US20070264081A1

US20070264081A1 - Crushing power generator

Info

Publication number: US20070264081A1
Application number: US11/477,120
Authority: US
Inventors: Ming-Chin Chiu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-05-12
Filing date: 2006-06-29
Publication date: 2007-11-15
Also published as: TWM302632U

Abstract

A crushing power generator is capable of being installed below a road surface. The crushing power generator includes a hollow casing installed below a road surface and having an upward opening; a resetable pressing unit installed in the hollow casing and part of the resetable pressing unit protruded out of the hollow casing from the opening the hollow casing for receiving pressure from the road surface to descend into the hollow casing so as to generate a downward pressure; a generator unit received in the hollow casing; and a power converter received in the hollow casing and connected to the resetable pressing unit and the generator unit so as to convert the downward pressure from the resetable pressing unit into mechanic power to drive the power generator unit to generate power.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to powers, and in particular to a crushing power generator which uses power of cars passing through a road surface; the power is supplied to traffic lights or indicators so as to save energy consumption.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Since energy in earth is reduced day after day. More and more natural powers are used, such as electric power can be generated from water force and wind force instead of nuclear power. The object is to reduce the power consumption, but not affect the daily life of human.
Water power generation or wind power generation are confined by positions, which cannot be realized everywhere. Thereby there is an eager demand for novel devices which generate power from environments. For example the treading action for treading a bicycle can generate electric power to the supply the lights of the bicycles without extra batteries.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a crushing power generator which uses the power of car passing through a road surface; the power is supplied to traffic lights or indicators so as to save power.
To achieve above object, the present invention provides a crushing power generator capable of being installed below a road surface. The crushing power generator includes a hollow casing installed below a road surface and having an upward opening; a resetable pressing unit installed in the hollow casing and part of the resetable pressing unit protruded out of the hollow casing from the opening the hollow casing for receiving pressure from the road surface to descend into the hollow casing so as to generate a downward pressure; a generator unit received in the hollow casing; and a power converter received in the hollow casing and connected to the resetable pressing unit and the generator unit so as to convert the downward pressure from the resetable pressing unit into mechanic power to drive the power generator unit to generate power.
When a car passes through the first inclined plate and the second inclined plate, the first inclined plate and second inclined plate pivotally rotate along the pivotal connection of the ends to a position flushing with the surface of the road. Thereby the ends of the two plates will overlap and apply a pressure to the roller set so as to push the driving shaft so that the pressure cylinder will generate air pressure. The air pressure will be transferred to the pressure motor 43 to drive the blade wheel of the pressure motor to rotate. Then, the gear change unit increase speed and then the power is outputted to the generator to increase the rotation speed of the generator so as to generate power. The power is directly outputted to the traffic indicator or traffic lights on the road 6. The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view about the first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the crushing power generator is installed below a road surface.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross sectional view, wherein the embodiment in FIG. 1 is added with a resetable pressing unit and a power converter.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view showing that the power converter in the first embodiment has a plurality of pressure cylinders, a pressure motor, a gear change unit and a power generator unit.

