Patent · US Expired

Regenerative system including an energy transformer which requires no external power source to drive same

US5570286A · kind A · utility

89Cited by
37References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 23, 1993
Grant dateOct 29, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 23, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF16F13/26
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A non-active regenerative system (20) which regenerates energy by taking energy from relative motion of members (22) and (24) and using it later to accomplish overall improved performance and eliminates the need for an active source to provide assisting forces. The non-active regenerative system (20) includes an energy transformer element (26) interconnecting a first member (22) and second member (24) which converts relative motion to an energy in storable form, and an energy management element (30) which channels the flow of energy to and from an energy storage element (32) to produce assisting forces. The energy management element (30)is commanded by a controller (36) which is responsive sensors (34a, 34b, 34c, and 34d) which provide signals indicative of the system condition. Power is supplied to the energy management (30), sensors (34a, 34b, 34c, and 34d), and controller (36), only if required, by power source (40). However, no active power source is needed to drive the transformer element (26). Embodiments of the non-active regenerative system (20) include non-active actuators and controllable mounts. Further, pulse width modulation of the energy management element (30) may be…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.