Abstract:
The present invention teaches an energy generator comprising a generally flat and partially flexible traffic surface on which pedestrians and traffic may pass. Underneath the traffic surface, a plurality of dynamo cells each have a dynamo therein, each dynamo having two electricity generating elements (magnets, coils, etc) and an operative electrical connection to an electrical load such as a battery, capacitor, light, an electrical network or the like. A first electrical generating element in each dynamo may be disposed so that it moves downward when weight from traffic is applied to the traffic surface, while a second electricity generating element remains stationary supported. by the bottom surface of the energy generator. A spring and bottom support may urge the first (moving) element back upwards when the imposed force is released.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The application claims the priority and benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/798704 filed May 8, 2006 in the name of the same inventors, and entitled WASTING ENERGY RECYCLE POWER GENERATING PAD the entire specification of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
       [0002]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d). 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    This invention relates generally to energy generation devices, and specifically to waste energy recycling devices. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH 
       [0004]    This invention was not made under contract with an agency of the US Government, nor by any agency of the US Government. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Due to an imbalance between energy usage and energy demand, the development of alternative energy supplies and the development of energy recycling devices will become increasingly important in the near future. Various types of alternative energy sources are under investigation: nuclear energy, solar power (both photovoltaic and thermodynamic), wind energy, tidal energy, wave energy, geothermal energy, biomass, biofuels, and so on. The United States has claimed plans to generate 10% of total energy consumption by the year 2010, while other nations are already using such energy sources to provide large percentages of their energy needs. 
         [0006]    In general, most energy in the US is produced using coal power at the present time. The highly polluting nature of coal energy is well known, less well known is the immense carnage that the “Black Lung” disease inflicts among coal miners exposed to coal dust for long periods: Black Lung kills coal miners in large numbers. 
         [0007]    Hydropower and wind power both hold promise as relatively speaking “clean” sources of energy, however, even wind energy farms kill countless birds every years, while suitable locations for hydropower (dams) are frustratingly limited. 
         [0008]    Another avenue for energy generation is the recycling/regeneration of waste energy into usable energy. 
         [0009]    Examples of attempts to provide recycling of waste energy date back at least as far as U.S. Pat. No. 159,660 issued Feb. 9, 1875 in the name of Faivre, and include numerous more recent items. However, most of these schemes involve devices which are either inefficient at producing energy or are excessively complex. One example of the inefficiencies of such systems is the relatively course grain of the sections of ground which move to generate electricity. 
         [0010]    Methods and devices for recycling/regeneration of waste energy into usable energy will be at the forefront in providing solutions to the energy problems of the present and near future. 
         [0011]    One method of generating electricity uses the reserve energy from human bodies as they walk or run from place to place. In particular, as a person moves, the energy from foot impact on the ground followed by pushing the foot off of the ground, and the energy of the weight of a human body resting momentarily on one place and then moving on, all combine to provide a source of energy, to the surface over which the person passes. However, in order to generate power, it is necessary for motion of the surface to occur. 
         [0012]    It would be advantageous to provide a fine grained, cellular system for allowing energy generation from passage of human beings. 
         [0013]    In particular, the energy wasted in the passage of human beings from place to place offers unlimited potential and almost unlimited possibilities for recycling otherwise wasted human energy. 
         [0014]    It would be advantageous to provide a method of recycling wasted human energy which could be applied in almost unlimited locations. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    General Summary 
         [0016]    The present invention uses the energy wasted in the passage of human beings and/or vehicular traffic from place to place to offer a new concept having unlimited potential and almost unlimited possibilities for recycling otherwise wasted human energy which could be applied in almost unlimited locations. This alternative energy source could be in the forefront of renewable solutions to energy supply problems. The present invention teaches an energy generator comprising a generally flat and partially flexible traffic surface on which pedestrians and traffic may pass. The traffic surface may be flat, grooved, waved, patterned and so on in order to fit the locale or provide the most efficient traction. Underneath the traffic surface, a plurality of dynamo cells each have a dynamo therein, each dynamo having two electricity generating elements (magnets, coils, etc) and an operative electrical connection to an electrical load such as a battery, capacitor, light, an electrical network or the like. A first electrical generating element in each dynamo may be disposed so that it moves downward when weight from traffic is applied to the traffic surface, while a second electricity generating element remains stationary, supported by the bottom surface of the energy generator. A spring and bottom support may urge the first (moving) element back upwards when the imposed force is released. 
         [0017]    The present invention teaches that a large plurality of spring based dynamos may be provided under a slightly moving surface so that when an individual&#39;s foot falls on an individual dynamo, that unit may generate electricity. 
         [0018]    Any source of motion may be used: pedestrian or vehicular traffic, or other reasonably predictable imposed loads such as individuals engaged in sporting activities or the like. The size of the individual cells of the device may be easily scaled up or down depending upon the loads expected. 
         [0019]    As the device of the invention is a self contained energy generation system, it may advantageously be employed at locations having traffic but no source of electrical supply, for example, at remote countryside intersections. However, it may also be used at densely populated urban locations, and may be hooked to the electrical grid as a power source. 
         [0020]    Structurally, the individual dynamo device of the invention, which comprises one cell of the overall device, is a spring loaded, vertically oriented coil and armature in which one of the coil or armature is secured to the underlying immovable substrate while the other of the armature or coil is attached to the moving surface so that the two move in relation to each other when a load is imposed. Circuitry allows the device to then provide the energy generated to a storage device such as a battery, capacitor or the like, or to carry out useful work such as providing lighting or pumping, or to feed an electrical grid as an electricity source. 
       SUMMARY IN REFERENCE TO CLAIMS 
       [0021]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed in previous sections and in the detailed description and shown in the diagrams, to provide an energy generator comprising:
       a body having a top and bottom, the top partially flexible, the bottom inflexible, and a plurality of dynamo cells disposed between the top and the bottom;   each dynamo cell having a first electricity generating element disposed adjacent the top of the body so that when the partially flexible top distends downward, the first electricity generating element is moved downward from a first position to a second position;   each dynamo cell further having a second electricity generating element disposed adjacent the bottom of the body so that when the first electricity generating element moves downward, the second electricity generating element does not move downward;   each of the electricity generating elements being one member selected from the group consisting of: coils, magnets, electromagnets, armatures, and combinations thereof; wherein   the first and second electricity generating elements are disposed in magnetic communication with each other so that during relative motion of the two elements, an electrical current is generated in one of the electricity generating elements.       
 