FIG. 4 shows the actions of the two plates which are pressed by a car.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross sectional view about the second embodiment of the present invention, where a rack and a unidirectional gear set are installed to replace the pressure cylinders and the pressure motor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In order that those skilled in the art can further understand the present invention, a description will be described in the following in details. However, these descriptions and the appended drawings are only used to cause those skilled in the art to understand the objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention, but not to be used to confine the scope and spirit of the present invention defined in the appended claims.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the crushing power generator 1 of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a hollow casing 2, a resetable pressing unit 3, a power converter 4, and a power generator unit 5. The crushing power generator 1 of the present invention is used in a road 6. The power from the crushing power generator 1 is provided to traffic indicators 7 or traffic lights.
In use, the hollow casing 2 of the crushing power generator 1 is embedded into a groove 60 of a road 6. The hollow casing 2 has an upward opening 21, a peripheral wall 20 and a spacer 31. The spacer 31 is installed within the peripheral wall 20 and spaces the hollow casing 2 into an upper space 311 and a lower space 312.
It should be noted that in this the present invention, the power converter 4 includes a plurality of pressure cylinders 41 located in the lower space 312. Each pressure cylinder 41 has a respective driving shaft 411. Each driving shaft 411 passes through the spacer 34 and a top thereof faces toward the opening 21 at the upper side of the hollow casing 2.
In this embodiment, the resetable pressing unit 3 includes a first inclined plate 32, a second inclined plate 33, at least one resisting plate 34, at least one roller set 35 and at least one elastic element 36. In FIG. 2, only one resisting plate 34, one roller set 35, and one elastic element 36 are illustrated. However each pressure cylinder 41 has a resisting plate 34, a roller set 35 and an elastic element 36 on the driving shaft 411)
The first inclined plate 32 has a first end 321 and a second end 322. The second inclined plate 33 has a first end 331 and a second end 332. The second end 322 of the first inclined plate 32 and the second end 332 of the second inclined plate 33 are pivotally installed at two opposite ends of the opening 21 of the hollow casing 2. The first end 321 of the first inclined plate 32 is located below and in contact with the second end 331 of the second inclined plate 33. The connection of the first inclined plate 32 and the second inclined plate 33 are formed as a V shape top portion 8 which can protrude from a surface of the road 6.
The roller set 35 includes a connecting rod 351 and two rollers 352, 353 at two ends of the connecting rod 351. One end of the connecting rod 351 is approximately connected to the first end 321 of the first inclined plate 32 and has a roller 352. Another end of the connecting rod 351 faces toward the hollow casing 2 and is connected with a roller 353. The resisting plate 34 is connected at one end of the driving shaft 411 and is in contact with the roller 353. The elastic element 36 is a spring enclosing the driving shaft 411 and is placed between the resisting plate 34 and the spacer 31.
Other than the pressure cylinder 41 and the driving shaft 411, the power converter 4 further includes a tube set 42, a pressure motor 43 and a gear change unit 44. In this embodiment, the pressure cylinder 41 is a pneumatic cylinder. The pressure motor 43 is an air compressing motor which has a blade wheel 431. The pressure motor 43 is connected to a power generator unit 5 through a speed change unit 44 (such as a gear change box). The power generator unit 5 has a generator 51 which is an induction generator with a rotor (not shown). The tube set 42 includes a plurality of pressure tubes. One end of each tube is connected to the pressure cylinders 41 and another end thereof is connected to the pressure motor 43.
Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, when a car passes through the first inclined plate 32 and the second inclined plate 33, the first inclined plate 32 and second inclined plate 33 pivotally rotate along the pivotal connection of the ends 322, 332 thereof to a position flushing with the surface of the road 6. Thus the car 71 will not vibrate. The angle between the first inclined plate 32 and the second inclined plate 33 is approximately 180 degrees. Thereby the ends 321, 331 of the two plates 32, 33 will overlap and apply a pressure to the roller set 35 so as to push the driving shaft 411 so that the pressure cylinder 41 will generate air pressure. The air pressure will be transferred to the pressure motor 43 through an air pressure tube so as to drive the blade wheel 431 of the pressure motor 43 to rotate. Thereby the air pressure from the pressure cylinder 41 will be converted into mechanic energy of the blade wheel 431. Then, the gear change unit 44 increase speed and then the power is outputted to the generator 51 to increase the rotation speed of the generator 51 so as to generate power. The power is directly outputted to the traffic indicator 7 or traffic lights on the road 6. When the car 71 leaves from the resetable pressing unit 3, the two plates 32, 33 return to the original position by the resilient force of the spring 36 so as to return to a state of protruding from the surface of the road 6 for next use.
When the output pressure from the pressure cylinder 41 is sufficient to drive the pressure motor 43 to drive the generator 51, the gear change unit 44 can be neglected. Moreover the tube set 42 can be added with an air pressure accumulation tank 40. When more cars pass, the air pressure can be accumulated in the tank 40 for being use as fewer cars passes.
In the present invention, the crushing power generator 1 can be added with an electric power storage device 52 for storage surplus power from the generator 51. Besides in this embodiment, the pressure motor 43 is driven by air pressure, but it can be replaced by an oil pressure motor and the pressure cylinder 41 is replaced by an oil pressure cylinder. The tube set 42 includes a plurality of oil tubes. This can achieve the same effect.
Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, the second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Those identical to the first embodiment will not be described. Only those differences are described. In this embodiment, a rack 61 and a unidirectional gear set 82 are used to replace the pressure cylinder 41 and the pressure motor 43 of the power converter 4. The unidirectional gear set 82 rotates unidirectionally. It is idle as rotates along a reverse direction. When car passes through the resetable pressing unit 3, the rack 82 moves downwards to drive the unidirectional gear set 82 to rotate so as to drive the rotor of the generator 51. When the car 71 moves away, by the resilient force of the elastic element 36, the rack 81 moves upwards so as to drive the unidirectional gear set 82 to rotate reversely, however this is idle rotation. The generator 51 will not drive to move. The two plates 32, 33 will return to the original positions to protrude from the road 6 for next use.
Moreover as shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, each of the two opposite walls of the lower space 312 of the hollow casing 2 is connected to an ventilation channel 30 to retain air ventilation in the lower space 312 so as to avoid the blade wheel 431 of the pressure motor 43 cannot rotate due to over pressure of the lower space 312. The spacer 31 has a further effect to prevent the water flowing into the upper space 311 to flow to the lower space 312 so as to destroy the generator 5 and the power converter 4. Furthermore, if the space under the road 6 is insufficient, the pressure motor 43, gear change unit 44 and the generator 51 can be separated from the resetable pressing unit 3 and the pressure cylinders 41 to be installed on the road 6 and then are connected to the pressure cylinder 41 through tubes.
In summary, in the present invention, the resetable pressing unit 3 moves downwards by the pressure of cars, and then the power converter 4 will convert the pressure into mechanic power so as to drive the power generator 5 to generate power. The crushing power generator 1 can be installed on a railway or a subway. By the pressure from the train, the same effect can be achieved. Furthermore, since part of the resetable pressing unit 3 protrudes from the road 6, the crushing power generator 1 has the affect of deceleration of cars to reduce the possibility of vehicle accidents.
This, in the present invention, by a car 71 to pass through the resetable pressing unit 3 to generate a pressure, the pressure is converted into mechanic power by the power converter 4 to drive the generator 5 to generate power so as to provide power to traffic indications 7 or traffic lights. No extra power is necessary to generate power.
The present invention is thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

