Automatic wheel-driven generating means and lighting device thereof

Abstract

An automatic wheel-driven generating means mainly includes a base fixedly mounted on a wheel around an axle thereof and provided with a centered hollow column and one or more radially extended hollow pipes for each receiving a light-emitting element therein; a winding reel enclosed between left and right magnetic poles and fixedly mounted on the hollow column; and a magnet holder having a cap screwed into a center thereof and being fixedly mounted on the axle. The magnet holder carries magnets and is associated with the winding reel and the magnetic poles without contact with them. When the wheel rotates, the winding reel and the magnetic poles on the base rotate along with the wheel relative to the magnet holder that is unmovably fixed on the axle, so that an induced current is produced to drive the light-emitting elements to emit light beams. Each of the light-emitting elements is associated with a light-guiding bar that is connected to the wheel and has an uneven outer surface, so that light emitted from the light-emitting element is reflected and refracted in the light-guiding bar, making the whole rotating wheel a bright light circle to ensure a rider safety.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An automatic wheel-driven generating means, comprising a base, a winding reel, left and right magnetic poles, a magnet holder, and a cap; said base being provided at a central area with an outward projected hollow column, at an outer side along a peripheral edge thereof with a groove, and on said outer side with one or more fixed hollow pipes radially project from said peripheral edge of said base, and said base being mounted on a wheel of around an axle thereof by retaining members; 
 said winding reel having a coil wound thereon, lead-out wires of said coil being separately connected to wires that are further separately connected to light-emitting elements disposed in said hollow pipes of said base;    said left and said right magnetic poles being two toroidal members located at two sides of said winding reel and having a plurality of equally spaced magnetic pole fins axially extended from an outer peripheral edge toward said winding reel, such that said magnetic pole fins alternate along an outer periphery of said winding reel to firmly enclose said winding reel between said left and said right magnetic poles, and an assembly of said winding reel and said left and said right magnetic poles being put around said hollow column on said base;    said magnet holder being an annular member having a round central bore and being located around said assembly of said winding reel and said left and said right magnetic poles without contacting with said assembly while a plurality of magnets held on said magnet holder corresponding to said magnetic pole fins of said left and said right magnetic poles; and    said cap being engaged into said central bore of said magnet holder and having a central axle hole for said axle to extend therethrough, so that said cap and accordingly said magnet holder are fixedly mounted on said axle;    whereby when said wheel rotates, said left and said right magnetic poles mounted on said hollow column of said base rotate along with said wheel relative to said magnets on said magnet holder that is fixedly mounted on said axle without rotating along with said wheel, and an induced current is produced to drive said light-emitting elements to automatically emit light without the need of any battery.    
     
     
         2 . The automatic wheel-driven generating means as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said hollow column on said base is provided along an outer rim with a plurality of spaced and outward extended catches for securely holding said assembly of said winding reel and said left and said right magnetic poles around said hollow column.  
     
     
         3 . The automatic wheel-driven generating means as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said magnet holder is formed along a circumferential edge with a plurality of holes in which said a plurality of magnets are received.  
     
     
         4 . The automatic wheel-driven generating means as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising a magnet-isolating ring put around said circumferential edge of said magnet holder to prevent said magnets from magnetically attracting external impurities.  
     
     
         5 . The automatic wheel-driven generating means as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said magnet holder is provided at an inner side of a circumferential edge thereof with a plurality of recesses in which said a plurality of magnets are received.  
     
     
         6 . The automatic wheel-driven generating means as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said central bore of said magnet holder is provided with an internal screw thread and said cap is provided with an external screw thread, and said cap is axially adjustably connected to said central bore of said magnet holder through engagement of said external screw thread with said internal screw thread.  
     
     
         7 . The automatic wheel-driven generating means as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said base is fixedly mounted on said wheel around said axle by extending a first end of each of said retaining members into said groove provided on said base, and guiding a second end of each of said retaining members through one or more spokes of said wheel before extending said second end into said groove.  
     
     
         8 . The automatic wheel-driven generating means as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said magnet holder is mounted around said assembly of said winding reel and said left and said right magnetic poles without contacting with said assembly by inserting a plurality of isolating plates into a plurality of slots spaced on a side surface of said magnet holder before said magnet holder is put around said assembly, so that said magnets on said magnet holder and said magnetic poles do not magnetically attract one another before said magnet holder is correctly mounted on said axle, and said isolating plates being removed from said slots after said magnet holder having been correctly mounted on said axle.  
     
     
         9 . The automatic wheel-driven generating means as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of said hollow pipes on said base has a plug disposed therein, said plug being provided with two holes for two pins of said light-emitting element to extend thereinto, so that said light-emitting element is protected against moisture and dust.  
     
