OSCILLA POWER INC. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160023721 | METHOD FOR DEPLOYING AND RECOVERING A WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER - A system for transporting a buoy and a heave plate. The system includes a buoy and a heave plate. An outer surface of the buoy has a first geometrical shape. A surface of the heave plate has a geometrical shape complementary to the first geometrical shape of the buoy. The complementary shapes of the buoy and the heave plate facilitate coupling of the heave plate to the outer surface of the buoy in a transport mode. | 01-28-2016 |
20160003214 | OPTIMIZED HEAVE PLATE FOR WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER - A device for converting wave energy includes a surface float, a heave plate, at least one load carrying structure that is mechanically coupled to at least one component of at least one generator on the surface float and the heave plate. The heave plate has an asymmetric geometry to facilitate a first level of resistance to movement in an upward direction and a second level of resistance in a downward direction. The first level of resistance is higher than the second level of resistance. The at least one load carrying structure includes a flexible tether. The at least one component is configured to experience force changes caused by hydrodynamic forces acting on the surface float and heave plate. | 01-07-2016 |
20150162524 | SECONDARY FLUX PATH FOR MAGNETOSTRICTIVE CIRCUITS - An energy harvester generates electrical energy from mechanical energy using changing flux properties in primary and secondary flux paths. An apparatus includes at least two primary flux paths. The primary flux paths include at least one bias flux path configured to exhibit a change in a flux property in response to a change in an external load applied to the bias flux path. The secondary flux path is magnetically coupled to the primary flux paths. The secondary flux path is configured to experience alternating flux directions in response to the change in the flux property of the bias flux path. Electrical energy can be induced in a conductor as a result of the alternating flux direction in the secondary flux path. | 06-11-2015 |
20150123405 | POWER PRODUCTION IN A COMPLETED WELL USING MAGNETOSTRICTIVE MATERIALS - A device for generating electrical energy from mechanical motion includes a magnetostrictive generator configured to be mechanically coupled to a power conveyance path in a well bore. The power conveyance path is configured to experience an axial force change, and the magnetostrictive generator includes at least one magnetostrictive element that experiences a corresponding force change that results in a change in magnetic permeability in the at least one magnetostrictive element resulting, and is configured to experience a change in magnetic flux in a least one component that is electromagnetically coupled to at least one conductive coil, and the conductive coil is configured to generate electricity due to these magnetic flux changes. | 05-07-2015 |
20150076827 | ENERGY HARVESTING SYSTEMS FOR POWER TAKE-OFF (PTO) MODULES - Systems include buoys, tethers, and power take-off (PTO) modules to generate electrical energy from the mechanical energy of ocean waves. | 03-19-2015 |
20140284937 | VIBRATION ENERGY HARVESTER - The system is a drilling bearing device. The device includes an outer body structure, and inner body structure, and a loading structure. The inner body structure is disposed at least partially within the outer body structure. The inner body structure moves relative to the outer body structure. The loading structure is disposed between the outer body structure and the inner body structure. The loading structure facilitates adjustment of a position of the inner body structure relative to the outer body structure relative to the outer body structure resulting from mechanical wear in the device. The loading structure substantially prevents displacement of the inner body structure relative to the outer body structure in response to a reciprocating displacement to maintain a substantially constant relative location. | 09-25-2014 |
20140239745 | ROTARY TO LINEAR CONVERTER FOR DOWNHOLE APPLICATIONS - A device generates electrical energy from mechanical motion in a downhole environment. The device converts rotary motion into a linear strain in a magnetostrictive material. The device includes a rotor, a magnetostrictive element, and an electrically conductive coil. The rotor rotates within a stator of a drill string. The magnetostrictive element is attached to the rotor by a first ball joint. The magnetostrictive element is configured to experience axial strain in response to rotational movement of the rotor. The magnetostrictive element includes a second ball joint on an end of the magnetostrictive element opposite the first ball joint. The electrically conductive coil is disposed in proximity to the magnetostrictive element. The electrically conductive coil is configured to generate an electrical current in response to a change in flux density of the magnetostrictive element. | 08-28-2014 |
20140167422 | DOWNHOLE ENERGY HARVESTING METHOD AND DEVICE - A device generates electrical energy from mechanical motion in a downhole environment. The device includes a magnetostrictive element and an electrically conductive coil. The magnetostrictive element has a first end and a second end. The first and second ends are coupled between a rotor and a bearing. The magnetostrictive element is configured to experience axial strain in response to radial movement of at least one of the rotor or the bearing with reference to the other. The electrically conductive coil is disposed in proximity to the magnetostrictive element. The coil is configured to generate an electrical current in response to a change in flux density of the magnetostrictive element. | 06-19-2014 |
