IP Library Granted Patent US 12,379,009
Granted Patent B2
US 12,379,009 · App. 17/899,249 · Granted Aug 5, 2025

Triboelectric generation apparatus based on friction brake, and friction brake

Inventors: Yuan Dai (Shenzhen, CN); Jiahua Wang (Shenzhen, CN); Jie Lai (Shenzhen, CN); Zhengyou Zhang (Shenzhen, CN)
Assignee: Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited
F16D65/18F16D65/10F16D65/127F16D65/22H02N1/04F16D2121/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,379,009
App. No.
17/899,249
Granted
Aug 5, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A triboelectric generation apparatus based on a friction brake and a friction brake provide a simple structure with high reliability, a stable circuit, and high energy recovery efficiency. The triboelectric generation apparatus includes two sensing electrodes arranged in a first friction component of the friction brake. When the first friction component is in frictional contact with a second friction component, induced electric charges are generated on the two sensing electrodes. The induced electric charges are different. An electric charge collection circuit is connected to the sensing electrodes and is configured to store the induced electric charges. Storing the induced electric charges allows for the recovery of energy using a simple structure with high reliability.

Claims (64)

1. A triboelectric generation apparatus based on a friction brake, the triboelectric generation apparatus comprising:

a first sensing electrode and a second sensing electrode arranged in a first friction component of the friction brake, wherein when the first friction component is in frictional contact with a second friction component of the friction brake, a first induced electric charge is generated on the first sensing electrode, and a second induced electric charge is generated on the second sensing electrode;

an electric charge collection circuit electrically connected to the first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrode, configured to store the first induced electric charge and the second induced electric charge, wherein the first induced electric charge is different from the second induced electric charge; and

a reed switch arranged in the second friction component, the reed switch configured to control the electric charge collection circuit.

2. The triboelectric generation apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a first switch electrode and a second switch electrode arranged in the first friction component, the reed switch further configured to control an electrical connection between the first switch electrode and the second switch electrode, the electric charge collection circuit comprising:

a rectifier circuit comprising a first rectifier input terminal connected to the first sensing electrode, a second rectifier input terminal connected to the second sensing electrode, and a first rectifier output terminal connected to the first switch electrode; and

an electric charge storage circuit, a first storage input terminal connected to the second switch electrode, and a second storage input terminal connected to a second rectifier output terminal, the electric charge storage circuit configured to store the induced electric charges when the reed switch electrically connects the first switch electrode to the second switch electrode.

3. The triboelectric generation apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:

the first friction component is a disc ring,

the first sensing electrode is an annular outer comb-shaped sensing electrode, and

the second sensing electrode is an annular inner comb-shaped sensing electrode, wherein comb teeth of the outer comb-shaped sensing electrode and comb teeth of the inner comb-shaped sensing electrode are arranged crosswise, defining a first gap between the outer comb-shaped sensing electrode and the inner comb-shaped sensing electrode.

4. The triboelectric generation apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein:

the first switch electrode and the second switch electrode are arranged on an inner circle or an outer circle of the disc ring, the first switch electrode is an annular outer comb-shaped switch electrode, and the second switch electrode is an annular inner comb-shaped switch electrode,

comb teeth of the outer comb-shaped switch electrode and comb teeth of the inner comb-shaped switch electrode are opposed to form a first quantity of comb tooth pairs and define a second gap between each comb tooth pair, and

the reed switch is further configured to control a mechanical connection between the outer comb-shaped switch electrode and the inner comb-shaped switch electrode.

5. The triboelectric generation apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein:

a quantity of the comb teeth of the outer comb-shaped sensing electrode and a quantity of the comb teeth of the inner comb-shaped sensing electrode are a second quantity, the first quantity of comb tooth pairs being two times the second quantity,

the outer comb-shaped sensing electrode and the inner comb-shaped sensing electrode having a same comb tooth width and a same radial length, and

the first quantity of comb tooth pairs having a one-to-one correspondence with the second quantity.

