Apparatus for footwear-embedded mechanical energy harvesting system based on dual-loop channel
View Patent ↗An energy harvesting apparatus is described that utilizes hydraulic actuation and creates a continuous, revolving motion of a chain of energy-producing elements within an energy-producing channel (the channel being in the form of a tube, for example). In particular, the arrangement of the present invention is based upon a specially-designed dual-loop channel topology that allows for efficient conversion of a unidirectional flow of a fluid entering the energy-producing channel into a smooth, continuous revolving motion of a chain of energy-producing elements within the channel.
1. An apparatus for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy utilizing an energy-producing chain passing within an energy-producing channel, the apparatus comprising
a dual-loop channel formed as a tube, each loop including an inlet port and an outlet port for allowing the passage of an inert fluid therethrough;
a plurality of energy-producing elements surrounding at least a portion of the dual-loop channel;
a chain of energy-producing elements disposed within the dual-loop channel, the chain comprising a flexible string with the energy-producing elements disposed therealong and affixed thereto such that the energy-producing elements cannot rotate around the flexible string or slide along the flexible string;
a pair of flexible chambers, each flexible chamber containing a portion of the inert fluid and coupled between the inlet port and the outlet port of each loop of the dual-loop channel, the movement of the inert fluid between the pair of flexible chambers via the dual-loop channel being hydraulically activated in a controlled manner such that the chain of energy-producing elements moves in a continuous, revolving motion along the dual-loop chain in response to a mechanical compression of a flexible chamber; and
a check valve configuration disposed between the pair of flexible chambers and coupled to the inlet and outlet ports of the dual-loop channel to create unidirectional flow of the inert fluid in a continuous manner between the pair of flexible chambers and the dual-loop channel so as to create electrical energy in a continuous manner.
2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the chain includes an initial magnetic component coupled to a front end of the flexible string, and the check valve configuration comprises a magnetically-actuated valve.
3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the magnetically-actuated valve comprises
a housing exhibiting a permanent magnetic orientation and including a plurality of grooves for supporting the movement of the inert fluid and the energy-producing chain; and
a rotor assembly disposed within the housing, the rotor assembly exhibiting a permanent magnetic orientation different from the housing magnetic orientation and including a plurality of ports for supporting the movement of the inert fluid and the energy-producing chain, wherein the passage of the chain magnetic component through the combination of the grooves and ports causes a rotation of the rotor assembly with respect to the housing by magnetic repulsion, switching between two pre-defined positions of the rotor assembly with respect to the housing and controlling the movement of the inert fluid and energy-producing chain through the valve.
4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the housing comprises an upper half housing and a lower half housing, with the rotor assembly disposed therebetween, and a bearing included between each half housing and the rotor assembly.
5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the inert fluid comprises a silicone material.
6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the plurality of energy-producing elements surrounding at least a portion of the dual-loop channel comprises a plurality of dielectric-coated electrodes disposed along at least a portion of the dual-loop channel and the plurality of energy-producing elements forming the chain comprises a plurality of conductive droplets held in a spaced-apart configuration along the flexible string.
7. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the plurality of energy-producing elements surrounding at least a portion of the dual-loop channel comprises a plurality of conductive coils disposed along at least a portion of the dual-loop channel and the plurality of energy-producing elements forming the chain comprises a plurality of magnetic elements held in a spaced-apart configuration along the flexible string, with adjacent magnetic elements of opposite polarity.
8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the plurality of energy-producing elements surrounding at least a portion of the dual-loop channel comprises a plurality of dielectric-coated electrodes and a plurality of conductive coils, disposed in an alternating pattern along at least a portion of the dual-loop channel, and the plurality of energy-producing elements forming the chain comprises a plurality of conductive droplets and a plurality of magnetic elements disposed in an alternating pattern along the flexible string.