Abstract:
A method and apparatus for producing useful work by providing a turnstile preferably located at the entrance of a facility, such as an amusement park, government building and/or train station, regularly visit by pedestrians, wherein said turnstile comprises an actuator including a moveable portion and an energy conversion unit including an energy storage mean, such as a torsion spring. The torsion spring being compressed by the displacement of the moveable portion until an energy release mechanism transfers the stored energy to a generator.

Description:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
       [0001]    N/A 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Disclosure 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to a generating system for producing electrical power, and more particularly to an electrical power generating system which utilizes as a source of energy the energy expended by pedestrians moving a turnstile&#39;s arm. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of the Background 
         [0005]    Methods and apparatuses have been proposed producing useful work for generating electrical current. Generally, conventional forms of energy; e.g., wind, water, solar, nuclear, or steam power produced by burning conventional fuels such as coal, oil and gas have been used to turn the generators for producing electrical power or other work producing machines. 
         [0006]    Further a great deal of energy is expended by and thus available from traffic, such as traffic from pedestrians or rolling vehicles. Generally, this energy is not recouped and put to useful purposes because to date, there are no viable devices for efficiently capturing the energy produce by pedestrian. Pedestrian traffic on city streets or at the entrances and/or exits of a facility, such as a government building, train station or amusement park, is considerable, and in view of the growing need of energy, tapping that energy so as to recoup some portion of it is one way to save or redirect available energy. 
         [0007]    Therefore there is a need to provide generating system that efficiently utilizes as a source of energy the energy expended by and thus available from traffic, such as traffic from pedestrians or rolling vehicles. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0008]    The present disclosure provides a system for storing and utilizing the energy expended by pedestrians moving a turnstile&#39;s arm. Accordingly, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a system for generating electricity from pedestrians passing thru a turnstile, wherein the electrical generation system comprises an actuator assembly comprising a first mechanical element, wherein said first mechanical element is mechanically coupled to the actuator, an energy storage mean, wherein said energy storage mean comprises an energy input terminal and an energy output terminal, an energy releasing mechanism, wherein said energy releasing mechanism is mechanically coupled to said energy output terminal; and a rotor of a generator, wherein said rotor is mechanically coupled to the energy output terminal. 
         [0009]    Another object of the present disclosure, in accordance with the principle of the present invention, is to provide a method and apparatus for producing electrical energy which is not dependent on the need of fuel such as coal, oil or gas. 
         [0010]    It is another object of the present disclosure, in accordance with the principle of the present invention, to provide a method and apparatus for employing the energy generated by moving pedestrian traffic to generate useable electrical energy or useful work. 
         [0011]    It is therefore an object of the present disclosure, in accordance with the principle of the present invention, to provide method and apparatus to stored potential energy produced by pedestrian traffic, to generate useable electrical energy or useful work. 
         [0012]    Yet another object of the present disclosure, in accordance with the principle of the present invention, is to provide a storage energy system with a release energy valve or system to generate useable electrical energy or useful work. 
         [0013]    Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a sealing mechanism to the apparatus for producing electrical energy. 
         [0014]    The disclosure itself, both as to its configuration and its mode of operation will be best understood, and additional objects and advantages thereof will become apparent, by the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. 
