Patent Application
20140042752
The present invention relates in general to a method and system to generate electricity.
An alternator is typically used in combustion engine type vehicles to continually charge the vehicle's battery. The alternator includes a stator, rotor, diode and a voltage regulator. The rotor inside the alternator spins when the alternator belt spins the pulley on the alternator. The rotor includes a magnet or group of magnets that spin inside a stator consisting of windings of copper wires, which produces electricity. A diode assembly converts the electricity from AC to DC current that a typical battery can use. A voltage regulator is used to protect the battery from being overcharged and damaged.
In electric or hybrid vehicles, regenerative braking may be used to charge the battery. Regenerative braking is a system in which the electric motor that normally drives an electric or hybrid vehicle is operated in reverse during braking or coasting. Instead of consuming energy to drive a vehicle, the motor acts as a generator that charges the vehicle's batteries with electrical energy that would normally be lost as heat through traditional mechanical friction brakes. As the motor “acts in reverse,” it generates electricity. The accompanying friction assists the normal brake pads in overcoming inertia and helps slow the vehicle.
Electric and hybrid vehicles use a completely different method of braking at slower speeds. Hybrid vehicles still use conventional brake pads at highway speeds, but electric motors help the vehicle brake during stop-and-go driving at slower speeds. As the brakes are applied by pressing down on a conventional brake pedal, the electric motors reverse direction. The torque created by this reversal counteracts the forward momentum and eventually stops the car.
Therefore, a need exists in the art for a method and system to generate electricity efficiently in combustion engine type vehicles not only when a vehicle is braking, but in the normal operation of the vehicle when moving.
However, in view of the prior art at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art how the identified needs could be fulfilled.
In a particular embodiment, a system to generate electricity is disclosed. The system includes a sleeve configured to be secured to an inside of a wheel rim, where the sleeve rotates with a rotation of the wheel rim. A plurality of permanent magnets are mounted to an inside surface of the sleeve, where a polarity of each magnet is opposite to an adjacent magnet. The system also includes an annular core configured to slide into the sleeve and be secured to a portion of a vehicle, where the core is stationary relative to the rotation of the sleeve. A plurality of coils are mounted about an outer surface of the annular core in proximity to the plurality of permanent magnets, where electrical output is generated as the permanent magnets provide a magnetic flux to the plurality of coils as the sleeve rotates.
In another particular embodiment, a plurality of permanent magnets are mounted to an inside surface of a wheel rim, where a polarity of each magnet is opposite to an adjacent magnet. An annular core is configured to slide into the rim and be secured to a portion of a vehicle, where the core is stationary relative to the rotation of the rim. A plurality of coils are mounted about an outer surface of the annular core in proximity to the plurality of permanent magnets and electrical output is generated as the permanent magnets provide a magnetic flux to the plurality of coils as the rim rotates. Each of the coils includes first windings, second windings and third windings to output three-phase electricity. At least one roller bearing may be disposed between the rim and the annular core to maintain a desired distance between the plurality of magnets and the plurality of coils as the rim rotates about the annular core. An anti-rotation plate secured to the vehicle and the back plate prevents the annular core from rotating.
In yet another particular embodiment, a method to generate electricity is disclosed. The method includes securing a plurality of permanent magnets to an inside surface of a sleeve configured to fit inside a wheel rim of a vehicle, where a polarity of each magnet is opposite to an adjacent magnet. The method also includes securing a plurality of coils about an outer surface of an annular core in proximity to the plurality of permanent magnets, where the coils are stationary relative to the rotation of the rim. In addition, the method includes generating electrical output by rotating the permanent magnets about the plurality of coils to provide a magnetic flux to the plurality of coils.
Other aspects, advantages, and features of the present disclosure will become apparent after review of the entire application, including the following sections: Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description, and the Claims.
A system to generate electricity is disclosed and generally designated 100. Referring now to
The sleeve 101 rotates with a rotation of the wheel rim 110. A plurality of permanent magnets 102 are mounted to an inside surface of the sleeve 101, where a polarity of each magnet is opposite to an adjacent magnet. The sleeve 101 may be compression fit into the rim 110, welded, or any other similar means to secure the sleeve 101 to the rim 110. The magnets 102 may also be secured directly to the inside of the rim 101, however, the use of a sleeve 101 allows the magnets to be more securely fastened to the rim 110.
An annular core 103 is configured to slide into the sleeve 101 and be secured to a portion of the vehicle. The core 103 is stationary relative to the rotation of the sleeve 101 and rim 110. A plurality of coils 104 are mounted about an outer surface of the annular core 103 in proximity to the plurality of permanent magnets 102. Accordingly, an electrical output is generated as the permanent magnets 102 provide a magnetic flux to the plurality of coils 104 as the sleeve 101 and magnets 102 rotate with the rim 110. A circuit board 128 may be in electrical communication with the plurality of coils 102 via wires 112 and an electrical system of the vehicle. As shown in
The annular core 103 may include a back plate 106 that extends beyond the periphery of the annular core 103 and is used to protect the coils 102 and bearings. An anti-rotation plate 120 may be secured to the vehicle (not shown) and the back plate 106 to prevent the annular core 103 from rotating. The sleeve 101 is sealed against the back plate 106.
In a particular embodiment, the coils 104 each further comprise first windings, second windings and third windings. These windings are interleaved with each other to produce three currents that make up the three phases that are output through wires 112. Adding all three together produces the total AC output. The plurality of coils 104 may be arranged in a circular array to project outward from the annular core 103.
At least one roller bearing is disposed between the sleeve 101 and the annular core 104 to maintain a desired distance between the plurality of magnets 102 and the plurality of coils 104 as the sleeve 101 rotates about the annular core 103. As illustrated in
The track diameter and track radius are two dimensions that define the configuration of each raceway 114, 116. Track diameter is the measurement of the diameter of the imaginary circle running around the deepest portion of the raceway, whether it is an inner or outer groove. This measurement is made along a line perpendicular to, and intersecting, the axis of rotation. Track radius describes the cross section of the arc formed by the raceway groove. It is measured when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the raceway groove. In the context of ball bearing terminology, track radius has no mathematical relationship to track diameter.
Referring now to
In another particular embodiment, three windings 130 are wrapped around a periphery of the annular core 103 as shown in
Similar to that shown in
Referring now to
In another particular embodiment, a method to generate electricity is disclosed. The method includes securing a plurality of permanent magnets to an inside surface of a sleeve. The sleeve is configured to fit inside a wheel rim of a vehicle and where a polarity of each magnet is opposite to an adjacent magnet. The method also includes securing windings of wire about an outer surface of an annular core in proximity to the plurality of permanent magnets, where the windings are stationary relative to the rotation of the rim. In addition, the method includes generating electrical output by rotating the permanent magnets about the windings to provide a magnetic flux to the windings.
The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the disclosed embodiments. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope possible consistent with the principles and novel features.
