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:
Jan. 04, 2000
Filed:
Jul. 10, 1998
Ronnie J Buchanan, Duncan, OK (US);
Charles A Butterfield, Jr, Duncan, OK (US);
Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Duncan, OK (US);
Abstract
Apparatus to generate electricity from energy in a flowing stream of fluid comprises a piezoelectric member and a flow restrictor connected with the member to cause portions of a flowing stream of fluid to flow past different sides of the member such that the member deforms to generate electricity in response thereto. A particular such apparatus includes a conduit to conduct a flowing stream of fluid; a divider disposed along at least a portion of the length of the conduit such that the divider divides that portion of the conduit into two flow channels; a piezoelectric member connected to the divider such that one side of the piezoelectric member is exposed to one of the two flow channels and another side of the piezoelectric member is exposed to the other of the two flow channels; and a flow restrictor disposed at a location between one end of the divider and the other end of the divider. A method comprises: dividing a flowing stream of fluid into two portions and conducting one of the portions along one side of a piezoelectric member and conducting the other of the portions along another side of the piezoelectric member; and restricting one of the portions of flowing fluid relative to the other of the portions of flowing fluid such that a pressure differential is created between the two portions and the piezoelectric member deforms in response to the pressure differential and thereby generates electricity.