6. The triboelectric generation apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein:

the second friction component is a partial ring, a friction plate being arranged on an inner side of the partial ring and opposite the first friction component, the first friction component configured to rotate around a center of the disc ring and produce frictional contact with the friction plate, a friction material of the first friction component having a first electric polarity, and a friction material of the friction plate having a second electric polarity, the first electric polarity being opposite of the second electric polarity;

the friction plate comprises a plurality of annular grid plates, the plurality of annular grid plates radially arranged in an annular region corresponding to where the comb teeth of the outer comb-shaped sensing electrode intersect the comb teeth of the inner comb-shaped sensing electrode;

the plurality of annular grid plates have a comb tooth shape identical to the outer comb-shaped sensing electrode or the inner comb-shaped sensing electrode; and

between each adjacent annular grid plate of the plurality of annular grid plates defines a third gap, the third gap having a width the same as a gap between adjacent comb teeth of the outer comb-shaped sensing electrode.

7. The triboelectric generation apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein

the first friction component comprises an opening at a position corresponding to the first gap, and

the partial ring comprises an opening at a position corresponding to the third gap.

8. The triboelectric generation apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein:

the comb tooth pairs of the outer comb-shaped switch electrode and the inner comb-shaped switch electrode are located on radial edges of the comb teeth of the outer comb-shaped sensing electrode and the comb teeth of the inner comb-shaped sensing electrode; and

the reed switch is located on a radial edge of the second friction and is arranged parallel to the second gap, a radial width of the reed switch being greater than a width of the second gap, wherein the outer comb-shaped switch electrode and the inner comb-shaped switch electrode are configured to switch on when the reed switch is in contact with the outer comb-shaped switch electrode and the inner comb-shaped switch electrode.

9. The triboelectric generation apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the outer comb-shaped sensing electrode and the inner comb-shaped sensing electrode are made of at least one of copper, nickel, gold, silver, aluminum, and iron.

10. The triboelectric generation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a friction plate is arranged on an inner side of the second friction component, the inner side of the second friction component opposite the first friction component, a friction material of the first friction component has a first electric polarity and a friction material of the friction plate has a second electric polarity, the first electric polarity being opposite the second electric polarity.

11. A friction brake, comprising:

a brake disc and a brake pad arranged opposite each other, the brake disc generating a friction braking force and generating an electric charge when in frictional contact with the brake pad; and

a triboelectric generation apparatus, the triboelectric generation apparatus comprising:

a first sensing electrode and a second sensing electrode arranged in the brake disc, wherein when the brake disc is in frictional contact with the brake pad, a first induced electric charge is generated on the first sensing electrode, and a second induced electric charge is generated on the second sensing electrode;

an electric charge collection circuit electrically connected to the first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrode, configured to store the first induced electric charge and the second induced electric charge, wherein the first induced electric charge is different from the second induced electric charge; and

a reed switch arranged in the brake pad, the reed switch configured to control the electric charge collection circuit.

12. The friction brake according to claim 11 , further comprising a first switch electrode and a second switch electrode arranged in the brake disc, the reed switch further configured to control an electrical connection between the first switch electrode and the second switch electrode, the electric charge collection circuit comprising:

a rectifier circuit comprising a first rectifier input terminal connected to the first sensing electrode, a second rectifier input terminal connected to the second sensing electrode, and a first rectifier output terminal connected to the first switch electrode; and

an electric charge storage circuit, a first storage input terminal connected to the second switch electrode, and a second storage input terminal connected to a second rectifier output terminal, the electric charge storage circuit configured to store the induced electric charges when the reed switch electrically connects the first switch electrode to the second switch electrode.

13. The friction brake according to claim 12 , wherein:

the brake disc is a disc ring,

the first sensing electrode is an annular outer comb-shaped electrode, and

the second sensing electrode is an annular inner comb-shaped sensing electrode, wherein comb teeth of the outer comb-shaped sensing electrode and comb teeth of the inner comb-shaped sensing electrode are arranged crosswise, defining a first gap between the outer comb-shaped sensing electrode and the inner comb-shaped sensing electrode.

