U.S. patent application number 14/836922 was filed with the patent office on 2015-12-24 for ribbon transducer and pump apparatuses, methods and systems.
The applicant listed for this patent is Pliant Energy Systems LLC. Invention is credited to Benjamin Pietro Filardo.
Application Number | 20150369227 14/836922 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49913408 |
Filed Date | 2015-12-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150369227 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Filardo; Benjamin Pietro |
December 24, 2015 |
Ribbon Transducer and Pump Apparatuses, Methods and Systems
Abstract
The RIBBON TRANSDUCER AND PUMP APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS
include, in various embodiments, a variety of mechanisms comprised
of components that include flexible elements with persistently
strained deformations. Under operation, the deformations may be
reconfigured via actuation to produce useful work, or may be
reconfigured when subjected to external forces, such as from
flowing fluid. The external energy input used to reconfigure these
deformations may be harnessed and converted into electrical energy
or may be converted into useful mechanical work, such as
pumping.
Inventors: |
Filardo; Benjamin Pietro;
(New York, NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Pliant Energy Systems LLC |
Brooklyn |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
49913408 |
Appl. No.: |
14/836922 |
Filed: |
August 26, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14024581 |
Sep 11, 2013 |
9145875 |
|
|
14836922 |
|
|
|
|
13347601 |
Jan 10, 2012 |
8610304 |
|
|
14024581 |
|
|
|
|
12617618 |
Nov 12, 2009 |
8432057 |
|
|
13347601 |
|
|
|
|
12242144 |
Sep 30, 2008 |
7696634 |
|
|
12617618 |
|
|
|
|
12150910 |
May 1, 2008 |
|
|
|
12242144 |
|
|
|
|
61700181 |
Sep 12, 2012 |
|
|
|
60926984 |
May 1, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/394 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F05B 2220/709 20130101;
F04B 9/08 20130101; F03B 17/06 20130101; H02N 2/18 20130101; F05B
2240/311 20130101; Y02E 10/28 20130101; F04B 43/08 20130101; Y02E
10/20 20130101; H02N 2/185 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F04B 9/08 20060101
F04B009/08; F04B 43/08 20060101 F04B043/08 |
Claims
1. An apparatus, comprising: first and second flexible sheet-like
members, each having respective left and right side edges, having
respective longitudinal axes oriented substantially parallel to
each other and having respective inner and outer contact surfaces
oriented substantially parallel to each other, wherein the
longitudinal axes are oriented substantially parallel to a primary
flow direction of a flowing first fluid, wherein the outer contact
surfaces project transverse to the longitudinal axes and are
disposed in contact with the flowing first fluid, and wherein the
inner contact surfaces define a fluid passage containing a second
fluid; first and second rigid restraining members secured at a
fixed distance from respective left and right side edges of the
first and second flexible sheet-like members; a first set of
coupling members attached along the first rigid restraining member
according to a first spacing distance, and attached along the left
side edges of the first and second flexible sheet-like members
according to a second spacing distance, wherein the second spacing
distance is greater than the first spacing distance; a second set
of coupling members attached along the second rigid restraining
member according to the first spacing distance, and attached along
the right side edges of the first and second flexible sheet-like
members according to the second spacing distance; and wherein
dynamic undulations of the first and second flexible sheet-like
members caused by the flowing first fluid impart forces via the
inner contact surfaces to the second fluid to transport the second
fluid in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal
axes of the first and second flexible sheet-like members.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the first set of
coupling members and second set of coupling members attaches to the
first and second flexible sheet-like members via at least two
coupling member extensions.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first set of coupling
members and second set of coupling members each comprise at least
three linear coupling members.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
first set of coupling members and second set of coupling members
each comprise coupling membranes.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first set of coupling
members and second set of coupling members each comprise both
coupling membranes and at least three linear coupling members.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second flexible
sheet-like articles comprise electroactive material exhibiting an
electrical response to mechanical strain.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an elastic tube
situated within the fluid passage, wherein the second fluid is
contained within the elastic tube.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elastic tube is open to
the flowing first fluid at an upstream end and closed at a
downstream end except for an opening into a tube-like extension,
and wherein the flowing first fluid and the second fluid are the
same.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elastic tube is open to
the flowing first fluid at an upstream end and closed at a
downstream end except for an opening into another chamber, and
wherein the flowing first fluid and the second fluid are the
same.
