Patent Publication Number: US-2011049892-A1

Title: System For Efficient Energy Generation

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/231,851, filed on Aug. 6, 2010, now pending, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to generating energy, and in particular, to efficiently generating energy using a mechanical linkage. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The need for a clean, renewable source of electrical power is readily apparent today. One of the many pressing needs is in the realm of residential domestic power generation. Many of the “off grid” systems rely on a battery pack, supplying power to the home via an inverter, and recharged by a fuel fed generator, wind generator, solar panels, or water generator. 
     Previous solutions are limited in that they are unable to regenerate themselves without the use of external energy sources such as fossil fuel, sun, wind, or water. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A system for generating energy may comprise a power source capable of supplying energy in the form of electricity to an electric motor. The electric motor is energized and will cause a drive shaft to rotate. The drive shaft is mechanically connected to an electric generator capable of converting the rotation of the drive shaft into electrical energy. A load may be electrically connected to the electric generator, such that the load may receive the electrical energy generated by the electric generator. 
     The power source may be a battery providing direct current (DC) power. The electric motor and/or the electric generator may be DC type or alternating current (AC) type. Invertors may be used to convert DC power to AC power. 
     The system may also comprise a rechargeable battery electrically connected to the electric generator. The system may further comprise a charge control for preventing overcharging a connected battery. The system may also comprise a motor control for selectively activating the electric motor only when power is needed. 
     In another embodiment of a system according to the present disclosure, a second electrical generator may be connected to the drive shaft. The first and second electrical generators may be connected in parallel or in series. 
     In another embodiment of a system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the drive shaft may further comprise a flywheel. In this manner, the flywheel may be rotated by the drive shaft in order to cause the flywheel to rotate at an optimum rotational frequency. The rotational frequency may be measured by a tachometer, which may supply a signal to a motor control to activate or deactivate the electric motor. 
     The current invention can recharge a battery pack without the need for fuel (fossil or otherwise), wind, sun, or water. Another object of the invention is to provide a standalone power supply for electronic devices, such as computers or communications equipment used in remote areas over a long period of time. In addition, since the units can be joined to create more powerful systems, they may be used as auxiliary charging units for vehicles such as road vehicles, trains, or watercraft. The current invention describes standalone electrical energy generation systems which can be used in any situation where a portable power source is needed. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic of a system according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic of one type of motor control; 
         FIG. 3   a  is a schematic of another embodiment of the invention wherein two generators are connected in series; 
         FIG. 3   b  is a schematic of another embodiment of the invention wherein two generators are connected in parallel; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic of another embodiment of the invention having a flywheel; and 
         FIG. 5  is a graph showing battery charge and depletion cycles. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  depicts a system  10  for generating energy according to the present disclosure. A power source  12  (depicted as a battery in  FIG. 1 ), which is capable of supplying energy in the form of electricity, is provided. Power source  12  is electrically connected to an electric motor  14 . In this way, power source  12  provides electrical energy to electric motor  14 . The electric motor  14  is thus energized and will cause a drive shaft  18  of the electric motor  14  to rotate about a longitudinal axis. 
     Drive shaft  18  is mechanically connected to an electric generator  16 . Electric generator  16  is capable of converting the rotation of drive shaft  18  (mechanical energy) into electrical energy. The generated electrical energy is provided to electrical contacts of the electric generator. A load (not shown) may be electrically connected to the electrical contacts of the electric generator  16 . As such, the load may receive the electrical energy generated by electric generator  16 . 
     Power source  12  may be a battery, and may provide direct current (DC) power directly to a DC motor. Alternatively, a DC power source (such as, but not limited to, a battery) may provide DC power to an inverter which is capable of conditioning the DC power into alternating current (AC) power. In this manner, the electric motor may be an AC motor. 
