Electric power source

Claim 2

A source of electrical power having spaced inlet means and outlet means and comprising a flexible member, a piezo-electric element secured to said member and flexible therewith, said member and said element having a natural frequency in flexure, a source of fluid coupled to said inlet means, and pressure variation means including said member, a resonant cavity, and exit means coupled to said outlet means, said pressure variation means positioned between said outlet means and said inlet means and generating pressure variations in response to flow of the fluid to cause vibration of said member and said element at the natural frequency.

Claim 3

A source of electrical power comprising a body having an inlet and an outlet, said outlet being distinct from said inlet; a flexible diaphragm supported at the edges thereof in said body; a piezo-electric element secured to said diaphragm and flexible therewith; a source of fluid; and pressure variation means positioned between the inlet and the outlet; said pressure variation means including said diaphragm, a chamber bounded by the outlet and the inlet, an annular shoulder on said body at the outlet of said chamber and spaced closely from said diaphragm, and orifice means at the inlet of said chamber and coupled to said fluid source whereby flow of the fluid causes changes in pressure of said pressure variation means including self-sustained vibration of said diaphragm and said element.

Claim 4

A source of electrical power comprising a body having an inlet and an outlet, said outlet being distinct from said inlet; a flexible diaphragm supported at the edges thereof in said body; a piezo-electric element secured to said diaphragm and flexible therewith; a source of fluid; and pressure variation means positioned between the inlet and the outlet; said pressure variation means including said diaphragm, a chamber bounded by the outlet and the inlet, an annular shoulder on said body at the outlet of said chamber and spaced closely from said diaphragm, and orifice means at the inlet of said chamber and coupled to said fluid source whereby flow of the fluid causes changes in pressure of said pressure variation means including self-sustained vibration of said diaphragm and said element.

Claim 5

A source of electrical power comprising a body provided with inlet means connected to a source of fluid and terminating in orifice means; a flexible member secured at its periphery to said body and spaced from said orifice means; a piezo-electric element secured to said member and flexible therewith; a chamber including said flexible member disposed in said body and opening to said inlet means through said orifice means; an annular shoulder formed on said body and spaced from said flexible member and from said orifice means to provide termination means having variable opening means for said chamber; and exhaust means coupled to the termination means; said member and said element vibrating in response to variations of fluid pressure in said chamber as the fluid flows through said orifice means into said chamber and past the termination means between said shoulder and said flexible member.

Claim 6

A source of electrical power comprising a body provided with inlet means connected to a source of fluid and terminating in orifice means; a flexible member secured at its periphery to said body and spaced from said orifice means; a piezo-electric element secured to said member and flexible therewith; a chamber including said flexible member disposed in said body and opening to said inlet means through said orifice means; an annular shoulder formed on said body and spaced from said flexible member and from said orifice means to provide termination means having variable opening means for said chamber; and exhaust means coupled to the termination means; said member and said element vibrating in response to variations of fluid pressure in said chamber as the fluid flows through said orifice means into said chamber and past the termination means between said shoulder and said flexible member.

Claim 7

A source as in claim 3 wherein said inlet means comprises an attachment moveable in said body for adjustment of the size of said chamber.

Claim 8

A source of electrical power comprising pressure resonant cavity means, a flexible member forming a wall for said cavity means, a piezo-electric element secured to said member and flexible therewith, a source of fluid, gap means adjacent said member and terminating said cavity means for exit of the fluid, orifIce means as said source of fluid and forming an opening into said cavity means, said gap means, said orifice means and said cavity means being so dimensioned as to enable the provision of variations in pressure in said cavity and concurrent self-sustained vibration of said member and said element upon the flow of said fluid from said source, through said orifice means and cavity means, and out past said gap means.

Claim 9

A source of electrical power comprising pressure resonant cavity means, a flexible member forming a wall for said cavity means, a piezo-electric element secured to said member and flexible therewith, a source of fluid, gap means adjacent said member and terminating said cavity means for exit of the fluid, orifIce means as said source of fluid and forming an opening into said cavity means, said gap means, said orifice means and said cavity means being so dimensioned as to enable the provision of variations in pressure in said cavity and concurrent self-sustained vibration of said member and said element upon the flow of said fluid from said source, through said orifice means and cavity means, and out past said gap means.

Claim 10

A source as in claim 5 wherein said gap means comprises an annular shoulder spaced closely from said member.

Claim 11

A source as in claim 6 wherein said flexible member comprises a diaphragm supported at the periphery thereof.