Resonance engine

1. A resonance engine, comprising:

a driver plate, to which is coupled at least one oscillatory transducer;

a drive signal generator for generating an electrical signal, the drive signal generator being connected to the oscillatory transducer for excitation thereof;

a first spring-mass resonator, having a first natural resonant frequency, including a first spring with a proximal end attached to the driver plate and a free distal end, and a discrete mass attached at or near the free distal end of the first spring; and

a reaction means attached to the driver plate opposite to the first spring-mass resonator;

wherein the reaction means comprises a second spring-mass resonator mounted symmetrically to the first spring-mass resonator on the driver plate, the second spring-mass resonator including a second spring with a proximal end attached to the driver plate and a free distal end, and a discrete mass attached at or near the free distal end of the second spring;

wherein when the oscillatory transducer is excited by a drive signal from the drive signal generator having a component at said first natural resonant frequency, the first spring-mass resonator oscillates at resonance, in anti-phase to the driver plate; and

wherein the spring-mass resonators are so tuned and arranged that torque force moments generated by the respective spring-mass resonators cancel each other out and cancel out torque force moments of the driver plate, thereby resulting in a system in which substantially all energy input to the driver plate is transmitted to the spring-mass resonators for deflection of the free distal ends thereof.

2. The resonance engine of claim 1 , wherein the drive signal generator is adapted to generate electrical signals of variable harmonic content.

3. The resonance engine of claim 1 , wherein the second spring-mass resonator, as measured in isolation, has a second natural resonant frequency, different to the first natural resonant frequency.

4. The resonance engine of claim 1 , wherein the spring of the or each spring-mass resonator, together with the driver plate, comprises a Z-bend when viewed in the plane of the driver plate, the proximal end of the Z-bend being contiguous with the driver plate.

5. The resonance engine of claim 4 , wherein the first spring-mass resonator further comprises a damper mounted at the free distal end of the first spring, thereby forming a first spring-mass-damper system.

6. The resonance engine of claim 1 , wherein the driver plate and the or each spring are formed integrally with one another as a unitary piece.

7. The resonance engine of claim 1 , wherein the oscillatory transducer comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of: a piezoelectric material; a dielectric elastomer material; an electromechanically active material; an electromagnetic-mechanically active material; a source of nuclear direct collected-charge-to-motion induced oscillation.

8. The resonance engine of claim 1 , wherein the driver plate and the oscillatory transducer are formed integrally as a unitary piece.

9. A resonance engine, comprising:

a driver plate, to which is coupled at least one oscillatory transducer;

a drive signal generator for generating an electrical signal, the drive signal generator being connected to the oscillatory transducer for excitation thereof;

a first spring-mass resonator, having a first natural resonant frequency, including a first spring with a proximal end attached to the driver plate and a free distal end; and

a reaction means attached to the driver plate opposite to the first spring-mass resonator;

wherein the reaction means comprises a second spring-mass resonator mounted symmetrically to the first spring-mass resonator on the driver plate, the second spring-mass resonator including a second spring with a proximal end attached to the driver plate and a free distal end;

wherein when the oscillatory transducer is excited by a drive signal from the generator having a component at said first natural resonant frequency, the first spring-mass resonator oscillates at resonance, in anti-phase to the driver plate; and

wherein the spring-mass resonators are so tuned and arranged that torque force moments generated by the respective spring-mass resonators cancel each other out and cancel out torque force moments of the driver plate, thereby resulting in a system in which substantially all energy input to the driver plate is transmitted to the spring-mass resonators for deflection of the free distal ends thereof;

wherein the first spring-mass resonator further comprises a damper mounted at the free distal end of the first spring, thereby forming a first spring-mass-damper system;

wherein the spring of the or each spring-mass resonator, together with the driver plate, comprises a Z-bend when viewed in the plane of the driver plate, the proximal end of the Z-bend being contiguous with the driver plate; and

wherein the damper comprises a first wing.

10. The resonance engine of claim 9 , wherein the second spring-mass resonator further comprises a damper mounted at the distal end of the second spring, thereby forming a second spring-mass-damper system.

11. The resonance engine of claim 10 , wherein the damper of the second spring-mass-damper system comprises a second wing.

12. The resonance engine of claim 11 , wherein the second wing of the second spring-mass-damper system is oriented in the same direction as the first wing of the first spring-mass-damper system.

13. The resonance engine of claim 11 , wherein the wing of the second spring-mass-damper system is oriented in an opposite direction to the wing of the first spring-mass-damper system.