Systems and methods for electric vehicle energy recovery

Abstract

A shock absorber including a shock absorber body substantially filled with a hydraulic fluid. The shock absorber includes a piston disposed within the shock absorber body that includes a piston head movable within the shock absorber to apply a pressure change in the hydraulic fluid. The shock absorber includes a piezoelectric material disposed within the shock absorber and in fluid communication with the hydraulic fluid. The piezoelectric material is configured to generate an electrical charge in response to the pressure change in the hydraulic fluid. The piezoelectric material is electrically connected to at least one battery configured to receive the electrical charge generated by the piezoelectric material.

The following replaces all prior versions of the claims: 
     
         1 . A shock absorber comprising:
 a shock absorber body substantially filled with a hydraulic fluid, the shock absorber body including a plurality of chambers;   a piston disposed within the shock absorber body, the piston including a piston head that is movable within the shock absorber so as to apply a pressure change in the hydraulic fluid;   at least one valve disposed so as to provide selective fluid communication between at least two of the plurality of chambers, the at least one valve configured to deform in response to the pressure change in the hydraulic fluid; and   a piezoelectric material included in the at least one valve, the piezoelectric material being configured to generate an electrical charge in response to the pressure change in the hydraulic fluid,   wherein the piezoelectric material is electrically connected to at least one battery configured to receive the electrical charge generated by the piezoelectric material.   
     
     
         2 . The shock absorber of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one valve is disposed within the shock absorber body. 
     
     
         3 . The shock absorber of  claim 1 , wherein the shock absorber body includes a main chamber, and wherein the at least one valve is disposed in the piston so as to provide selective fluid communication between portions of the main chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The shock absorber of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one valve includes a valve ring configured to deform in response to the pressure change in the hydraulic fluid, and wherein the valve ring includes the piezoelectric material. 
     
     
         5 . The shock absorber of  claim 4 , wherein the piezoelectric material is applied to the valve ring in nanolayers using at least one of Molecular Beam Epitaxi, reactive sputtering, Atomic Layer Deposition, or Chemical Vapor Deposition. 
     
     
         6 . The shock absorber of  claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic fluid is electrically conductive, and wherein the electrical charge generated by the piezoelectric material flows to the at least one battery via at least one of the hydraulic fluid or an electrically conductive wire. 
     
     
         7 . The shock absorber of  claim 1  wherein the at least one valve is disposed in the piston head and configured to provide fluid communication between a lower chamber and an upper chamber of the shock absorber body. 
     
     
         8 . An energy recovery system for a vehicle, the energy recovery system including:
 at least one battery disposed in the vehicle;   one or more shock absorbers disposed in the vehicle, the one or more shock absorbers including:   a plurality of chambers,   hydraulic fluid disposed within the plurality of chambers and configured to undergo pressure changes, and   at least one valve disposed so as to provide selective fluid communication between at least two of the plurality of chambers, the at least one valve configured to deform in response to the pressure changes in the hydraulic fluid;   a piezoelectric material included in the at least one valve, the piezoelectric material configured to generate an electrical charge in response to the pressure changes in the hydraulic fluid; and   an electrical connection between the at least one battery and the piezoelectric material, the electrical connection configured to carry the electrical charge generated by the piezoelectric material to the at least one battery.   
     
     
         9 . The energy recovery system of  claim 8 , wherein each of the one or more shock absorbers further comprise a shock absorber body and a piston, and wherein the at least one valve is disposed within the shock absorber body. 
     
     
         10 . The energy recovery system of  claim 8 , wherein each of the one or more shock absorbers further comprise:
 a main chamber; and   a piston head movably disposed in the main chamber to apply the pressure changes to the hydraulic fluid, wherein the at least one valve is disposed on the piston head so as to provide selective fluid communication between portions of the main chamber.   
     
     
         11 . The energy recovery system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one valve includes a valve ring configured to deform in response to the pressure changes in the hydraulic fluid, and wherein the valve ring includes the piezoelectric material. 
     
     
         12 . The energy recovery system of  claim 11 , wherein the piezoelectric material is applied to the valve ring in nanolayers. 
     
     
         13 . The energy recovery system of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the hydraulic fluid is electrically conductive and wherein the electrical charge generated by the piezoelectric material flows to the at least one battery via at least one of the hydraulic fluid or an electrically conductive wire.   
     
     
         14 . The energy recovery system of  claim 8 , wherein each of the one or more shock absorbers further comprise a piston head disposed within a main chamber of the plurality of chambers, and wherein the at least one valve is disposed within the piston head and configured to provide fluid communication between a lower chamber and an upper chamber of the main chamber. 
     
     
         15 . A vehicle comprising:
 a vehicle body;   at least one battery disposed on the vehicle body;   one or more wheel assemblies each including a wheel configured to contact a driving surface;   one or more shock absorbers each including a first end connected to the vehicle body and a second end connected to one of the one or more wheel assemblies and configured to absorb variations in the driving surface, each of the one or more shock absorbers including:
 a plurality of chambers including hydraulic fluid configured to undergo pressure changes in response to the variations in the driving surface, 
 at least one valve disposed so as to provide selective fluid communication between at least two of the plurality of chambers, the at least one valve configured to deform in response to the pressure change in the hydraulic fluid, and 
 a piezoelectric material included in the at least one valve, the piezoelectric material configured to generate an electrical charge in response to the pressure changes in the hydraulic fluid; and 
   an electrical connection between the at least one battery and the piezoelectric material, the electrical connection configured to carry the electrical charge generated by the piezoelectric material to the at least one battery.   
     
     
         16 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more shock absorbers each further comprise a shock absorber body and a piston, and wherein the at least one valve is disposed within the shock absorber body. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more shock absorbers each further comprise:
 a main chamber;   a piston head movably disposed in the main chamber to apply the pressure changes to the hydraulic fluid, wherein the at least one valve is disposed within the piston head to selective fluid communication between portions of the main chamber.   
     
     
         18 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one valve includes at least one valve ring configured to deform in response to the pressure changes in the hydraulic fluid, and wherein the valve ring includes the piezoelectric material. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle of  claim 18 , wherein the piezoelectric material is applied to the valve ring in nanolayers using at least one of Molecular Beam Epitaxi, reactive sputtering, Atomic Layer Deposition, or Chemical Vapor Deposition. 
     
     
         20 . The vehicle of  claim 15  further comprising at least one interdigital transducer applied to the piezoelectric material.