20130214619 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MECHANICAL ENERGY HARVESTING - An apparatus for harvesting electrical power from mechanical energy is described. The apparatus includes at least one magnetostrictive element, at least one electrically conductive coil or circuit, and a magnetic circuit coupled to the electrically conductive coil or circuit to increase or maximize power production. The magnetostrictive element is configured to experience a forced stress and strain in response to external mechanical excitations. The electrically conductive coil or circuit is configured to produce electrical energy through electromagnetic induction. | 08-22-2013 |
20130175888 | APPARATUS FOR HARVESTING ELECTRICAL POWER FROM MECHANICAL ENERGY - An apparatus for harvesting electrical power from mechanical energy is described. The apparatus includes: a flux path. The flux path includes: a magnetic material having a magnetic property that is a function of stress on the magnetic material; a first magnetically conductive material proximate the magnetic material; a magnet in the flux path, wherein a magnetomotive force of the magnet causes magnetic flux; and a component configured to transfer changes in load caused by an external source to the magnetic material. | 07-11-2013 |
20130119669 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR HARVESTING ENERGY FROM FLUID FLOW - Embodiments described herein relate to a method and device for harvesting energy from a fluid flow by converting the kinetic energy of the flow into vibrational energy, which then may be converted to electrical energy by a magnetostrictive-based vibrational energy harvester. Some embodiments of this device rely on the principle of vortex-induced vibrations, where the frequency of the induced vibration is of the same order as the frequency of vortex shedding (the Strouhal number). Some embodiments of this device rely on the principle of turbulence-induced vibration, where the frequency of vibration can be significantly higher than the vortex shedding frequency, and is related to the turbulence frequency of the flow. Some embodiments also relate to converting energy from pressure pulses or differentials in the fluid. These embodiments in no way limit the vibration induction mechanism, and other principles of flow-induced vibration may be used in conjunction with the magnetostrictive-based vibrational energy harvester. | 05-16-2013 |
20130033130 | ENERGY HARVESTING METHODS AND DEVICES, AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF - An apparatus harvests electrical power from mechanical energy. The apparatus includes first and second load-bearing structures, a plurality of magnetostrictive elements, and an electrical circuit or coil. The load-bearing structures experience a force from an external source. The magnetostrictive elements are arranged between the load-bearing structures. The load-bearing structures transfer at least a portion of the force to at least one of the magnetostrictive elements. In this way, at least one of the magnetostrictive elements experiences the force transferred from the load-bearing structures. The force on the magnetostrictive element causes a change in magnetic flux of the magnetostrictive element. The electrical circuit or coil is disposed within a vicinity of the magnetostrictive element which experiences the force. The electrical circuit or coil generates electric power in response to the change in the magnetic flux of the magnetostrictive element. | 02-07-2013 |
20130002056 | MECHANICAL ENERGY HARVESTER - Embodiments of an apparatus for harvesting electrical power from fluid motion are described. The apparatus includes a magnetostrictive component having an internal pre-stressed magnetostrictive core. A magnetic property of the magnetostrictive core is configured to change with changes in stress within the magnetostrictive core along at least one direction within the magnetostrictive component. Also, forces at least partially due to fluid motion results in changes of stress within the magnetostrictive core and consequently change the magnetic property. The magnetostrictive component is further configured such that the change in the magnetic property will result in a change in the magnetic flux, which can be used to generate electrical power. | 01-03-2013 |
20120326536 | VIBRATION ENERGY HARVESTING APPARATUS - An apparatus for harvesting energy is described. The apparatus includes a vibration component and a moving mass. The vibration component has a first and second end and further includes a magnetostrictive material. The vibration component further includes a conduction coil wrapped around the magnetostrictive material. The moving mass is coupled to the second end of the vibration assembly. The mass is configured to move in an oscillating path in response to forces acting on the vibration energy harvesting apparatus, inducing strain on the magnetostrictive material. The strain on the magnetostrictive material changes a magnetic property of the magnetostrictive material, inducing electrical energy in the conduction coil wrapped around the magnetostrictive material. Other embodiments of the apparatus are also described. | 12-27-2012 |
20120306211 | ELECTRICAL GENERATOR THAT UTILIZES ROTATIONAL TO LINEAR MOTION CONVERSION - A method and device for energy conversion from a moving fluid to electrical energy. The device includes at least one magnetic structure, at least one coil structure, a rotating component, and a rotary to linear motion conversion mechanism. The at least one coil structure includes electrically conductive material. The rotating component rotates relative to a corresponding axis of rotation in response to forces applied by the moving fluid on a structure coupled to the rotating component. The rotary to linear motion conversion mechanism is coupled to the rotating component. Rotation of the rotating component around the corresponding axis of rotation generates a relative linear displacement between the at least one magnetic structure and at least one coil in the at least one coil structure. The relative linear displacement between the at least one magnetic structure and the at least one coil generates electrical energy in the at least one coil structure. | 12-06-2012 |