         [0027]    It is therefore a second aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide an energy generator further comprising: wherein each dynamo cell further comprises:
       a first spring disposed so as to urge the first electricity generating element into the first position.       
 
         [0029]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide an energy generator further comprising: wherein the flexible top of the body reflexively urges the first electricity generating element into the first position. 
         [0030]    It is therefore another advantage, objective, aspect and embodiment of the invention to provide an energy generator further comprising: wherein the inflexible bottom comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of:
       sidewalk, paving, tarmac, road, metal plate, stone, wood, polymer and combinations thereof.       
 
         [0032]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide an energy generator further comprising: wherein the flexible top comprises a flexible polymer material. 
         [0033]    It is therefore yet another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide an energy generator further comprising:
       a bottom support having a top surface, a bottom surface and an aperture passing through the top surface;   the bottom surface of the bottom support in turn supported on the inflexible bottom of the body;   the bottom support top surface dimensioned and configure to support the first spring at a lower end of the first spring;   the aperture dimensioned and configured to allow at least one of the electricity generating elements to pass therethrough.       
 
         [0038]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide an energy generator further comprising:
       a bottom support having a top surface, a bottom surface and an aperture passing through the top surface;   the bottom surface of the bottom support in turn supported on the inflexible bottom of the body;   the bottom support bottom surface dimensioned and configure to support the first spring at a lower end of the first spring;   the aperture dimensioned and configured to allow at least one of the electricity generating elements to pass therethrough, the electricity generating element passing through the aperture in turn resting upon an upper end of the first spring.       
 