10.-24. (canceled)
25. An apparatus, comprising: a flexible sheet-like member, having
left and right side edges, having a longitudinal axis oriented
substantially parallel to a primary flow direction of a flowing
fluid, and having contact surfaces projecting transverse to the
longitudinal axes and disposed in contact with the flowing fluid,
wherein the flexible sheet-like member comprises an electroactive
materials exhibiting an electrical response to mechanical strain;
first and second rigid restraining members situated proximate to
the left and right side edges of the flexible sheet-like member; a
first set of at least three linear coupling members attached along
the first rigid restraining member according to a first spacing
distance, and attached along the left side edge of the flexible
sheet-like member according to a second spacing distance, wherein
the second spacing distance is greater than the first spacing
distance; a second set of at least three linear coupling members
attached along the second rigid restraining member according to the
first spacing distance, and attached along the right side edge of
the flexible sheet-like member according to the second spacing
distance; and at least one power extraction component coupled to
dynamic undulations of the electroactive material comprising the
flexible sheet-like member caused by the flowing fluid to extract
power therefrom.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Non-Provisional of and claims priority
under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119 to prior U.S. provisional patent
application Ser. No. 61/700,181 entitled, "Ribbon Transducer and
Pump Apparatuses, Methods and Systems," filed Sep. 12, 2012.
[0002] This application is also a Continuation-In-Part of and
claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.120 to co-pending U.S.
non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 13/347,601 entitled,
"Mechanisms for Creating Undulating Motion, Such as for Propulsion,
and for Harnessing the Energy of Moving Fluid," filed Jan. 10,
2012; which in turn claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.120 to
prior non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 12/617,618
entitled, "Pliant or Compliant Elements for Harnessing the Forces
of Moving Fluid to Transport Fluid or Generate Electricity," filed
Nov. 12, 2009; which in turn claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.120 to prior non-provisional patent application Ser. No.
12/242,144 entitled, "Pliant Mechanisms for Extracting Power From
Moving Fluid," filed Sep. 30, 2008; which in turn claims priority
under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.120 to prior U.S. non-provisional patent
application Ser. No. 12/150,910 entitled, "Power generator for
extracting power from fluid motion," filed May 1, 2008; which in
turn claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119 to prior U.S.
provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/926,984, filed May 1,
2007.
[0003] The entire contents of the aforementioned applications are
herein expressly incorporated by reference.
[0004] This patent application disclosure document (hereinafter
"description" and/or "descriptions") describes inventive aspects
directed at various novel innovations (hereinafter "innovation,"
"innovations," and/or "innovation(s)") and contains material that
is subject to copyright, mask work, and/or other intellectual
property protection. The respective owners of such intellectual
property have no objection to the facsimile reproduction of the
patent a disclosure document by anyone as it appears in published
Patent Office file/records, but otherwise reserve all rights.
FIELD
[0005] The present innovations are directed to apparatuses,
methods, and systems for energy generation and mechanical pumping,
and more particularly, to RIBBON TRANSDUCER AND PUMP APPARATUSES,
METHODS AND SYSTEMS (hereinafter, "RTP").
BACKGROUND
[0006] Many types of pumps exist, most of which are generally used
to move or transport fluid. Typically, pumps receive energy to
convert into mechanical work. Energy generation systems have also
come about, which typically convert mechanical work into usable or
stored forms of energy.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The accompanying appendices and/or drawings illustrate
various non-limiting, example, inventive aspects in accordance with
the present disclosure:
[0008] FIG. 1 shows an example deformation of flexible sheet-like
material in an embodiment of the RTP;
[0009] FIG. 2 shows a linear coupling embodiment of the RTP;
[0010] FIG. 3 shows a coupling membrane embodiment of the RTP;
[0011] FIGS. 4A-4B show force acting on embodiments of the RTP;
[0012] FIG. 5 shows a sample pump embodiment of the RTP;
[0013] FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of a sample pump embodiment of
the RTP;
[0014] FIG. 7 shows an example restraining mechanism in an
embodiment of the RTP;
[0015] FIG. 8 shows an example connection mechanism in an
embodiment of the RTP;
[0016] FIG. 9 shows force acting on an embodiment of the RTP;
[0017] FIGS. 10A-10B show other example pump embodiments of the
RTP;
[0018] FIG. 11 shows an example anchoring mechanism in an
embodiment of the RTP;
[0019] FIG. 12 shows an example conduit in an embodiment of the
RTP;
[0020] FIG. 13 shows an example anchoring mechanism in an
embodiment of the RTP;
[0021] FIG. 14 shows an example conduit in an embodiment of the
RTP;
[0022] FIG. 15 shows another example pump embodiment of the
RTP;
[0023] FIG. 16 shows an example implementation of a pump embodiment
of the RTP;
[0024] FIG. 17 shows an example implementation of a pump embodiment
of the RTP;
[0025] FIG. 18 shows a cross-section of a pump embodiment of the
RTP; and
[0026] FIGS. 19A-19B show aspects of an implementation of ribbon
electrode circuitry for power generation in one embodiment of the
RTP.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] Aspects of the innovations disclosed herein include
mechanisms comprised of components that include flexible elements
configured to support persistent strained deformations. Under
operation, the deformations may be reconfigured via actuation to
produce useful work, or may be reconfigured when subjected to
external forces, such as from flowing fluid. The external energy
input used to reconfigure these deformations may be harnessed and
converted into electrical energy or may be converted into useful
mechanical work, such as pumping.