20120119494 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR HARVESTING ENERGY FROM OCEAN WAVES - A method and device for generating electric power from ocean waves is described. The device includes at least one magnetostrictive element and at least one buoy. When the buoy is deployed in a body of liquid subject to wave motion, the buoy remains partially submerged during normal wave motion. The buoy is coupled to the magnetostrictive element to continuously exert a varying force on the magnetostrictive element during the normal wave motion. | 05-17-2012 |
20120056432 | WAVE ENERGY HARVESTER WITH IMPROVED PERFORMANCE - An apparatus for harvesting electrical power from hydrodynamic energy, the apparatus including a buoy or other water flotation device connected to an anchor by a tether and a magnetostrictive component having an internal pre-stressed magnetostrictive core that experiences at least a part of load changes experienced by the tether. The magnetic property of the magnetostrictive core is configured to change with changes in stress within the magnetostrictive core along at least one direction within the magnetostrictive component. The hydrodynamic energy acting on the buoy or other water flotation device results in changes in force within the tether, which in turn changes the stress within the magnetostrictive core and consequently changes a magnetic property. The magnetostrictive component is also configured such that the change in the magnetic property will result in a change in magnetic flux, which change can be used to generate electrical power. | 03-08-2012 |
20110316362 | APPARATUS FOR HARVESTING ELECTRICAL POWER FROM MECHANICAL ENERGY - An apparatus for harvesting electrical power from mechanical energy is described. The apparatus includes: a flux path. The flux path includes: a magnetic material having a magnetic property that is a function of stress on the magnetic material; a first magnetically conductive material proximate the magnetic material; a magnet in the flux path, wherein a magnetomotive force of the magnet causes magnetic flux; and a component configured to transfer changes in load caused by an external source to the magnetic material. | 12-29-2011 |
20110121577 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ENERGY GENERATION - A method and device for using radial relative displacement between a magnet and coil to generate electricity from fluid motion. The device includes a support structural component, a moveable magnetic structure, a rotating structural component, and bearings. The moveable magnetic structure is coupled to the support structural component. The rotating structural component rotates relative to the support structural component. The bearings are coupled to or disposed with the rotating structural component. The rotation of the rotating structural component results in forces applied by the bearings on the moveable magnetic structure and movement of the moveable magnetic structure. | 05-26-2011 |
20110089697 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR HARVESTING ENERGY FROM OCEAN WAVES - A method and device for generating electricity from ocean waves. The device includes at least one magnetostrictive element and one or more electrically conductive coils or circuits. When the magnetostrictive element is deployed in a body of water, the motion of the body of water, including wave motion, causes changes in the strain of the magnetostrictive element. The electrically conductive coil or circuit is within the vicinity of the magnetostrictive element. A corresponding change in magnetic field around the magnetostrictive element generates an electric voltage and/or electric current in the electrically conductive coil or circuit. | 04-21-2011 |
20110068584 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ENERGY GENERATION - A method and device for using magnetostriction to generate electricity from fluid motion. The device includes a first structural component, an outer housing, and a strain structure. The outer housing substantially circumscribes the first structural component and at least partially defines an annular space between the first structural component and the outer housing. The strain structure is coupled within the annular space between the first structural component and the outer housing. The strain structure experiences a change in physical strain imposed by a bearing in response to a relative movement between the bearing and the strain structure. The strain structure includes a magnetostrictive material to generate a magnetic field in response to the change in the physical strain. | 03-24-2011 |
20100308670 | ELECTRICAL GENERATOR THAT UTILIZES ROTATIONAL TO LINEAR MOTION CONVERSION - A method and device for energy conversion from a moving fluid to electrical energy. The device includes at least one magnetic structure, at least one coil structure, a rotating component, and a rotary to linear motion conversion mechanism. The at least one coil structure includes electrically conductive material. The rotating component rotates relative to a corresponding axis of rotation in response to forces applied by the moving fluid on a structure coupled to the rotating component. The rotary to linear motion conversion mechanism is coupled to the rotating component. Rotation of the rotating component around the corresponding axis of rotation generates a relative linear displacement between the at least one magnetic structure and at least one coil in the at least one coil structure. The relative linear displacement between the at least one magnetic structure and the at least one coil generates electrical energy in the at least one coil structure. | 12-09-2010 |