         [0043]    It is therefore yet another objective, aspect, advantage and embodiment of the invention to provide an energy generator wherein the first and second electricity generating elements move freely in relation to one another without damping. 
         [0044]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide a method of generating electricity comprising the steps of:
       a) providing an energy generator having a partially flexible traffic surface having a plurality of dynamo cells disposed thereunder, each dynamo cell having therein one dynamo, each dynamo having a first electricity generating element fixed so as to move when the partially flexible traffic surface flexes downwards and having a second electricity generating element fixed so as not to move;   b) emplacing the energy generator at a location selected for having traffic;   c) operatively electrically connecting the energy generator to an electrical load; and   c) allowing traffic to pass across the energy generator.       
 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0049]      FIG. 1  is a low-angle perspective diagram of a first embodiment of the device. 
           [0050]      FIG. 2  is a low-angle perspective partially disassembled diagram of the first embodiment of the device, showing working of individual cells. 
           [0051]      FIG. 3  is a partially cross-sectional low-angle perspective diagram of a second embodiment of the device. 
           [0052]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a storage battery connected to the device. 
           [0053]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a storage battery. 
           [0054]      FIG. 6   a   1  is a transparent view of a third embodiment of one individual dynamo of the invention. 
           [0055]      FIG. 6   a   2  is a cross-sectional side exploded view of the third embodiment dynamo of the invention. 
           [0056]      FIG. 6   a   3  is a cross-sectional side view of the bottom support of the third embodiment dynamo of the invention. 
           [0057]      FIG. 6   b   1  is a transparent view of a fourth embodiment of one individual dynamo of the invention. 
           [0058]      FIG. 6   b   2  is a cross-sectional side exploded view of the fourth embodiment dynamo of the invention, with the magnet removed to one side. 
           [0059]      FIG. 6   b   3  is a cross-sectional side view of the bottom support of the fourth embodiment dynamo of the invention. 
           [0060]      FIG. 6   c   1  is a transparent view of a fifth embodiment of one individual dynamo of the invention. 
           [0061]      FIG. 6   c   2  is a cross-sectional side exploded view of the fifth embodiment dynamo of the invention. 
           [0062]      FIG. 6   c   3  is a cross-sectional side view of the bottom support of the fifth embodiment dynamo of the invention. 
           [0063]    FIG.  6 D 1  is a transparent view of a sixth embodiment of one individual dynamo of the invention. 
           [0064]    FIG.  6 D 2  is a cross-sectional side exploded view of the sixth embodiment dynamo of the invention. 
           [0000]    
         
           
                 
               
                 
                 
                 
               
             
                 
                     
                 
                 
                   INDEX OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
               
                 
                     
                 
               
            
             
                 
                     
                   Dynamo type A 
                   A 
                 
                 
                     
                   Dynamo type B 
                   B 
                 
                 
                     
                   Dynamo type C 
                   C 
                 
                 
                     
                   Section line to FIG. 2 
                    2 
                 
                 
                     
                   Section line to FIG. 6a 
                     6a 
                 
                 
                     
                   Section line to FIG. 6b 
                     6b 
                 
                 
                     
                   Section line to FIG. 6c 
                     6c 
                 
                 
                     
                   Energy generator 
                    20 
                 
                 
                     
                   Partially flexible top surface 
                    22 
                 
                 
                     
                   Bottom surface 
                    24 
                 
                 
                     
                   Spring 
                    26 
                 
                 
                     
                   Magnet 
                    28 
                 
                 
                     
                   Coil 
                    30 
                 
                 
                     
                   Traffic 
                    32 
                 
                 
                     
                   Electrical connection/ 
                    36 
                 
                 
                     
                   electrical connection to load 
                 
                 
                     
                   Plunger head 
                    38 
                 
                 
                     
                   Bottom support 
                    40 
                 
                 
                     
                   Energy Generator 
                   120 
                 
                 
                     
                   Partially flexible top surface 
                   122 
                 
                 
                     
                   Bottom surface 
                   124 
                 
                 
                     
                   Electrical connection/ 
                   136 
                 
                 
                     
                   electrical connection to load 
                 
                 
                     
                   Plunger head 
                   138 
                 
                 
                     
                   Bottom support 
                   140 
                 
                 
                     
                   Control circuitry 
                   142 
                 
                 
                     
                   Battery 
                   144 
                 
                 
                     
                   Battery circuit panel 
                   146 
                 
                 
                     
                   Spring 
                   226 
                 
                 
                     
                   Magnet 
                   228 
                 
                 
                     
                   Coil 
                   230 
                 
                 
                     
                   Traffic imposed forces 
                   232 
                 
                 
                     
                   Electrical connection/ 
                   236 
                 
                 
                     
                   electrical connection to load 
                 
                 
                     
                   Plunger head 
                   238 
                 
                 
                     
                   Bottom support 
                   240 
                 
                 
                     
                   Spring 
                   326 
                 
                 
                     
                   Magnet 
                   328 
                 
                 
                     
                   Coil 
                   330 
                 
                 
                     
                   Traffic weight 
                   332 
                 
                 
                     
                   Electrical connection/ 
                   336 
                 
                 
                     
                   electrical connection to load 
                 
                 
                     
                   Plunger head 
                   338 
                 
                 
                     
                   Repulsion Magnets 
                   338A, 340A 
                 
                 
                     
                   Bottom support 
                   340 
                 
                 
                     
                   Spring 
                   426 
                 
                 
                     
