Induction generator and method for generating an electric current using an induction generator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10079532-B2
Application number	US-201314441767-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 5, 2013
Priority date	Nov 9, 2012
Publication date	Sep 18, 2018
Grant date	Sep 18, 2018

Abstract

An induction generator (200; 301) having a magnet assembly (204; 304) for generating a permanent magnetic field, an annular coil (206; 306), a spring element (228; 328) and an air channel (212; 312) through which the permanent magnetic field passes, is proposed, wherein the magnet assembly (204; 304) comprises a first pole section (208; 308) and a second pole section (210; 310) and a magnet (214; 314) disposed between the first pole section (208; 308) and the second pole section (210; 310), the coil (206; 306) is connected to the spring element (228; 328) and is movably disposed in the air channel (212; 312) and the spring element (228; 328) is designed to cause an oscillation movement (224) of the coil (206; 306) in the air channel (212; 312) transverse to a magnetic flux (222; 322) of the permanent magnetic field inside the air channel (212; 312) in response to a deflection of the coil (206; 306), characterized in that the air channel (212; 312) is annular and is designed to accommodate the annular coil (206; 306) in its entire circumference.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An induction generator, comprising:
a magnet assembly configured to generate a permanent magnetic field;
an annular coil;
a spring element; and
an annular air channel through which the permanent magnetic field passes, wherein the annular air channel is configured to accommodate an entire circumference of the annular coil;
wherein the magnet assembly comprises:
a first pole section;
a second pole section; and
a magnet disposed between the first pole section and the second pole section;

wherein the annular coil is connected to the spring element and is movably disposed in the air channel;
wherein in response to a deflection of the annular coil, the spring element is configured to cause the annular coil to oscillate in the air channel transverse to magnetic flux of the permanent magnetic field inside the air channel;
wherein the spring element includes a first double flat spring and a second double flat spring; and between which the coil is moveably supported in the air channel between the first double flat spring and the second double flat spring.

2. The induction generator according to claim 1 , wherein the air channel is bordered by at least a first wall region and a second wall region, wherein the second wall region is located opposite to the first wall region,
wherein the first wall region is formed by a wall section of the first pole section and the second wall region is formed by a lateral surface of the second pole section.

3. The induction generator according to claim 2 , wherein the first pole section is pot-shaped and is configured to accommodate the magnet and the second pole section, and
wherein the first wall region of the first pole section is formed by an encompassing outer region of the first pole section.

4. The induction generator according to claim 2 , wherein the magnet assembly is annular,
wherein the first pole section is a hub-like annular structure configured to accommodate the magnet and the second pole section, and
wherein the second wall region of the first pole section is formed by a cylindrical central region of the first pole section.

5. The induction generator according to claim 1 , wherein the permanent magnetic field is configured to form a torus-shaped magnetic field circuit, and
wherein magnetic flux of the magnetic field circuit crosses the air channel between the first pole section and the second pole section.

6. The induction generator according to claim 1 , the induction generator further comprising a magnetic flux conductor positioned opposite to the magnet assembly,
wherein the air channel is bordered by a wall section of the magnet assembly and by a wall section of the magnetic flux conductor opposite to the wall section of the magnet assembly.

7. The induction generator according to claim 1 , wherein the spring element is further configured to cause the coil to oscillate along a central axis of the coil.

8. The induction generator according to claim 1 , wherein a winding of the coil runs along the air channel.

9. The induction generator according to claim 1 , the induction generator further comprising a supporting structure configured to house the magnet assembly and the spring element, wherein a first end of the spring element is retained in place by the supporting structure.

10. The induction generator according to claim 9 , wherein the coil includes a coil carrier connected to a free end of the spring element, wherein the free end of the spring element is positioned opposite to the first end of the spring element.

11. The induction generator according to claim 10 , wherein the coil carrier includes an actuating element configured to deflect the coil.

12. The induction generator according to claim 1 , wherein the spring element is an electrical conductor configured to establish an electrical contact to the coil.

13. The induction generator according to claim 1 , further comprising a detection device configured to detect an initial polarity of an alternating voltage generated by an oscillation movement of the coil.

14. A method for generating an electrical current using an induction generator, the method comprising:
generating a permanent magnetic field that passes through an air channel, wherein the air channel accommodates an annular coil and the annular coil is connected to a spring element, the spring element including a first double flat spring and a second double flat spring and between which the annular coil is moveably supported in the air channel between the first double flat spring and the second double flat spring;
deflecting the annular coil;
oscillating the annular coil in the air channel transverse to a magnetic flux of the permanent magnetic field inside the air channel; and
generating, based on the oscillating annular coil, an electrical current in the annular coil by electromagnetic induction.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the magnet assembly comprises:
a first pole section,
a second pole section, and
a magnet disposed between the first pole section and the second pole section,
wherein the coil is movably disposed in the air channel, and
wherein the air channel is configured to accommodate the entire circumference of the annular coil.

16. A induction generator comprising:
a magnet, including a first magnetic pole and a second magnetic pole;
an inner wall in connection with the first magnetic pole;
a pot-shaped outer wall co-axially surrounding the inner wall and in connection with the second magnetic pole;
an annular air gap formed between the inner wall and the outer wall;
a magnetic field in the annular air gap pointing from the inner wall to the outer wall or pointing from the outer wall to the inner wall; and
an annular coil located within the annular air gap and connected to a C pair of electrodes, wherein the annular coil is configured to induce a current between the pair of electrodes when the annular coil moves transverse to the magnetic field in the annular air gap; and wherein the pair of electrode comprises a first double flat spring and a second double flat spring: and between which the annular coil is moveably supported in the air gap between the first double flat spring and the second double flat spring.

Assignees

• Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen

Inventors

• Ruff Eduard

Classifications

• H02K35/04 Primary

  with moving coil systems and stationary magnets · CPC title

• H02K7/1892

  Generators with parts oscillating or vibrating about an axis · CPC title

• H01H2239/076

  Key stroke generating power · CPC title