Electricity generating shock absorbers

Abstract

An electricity generating shock absorber includes a coil assembly having a length of electrically conducting material wrapped around an outside perimeter, and along a length, of a hollow tube formed of electrically resistant material; a magnet unit formed of at least one annular axial magnet; a central shaft having a magnetic reluctance on which a plurality of the magnet units are mounted, the central shaft dimensioned for insertion through a central opening of the at least one annular axial magnet, the central shaft combined with the plurality of magnet units forming a magnet assembly dimensioned to slideably insert into a central cavity of the hollow tube; and a cylindrical shell having a first end attached to a terminal end of the magnet assembly, the cylindrical shell extending a length of the magnet assembly, the cylindrical shell having an inner diameter sized to slideably accommodate an outside diameter of the coil assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electricity generating shock absorber comprising:
 a coil assembly having a length of electrically conducting material wrapped around an outside perimeter, and along a length, of a hollow tube formed of electrically resistant material;   a magnet unit formed of at least one annular axial magnet;   a central shaft having a magnetic reluctance on which a plurality of the magnet units are mounted, the central shaft dimensioned for insertion through a central opening of the at least one annular axial magnet, the central shaft combined with the plurality of magnet units forming a magnet assembly dimensioned to slideably insert into a central cavity of the hollow tube; and   a cylindrical shell having a first end attached to a terminal end of the magnet assembly, the cylindrical shell extending a length of the magnet assembly, the cylindrical shell having an inner diameter sized to slideably accommodate an outside diameter of the coil assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The electricity generating shock absorber of  claim 1 , wherein adjacent magnet units disposed on the central shaft are oriented with like poles facing each other, adjacent magnet units being separated by an annular spacer formed of a material having a high magnetic permeability. 
     
     
         3 . The electricity generating shock absorber of  claim 1 , wherein the magnet unit consists of an annular radial magnet and the at least one annular axial magnet. 
     
     
         4 . The electricity generating shock absorber of  claim 3 , wherein adjacent magnet units disposed on the central shaft are disposed with a reflected orientation with respect to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The electricity generating shock absorber of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is at least partially composed of aluminum, the coil is wound around the hollow tube less than 301 times and at least partially composed of copper and the tube is at least partially composed of polyoxymethylene. 
     
     
         6 . The electricity generating shock absorber of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conducting material of the coil assembly is operably connected to a rectifier. 
     
     
         7 . The electricity generating shock absorber of  claim 6 , wherein the rectifier is operably connected to an energy storage device. 
     
     
         8 . The electricity generating shock absorber of  claim 1 , wherein the cylinder is at least partially composed of a magnetically-permeable material. 
     
     
         9 . The electricity generating shock absorber of  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the cylinder is at least partially composed of magnetically-permeable material and an inner surface of the cylinder having a second plurality of annular magnet units aligned with like-poles. 
     
     
         10 . The electricity generating shock absorber of  claim 1 , wherein the terminal end of the magnet assembly is securely attached to a first mounting ring connectable to a vehicle axle. 
     
     
         11 . The electricity generating shock absorber of  claim 10 , wherein the hollow tube includes a second mounting ring securely attached to a terminal end of the hollow tube opposite the magnet assembly insertion end, the second mounting ring being connectable to a vehicle frame. 
     
     
         12 . The electricity generating shock absorber of  claim 1 , wherein electromotive voltage is generated as the magnet assembly is moved in relation to the coil assembly during a compression and extension cycles, the electromotive voltage serving as a damping force to reduce vibration. 
     
     
         13 . A method of manufacturing an electricity generating shock absorber, the method comprising:
 winding a coil at least once around a hollow tube having an electrical resistance;   stacking a first pair of permanent magnets on a shaft having a magnetic reluctance;   adapting the stacked shaft to be moveable in relation to a hollow cavity of the hollow tube;   attaching the shaft to a first base;   separating the first pair of magnets between each other on the shaft by a first magnetically-permeable spacer;   aligning the first pair of magnets with like-poles facing each other; and   encapsulating at least a part of the wound coil via a concentric outer cylinder attached at one end to the first base.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the shaft is at least partially composed of aluminum, the coil is wound around the hollow tube less than 301 times, the coil is at least partially composed of copper and the tube is at least partially composed of polyoxymethylene. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising connecting the coil to a rectifier, wherein the first pair of magnets comprises a radial magnet and an axial magnet and the cylinder is at least partially composed of a magnetically-permeable material and the first pair of magnets and the first spacer are ring-shaped. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein an outer surface of the cylinder is at least partially composed of magnetically-permeable material, an inner surface of the cylinder comprises a second pair of ring-shaped permanent magnets aligned with like-poles facing each other to redirect a magnetic flux in a clockwise and a counter-clockwise directions, the second pair of magnets separated between each other by a second ring-shaped magnetically-permeably spacer, the second pair further comprising a radial magnet and an axial magnet and the wound coil movable in relation to and between the first and the second pairs of magnets. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising attaching the first base to a first mounting ring connectable to a vehicle axle, wherein the tube includes a second base at one end of the tube and a second mounting ring securely attached to the second base, the second mounting ring connectable to a vehicle frame. 
     
     
         18 . A method for generating electricity from mechanical vibrations, the method comprising:
 providing an electricity generating shock absorber having a magnet assembly including a first pair of magnets stacked horizontally along a shaft constructed of magnetic reluctant material and a coil assembly including a coil wound around a hollow tube having an electrical resistance, the first pair of magnets aligned with like-poles facing each other, the first pair of magnets, an insertion end of the magnet assembly being slidably inserted into an open end of the hollow tube of the coil assembly, a concentric outer cylinder encapsulating at least a part of the coil assembly, the cylinder attached at a base end of the magnet assembly opposite the insertion end;   coupling a closed end of the hollow tube to a first mass;   coupling the base end of the magnet assembly to a second mass, the electricity generating shock absorber providing vibration dampening between the first mass and the second mass;   inducing relative motion between the magnet assembly and the coil assembly to generate electromotive voltage in the coil; and   capturing the electromotive voltage.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the shaft is at least partially composed of aluminum, the coil is wound around the hollow tube less than 301 times, the coil is at least partially composed of copper and the tube is at least partially composed of polyoxymethylene. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the coil is operably connected to a rectifier, the first pair of magnets comprises a radial magnet and an axial magnet and the cylinder is at least partially composed of magnetically-permeable material and the first pair of magnets and the first spacer are annular. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein an outer surface of the cylinder is at least partially composed of magnetically-permeable material, an inner surface of the cylinder comprises a second pair of ring-shaped permanent magnets aligned with like-poles facing each other to redirect a magnetic flux in a clockwise and a counter-clockwise directions, the second pair of magnets separated between each other by a second ring-shaped magnetically-permeably spacer, the second pair of magnets further comprising a radial magnet and an axial magnet and the wound coil movable in relation to and between the first and the second pairs of magnets. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the base end is securely attached to a first mounting ring connectable to a vehicle axle, and the closed end of the hollow tube is securely attached to a second mounting ring connectable to a vehicle frame, electromotive voltage, serving as a damping force to reduce a vehicle vibration, is generated during compression and extension cycles of the electricity generating shock absorber.