                   Magnet 
                   428 
                 
                 
                     
                   Coil 
                   430 
                 
                 
                     
                   Traffic/traffic imposed weight 
                   432 
                 
                 
                     
                   Electrical connection/ 
                   436 
                 
                 
                     
                   electrical connection to load 
                 
                 
                     
                   Plunger head 
                   438 
                 
                 
                     
                   Repulsion magnets 
                   438A, 440A 
                 
                 
                     
                   Bottom support 
                   440 
                 
                 
                     
                   Spring 
                   526 
                 
                 
                     
                   Magnet 
                   528 
                 
                 
                     
                   Coil 
                   530 
                 
                 
                     
                   Traffic imposed weight 
                   532 
                 
                 
                     
                   Electrical connection/ 
                   536 
                 
                 
                     
                   electrical connection to load 
                 
                 
                     
                   Plunger head 
                   538 
                 
                 
                     
                   Repulsion Magnets 
                   538A, 540A 
                 
                 
                     
                   Bottom support 
                   540 
                 
                 
                     
                     
                 
               
            
           
         
       
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0065]      FIG. 1  is a low-angle perspective diagram of a first embodiment of the energy generation device  20 . Partially flexible top surface  22  is a traffic surface on which traffic  32 , pedestrian or vehicular, may pass. It may be flat, bumpy, waved, grooved, patterned, or combinations thereof. Bottom surface  24  may be an inflexible material such as sidewalk, paving, tarmac, road, street, highway, intersection, metal plate, stone, wood, polymer and combinations thereof and in any location in which people or vehicles regularly pass. Thus the device may be made as a retrofit to sidewalks and streets, or it may be built integral with the street, and it may be even be a portable pad which may be temporarily placed in one location before being moved to another location. 
         [0066]    Electrical connection/electrical connection to load  36  may be standard wiring which connects dynamo cells as required or/and which connects the device to an electrical load such as a light, an emergency telephone, a sign, an electrical power grid, a battery, capacitor and so on. 
         [0067]      FIG. 2  is a low-angle perspective partially disassembled diagram of the first embodiment of the device, showing working of individual cells. Energy generator  20  may have partially flexible top surface  22  (a tough polymer or similar material, or a hard surface having only local flexibility) as well as rigid bottom surface  24 . 
         [0068]    Spring  26  in each dynamo may urge one of the electricity generating elements (magnet  28 , coil  30 , or the like) upwards whenever the weight of traffic  32  is not present, but may allow the weight of the pedestrian, car, sports player, student, etc to push that same electricity generating element downward from a first relaxed or normal position to a second lower position. Plunger head  38  may be part of the top surface  22  or may be just underneath, with the first, moving electricity generating element attached thereto, or the element may be attached directly to the top surface  22 , or the plunger head  38  may be integrated into the top surface  22  as part thereof. 
         [0069]    Bottom support  40  may sit upon an underlying sidewalk or street, or may be part thereof. Second electricity generating elements will be held in place by the bottom supports, and will be held in operative magneto-electrical communication so that relative motion of one element with respect to the other will generate electrical currents in one element or the other, usually a coil. 
         [0070]      FIG. 3  is a partially cross-sectional low-angle perspective diagram of a second embodiment of the device. It may be clearly seen in this embodiment that the individual dynamos of the dynamo cells may be of differing construction.  FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a storage battery connected to the device.  FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a storage battery. 
         [0071]    Energy generator  120  once again has partially flexible top surface  122 , bottom surface  124 , spring  126 , magnet  128 , coil  130 , plunger heads  138 , bottom support  140 , and a network of electrical connections and connections to load,  136 . 
         [0072]    Control circuitry  142  may be disposed in the load, which may be battery  144  having battery circuit panel  146  or may be in the generation device  120  itself, or in embodiments may be omitted if practicable. 
         [0073]    The  FIG. 6  in general show that the construction of the individual dynamos may vary. 
