view of FIG. 3
REFERENCES:
patent: 1538952 (1925-05-01), Ram
patent: 1665140 (1928-04-01), Master
patent: 1745944 (1930-02-01), Morton, Jr.
patent: 1771200 (1930-07-01), Akers
patent: 1773718 (1930-08-01), Barney
patent: 1916873 (1933-07-01), Wiggins
patent: 2020361 (1935-11-01), Johnston
patent: 2164177 (1939-06-01), Jones
patent: 2384110 (1945-09-01), Malmquist
patent: 3918844 (1975-11-01), Bailey
patent: 4212598 (1980-07-01), Roche et al.
Truhe J. V.
Wade Shelley
LandOfFree
Device for generating electricity by pedestrian and vehicular tr does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Device for generating electricity by pedestrian and vehicular tr, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Device for generating electricity by pedestrian and vehicular tr will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-760863