Patent ID: 6858952

Claim:
A power conversion system for actuation by wheeled vehicles traversing a surface, comprising: (a) an actuation member supported for movement between a first position projecting above the surface and a second position substantially flush with the surface; (b) means for biasing the actuation member toward the first position thereof, the biasing means permitting movement of the actuation member to the second position thereof in response to engagement of the actuation member by a passing vehicle wheel; (c) a rotatably mounted drive shaft; (d) a one-way clutch coupled between the actuation member and the drive shaft for imparting unidirectional motion to the drive shaft in response to repetitive movement of the actuation member between the first and second positions thereof; (e) a coupling between the one way clutch and the actuation member; (f) a power conversion device having a rotor and a stator; and (g) a torque-limiting device coupled between the drive shaft and the rotor.