Abstract:
An electric generating system includes a vehicle having at least two mechanical components which are capable of reciprocating movements relative to each other; and an electric generator connected to the mechanical components and including a magnet unit and a conductor winding unit. The reciprocating movements include an interaction of the conductor winding unit and magnetic flux lines of the magnet unit to generate electricity. The electricity can be produced from vibration energy induced by shock.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of Chinese Patent Application No. 200910135129.2 filed on Apr. 22, 2009. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates to an electric generating system, more particularly an environmentally clean electric generating system of a vehicle. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Traveling with a bicycle is now one of the most popular leisure activities. To fulfill the needs of cyclists, many bicycles are provided with electric and electronic devices, such as electronic maps, distance meters, lighting and alarming lamps, etc. Commonly used power sources for such devices are battery cells which are easily available. However, battery cells are highly polluting energy sources which are not environmentally friendly. Other power sources for the electric or electronic devices are dynamos or electric generators which can generate electricity by converting a mechanical motion of a bicycle wheel into electrical energy. 
         [0006]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an early bicycle dynamo  1  has a rotor with one end disposed in friction contact with a wheel rim  2  of a bicycle so that the rotor can be rotated by the wheel rim  2  and electricity can be outputted through an output end  4 . However, as substantial frictional forces are produced between the wheel rim  2  and the dynamo  1  at the beginning of pedaling a bicycle, the frictional forces can be a heavy burden to a rider who has no strong leg force. 
         [0007]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a hub dynamo  6  is connected to a hub  5  at the center of a wheel rim  7 . When the wheel rim  7  rotates, a rotor connected to an outer periphery of the hub  5  is rotated, and electricity produced in a stator is delivered outwardly through a central hollow shaft  8 . Although the hub dynamo  6  consumes less of the energy supplied by the rider compared to the dynamo  1 , it is expensive and hence uneconomical. 
         [0008]    Like the aforesaid prior art, most of electric generators currently used in bicycles are of the type which needs to rely on motions of bicycle wheels driven by a rider. Thus, in order to generate electricity, the rider has to supply energy to an electric generator by applying additional leg force to pedals of the bicycle. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide an electric generating system of a vehicle with a simple construction, which can generate electricity without consuming any energy supplied to the vehicle by a user of the vehicle. 
         [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an electric generating system of a vehicle, which can produce electricity from vibration motions of the vehicle induced by shock. 
         [0011]    According to the present invention, an electric generating system comprises: a vehicle including at least two mechanical components which are capable of reciprocating movements relative to each other; and an electric generator connected to the mechanical components, and including a magnet unit and a conductor winding unit. The reciprocating movements induce an interaction of the conductor winding unit and magnetic flux lines of the magnet unit to generate electricity. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  shows a conventional bicycle dynamo; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  shows a conventional hub dynamo; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an elevation view showing an electric generating system according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an elevation view showing an electric generating system according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary perspective view showing the electric generating system of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is an elevation view showing an electric generating system according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX of  FIG. 7 ; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a schematic view showing an electric generating system according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    Before the present invention is described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying preferred embodiments, it should be noted herein that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown an electric generating system according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention which includes a bicycle (A) (only a portion of the bicycle is shown) and an electric generator  30 . The bicycle (A) includes a shock-absorbing type front fork that has at least two mechanical components which are capable of reciprocating movements relative to each other. In particular, the front fork has a pair of fork members (B) each of which includes an inner tube  10  and an outer tube  20  as the mechanical components. The outer tube  20  is telescopically sleeved around the inner tube  10 . A shock-absorbing member in the form of a coiled spring  101  is disposed between the inner and outer tubes  10  and  20 . The inner and outer tubes  10 ,  20  are movable reciprocatingly and linearly relative to each other. 
         [0025]    The electric generator  30  includes a magnet unit  31  fixed to the inner tube  10 , and a conductor winding unit  32  disposed around the magnet unit  31  and connected to the outer tube  20 . 
         [0026]    When the bicycle moves upwardly and downwardly on a road having rising and indenting surfaces, the outer tube  20  moves reciprocatingly and linearly relative to the inner tube  10  so that the conductor winding unit  32  moves relative to the magnet unit  31 , and a current is generated in the conductor winding unit  32 . The generated current can be supplied to a lighting or alarming lamp, such as an LED lamp attached to the bicycle, or other electric or electronic devices carried by a rider (such as radio, MP3 etc.). The electric generating system is environmentally clean and saves energy. Electricity is generated by using vibration energy induced by shock, and does not utilize any energy supplied by a user for driving the wheels of the bicycle. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , there is shown a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, which differs from the first preferred embodiment as follows: The bicycle (A) further includes a driving unit  11  connected to the inner tube  10 , and a housing  22  connected to the outer tube  20 . The electric generator  30 ′ has a generator case  33  supported by the housing  22  and receiving the magnet unit (not shown) and the conductor winding unit (not shown), a rotary shaft  331  connected to one of the magnet unit  31  and the conductor winding unit  32  and extending outwardly of the generator case  33 , first and second gears  332 ,  334  disposed around the rotary shaft  331 , a single-direction first bearing unit  333  disposed between the rotary shaft  331  and the first gear  332 , and a single-direction second bearing unit  335  disposed between the rotary shaft  331  and the second gear  334 . The first and second bearing units  333 ,  335  permit the rotary shaft  331  to rotate only in a single direction. 
