System and method for electrical power generation utilizing vehicle traffic on roadways

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and systems for power generation including a method and system for electrical power generation by utilizing forces due to vehicle weights from traffic on roadways. An embodiment of the invention uses multiple compressible hydraulic cylinders of different types, the cylinders used being dynamically selected responsive to the various weights of the vehicles presenting.

1 . A power generation system comprising: 
 a hydraulic accumulator coupled to a hydraulic motor;    a hydraulic reservoir;    at least one electric hydraulic cylinder having a lower weight-handling capacity coupled to the accumulator and further coupled to the hydraulic reservoir;    at least one electric hydraulic cylinder having a higher weight-handling capacity coupled to the accumulator and further coupled to the hydraulic reservoir;    at least one flow director coupled to the at least one electric hydraulic cylinder having the higher weight-handling capacity; and    a vehicle weight sensor coupled to the flow director.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the vehicle weight sensor comprises a solenoid.    
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the hydraulic motor is coupled to an electric power generator.    
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the vehicle weight sensor is operable to control the flow director in response to a sensed vehicle weight.    
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein: 
 the flow director is operable to enable a hydraulic flow to at least one electric hydraulic cylinder having the higher weight-handling capacity in response to the vehicle weight being heavier and further operable to inhibit the hydraulic flow in response to the vehicle weight being lighter.    
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 A road plate coupled to the at least one electric hydraulic cylinder having the higher weight-handling capacity and further coupled to the at least one electric hydraulic cylinder having the lower weight-handling capacity.    
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5  further comprising: 
 A road plate coupled to the at least one electric hydraulic cylinder having the higher weight-handling capacity and further coupled to the at least one electric hydraulic cylinder having the lower weight-handling capacity.    
   
   
       8 . A method for power generation comprising the acts of: 
 providing a plurality of electric hydraulic cylinders;    sensing a weight of an approaching vehicle;    in response to the sensing, determining whether the vehicle is heavy;    in response to the determining, selecting at least one selected electric hydraulic cylinder from the plurality of electric hydraulic cylinders according to whether the vehicle is heavy;    in response to the selecting, directing a flow of a hydraulic fluid into the at least one selected electric hydraulic cylinder; and    using the weight to force hydraulic fluid out of at least one selected electric hydraulic cylinder.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein: 
 the hydraulic fluid forced out of the at least one selected electric hydraulic cylinder is collected in a pressurized accumulator    and further comprising    flowing the hydraulic fluid collected in the pressurized accumulator to a hydraulic motor.    
   
   
       10 . A power generation system comprising: 
 a hydraulic fluid accumulator; and    a two level road plate comprising: 
 at least one electric hydraulic cylinder having a lower weight-handling capacity and being coupled to the accumulator and at least one electric hydraulic cylinder having a higher weight-handling capacity and being coupled to the accumulator;  
   wherein the road plate is operable to transfer a vehicle weight to the at least one lower weight-handling capacity electric hydraulic cylinder in response to a loading of the vehicle weight onto the road plate and further wherein the road plate is further operable to transfer the vehicle weight to the at least one higher electric weight-handling capacity hydraulic cylinder in response to the vehicle weight exceeding the lower weight-handling capacity.    
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein: 
 the at least one electric hydraulic cylinder having a lower weight-handling capacity is positioned over the at least one electric hydraulic cylinder having a higher weight-handling capacity.    
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein: 
 the vehicle weight is transferred through the at least one electric hydraulic cylinder having a lower weight-handling capacity to the at least one electric hydraulic cylinder having a higher weight-handling capacity.    
   
   
       13 . A method for power generation comprising the acts of: 
 providing a hydraulic fluid accumulator;    providing a two level road plate comprising: 
 at least one electric hydraulic cylinder having a lower weight-handling capacity and being coupled to the accumulator and at least one electric hydraulic cylinder having a higher weight-handling capacity and being coupled to the accumulator;  
   wherein the road plate is operable to transfer a vehicle weight to the at least one lower weight-handling capacity electric hydraulic cylinder in response to a loading of the vehicle weight onto the road plate and further wherein the road plate is further operable to transfer the vehicle weight to the at least one higher electric weight-handling capacity hydraulic cylinder in response to the vehicle weight exceeding the lower weight-handling capacity; and    using a vehicle weight to compress the cylinders.