US4387318A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Piezoelectric fluid-electric generator
Assignee: PIEZOELECTRIC PRODUCTS Inc A CORP OF MA
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Filing: 1981-06-04
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Granted: 1983-06-07
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Expires: 2001-06-04
Abstract
Abstract A piezoelectric fluid-electric generator including: a piezoelectric bending element; means for mounting one end of the bending element in a fluid stream; means for driving the piezoelectric bending element to oscillate with the energy of the fluid stream; and electrode means connected to the piezoelectric bending element to conduct current generated by the oscillatory motion of the piezoelectric bending element.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric A. Kolm
- 👤 Henry H. Kolm
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 13:56
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02N; H02N2/00; H02N2/18; H02N2/185; F; F03; F03B; F03B13/00; F03B13/12; F03B13/14; F03B13/141; F03D; F03D5/00; F05; F05B; F05B2260/00; F05B2260/40; F05B2260/407; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/30; Y02E10/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A piezoelectric fluid-electric generator comprising: at least one piezoelectric bending element; means for fixably mounting one end of each said piezoelectric bending element with the distal end of each said piezoelectric bending element disposed to oscillate in a fluid stream; vane means attached to said distal end of each said piezoelectric bending element for driving each said piezoelectric bending element to oscillate with the energy of said fluid stream; and electrode means connected to each said piezoelectric bending element to conduct current generated by the oscillating motion of said piezoelectric bending element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
A piezoelectric fluid-electric generator comprising: at least one piezoelectric bending element; means for fixably mounting one end of each said piezoelectric bending element with the distal end of each said piezoelectric bending element disposed to oscillate in a fluid stream; vane means attached to said distal end of each said piezoelectric bending element for driving each said piezoelectric bending element to oscillate with the energy of said fluid stream; and electrode means connected to each said piezoelectric bending element to conduct current generated by the oscillating motion of said piezoelectric bending element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The piezoelectric fluid-electric generator of claim 1 in which each said piezoelectric bending element responds optimally to a predetermined fluid velocity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The piezoelectric fluid-electric generator of claim 1 in which each said piezoelectric bending element is elongate in shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The piezoelectric fluid-electric generator of claim 1 in which said vane is an integral extension of each said piezoelectric bending element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The piezoelectric fluid-electric generator of claim 1 in which said means for driving includes duct means for increasing flow velocity of the fluid directed at the surface of each said piezoelectric bending element to reduce the pressure in that region and draw said piezoelectric bending element toward said duct means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The piezoelectric fluid-electric generator of claim 1 further including funnel means for focussing the fluid flow each to said piezoelectric bending element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
101 words
A piezoelectric fluid-electric generator comprising: at least one piezoelectric bending element; means for fixably mounting one end of each said piezoelectric bending element with the distal end of each said piezoelectric bending element disposed to oscillate in a fluid stream; duct means for increasing flow velocity of the fluid directed at the surface of each said piezoelectric bending element to reduce the pressure in that region and draw each said piezoelectric bending element toward said duct means; and electrode means connected to each said piezoelectric bending element to conduct current generated by the oscillating motion of each said piezoelectric bending element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
101 words
A piezoelectric fluid-electric generator comprising: at least one piezoelectric bending element; means for fixably mounting one end of each said piezoelectric bending element with the distal end of each said piezoelectric bending element disposed to oscillate in a fluid stream; duct means for increasing flow velocity of the fluid directed at the surface of each said piezoelectric bending element to reduce the pressure in that region and draw each said piezoelectric bending element toward said duct means; and electrode means connected to each said piezoelectric bending element to conduct current generated by the oscillating motion of each said piezoelectric bending element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The piezoelectric fluid-electric generator of claim 7 in which each said piezoelectric bending element responds optimally to a predetermined fluid velocity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The piezoelectric fluid-electric generator of claim 7 further including vane means for driving each of said piezoelectric bending elements to oscillate in said fluid stream.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The piezoelectric fluid-electric generator of claim 7 in which each said piezoelectric bending element is elongate in shape.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The piezoelectric fluid-electric generator of claim 7 in which each said vane is an integral extension of each said piezoelectric bending element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The piezoelectric fluid-electric generator of claim 7 further including funnel means for focussing the fluid flow to each said piezoelectric bending element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The piezoelectric fluid-electric generator of claim 7 in which the elastic restoring force of each said piezoelectric bending element increases proportionally as the degree of deformation is increased.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The piezoelectric fluid-electric generator of claim 13 in which said elastic restoring force of each said piezoelectric bending element eventually exceeds the deforming force as said degree of deformation is increased.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The piezoelectric fluid-electric generator of claim 14 in which each said piezoelectric bending element returns to its original position when said elastic restoring force exceeds said deformation force.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