         [0028]    The driving unit  11  includes first and second rack bars  111 ,  112  which are connected in parallel to the inner tube  10  and which are respectively formed with first and second rack teeth  113 ,  114 . The rotary shaft  331  is disposed between the first and second rack bars  111 ,  112 . The first rack bar  111  engages the first gear  332 , and the second rack bar  112  engages the second gear  334  so that the first and second gears  332 ,  334  are rotated by the respective first and second rack bars  111 ,  112  in opposite directions. However, the first and second bearing units  333 ,  335  enable the rotary shaft  331  to rotate in a single direction, i.e. a first direction (I), and prevent the same from rotating in a second direction (II). 
         [0029]    When the first and second rack bars  111 ,  112  move downward together with the inner tube  10 , the first gear  332  is rotated in the first direction (I) so that the rotary shaft  331  rotates in the first direction through the first bearing unit  333  and generates electricity. At the same time, the second gear  334  is rotated in the second direction (II) by the second rack bar  112 . However, the second gear  334  idles due to the action of the second bearing unit  335 . 
         [0030]    When the first and second rack bars  111 ,  112  move upward relative to the outer tube  20 , the second rack bar  112  rotates the second gear  334  in the first direction (I) so that the rotary shaft  331  rotates in the first direction (I) through the second bearing unit  335  and continues to generate electricity. At the same time, the first rack bar  111  rotates the first gear  332  in the second direction (II). However, the first gear  332  idles due to the action of the first bearing unit  333 . 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , an electric generating system according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a bicycle (A′), and an electric generator  30 ′. The bicycle (A′) includes a bicycle frame  10 ″ that has a five-way tube  11 ″ and a seat tube  12 ″, a rear fork  40 ″, a housing  13  fixed to the seat tube  12 ″ of the bicycle frame  10 ″ to support the electric generator  30 ′, and a shock-absorbing system that includes a shock absorber  50 ″, and a lever  20 ″ that has two opposite ends connected respectively to the rear fork  40 ″ and the shock absorber  50 ″. The lever  20 ″ further has a pivot spindle  21 ″ fixed thereto between the rear fork  40 ″ and the shock absorber  50 ″, and a driving unit  22 ″ associated with the pivot spindle  21 ″. The pivot spindle  21 ″ is mounted rotatably to the bicycle frame  10 ″ so that the lever  20 ″ and the pivot spindle  21 ″ can rotate relative to the seat tube  12 ″. In this embodiment, the lever  20 ″, the pivot spindle  21 ″ and the bicycle frame  10 ″ are the mechanical components of the bicycle (A′) which are connected to the electric generator  30 ′. The lever  20 ″ has two lever plates  201 ″. The pivot spindle  21 ″ has two ends fixed to the lever plates  201 ″ and extends transversely through the seat tube  12 ″. 
         [0032]    The generator case  33  and the rotary shaft  331  of the electric generator  30 ′ are supported in the housing  13 . The housing  13  is communicated spatially with an interior of the seat tube  12 ″. The driving unit  22 ″ includes third and fourth gears  222 ″,  223 ″ mounted to the pivot spindle  21 ″ within the seat tube  12 ″, and a fifth gear  224 ″ disposed inside the seat tube  12 ″ and the housing  13 . The third gear  222 ″ engages the second gear  334 . The fifth gear  224 ″ is disposed between and engages the first and fourth gears  332 ,  223 ″. Therefore, when the third and fourth gears  222 ″ and  223 ″ rotate along with the pivot spindle  21 , the first and second gears  332 , 334  are rotated in opposite directions. However, the first and second bearing units  333 ,  335  enables the rotary shaft  331  to rotate only in a single direction, i.e. the second direction (II). 
         [0033]    When the rear fork  40 ″ moves upward and downward, the lever  20 ″ together with the pivot spindle  21 ″ rotates reciprocatingly. Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9  in combination with  FIG. 7 , when the pivot spindle  21 ″ rotates in the first direction (I), the third gear  222 ″ causes the second gear  334  to rotate in the second direction (II), thereby driving the rotary shaft  331  in the second direction (II) through the second bearing unit  335  and generating electricity. At the same time, the fourth and fifth gears  223 ″,  224 ″ cause the first gear  332  to rotate in the first direction (I). However, the first gear  332  idles because of the action of the first bearing unit  333 . 
         [0034]    Conversely, when the pivot spindle  21 ″ rotates in the second direction (II), the second gear  334  rotates idly in the first direction (I) due to the action of the second bearing unit  335 , and the first gear  332  rotates the rotary shaft  331  in the second direction (II) by the action of the first bearing unit  333  to generate electricity. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , an electric generating system according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an automobile (A″) (only a portion is shown) which includes a chassis  15 , and a shock-absorbing system which includes mechanical components  100  and  200 , and a shock absorber  400  connected between the mechanical components  100 ,  200 . The upper one of the mechanical components  100 ,  200  is connected to the chassis  15 , and the lower one of the mechanical components  100 ,  200  is connected to a shaft of a wheel through a connector  16 . 
         [0036]    The electric generator  300  is connected between the upper and lower mechanical components  100 ,  200 , and has the magnet unit  310  and the conductor winding unit  320 . When the mechanical component  200  moves upward and downward relative to the mechanical component  100 , the electric generator  300  generates electricity. Therefore, electricity can be produced from vibration energy induced by shock when the automobile (A″) runs. The electricity as produced can be supplied to a lighting or alarming lamp, an electronic device, etc., or used to charge a battery. 
         [0037]    While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.