Electric power generating device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12313036-B2
Application number	US-202318399903-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 29, 2023
Priority date	Feb 3, 2023
Publication date	May 27, 2025
Grant date	May 27, 2025

Abstract

The electric power generating device includes a first generator, a differential gear mechanism provided between a blade and the first generator, a first ring gear connected to the first generator, and a case that rotates integrally with the first ring gear about a first axis. The differential gear mechanism includes a pinion shaft that rotatably supports a pair of pinion gears about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The differential gear mechanism includes a first drive shaft having a first side gear at one end and a blade connected to the other end. The differential gear mechanism comprises a second drive shaft having a second side gear at one end and having an interference portion at one end extending toward the pinion shaft. The interference portion faces the pinion shaft in a direction of a third axis that is orthogonal to the first axis and the second axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electric power generating device, comprising:
a blade configured to rotate under a flow of a fluid;
a first generator configured to generate electric power by rotation of the blade; and
a differential gear mechanism provided between the blade and the first generator, wherein:
the differential gear mechanism includes
a first ring gear connected to the first generator;
a case configured to rotate integrally with the first ring gear about a first axis,
a pinion shaft that is supported by the case and that supports a pair of pinion gears to be rotatable about a second axis orthogonal to the first axis,
a first drive shaft that is disposed along the first axis, and that includes at one end a first side gear that engages the pinion gears, and also of which another end is connected to the blade, and
a second drive shaft that is disposed along the first axis and that includes at one end a second side gear engaged with the pinion gears and disposed facing the first side gear;

the one end of the second drive shaft is provided with an interference portion extending toward the pinion shaft; and
the interference portion contacts the pinion shaft and faces in a direction along a third axis that is orthogonal to the first axis and the second axis.

2. The electric power generating device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the interference portion includes a first interference portion and a second interference portion that face each other; and
the pinion shaft is situated between the first interference portion and the second interference portion.

3. The electric power generating device according to claim 2 , wherein a distance between the first interference portion and the second interference portion in the direction of the third axis increases the farther toward a distal end side of the interference portion.

4. The electric power generating device according to claim 1 , further comprising a planetary gear mechanism and a second generator, wherein:
the planetary gear mechanism includes a sun gear, a second ring gear, and a planetary carrier;
the first generator is linked to the sun gear; and
the blade and the second generator are connected to the second ring gear.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Matsumoto Takuya

Classifications

• F05B2260/40311

  of the epicyclic, planetary or differential type · CPC title

• F03D15/207

  to multiple generators, e.g. in series · CPC title

• F03D9/25

  the apparatus being an electrical generator (F03D9/22 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F03D15/00 Primary

  Transmission of mechanical power · CPC title

• F16H37/0806

  with a plurality of driving or driven shafts · CPC title