Energy harvester for converting motion to electricity using one or more multiple degree of freedom pendulums

摘要

An energy harvester system (EHS) for converting a multiple degree of freedom (MDF) pendulum motion into a rotational motion is provided. The EHS includes a pendulum, a pointing element, and motion control slots (MCSs) enclosed in an external housing. Ambient motion from the external housing generates a MDF pendulum motion in the pendulum. The pointing element is slidably positioned on a rod of the pendulum. The MCSs receive a connector that connects the pointing element to the rod of the pendulum and allow the connector to traverse the MCSs, thereby controlling slidable movement of the pointing element along with the pendulum. When the pendulum moves to first ends of the MCSs, the pointing element slides on the rod to allow a pointer of the pointing element to contact and rotate a gear, thereby converting the MDF pendulum motion into a rotational motion of the gear, which drives an electric generator.

主权项

1. An energy harvester system for converting a multiple degree of freedom pendulum motion into a rotational motion for generation of electrical energy, said energy harvester system comprising:
an external housing defined by a plurality of walls; a pendulum housing fixedly attached to one of said walls of said external housing, said pendulum housing comprising opposing walls substantially parallel to each other; a pendulum positioned between said opposing walls of said pendulum housing and pivotally connected to upper ends of said opposing walls of said pendulum housing via a pivot pin, said pendulum comprising a rod and a mass, said mass rigidly connected to a distal end of said rod, wherein an ambient motion from one or more of said walls of said external housing generates said multiple degree of freedom pendulum motion in said pendulum, causing said pendulum to move in a first direction and a second direction opposing said first direction; a pointing element slidably positioned on said rod of said pendulum and connected to said rod of said pendulum by a connector, said pointing element comprising an elongate member and a pointer, said pointer positioned on an upper end of said elongate member, said pointing element configured to move along with said rod of said pendulum; motion control slots configured on said opposing walls of said pendulum housing to receive said connector that connects said pointing element to said rod of said pendulum and allow said connector to traverse said motion control slots in said first direction and said second direction, thereby controlling slidable movement of said pointing element along with said pendulum; and said pointing element further configured to slide on said rod of said pendulum in an upward direction to allow said pointer of said pointing element to engageably contact a gear positioned above said pointer within said external housing to rotate said gear, when said pendulum moves to first ends of said motion control slots in said first direction via said connector, thereby converting said multiple degree of freedom pendulum motion of said pendulum into said rotational motion of said gear, wherein said rotational motion of said gear drives an electric generator operably connected to said gear for said generation of said electrical energy.