Electrical energy generator
An electrical energy generator that converts kinetic energy harvested from voluntary motor activity of a human or animal to electrical energy. The electrical energy generator includes a housing, a coil of electrically conductive material, a reciprocally movable electromagnetically active mass, springs connecting the mass to either the housing or to adjustment means engaged with said housing, and, optionally, means for constraining non-linear motion of the electromagnetically active mass, and/or means of mitigating motion retardation of the electromagnetically active mass within any existing housing atmosphere. The electrical energy generator may be associated with a carried item, such as a backpack.
1. An electrical energy generator comprising:
a housing having a longitudinal axis, an interior cavity, an interior cavity surface, and an exterior surface;
electrically conductive material engaged about at least a portion of said exterior surface of said housing and extending along at least a portion of said longitudinal axis, said electrically conductive material comprising an induction coil;
an electromagnetically active mass positioned within said housing reciprocally movable along at least a portion of said longitudinal axis;
a first spring having first and second ends, wherein one of said ends is engaged to said electromagnetically active mass; and
a second spring having first and second ends, wherein one of said ends is engaged to said electromagnetically active mass; and
at least one spring deflection adjustor engaged with said housing and at least one of said springs;
wherein said electromagnetically active mass does not comprise a permanent magnet, and said generator comprises a shroud at least partially covering said induction coil, wherein said shroud comprises a permanent magnet.
2. The electrical energy generator of claim 1 , wherein said spring deflection adjustor comprises:
a threaded receiver engaged with said housing; and
a threaded member rotatably engaged with said threaded receiver to permit helical motion of said threaded member with respect to said housing.
3. The electrical energy generator of claim 2 , wherein said threaded members comprise male threaded shafts.
4. The electrical energy generator of claim 2 , wherein said threaded receivers comprise female threads integrally formed in said housing.
5. The electrical energy generator of claim 1 , wherein said housing comprises a cylinder or tube.
6. The electrical energy generator of claim 1 , wherein said springs comprise coil springs.
7. The electrical energy generator of claim 6 , wherein said coil springs comprise extension springs.
8. The electrical energy generator of claim 6 , wherein said coil springs comprise compression springs.
9. The electrical energy generator of claim 7 , wherein the entirety of said electromagnetically active mass is adapted to pass through the entirety of said induction coil twice during a single reciprocation period.
10. The electrical energy generator of claim 9 , wherein said generator further comprises a shroud at least partially covering said induction coil, said shroud having a high magnetic permeability.
11. The electrical energy generator of claim 10 , wherein said shroud comprises a ferromagnetic material.
12. The electrical energy generator of claim 1 , further comprising means to mitigate motion retardation, wherein said means to mitigate motion retardation of said electromagnetically active mass within the housing comprises:
(i) a sub-atmospheric pressure within said housing;
(ii) at least one aperture communicating between the interior of said housing and the external environment,
(iii) fluid connections between regions of said housing; or
(iv) a combination of two or more of (i), (ii), and (iii).
13. The electrical energy generator of claim 12 , wherein said means to mitigate motion retardation of said electromagnetically active mass within the housing comprises:
a sub-atmospheric pressure within said housing.
14. The electrical energy generator of claim 12 , wherein said means to mitigate motion retardation of said electromagnetically active mass within the housing comprises:
at least one aperture communicating between the interior of said housing and the external environment.
15. The electrical energy generator of claim 1 , wherein said generator is in electrical connection with an electronic device.
16. An electrical energy generator comprising:
a housing having a longitudinal axis, an interior cavity, an interior cavity surface, and an exterior surface;
electrically conductive material engaged about at least a portion of said exterior surface of said housing and extending along at least a portion of said longitudinal axis;
an electromagnetically active mass positioned within said housing reciprocally movable along at least a portion of said longitudinal axis;
a first spring having first and second ends, wherein one of said ends is engaged to said electromagnetically active mass;
a second spring having first and second ends, wherein one of said ends is engaged to said electromagnetically active mass;
at least one spring deflection adjustor engaged with said housing and at least one of said springs; and
means to mitigate motion retardation of said electromagnetically active mass within the housing comprising fluid connections between regions of said housing.
17. The electrical energy generator of claim 16 , wherein said spring deflection adjustor comprises:
a threaded receiver engaged with said housing; and
a threaded member rotatably engaged with said threaded receiver to permit helical motion of said threaded member with respect to said housing.
18. The electrical energy generator of claim 17 , wherein said threaded members comprise male threaded shafts.
19. The electrical energy generator of claim 17 , wherein said threaded receivers comprise female threads integrally formed in said housing.
20. The electrical energy generator of claim 16 , wherein said electrically conductive material comprises an induction coil.
21. The electrical energy generator of claim 20 , wherein said springs comprise coil springs.
22. The electrical energy generator of claim 21 , wherein the entirety of said electromagnetically active mass is adapted to pass through the entirety of said induction coil twice during a single reciprocation period.
23. The electrical energy generator of claim 22 , wherein said mass comprises a permanent magnet.
24. The electrical energy generator of claim 23 , wherein said generator further comprises a shroud at least partially covering said induction coil, said shroud having a high magnetic permeability.
25. The electrical energy generator of claim 24 , wherein said shroud comprises a ferromagnetic material.
26. The electrical energy generator of claim 16 , wherein said generator is in electrical connection with an electronic device.