The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 10, 2020
Filed:
Mar. 08, 2017
Natural Gas Solutions North America, Llc, Houston, TX (US);
Richard Jin Yao, The Woodlands, TX (US);
Natural Gas Solutions North America, LLC, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
An energy harvester for use to provide power to metrology hardware like gas meters and flow measuring devices. The energy harvester may include an actuator that mounts to a substrate found in the gas meter or in an adjacent, collateral device like a pressure regulator. The substrate may embody a diaphragm or membrane, possibly a thin, flexible or semi-rigid member. The actuator may include piezoelectric transducers that mount to this member. In operation, the piezoelectric transducers can generate an electrical signal in response to mechanical activity (or energy) from the thin member. The electrical signal can be directed to the flow device to replace, supplement, or recharge a power source that powers electronics necessary to expand functions on the flow meter.