Transient absorber for power generation system

Abstract

A vehicle energy harvester including a subunit having an upper surface forming a roadway surface; a vehicle activated treadle on the subunit, the vehicle activated treadle moveable between a first position in which an upper surface of the treadle is at an angle with respect to the upper surface of the roadway surface and a second position in which the upper surface of the treadle is flush with the upper surface of the roadway surface; a generator that generates power in response to movement of the vehicle activated treadle; and a transient absorption device coupled between the vehicle activated treadle and the generator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle energy harvester comprising:
 a subunit having an upper surface forming a roadway surface;   a vehicle activated treadle on the subunit, the vehicle activated treadle moveable between a first position in which an upper surface of the treadle is at an angle with respect to the upper surface of the roadway surface and a second position in which the upper surface of the treadle is flush with the upper surface of the roadway surface;   a generator that generates power in response to movement of the vehicle activated treadle; and   a transient absorption device coupled between the vehicle activated treadle and the generator.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle energy harvester of  claim 1 , wherein the transient absorption device is a torsion spring. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle energy harvester of  claim 1 , wherein the transient absorption device is a flexible link. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle energy harvester of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a treadle gear coupled to the vehicle activated treadle; and   a drive gear mounted on a rotatable shaft, the drive gear engaging and being driven by movement of the treadle gear;   wherein the rotatable shaft is coupled to the generator.   
     
     
         5 . The vehicle energy harvester of  claim 4 , wherein the transient absorption device is a torsion spring coupled between the rotatable shaft and the generator. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle energy harvester of  claim 5 , comprising:
 a flywheel coupled between the torsion spring and the generator.   
     
     
         7 . The vehicle energy harvester of  claim 4 , comprising:
 a flywheel coupled between the transient absorption device and the generator.   
     
     
         8 . The vehicle energy harvester of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a drive gear mounted on a rotatable shaft,   wherein the rotatable shaft is coupled to the generator,   wherein the drive gear is driven by movement of the vehicle activated treadle, and   wherein the transient absorption device couples the vehicle activated treadle to the drive gear.   
     
     
         9 . The vehicle energy harvester of  claim 8 , wherein the transient absorption device is a flexible link coupled between the vehicle activated treadle and the drive gear. 
     
     
         10 . A vehicle energy harvester comprising:
 a plurality of subunits each having an upper surface forming a roadway surface;   a vehicle activated treadle on at least one of the plurality of subunits, the vehicle activated treadle moveable between a first position in which an upper surface of the treadle is at an angle with respect to the upper surface of the roadway surface and a second position in which the upper surface of the treadle is flush with the upper surface of the roadway surface;   a generator that generates power in response to movement of the vehicle activated treadle; and   a transient absorption device coupled between the vehicle activated treadle and the generator.   
     
     
         11 . The vehicle energy harvester of  claim 10 , wherein the transient absorption device is a torsion spring. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle energy harvester of  claim 10 , wherein the transient absorption device is a flexible link. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle energy harvester of  claim 10 , comprising:
 a treadle gear coupled to the vehicle activated treadle; and   a drive gear mounted on a rotatable shaft, the drive gear engaging and being driven by movement of the treadle gear;   wherein the rotatable shaft is coupled to the generator.   
     
     
         14 . The vehicle energy harvester of  claim 13 , wherein the transient absorption device is a torsion spring coupled between the rotatable shaft and the generator. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle energy harvester of  claim 14 , comprising:
 a flywheel coupled between the torsion spring and the generator.   
     
     
         16 . The vehicle energy harvester of  claim 13 , comprising:
 a flywheel coupled between the transient absorption device and the generator.   
     
     
         17 . The vehicle energy harvester of  claim 10 , comprising:
 a drive gear mounted on a rotatable shaft,   wherein the rotatable shaft is coupled to the generator,   wherein the drive gear is driven by movement of the vehicle activated treadle, and   wherein the transient absorption device couples the vehicle activated treadle to the drive gear.   
     
     
         18 . The vehicle energy harvester of  claim 17 , wherein the transient absorption device is a flexible link coupled between the vehicle activated treadle and the drive gear. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle energy harvester of  claim 10 , comprising:
 an entry ramp at a first end of the harvester roadway surface; and   an exit ramp at a second end of the harvester roadway surface,   wherein the plurality of subunits form a low-profile surface mounted assembly configured to be surface mounted on a vehicle roadway.   
     
     
         20 . A vehicle energy harvester comprising:
 a subunit having an upper surface forming a roadway surface;   a vehicle activated treadle on the subunit, the vehicle activated treadle moveable between a first position in which an upper surface of the treadle is at an angle with respect to the upper surface of the roadway surface and a second position in which the upper surface of the treadle is flush with the upper surface of the roadway surface;   a generator that generates power in response to movement of the vehicle activated treadle; and   transient absorption means for absorbing an impact of a travelling vehicle on the vehicle activated treadle, the transient absorption means coupled between the vehicle activated treadle and the generator.