     
         10 . An automatic wheel-driven generating means, comprising a base, a winding reel, left and right magnetic poles, a magnet holder, and a cap; 
 said base being provided at a central area with an outward projected hollow column, at an outer side along a peripheral edge thereof with a groove, and on said outer side with one or more fixed hollow pipes radially project from said peripheral edge of said base, and said base being fixedly mounted on a wheel around an axle thereof by retaining members;    said winding reel having a coil wound thereon, lead-out wires of said coil being separately connected to wires that are further separately connected to light-emitting elements disposed in said hollow pipes of said base;    said left and said right magnetic poles being two toroidal members located at two sides of said winding reel to enclose said winding reel between them, and having a plurality of equally spaced magnetic pole fins axially extended from an inner peripheral edge toward said winding reel, such that said magnetic pole fins alternate along an inner periphery of said winding reel, and an assembly of said winding reel and said left and said right magnetic poles being put in said hollow column on said base;    said magnet holder being an annular member having a round central bore and being located in said assembly of said winding reel and said left and said right magnetic poles without contacting with said assembly, and a plurality of magnets being held in holes provided along a circumferential edge of said magnet holder corresponding to said magnetic pole fins of said left and said right magnetic poles; and    said cap being engaging into said central bore of said magnet holder and having a central axle hole for said axle to extend therethrough, so that said cap is fixedly mounted on said axle;    whereby when said wheel rotates, said left and said right magnetic poles mounted in said hollow column of said base rotate along with said wheel relative to said magnets on said magnet holder that is fixedly mounted on said axle through said cap, and an induced current is produced to drive said light-emitting elements to automatically emit light without the need of any battery.    
     
     
         11 . The automatic wheel-driven generating means as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said hollow column on said base is provided along an outer rim with a plurality of spaced and inward extended catches for securely holding said assembly of said winding reel and said left and said right magnetic poles in said hollow column.  
     
     
         12 . The automatic wheel-driven generating means as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said central bore of said magnet holder is provided with an internal screw thread and said cap is provided with an external screw thread, and said cap is axially adjustably connected to said central bore of said magnet holder through engagement of said external screw thread with said internal screw thread.  
     
     
         13 . The automatic wheel-driven generating means as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said base is fixedly mounted on said wheel around said axle by extending a first end of each of said retaining members into said groove provided on said base, and guiding a second end of each of said retaining members through one or more spokes of said wheel before extending said second end into said groove.  
     
     
         14 . The automatic wheel-driven generating means as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein each of said hollow pipes on said base has a plug disposed therein, said plug being provided with two holes for two pins of said light-emitting element to extend thereinto, so that said light-emitting element is protected against moisture and dust.  
     
     
         15 . An automatic wheel-driven generating means, comprising a base, a winding reel, left and right magnetic poles, a magnet holder, and a cap; said base being provided at a central area with an outward projected hollow column, at an outer side along a peripheral edge thereof with a groove, and on said outer side with one or more fixed hollow pipes radially project from said peripheral edge of said base, and said base being fixedly mounted on a wheel around an axle thereof by retaining members; 
 said winding reel having a coil wound thereon, lead-out wires of said coil being separately connected to wires that are further separately connected to light-emitting elements disposed in said hollow pipes of said base;    said left and said right magnetic poles being two toroidal members located at two sides of said winding reel to enclose said winding reel between them, and having a plurality of equally spaced magnetic pole fins axially extended from an outer peripheral edge toward said winding reel, such that said magnetic pole fins alternate along an outer periphery of said winding reel, and an assembly of said winding reel and said left and said right magnetic poles being put around said hollow column on said base;    said magnet holder being an annular member having a round central bore and being located around said assembly of said winding reel and said left and said right magnetic poles without contacting with said assembly, and a magnetic ring being bonded around an inner side of a circumferential edge of said magnet holder corresponding to said magnetic pole fins of said left and said right magnetic poles; and    said cap being engaging into said central bore of said magnet holder and having a central axle hole for said axle to extend therethrough, so that said cap is fixedly mounted on said axle;    whereby when said wheel rotates, said left and said right magnetic poles mounted around said hollow column of said base rotate along with said wheel relative to said magnetic ring on said magnet holder that is fixedly mounted on said axle through said cap, and an induced current is produced to drive said light-emitting elements to automatically emit light without the need of any battery.    
     
     
         16 . The automatic wheel-driven generating means as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said hollow column on said base is provided along an outer rim with a plurality of spaced and outward extended catches for securely holding said assembly of said winding reel and said left and said right magnetic poles around said hollow column.  
     
     
         17 . The automatic wheel-driven generating means as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said central bore of said magnet holder is provided with an internal screw thread and said cap is provided with an external screw thread, and said cap is axially adjustably connected to said central bore of said magnet holder through engagement of said external screw thread with said internal screw thread.  
     