         [0015]    The Applicant hereby asserts, that the disclosure of the present application may include more than one invention, and, in the event that there is more than one invention, that these inventions may be patentable and non-obvious one with respect to the other. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, constitute part of the specifications and illustrate the preferred embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment of the energy conversion system housing in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  shows an exemplary embodiment of the energy conversion system inner elements connected to the housing in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  shows an exemplary embodiment of the energy conversion system inner elements in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4A-4C  shows an exemplary embodiment of the actuator in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  shows an exemplary embodiment of the energy conversion unit in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6A-6B  shows an exemplary embodiment of the energy storage mean of the energy conversion unit in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  shows an exemplary embodiment of the energy releasing mechanism of the energy conversion unit in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  shows an exemplary embodiment of the generator of the energy conversion unit in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0025]    Patent application Ser. No. 14/314,971 is included here by reference. The energy conversion system, in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure, includes a passageway with a turnstile  1  preferably located at the entrance of a facility, such as an amusement park, government building and/or train station, regularly visit by pedestrians. The turnstile  1 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , comprises a housing H, actuator  2  and an energy conversion unit  3 . The actuator  2  includes a plurality of horizontal movable bars or blocking arms A 1 -A 3  connected to a hub  11 , wherein said movable bar A 1 -A 3  transmits the pedestrians&#39; movement across an entrance to the energy conversion unit  3 . 
         [0026]    As show in  FIG. 2 , the turnstile  1 , more particularly the blocking arms A 1 -A 3  extend away from the housing H. The turnstile  1  is configured to provide a regulated rotational movement of the blocking arms A 1 -A 3 , wherein said blocking arms A 1 -A 3  stops at a stopping position that blocks the passageway for the next pedestrian at the passageway. Preferably, the actuator  2  is configured to rotate with respect to the housing H. The configuration comprises said actuator  2  mounted on said housing H rotating at an angle of approximately 45 (degree) from horizontal with respects to the ground and wherein the blocking arms radiate A 1 -A 3  outwardly from the hub  11 . In the instant case the turnstile  1  utilizes three blocking arms A 1 -A 3 , one arm is in a substantially horizontal passage stopping position while the remaining arms are in a generally vertical position. The housing H protect part of the actuator  2  and the conversion unit  3 , wherein said housing H comprises an outer wall surrounding the energy conversion unit  3 . The hub  11  is mechanically coupled to the housing H, by means of a first bearing  150 , explained below, which assist the rotation motion of the hub  11  with respects to the housing H. The actuator  2  extends inside the housing H in order to mechanically couple the energy conversion unit  3  by mean of gears, explained below, for transmitting the rotational motion of the hub into the energy storage unit  19  as part of the energy conversion unit  3 . Further the energy conversion unit  3  is fixed to the housing H by a platform  20 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  clearly shows the coupling of the actuator  2  mechanically coupled to the energy conversion unit  3 . In the instant case a distal end of the actuator interacts with the pedestrian, for example the plurality blocking arms A 1 -A 3  and the other distal end is mechanically coupled to the energy conversion unit  3 . The actuator  2  comprises a plurality blocking arms A 1 -A 3 , a hub  11 , a first shaft  12 , a bearing support  13 , bearing supports arms  10   a - 10   b,  an unidirectional mechanism  30 , a first bearing  150 , a second bearing  151  and a first gear  14 . As shown in  FIG. 4A through 4C  the plurality blocking arms A 1 -A 3  are fixed to the hub  11 . The first shaft  12  extends from the hub  11  and the first gear is fixed to the distal end of said first shaft  12 . The first bearing  150 , which surrounds the first shaft  12 , is located between the first shaft  12  and the housing H assisting the rotation of the first shaft  12 , with respect to the housing H, when the blocking arms A 1 -A 3  is pushed by the pedestrians. A second bearing  151  surrounds the first shaft  12  and is located between the first shaft  12  and a bearing support  13 , wherein said bearing support  13  comprises two support bearing arms  10   a ,  10   b.  The two support bearing arms  10   a,    10   b  attached the actuator to the housing H and assist with the alignment of said first shaft  12 . The actuator  2 , more particularly the hub  11  and first shaft  12  are mechanically coupled to an unidirectional mechanism  30  that tolerate rotation of a first shaft  12  in one direction, such as a unidirectional clutch  30 . 