[0028] In a transducer embodiment such as that shown in FIG. 1, a
flexible sheet-like material 1 may be deformed during fabrication
with an applied force 1a, and then fixed to two rigid or semi-rigid
restraining elements 2 via three or more linear coupling elements 3
along each of two opposite edges of the flexible sheet-like
material 1 as shown in one embodiment in FIG. 2. In some
embodiments, the linear coupling element 3 may be comprised of
string, thread, wire, chain and/or the like. In some embodiments,
the linear coupling element may comprise an articulated member
having little or no compressive strength so that the linear
coupling element 3 made therefrom does not transfer forces between
the sheet-like material 1 and the restraining element 2 except when
in tension, or primarily in tension. In some embodiments, such as
shown in one example in FIG. 3, one or more coupling membranes 4
may be used as well as, or instead of, linear coupling elements 3
being multiply or continuously fixed to the sheet-like material 1
and restraining element 2, where the coupling membrane 4 transfers
only tensile forces, or primarily tensile forces, between the
sheet-like material 1 and the restraining element 2. In some
embodiments, the restraining elements 2 may be secured and/or fixed
at a specific distance apart from each other and/or a specific
distance from each edge of the sheet-like material 1, such as to
support persistent deformations and/or oscillations of the
sheet-like material of a specific amplitude and/or range of
amplitudes. For example, in some embodiments, the restraining
elements 2 may be fixed at a distance from each side edge of the
sheet-like material 1, the distance ranging from zero to the full
length of a linear coupling element 3.
[0029] In some embodiments, the distance from each side of the
sheet-like material 1 and the restraining elements 2 may be defined
by at least one secondary restraining element 2a. The secondary
restraining element 2a may also serve the purpose of controlling
strain on the linear coupling elements and controlling strain and
deformation amplitude of the sheet-like material 1. For some
transducer embodiments with linear coupling elements 3, the
attachment points 5 of the linear coupling elements 3 to the
sheet-like material 1 in its relaxed state may be a distance 6 from
each other that is greater than the distance 7 between attachment
points 5 of the linear coupling elements 3 to the restraining
elements 2, as exhibited in one embodiment in FIG. 3. Attachments
may be made be of any of a variety of a different types, including
adhesives, fasteners, threading and/or weaving of coupling elements
within the material of the sheet-like materials, and/or the
like.
[0030] When directional force 8 is applied to the embodiment with
linear coupling elements 3, such as from but not limited to a fluid
flow, the bulge-deformations in the sheet-like material 1 may move
in the direction of the force until the phase of the deformations
is reversed, and may continue thereafter, as shown in one example
in FIG. 4A. In one embodiment, the process will be repeated so long
as the directional force 8 is maintained. The mechanical action and
its associated cycles of material strain in the sheet-like material
1 and/or in the linear coupling elements 3 may be used to create
electrical energy, such as via electroactive polymers,
piezoelectric materials, and/or the like materials exhibiting an
electrical response to mechanical strain and/or vice versa. In some
embodiments, the transducers may also be utilized as sensors, such
as for measuring fluid speed.
[0031] In some pump embodiments, the transducer may operate
anchored in a fluid flow environment or otherwise substantially
fixed relative to a flowing fluid. For example, the restraining
elements 3 may be secured in position, such as by attaching them 7a
to a fixed substrate, as illustrated in one implementation in FIG.
4B. In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 5, two flexible layers
of sheet-like material 1 may be coupled via common linear coupling
elements 3. In one implementation, the flexible sheet-like layers 1
may be coupled to linear coupling elements 3 via coupling element
extensions 3a. In one implementation, in between the two flexible
layers 1 may be an elastic tube 15 that is open to ambient fluid,
such as water, at the upstream end and closed at the downstream end
except for an opening into a tube or passage 3b that removes fluid
pumped by the mechanism.