     
         18 . The automatic wheel-driven generating means as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said base is fixedly mounted on said wheel around said axle by extending a first end of each of said retaining members into said groove provided on said base, and guiding a second end of each of said retaining members through one or more spokes of said wheel before extending said second end into said groove.  
     
     
         19 . The automatic wheel-driven generating means as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said magnet holder is mounted around said assembly of said winding reel and said left and said right magnetic poles without contacting with said assembly by inserting a plurality of isolating plates into a plurality of slots spaced on a side surface of said magnet holder before said magnet holder is put around said assembly, so that said magnetic ring on said magnet holder and said magnetic poles do not magnetically attract one another before said magnet holder is correctly mounted around said axle, and said isolating plates being removed from said slots after said magnet holder having been correctly mounted around said axle.  
     
     
         20 . The automatic wheel-driven generating means as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein each of said hollow pipes on said base has a plug disposed therein, said plug being provided with two holes for two pins of said light-emitting element to extend thereinto, so that said light-emitting element is protected against moisture and dust.  
     
     
         21 . An automatic wheel-driven generating means, comprising a base, a winding reel, left and right magnetic poles, a magnet holder, and a cap; 
 said base being provided at a central area with an outward projected hollow column, at an outer side along a peripheral edge thereof with a groove, and on said outer side with one or more fixed hollow pipes radially project from said peripheral edge of said base, and said base being fixedly mounted on a wheel around an axle thereof by retaining members;    said winding reel having a coil wound thereon, lead-out wires of said coil being separately connected to wires that are further separately connected to light-emitting elements disposed in said hollow pipes of said base;    said left and said right magnetic poles being two toroidal members located at two sides of said winding reel to enclose said winding reel between them, and having a plurality of equally spaced magnetic pole fins axially extended from an inner peripheral edge toward said winding reel, such that said magnetic pole fins alternate along an inner periphery of said winding reel, and an assembly of said winding reel and said left and said right magnetic poles being put in said hollow column on said base;    said magnet holder being an annular member having a round central bore and being located in said assembly of said winding reel and said left and said right magnetic poles without contacting with said assembly while a magnetic ring bonded around an circumferential edge of said magnet holder corresponding to said magnetic pole fins of said left and said right magnetic poles; and    said cap being engaging into said central bore of said magnet holder and having a central axle hole for said axle to extend therethrough, so that said cap is fixedly mounted on said axle;    whereby when said wheel rotates, said left and said right magnetic poles mounted in said hollow column of said base rotate along with said wheel relative to said magnets on said magnet holder that is fixedly mounted on said axle through said cap, and an induced current is produced to drive said light-emitting elements to automatically emit light without the need of any battery.    
     
     
         22 . The automatic wheel-driven generating means as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said hollow column on said base is provided along an outer rim with a plurality of spaced and inward extended catches for securely holding said assembly of said winding reel and said left and said right magnetic poles in said hollow column.  
     
     
         23 . The automatic wheel-driven generating means as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said central bore of said magnet holder is provided with an internal screw thread and said cap is provided with an external screw thread, and said cap is axially adjustably connected to said central bore of said magnet holder through engagement of said external screw thread with said internal screw thread.  
     
     
         24 . The automatic wheel-driven generating means as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said base is fixedly mounted on said wheel around said axle by extending a first end of each of said retaining members into said groove provided on said base, and guiding a second end of each of said retaining members through one or more spokes of said wheel before extending said second end into said groove.  
     
     
         25 . The automatic wheel-driven generating means as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein each of said hollow pipes on said base has a plug disposed therein, said plug being provided with two holes for two pins of said light-emitting element to extend thereinto, so that said light-emitting element is protected against moisture and dust.  
     
     
         26 . A lighting device for an automatic wheel-driven generating means, said automatic wheel-driven generating means being mounted on a wheel around an axle thereof and being capable of generating electricity when said wheel rotates and thereby driving light-emitting elements connected to said generating means to emit light, said lighting device comprising one or more light-guiding bars, a first end of each of said light-guiding bars being coupled to a hollow pipe provided on said automatic wheel-driven generating means, such that a light-emitting element disposed in said hollow pipe is received in a cavity provided at said first end of said light-guiding bar; and said light-guiding bar having an uneven outer surface obtained by forming a plurality of spaced annular grooves, coarse belts, narrowed portions or expanded portions thereon, so that light emitted from said light-emitting element is reflected and refracted in said light-guiding bar when said light passes interfaces between different mediums, whereby multiple light spots are produced from one single light source, making said wheel in rotating a bright circle to enhance safety in riding.  
     
     
         27 . The lighting device for an automatic wheel-driven generating means as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein said light-guiding bar has a second end to which a hooked head is provided to press against a rim of said wheel while hooking up a spoke of said wheel, so that said light-guiding bar is fixed in place on the wheel.