         [0028]    Further the rotation of the actuator  2  is transferred to the energy conversion unit  3  by means of the first gear  14 . The first gear  14  is mechanically coupled to the second gear  16  and the rotations of the first shaft  12  are transferred to the second gear  16  and consequently to the energy storage mean  19 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the energy storage mean  19  comprises an energy input terminal S 1  and an energy output terminal S 2 , wherein said second gear  16  is mechanically coupled to said energy input terminal S 1  and the energy output terminal is coupled to a torque release unit  24  connected to a flywheel  25  and the generator unit  28 , wherein said generator unit comprises at least a rotor and a stator. The stator is electrically coupled to the energy output terminal or load B. 
         [0029]    The energy storage mean  19 , as shown in  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B , is attached to the platform  20  by means of a first holder  18 , wherein said energy storage mean  19  comprises a spring torque T which accumulates energy by torsion or twisting. The spring torque T is twisted by means of the second gear  16  and input terminal S 1 , which transfers the rotational action from the actuator  2  to the torsion spring T until reaching a designated torque value. Basically the force applied by the pedestrian to the actuator  2  is transmitted to the second gear  16  and input terminal S 1  twist or compress the torque spring T at the energy storage mean  19 . 
         [0030]    The input terminal first shaft  12 , comprises a shaft that rotates the inner end of the torsion spring T while the outer end of said torsion spring T, as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/314,971, included here by reference, is fixed to the energy storage mean  19  housing H 1 , as result of the first actuator  12 , one-way clutch  30  and the input terminal S 1 , the spring  310  starts to twist and compress. Once the set-up torque value is reached the torque release unit  24  discharges the accumulated potential energy. 
         [0031]      FIG. 7  is directed to the mechanical connection between torque release unit  24 , energy storage unit  19  and flywheel  25 . The torque release unit  24 , as mentioned, is supported by a second holder  21  attached to the platform  20  and is configured or set to a predetermined torque value. This pre-determined torque value is proportional to a system which locks the torque release unit  19 . As long as the pre-determined torque value of the torque release unit  24  is not reached the output terminal S 2  will not be allowed to move. This allows the input terminal S 1  to keep accumulating in the torsional spring T. When the pre-determined torque value of the torque release unit  24  is reached, the torque release unit  24  unlocks and allows the output terminal S 2 , comprising an output shaft, to move freely allowing the accumulated torque from the torsional spring T to be transferred to the flywheel unit  25  and thus the generating unit  28 . 
         [0032]    The energy released, in form of rotational energy, is transferred to at least a flywheel  25 , as shown in  FIG. 7  through  FIG. 8 . Further the flywheel unit  25  works as units to storage, wherein said flywheel rotates at least a mechanical device, such as a rotor, that are used to store rotational energy. Flywheel has a significant moment of inertia, and thus resists changes in rotational speed. 
         [0033]      FIG. 8  is directed to the generator  28  assembling. The output terminal S 1  is meant to be coupled to the rotor shaft of said generator  28 . A magnetic decoupled unit  26 , as shown, may be located between the output terminal S 1  and generator  28  in case the rotor needs to disengage from the output terminal S 1 . In the instant case the generator  28  comprises an inner rotor, however it can be connected to an outer rotor. 
         [0034]    Although the disclosure has been shown and described with respect to an illustrated embodiment, equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the specification and the preferred embodiment within the scope of the appended claims. 
         [0035]    The disclosure is not limited to the precise configuration described above. While the disclosure has been described as having a preferred design, it is understood that many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the subject disclosure will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this disclosure after considering this specification together with the accompanying drawings. Accordingly, all such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure are deemed to be covered by this disclosure as defined in the following claims and their legal equivalents. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses, if any, are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. 
         [0036]    All of the patents, patent applications, and publications recited herein are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein. All, or substantially all, the components disclosed in such patents may be used in the embodiments of the present invention, as well as equivalents thereof. The details in the patents, patent applications, and publications incorporated by reference herein may be considered to be incorporable at applicant&#39;s option, into the claims during prosecution as further limitations in the claims to patently distinguish any amended claims from any applied prior art.