84 words
A piezoelectric windmill comprising: a piezoelectric bending element; means for fixably mounting one end of said piezoelectric bending element with the distal end of said piezoelectric bending element disposed to oscillate in an air stream; vane means attached to said distal end of said piezoelectric bending element for driving said piezoelectric bending element to oscillate with the energy of said air stream; and electrode means connected to said piezoelectric bending element to conduct current generated by the oscillating motion of said piezoelectric bending element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
84 words
A piezoelectric windmill comprising: a piezoelectric bending element; means for fixably mounting one end of said piezoelectric bending element with the distal end of said piezoelectric bending element disposed to oscillate in an air stream; vane means attached to said distal end of said piezoelectric bending element for driving said piezoelectric bending element to oscillate with the energy of said air stream; and electrode means connected to said piezoelectric bending element to conduct current generated by the oscillating motion of said piezoelectric bending element.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The windmill of claim 16 in which each said piezoelectric element is elongate in shape.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
The piezoelectric windmill of claim 16 further including duct means for increasing the flow velocity of the air stream directed at the surface of said piezoelectric bending element to reduce the pressure in that region and draw said piezoelectric bending element toward said duct means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The piezoelectric windmill of claim 16 in which said vane is an integral extension of each said piezoelectric bending element.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The piezoelectric windmill of claim 16 further including funnel means for focussing the air flow to each said piezoelectric bending element.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
96 words
A piezoelectric windmill comprising: a plurality of piezoelectric bending elements; means for fixably mounting one end of each of said piezoelectric bending elements with the distal end of each of said piezoelectric bending elements disposed to oscillate in an air stream; vane means attached to said distal end of each of said piezoelectric bending elements for driving each of said piezoelectric bending elements to oscillate with the energy of said air stream; and electrode means connected to each of said piezoelectric bending elements to conduct current generated by the oscillating motion of said piezoelectric bending elements.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
96 words
A piezoelectric windmill comprising: a plurality of piezoelectric bending elements; means for fixably mounting one end of each of said piezoelectric bending elements with the distal end of each of said piezoelectric bending elements disposed to oscillate in an air stream; vane means attached to said distal end of each of said piezoelectric bending elements for driving each of said piezoelectric bending elements to oscillate with the energy of said air stream; and electrode means connected to each of said piezoelectric bending elements to conduct current generated by the oscillating motion of said piezoelectric bending elements.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
48 words
The piezoelectric windmill of claim 21 further including duct means for increasing the flow velocity of the air directed at the surface of each of said piezoelectric bending elements to reduce the pressure in that region and draw each of said piezoelectric bending elements toward said duct means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The piezoelectric windmill of claim 21 in which each said piezoelectric bending element is elongate in shape.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The piezoelectric windmill of claim 21 in which each said vane is an integral extension of each of said piezoelectric bending elements.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The piezoelectric windmill of claim 21 further including funnel means for focussing the air flow to each said piezoelectric bending element.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
The piezoelectric windmill of claim 21 in which said plurality of piezoelectric bending elements includes at least two different groups, each set to respond optimally to a different air velocity.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
85 words
A piezoelectric fluid-electric generator comprising: a piezoelectric bending element; means for fixably mounting one end of said piezoelectric bending element with the distal end of said piezoelectric bending element disposed to oscillate in a fluid stream; vane means attached to said distal end of said piezoelectric bending element for driving said piezoelectric bending element to oscillate with the energy of said fluid stream; and electrode means connected to said piezoelectric bending element to conduct current generated by the oscillatory motion of said piezoelectric bending element.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
85 words
A piezoelectric fluid-electric generator comprising: a piezoelectric bending element; means for fixably mounting one end of said piezoelectric bending element with the distal end of said piezoelectric bending element disposed to oscillate in a fluid stream; vane means attached to said distal end of said piezoelectric bending element for driving said piezoelectric bending element to oscillate with the energy of said fluid stream; and electrode means connected to said piezoelectric bending element to conduct current generated by the oscillatory motion of said piezoelectric bending element.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-06-06 | 1986-12-06 | 1987-06-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-06-06 | 1990-12-06 | 1991-06-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-06-06 | 1994-12-06 | 1995-06-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |