Adaptivenergy, LLC

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Par Technologies, LLC

Newport News Shipbuilding, Inc.

Edward T Tanner

William F Ott

James H Vogeley

David D Wright

An energy scavenging apparatus comprises a frame which can be human-carried or human-borne; plural cantilevered bimorph piezoelectric members connected to the frame to have an essentially parallel orientation, each cantilevered bimorph piezoelectric member comprising a proximal end connected to the frame and a distal end; and, a mass member connected to the distal end of the plural cantilevered bimorph piezoelectric members.

Human powered piezoelectric power generating device

Actuator assemblies comprise an actuator element and two piezoelectric assemblies, with the two piezoelectric assemblies being configured and arranged for controlling movement of the actuator element. In some example implementations, the first piezoelectric assembly and the second piezoelectric assembly are constructed and arranged so that a temperature dependency of the first piezoelectric assembly is cancelled by the temperature dependency of the second piezoelectric assembly. In a first example embodiment, a first piezoelectric assembly comprises a first or main piezoelectric diaphragm connected to the actuator element for displacing the actuator element in response to displacement of the first piezoelectric diaphragm. The first piezoelectric diaphragm and the second piezoelectric diaphragm are fixedly mounted to a movable carriage. In second example embodiment, first variable reservoir having a first piezoelectric diaphragm contracts and a second variable reservoir having a second piezoelectric diaphragm expands during an extension movement of the actuator element, and vise versa during a withdrawal movement of the actuator element.

Actuators with diaphragm and methods of operating same

A pump comprises a body for at least partially defining a pumping chamber (); a pump member which undergoes displacement when acting upon a fluid in the pumping chamber; and a piezoelectric element which responds to the displacement of the pump member to generate an electric current. The electric current generated by the piezoelectric element is preferably applied to a charge storage device which is coupled to the piezoelectric element. The storage device can take various forms, including but not limited to a battery (), a capacitor (), and a power supply for the pump (). In one example embodiment, the pump member is a diaphragm () which undergoes the displacement when acting upon a fluid in the pumping chamber. In this example embodiment, the piezoelectric element responds to the displacement of the diaphragm to generate the electric current. In another example embodiment, the pump member is a valve () which undergoes the displacement to allow the fluid to communicate with the pumping chamber. The valve can be an inlet valve () for admitting the fluid into the pumping chamber, or an outlet valve ()) for discharging the fluid from the pumping chamber. The piezoelectric element responds to the displacement of the valve to generate the electric current. The piezoelectric element can be adhered to an exterior surface of the valve. Alternatively, the piezoelectric element can constitute a working portion of the valve.

Method and apparatus for scavenging energy during pump operation

A piezoelectric power generator () comprises plural piezoelectric devices (); an actuator () positioned to impart an excitation to the plural piezoelectric devices () in a predefined sequence; and, an electrical conduction system () connected to the plural piezoelectric devices for conducting an electrical charge created by the excitation. Preferably the plural piezoelectric devices () are arranged in a predetermined relationship relative to the actuator () whereby only one of the plural piezoelectric devices () is actuated at a time. For example, the plural piezoelectric devices () can be arranged in an angular pattern (such as a circular pattern) relative to the actuator (). Preferably, a rotational speed of the actuator () permits an excitation response for a given plural piezoelectric device () to essentially fully decay before the given plural piezoelectric device () is again excited.

Piezoelectric generators and methods of operating same

A shock and vibration isolation system for mounting equipment to a base wall uses a semi-active damper in parallel with a spring arrangement to provide optimum isolation with respect to both shock and vibration. The system comprises a load plate configured for attachment of the equipment thereto and a base plate configured for attachment to the base wall. The base plate is substantially parallel to the load plate. The system further comprises a spring arrangement disposed intermediate the load plate and the base plate. The spring arrangement engages the load plate and the base plate to bias the load plate and the base plate in a separated relationship. A semi-active damper is also disposed intermediate the load plate and the base plate. The a semi-active damper is adapted for providing a selectively variable reaction force to the load plate and the base plate responsive to a relative displacement of the load plate with respect to the base plate. A damper controller is operatively connected to the semi-active damper for controlling the reaction force applied to the load plate and the base plate. The damper controller includes a rechargeable power supply. The isolation system also comprises a recharging arrangement in electrical communication with the rechargeable power supply. The recharging arrangement is mounted to one of the base plate and the load plate and is adapted for converting vibratory motion to electrical energy for storage in the rechargeable power supply.

Self-powering shock, vibration and acoustic isolation system

A shock and vibration isolation system for mounting equipment to a base wall uses a semi-active damper in parallel with a spring arrangement to provide optimum isolation with respect to both shock and vibration. The system comprises a load plate configured for attachment of the equipment thereto and a base plate configured for attachment to the base wall. The base plate is substantially parallel to the load plate with a spring arrangement disposed intermediate the load plate and the base plate. The spring arrangement engages the load plate and the base plate to bias the load plate and the base plate in a separated relationship. The system also comprises a damping arrangement disposed intermediate the load plate and the base plate. The damping arrangement is adapted for providing a selectively variable reaction force to the load plate and the base plate responsive to a relative displacement of the load plate with respect to the base plate.

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Williamsburg, VA, United States of America

Edward T Tanner