         [0074]      FIG. 6   a   1  is a transparent view of a third embodiment of one individual dynamo of the invention.  FIG. 6   a   2  is a cross-sectional side exploded view of the third embodiment dynamo of the invention.  FIG. 6   a   3  is a cross-sectional side view of the bottom support of the third embodiment dynamo of the invention. Spring  226  sits atop bottom support  240 &#39;s top surface, both spring and support co-axial with the axis of the dynamo and the aperture passing through the top surface of the bottom support  240 . Magnet  228  may freely pass through the aperture when top plunger  238  moves, while coil  230  is fixed within bottom support  240  when imposed weight of traffic  232  depresses parts of the dynamo unit. Electrical connection  236  may be standard wiring. 
         [0075]    It will be appreciated that in embodiments, it may be desirable to prevent free, undamped motion of the magnet  228 , and this embodiment accomplishes that. However, in the preferred embodiments, electricity generating elements may vibrate in relation to one another so as to provide additional electricity generation, and this is shown in  FIGS. 6   b  and  6   c.    
         [0076]      FIG. 6   b   1  is a transparent view of a fourth embodiment of one individual dynamo of the invention.  FIG. 6   b   2  is a cross-sectional side exploded view of the fourth embodiment dynamo of the invention, with the magnet removed to one side.  FIG. 6   b   3  is a cross-sectional side view of the bottom support of the fourth embodiment dynamo of the invention. 
         [0077]    In this embodiment, spring  326  sits atop bottom support  240 &#39;s top surface once again, and bottom support  240  in turn has a bottom surface of the bottom support which sits on the bottom surface ( 24 , for example) of the body of the generation device. Magnet  328  may be seen (shown removed from the interior of the plunger for clarity) to fit inside of the downward cylindrical extension portion of plunger head  338  and the cylindrical portion of coil  330 . Magnets  338 A and  340 A are fixed magnets (not traveling) which are repulsion magnets to repel the magnet  328  and cause it to continue traveling. Coil  330  in turn sits inside of spring  326 . Thus, unlike the embodiment of  FIGS. 6   a , in this embodiment the coil cylinder is fixed above the aperture of the top surface of the bottom support  240 , rather than within the bottom support  240 . More importantly, the, magnet  328  vibrates in relation to the coil, producing extra energy as the spring or flexible top  22  returns the device to the first position after traffic  332  passes over, and also in any elastic rebounds which may occur even after that. 
         [0078]    In the presently preferred embodiment and best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention, the magnet is even more free to vibrate. It is believed that on streets which themselves vibrate from passing traffic, more energy can be generated this way. Even if this is not correct, more energy can still be generated as a freely moving magnet having no damping will continue to move against the action of the spring for a moment after being stepped on and released, thus generating more energy than otherwise. This is shown in the embodiments of  FIGS. 6   c .  FIG. 6   c   1  is a transparent view of a fifth embodiment of one individual dynamo of the invention.  FIG. 6   c   2  is a cross-sectional side exploded view of the fifth embodiment dynamo of the invention.  FIG. 6   c   3  is a cross-sectional side view of the bottom support of the fifth embodiment dynamo of the invention. 
         [0079]    Spring  426  may be disposed inside of bottom support  240 , in the cylindrical or otherwise shaped interior of the support, between the bottom support  240  top and bottom surfaces. The aperture at the top surface allows the cylindrical portion of the plunger head  438  to pass therethrough, and magnet  428  may actually vibrate within coil  430  all the way from the head portion of the plunger  438  to the top of the spring  426 , a spring plate. Magnets  438 A,  440 A are fixed magnets and will repel magnet  428  as it moves. Traffic  432  may thus continue to provide electricity after releasing its weight off of the dynamo device (such as when a person steps away) or when otherwise vibrated (for example if a large truck passes close by, even if it does not depress the dynamo itself). Electrical connections/network  436  may be rerouted onto the cylindrical portion of the plunger, onto the plunger head, the cylindrical portion of the coil, the cylindrical portion of the bottom support, etc, etc. 
         [0080]    FIG.  6 D 1  is a transparent view of a sixth embodiment of one individual dynamo of the invention, while FIG.  6 D 2  is a cross-sectional side exploded view of the sixth embodiment dynamo of the invention. 
         [0081]    Spring  526  sits in a multi-layered bottom surface  124 , and supports the entire dynamo unit. Thus, under imposed weight loads of traffic  532 , all of the components are free to vibrate, including magnet  528 , coil  530 , electrical connection  536 , plunger head  538 , magnets  538 A,  540 A, and even the bottom support  540 , which in effect becomes part of  124 . 
         [0082]    While the structure of FIG.  6 C 1  is completely split apart, that of FIG.  6 D 1  is put together, though similar energy generation functions are achieved by the two different structures. 
         [0083]    The disclosure is provided to allow practice of the invention by those skilled in the art without undue experimentation, including the best mode presently contemplated and the presently preferred embodiment. Nothing in this disclosure is to be taken to limit the scope of the invention, which is susceptible to numerous alterations, equivalents and substitutions without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is to be understood from the appended claims.