[0032] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view through the mechanism in
one embodiment. Under operation, a small variable space between the
two layers of sheet-like material 1 may allow fluid to enter at the
upstream end of the elastic tube 15 when the position of this
variable space occurs at the upstream end of the elastic tube 15,
allowing fluid into the elastic tube 15. Under operation, the small
space may be pushed in the direction of fluid flow. Fluid entering
the elastic tube 15 at the upstream end may be pushed along between
the two layers of sheet-like material 1 and may exit the system via
a secondary tube 3b, as illustrated in one embodiment in FIG. 6,
showing the layering arrangement in an exploded view of the
sheet-like material 1, elastic tube 15, and secondary tube 3b at
the downstream end of the elastic tube 15.
[0033] In some embodiments, such as shown in one example in FIG. 7,
force may be applied 8 to two flexible sheet-like elements 9 which
may then each be fixed at two opposite ends to a central rigid
restraining element 10 which may be shorter than the lengths of the
two sheet-like flexible elements 9, maintaining the sheet-like
elements 9 in a buckled state with deformations.
[0034] In an embodiment, two opposite edges of each sheet-like
element 9 are connected to each other via linear coupling elements
11 or by a coupling membrane 4, or by both linear coupling elements
11 and coupling membranes 4, 20, as shown in one example in FIG. 8.
The lengths of the linear coupling elements 11 may be set and/or
selected to limit the amplitudes of the deformation buckles in the
sheet-like elements 9. The distances between the inner surfaces of
the two sheet-like elements 9 may be fixed relative to each other
due to restraint by the linear coupling elements 11. In one
embodiment, the distances between the inner surface of the
sheet-like elements 9 and the central rigid restraining element 10
varies between zero and the length of the closest linear coupling
element 11.
[0035] When directional force 8 is applied to the transducer
embodiment described above, such as from but not limited to a fluid
flow, the buckled, bulge-deformations in the sheet-like elements 9
may move in the direction of the force until the phase of the
deformations is reversed, and may continue thereafter, as shown in
one embodiment in FIG. 9. In one embodiment, the process may be
repeated so long as the directional force is maintained.
[0036] In some embodiments, the transducers described above may
convert the kinetic energy of moving fluid into mechanical action
able to perform useful work, such as pumping. The mechanical action
and its associated cycles of material strain in the sheet-like
material 1, 9 and/or in the linear coupling elements 3, 11, may be
used to create electrical energy via electroactive polymers,
piezoelectric materials, and/or other materials exhibiting an
electrical response to mechanical strain and/or vice versa. In some
embodiments, the transducers may also be utilized as sensors such
as for measuring fluid speed.
[0037] Some pump embodiments of the transducer described above may
operate anchored in a fluid flow environment and/or otherwise fixed
and/or secured relative to flowing fluid. As shown in FIG. 10A, in
some embodiments the central rigid restraining element 10 may be a
hollow conduit 13. In some embodiments, the sides of the pumping
mechanism may be enclosed by flexible membranes 20 and/or coupling
membranes 4, as illustrated in one example in FIG. 10B. In one
embodiment, the rigid restraining element 10 may be secured, such
as via a post or anchoring system 13a, to an immovable substrate
13b such as a stream bed, as illustrated in one example in FIG. 11.
An opening 12 at the upstream end of each sheet-like element 9 may
allow fluid, such as ambient fluid or other special-purpose fluid,
in between the sheet-like element 9 and the hollow conduit 13 when
the cycle of deformation movement is such that a bulge forms at the
upstream end of the sheet-like element 9, as illustrated in FIG. 11
and FIG. 12. Fluid that has entered the space formed by the bulge
may be carried by the bulge in the direction of fluid flow as the
bulge deformation travels along the mechanism. There may be an
opening 12a at the downstream-end of the hollow conduit 13. When
fluid carried along in a bulge cavity reaches the downstream-end of
the hollow conduit 13 the fluid may be pushed inside the hollow
conduit 13, such as shown in the examples of FIGS. 11-14. In some
embodiments, fluid may be extracted from the hollow conduit 13 via
a tube or another conduit or chamber 14.
[0038] In some pump embodiments of the transducer, such as
illustrated in one example in FIG. 15, fluid 18 entering the
openings 12 at the upstream ends of the sheet-like elements 9 may
enter elastic tubes 15 situated between each sheet-like element 9
and the hollow conduit 13. In one embodiment, fluid may enter the
elastic tubes 15 at the upstream end and may be pushed along in the
downstream direction where it empties into at least one secondary
chamber 16 within the hollow conduit 13, such as illustrated in the
examples shown in FIG. 16 and FIG. 17.