     System  10  may also comprise a battery electrically connected to the electrical contacts  17  of the electric generator  16 . In  FIG. 1 , power source  12  is a battery which is also connected to the electrical contacts  17  of the electric generator  16 . In this manner, a portion of the electrical energy generated by the electric generator  16  may be used to recharge the battery power source  12 , as the battery power source  12  is depleted in providing energy to the electric motor  14 . Electric generator  16  is preferably sized to generate more power than is used by electric motor  14 . As such, the gain provided by the mechanically connected electric motor  14 /electric generator  16  combination, is sufficient to render the system  10  to be self-sufficient. 
     Electric generator  16  may be a DC generator, which may be directly connected to the battery  12  via the electrical contacts  17 . An inverter  20  may be connected to the battery  12  in order to supply a load with AC power. Alternatively, electric generator  16  may be an AC generator, in which case an inverter is necessary between the electric generator  16  and the battery power source  12 . System  10  may further comprise a charge control  22  for preventing overcharging the battery power source  12 . 
     System  10  may also comprise a motor control  24  for selectively activating the electric motor  14  only when additional power is needed (e.g. when the battery power source has reached a depleted threshold).  FIG. 2  schematically depicts one such motor control having a drive motor activation switch  26  and a battery charge monitor  28 .  FIG. 5  is a graph depicting the charge level of a battery power source  12 . Battery level is initially at a full charge voltage (Vfc) and is depleted as a load draws power. When battery charge monitor  28  determines that the battery level has reached a depleted voltage (Vd), the drive motor activation switch  26  activates the electric motor  14  in order to generate electrical energy—thereby recharging the battery. As the battery recharges to Vfc (monitored by battery charge monitor  28 ), the drive motor activation switch  26  deactivates the electric motor  14 , and the depletion cycle begins again. The length of time to discharge and/or recharge the battery may vary according to the load on the system  10 . 
     In another embodiment according to the disclosure, system  30  may comprise a second electrical generator  36  that is connected to the drive shaft  18  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 3   a ). The second generator  36  may be electrically connected to generator  16  such that the electrical contacts  17  of the electrical generators  16 ,  36  are in series, as depicted in  FIG. 3   a.  As such, when similarly sized motors and generators are used, a voltage V 1  measured at the combined output of the generators  16 ,  36  is roughly equal to two times a voltage Vin measured at the input of the electric motor  14  (while A 1  is roughly equal to Ain). Alternatively, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3   b,  the second generator  36  may be connected to generator  16  such that the electrical contacts  17  of the electric generators  16 ,  36  are in parallel, as depicted in  FIG. 3   b.  As such, when similarly sized motors and generators are used, an amperage A 2  measured at the combined output of the electrical generators  16 ,  36  is roughly equal to two times an amperage Ain measured at the input of the electric motor  14  (while voltage V 2  is roughly equal to Vin). 
     In a system  50  according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, drive shaft  58  further comprises a flywheel  60  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 4 ). The drive shaft  58  is connected to electric motor  54 . The flywheel  60  is connected to electric generator  56 . In this manner, the flywheel  60  may be rotated by the drive shaft  58  in order to cause flywheel  60  to rotate at an optimum rotational frequency (as determined by the specifications of the selected electric generator  56 ). The rotational frequency may be measured by a tachometer  68 . In this manner, motor control  66  may receive a signal from tachometer  68 , and may control the electric motor  54  only when the rotational frequency of the flywheel  60  is lower than the predetermined (sub-optimum) threshold. Drive shaft  58  may be caused to disengage from flywheel  60  once optimum rotational frequency has been achieved, and re-engage with flywheel  60  once flywheel has slowed down beneath a frequency threshold. 
     System  50  may further comprise a battery  52  which may be charged by the electrical generator  56 . Charge control  62  may selectively direct a portion of the generated electrical energy to battery  52 , in order to avoid over-charging the battery  52 . Battery charge module  64  may further condition the generated electrical energy as appropriate for the type of battery  52 . 
     Although the present invention has been described with respect to one or more particular embodiments, it will be understood that other embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Hence, the present invention is deemed limited only by the appended claims and the reasonable interpretation thereof.