What is claimes if:

1. A crushing power generator capable of being installed below a road surface; comprising:

a hollow casing installed below a road surface and having an upward opening;

a resetable pressing unit installed in the hollow casing and part of the resetable pressing unit protruded out of the hollow casing from the opening the hollow casing for receiving pressure from the road surface to descend into the hollow casing so as to generate a downward pressure;

a generator unit received in the hollow casing; and

a power converter received in the hollow casing and connected to the resetable pressing unit and the generator unit so as to convert the downward pressure from the resetable pressing unit into mechanic power to drive the power generator unit to generate power.

2. The crushing power generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resetable pressing unit includes a first inclined plate, a second inclined plate and an elastic element; each inclined plate has a first end and a second end; the second plates of the first inclined plate and the second inclined plate are installed at two opposite sides of the hollow casing; the first ends of the first inclined plate and the second inclined plate are overlapped to have an approximate V shape structure which protrudes from the road surface; and the elastic element resists against a lower side of the first inclined plate.

3. The crushing power generator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the power converter has a pressure cylinder and a driving shaft connected to the pressure cylinder; when the V shape structure is pressed downwards, the driving shaft descends to drive the pressure cylinder to output pressure.

4. The crushing power generator as claimed in claim 3, wherein the hollow casing has a spacer to divide the hollow casing into an upper space and a lower space; the upper space is communicated to the opening of the hollow casing; and the resetable pressing unit is installed in the upper space; the power converter is installed in the lower space; the driving shaft passes through the spacer to be in the upper space; and the elastic element encloses the driving shaft; and two ends of the elastic element are positioned at the spacer and a top end of the driving shaft.

5. The crushing power generator as claimed in claim 4, wherein the resetable pressing unit includes a roller set having a connecting rod and two rollers at two ends of the connecting rod; one end of the connecting rod is approximately connected to the first end of the first inclined plate and has a roller; another end of the connecting rod faces toward the hollow casing and is connected with another roller; the resisting plate is connected at one end of the driving shaft and is in contact with the roller; the elastic element is a spring enclosing the driving shaft and is placed between the resisting plate and the spacer; when the first inclined plate and the second inclined plate are pressed, the second ends of two plates are pivotally rotated downwards to drive the roller set to push the driving shaft to moves downwards so that the pressure cylinder can output pressure.

6. The crushing power generator as claimed in claim 3, wherein the power converter further includes a tube set and a pressure motor; the pressure motor is connected to a power generator unit through a speed change unit so that the output pressure from the pressure cylinder is transferred to the pressure motor through the tube set to drive the pressure motor to generate mechanic power; the generator is driven by the mechanic power to generate electric power.

7. The crushing power generator as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pressure motor is an air compressing motor; and the tube set includes an air pressure tubes connected to the pressure cylinder and the air compressing motor.

8. The crushing power generator as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pressure motor is an oil pressure motor and the pressure cylinder is an oil pressure cylinder; the tube set are oil tubes connected the oil pressure cylinder and the oil pressure motor.

9. The crushing power generator as claimed in claim 6, wherein the power converter includes a gear change unit connected the power generator unit and the pressure motor for converting mechanic power from the pressure motor to be transferred to the power generator unit.

10. The crushing power generator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the power converter includes a rack and an unidirectional gear set and a driving shaft; a top of the driving shaft is located below the connection of the first inclined plate and the second inclined plate; the rack is located at a lower end of the driving shaft; the unidirectional gear set is installed at the power generator unit and is engaged to the rack at the lower end of the driving shaft; when the first inclined plate and the second inclined plate are pressed downwards, the driving shaft is pushed downwards to drive the rack to rotate the unidirectional gear set so that the power is transferred to the power generator unit to drive the power generator unit to generate power.

11. The crushing power generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power generator unit is an induction power generator.

12. The crushing power generator as claimed in claim 11, wherein the power generator unit further includes a battery set for storing power from the generator.

13. The crushing power generator as claimed in claim 3, wherein the power converter further includes a pressure storage device for storing pressure from the power converter.

14. The crushing power generator as claimed in claim 5, wherein a roller set has a connecting rod and two rollers at two ends of the connecting rod; one end of the connecting rod is approximately connected to the first end of the first inclined plate and has a roller; another end of the connecting rod faces toward the hollow casing has another roller which is in contact with a lower end of the second inclined plate.