[0039] The varying volumes of space between the elastic tubes 15
and the sheet-like elements 9 may, in one implementation, be
occupied by air or other secondary fluid which may be cycled
through the system via at least one tertiary chamber 17 within the
hollow conduit 13, as illustrated in one example in FIG. 15. The
tertiary chamber 17 may be open to the variable volumes of space
between the sheet-like elements 9 and the hollow conduit 13 at the
upstream and downstream ends of the hollow conduit 13. FIG. 18
shows, in one embodiment, a cross-section through such a pump
embodiment, with the elastic membranes 20 at the sides removed for
visual clarity.
[0040] As noted above, aspects of the embodiments described herein
may be adapted for power generation, sensor operation, and/or the
like such as by the use of electroactive materials exhibiting an
electrical response to mechanical strain, such as electroactive
polymers, piezoelectric films, and/or the like. Such materials may
be incorporated into components of the ribbon transducers described
above, such as but not limited to the flexible sheet-like members 1
and manipulated for actuation thereof and/or monitored to detect
and measure mechanical strains. FIG. 19A illustrates a
piezoelectric film 18 configured for incorporation into the
disclosed ribbon transducers as a power extraction component to
couple to the dynamic undulations of the flexible sheet-like member
1 caused by a flowing fluid to extract power therefrom. The film 18
may include one or more top-layer electrodes 19, which are
electrically coupled to bottom-layer electrodes which may be
configured as a solid conductive layer, a projection of the
top-layer electrode configuration, and/or the like. The film 18 may
further comprise a connector pattern 20 configured to facilitate
removal of accumulated charge from the piezoelectric film to power
extraction and/or sensor circuitry. FIG. 19B shows aspects of an
implementation of power extraction circuitry in one embodiment. The
illustrated example includes a connection to a top-film electrode
segment 21 and a connection to a bottom-film electrode segment 22.
The circuit may further include positive and negative
charge-collection diodes 23, configured to admit current associated
with positive and negative bias of film electrodes 18 caused by
varying oscillations of the flexible sheet-like member 1. The
circuit may further include at least one positive charge collection
capacitor 24 and circuit node 25, as well as at least one negative
charge collection capacitor 26 and circuit node 27.
[0041] In order to address various issues and advance the art, the
entirety of this application for RIBBON TRANSDUCER AND PUMP
APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (including the Cover Page, Title,
Headings, Field, Background, Summary, Brief Description of the
Drawings, Detailed Description, Claims, Abstract, Figures,
Appendices and/or otherwise) shows by way of illustration various
embodiments in which the claimed inventions may be practiced. The
advantages and features of the application are of a representative
sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or
exclusive. They are presented only to assist in understanding and
teach the claimed principles. It should be understood that they are
not representative of all claimed inventions. As such, certain
aspects of the disclosure have not been discussed herein. That
alternate embodiments may not have been presented for a specific
portion of the invention or that further undescribed alternate
embodiments may be available for a portion is not to be considered
a disclaimer of those alternate embodiments. It will be appreciated
that many of those undescribed embodiments incorporate the same
principles of the invention and others are equivalent. Thus, it is
to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and
functional, logical, organizational, structural and/or topological
modifications may be made without departing from the scope and/or
spirit of the disclosure. As such, all examples and/or embodiments
are deemed to be non-limiting throughout this disclosure. Also, no
inference should be drawn regarding those embodiments discussed
herein relative to those not discussed herein other than it is as
such for purposes of reducing space and repetition. For instance,
it is to be understood that the logical and/or topological
structure of any combination of components (a component
collection), other components and/or any present feature sets as
described in the figures and/or throughout are not limited to a
fixed operating order and/or arrangement, but rather, any disclosed
order is exemplary and all equivalents, regardless of order, are
contemplated by the disclosure. In addition, the disclosure
includes other inventions not presently claimed. Applicant reserves
all rights in those presently unclaimed inventions including the
right to claim such inventions, file additional applications,
continuations, continuations in part, divisions, and/or the like
thereof. As such, it should be understood that advantages,
embodiments, examples, functional, features, logical,
organizational, structural, topological, and/or other aspects of
the disclosure are not to be considered limitations on the
disclosure as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents
to the claims. It is to be understood that, depending on the
particular needs and/or characteristics of an RTP individual and/or
enterprise user, mechanism configuration, deployment environment,
and/or the like, various embodiments of the RTP may be implemented
that enable a great deal of flexibility and customization. For
example, aspects of the RTP may be adapted for propulsion, water
filtering, vacuuming, fluid circulation and/or redistribution,
and/or the like. While various embodiments and discussions of the
RTP have been directed to energy generation and mechanical pumping,
however, it is to be understood that the embodiments described
herein may be readily configured and/or customized for a wide
variety of other applications and/or implementations.
* * * * *