14. The friction brake according to claim 13 , wherein:

the first switch electrode and the second switch electrode are arranged on an inner circle or an outer circle of the disc ring, the first switch electrode is an annular outer comb-shaped switch electrode, and the second switch electrode is an annular inner comb-shaped switch electrode,

comb teeth of the outer comb-shaped switch electrode and comb teeth of the inner comb-shaped switch electrode are opposed to form a first quantity of comb tooth pairs, and define a second gap between each comb tooth pair, and

the reed switch is further configured to control a mechanical connection between the outer comb-shaped switch electrode and the inner comb-shaped switch electrode.

15. The friction brake according to claim 14 , wherein:

a quantity of the comb teeth of the outer comb-shaped sensing electrode and a quantity of the comb teeth of the inner comb-shaped sensing electrode form are a second quantity of comb tooth pairs, the first quantity of comb tooth pairs being two times the second quantity of comb tooth pairs,

the outer comb-shaped sensing electrode and the inner comb-shaped sensing electrode having a same comb tooth width and a same radial length respectively, and

the first quantity of comb tooth pairs having a one-to-one correspondence with the second quantity of comb tooth pairs.

16. The friction brake according to claim 15 , wherein:

the comb tooth pairs of the outer comb-shaped switch electrode and the inner comb-shaped switch electrode are located on radial edges of the comb teeth of the outer comb-shaped sensing electrode and the comb teeth of the inner comb-shaped sensing electrode; and

the reed switch is located on a radial edge of the second friction and is arranged parallel to the second gap, a radial width of the reed switch being greater than a width of the second gap, wherein the outer comb-shaped switch electrode and the inner comb-shaped switch electrode are configured to switch on when the reed switch is in contact with the outer comb-shaped switch electrode and the inner comb-shaped switch electrode.

17. The friction brake according to claim 15 , wherein:

the second friction component is a partial ring, a friction plate being arranged on an inner side of the partial ring and opposite the first friction component, the first friction component configured to rotate around a center of the disc ring and produce frictional contact with the friction plate, a friction material of the first friction component having a first electric polarity, and a friction material of the friction plate having a second electric polarity, the first electric polarity being opposite of the second electric polarity;

the friction plate comprises a plurality of annular grid plates, the plurality of annular grid plates radially arranged in an annular region corresponding to where the comb teeth of the outer comb-shaped sensing electrode intersect the comb teeth of the inner comb-shaped sensing electrode;

the plurality of annular grid plates have a comb tooth shape identical to the outer comb-shaped sensing electrode or the inner comb-shaped sensing electrode; and

between each adjacent annular grid plate of the plurality of annular grid plates defines a third gap, the third gap having a width the same as a gap between adjacent comb teeth of the outer comb-shaped sensing electrode.

18. The friction brake according to claim 11 , wherein a friction plate is arranged on an inner side of the brake pad, the inner side of the brake pad opposite the brake disc, a friction material of the brake disc has a first electric polarity, and a friction material of the friction plate has a second electric polarity, the first electric polarity being opposite the second electric polarity.

19. The friction brake according to claim 11 , wherein the friction brake is a disc brake, the brake disc is a disc ring, the brake pad is a partial annular sheet, the brake disc and the brake pad are coaxial, and the brake pad is located such that it can come in frictional contact with at least one side of the brake disc.

20. The friction brake according to claim 11 , wherein the friction brake is a drum brake, the brake disc is an annular cylinder, the brake pad is a partial annular cylinder, the brake disc and the brake pad are coaxial, and the brake pad is located such that it can come in frictional contact on an inner side of the brake disc.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 31, 2022
From: DAI, YUAN; WANG, JIAHUA; LAI, JIE; ZHANG, ZHENGYOU
To: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 060950/0229 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 202010553081.3 · Jun 17, 2020 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTCN2021100551 · Jun 17, 2021
Related Publication 20220412418A1 · Dec 29, 2022
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