A method of detecting defects in a mechanical system, the method comprising the steps of: a. providing a mechanical system; b. subjecting the mechanical system to random, optionally broadband, vibration by a vibration device to cause the mechanical system to vibrate and output an output vibration spectrum; c. detecting the output vibration spectrum using a vibration detection device; d. using a processing system to carry out the substeps of: i. selecting a plurality of frequencies within the output vibration spectrum; ii. analysing the plurality of frequencies to extract phase information for the plurality of frequencies; iii. generating a continuous phase waveform representing modulation in phase over time for one or more frequencies of the plurality of frequencies; and iv. detecting peaks in the spectrum of the continuous phase waveform at multiples of the input vibration frequency to produce output data representing defects in the mechanical system.
An electromechanical generator for converting mechanical vibrational energy into electrical energy, the electromechanical generator comprising: a central mast, an electrically conductive coil assembly fixedly mounted to the mast, the coil assembly at least partly surrounding the mast, the coil assembly having radially inner and outer sides and first and second opposite edges, a mount for the coil assembly extending radially inwardly of the radially inner side and fixing the coil assembly to the mast, a magnetic core assembly movably mounted to the mast for linear vibrational motion along an axis about an equilibrium position on the axis, the magnetic core assembly at least partly surrounding the coil assembly and the mast, wherein the magnetic core assembly comprises: an outer core, comprising a one-piece tubular body, which encloses the electrically conductive coil assembly on the radially outer side, first and second end cores magnetically coupled to the outer core at respective first and second ends of the outer core, the first and second end cores extending radially inwardly and enclosing the respective first and second opposite edges of the coil assembly, wherein either (i) both of the first and second end cores are fitted to and contact the outer core at the respective first and second ends of the outer core, or (ii) one of the first and second end cores is fitted to and contacts the outer core at the respective first or second end of the outer core and the other of the first and second end cores is integral with the outer core at the respective first or second end of the outer core, and first and second magnets spaced along the axis, wherein the first and second magnets contact and are magnetically coupled to the respective first and second end cores, and the first and second magnets define therebetween a gap in the magnetic core assembly through which the mount extends.
H02K 35/02 - Génératrices avec système de bobines, aimant, induit, ou autre partie du circuit magnétique à mouvement alternatif, oscillant ou vibrant avec des aimants mobiles et des systèmes de bobines fixes
H02K 1/34 - Parties du circuit magnétique à mouvement alternatif, oscillant ou vibrant
3.
AN ELECTROMECHANICAL GENERATOR FOR CONVERTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
An electromechanical generator for converting mechanical vibrational energy into electrical energy, the electromechanical generator comprising: a central mast, an electrically conductive coil assembly fixedly mounted to the mast, the coil assembly at least partly surrounding the mast, a mount for the coil assembly extending radially inwardly of the coil assembly and fixing the coil assembly to the mast, a magnetic core assembly movably mounted to the mast for linear vibrational motion along an axis about an equilibrium position on the axis, the magnetic core assembly at least partly surrounding the coil assembly and the mast, a biasing device mounted between the mast and the magnetic core assembly to bias the magnetic core assembly in opposed directions along the axis towards the equilibrium position, the biasing device comprising a pair of first and second plate springs, each of the first and second plate springs having an inner edge respectively fitted to first and second opposite ends of the mast and an outer edge fitted to the magnetic core assembly, the outer edge of the first plate spring being fitted to a first end part of the magnetic core assembly and the outer edge of the second plate spring being fitted to a second end part of the magnetic core assembly, wherein each of the first and second plate springs comprises a spring member comprising an inner portion, which is substantially orthogonal to the axis and includes the respective inner edge, and a cylindrical outer portion which is substantially parallel to the axis and includes the respective outer edge, the spring member being a folded sheet spring and the inner and outer portions are connected by a fold.
H02K 35/02 - Génératrices avec système de bobines, aimant, induit, ou autre partie du circuit magnétique à mouvement alternatif, oscillant ou vibrant avec des aimants mobiles et des systèmes de bobines fixes
H02K 1/34 - Parties du circuit magnétique à mouvement alternatif, oscillant ou vibrant
4.
AN ELECTROMECHANICAL GENERATOR FOR CONVERTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
An electromechanical generator for converting mechanical vibrational energy into electrical energy, the electromechanical generator comprising: a central mast, an electrically conductive coil assembly fixedly mounted to the mast, the coil assembly at least partly surrounding the mast, a mount for the coil assembly extending radially inwardly of the coil assembly and fixing the coil assembly to the mast, a magnetic core assembly movably mounted to the mast for linear vibrational motion along an axis about an equilibrium position on the axis, the magnetic core assembly at least partly surrounding the coil assembly and the mast, a biasing device mounted between the mast and the magnetic core assembly to bias the magnetic core assembly in opposed directions along the axis towards the equilibrium position, the biasing device comprising a pair of first and second plate springs, each of the first and second plate springs having an inner edge respectively fitted to first and second opposite ends of the mast and an outer edge fitted to the magnetic core assembly, the outer edge of the first plate spring being fitted to a first end part of the magnetic core assembly and the outer edge of the second plate spring being fitted to a second end part of the magnetic core assembly, and a resilient device mounted between the biasing device and the magnetic core assembly, the resilient device being configured to be deformed between the biasing device and the magnetic core assembly when the magnetic core assembly has moved, by the linear vibrational motion, away from the equilibrium position by a predetermined non-zero threshold amplitude, the resilient device comprising a pair of first and second flat spring elements, each of the first and second flat spring elements having an outer edge fitted to the magnetic core assembly and a free inner edge spaced radially outwardly from the mast and spaced axially inwardly of the respective first and second plate spring.
H02K 35/02 - Génératrices avec système de bobines, aimant, induit, ou autre partie du circuit magnétique à mouvement alternatif, oscillant ou vibrant avec des aimants mobiles et des systèmes de bobines fixes
H02K 1/34 - Parties du circuit magnétique à mouvement alternatif, oscillant ou vibrant
5.
AN ELECTROMECHANICAL GENERATOR FOR CONVERTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
An electromechanical generator for converting mechanical vibrational energy into electrical energy, the electromechanical generator comprising: a central mast, an electrically conductive coil assembly fixedly mounted to the mast, the coil assembly at least partly surrounding the mast, a mount for the coil assembly extending radially inwardly of the coil assembly and fixing the coil assembly to the mast, wherein the mount comprises a conical wall extending between the coil assembly and the mast, a magnetic core assembly movably mounted to the mast for linear vibrational motion along an axis about an equilibrium position on the axis, the magnetic core assembly at least partly surrounding the coil assembly and the mast, and a biasing device mounted between the mast and the magnetic core assembly to bias the magnetic core assembly in opposed directions along the axis towards the equilibrium position.
H02K 35/02 - Génératrices avec système de bobines, aimant, induit, ou autre partie du circuit magnétique à mouvement alternatif, oscillant ou vibrant avec des aimants mobiles et des systèmes de bobines fixes
H02K 1/34 - Parties du circuit magnétique à mouvement alternatif, oscillant ou vibrant
Apparatus for monitoring railway track, the apparatus comprising a wireless sensor node fitted to an axle assembly of a railway vehicle, the wireless sensor node comprising a vibration energy harvester for converting mechanical energy from vibration in the axle assembly into electrical energy, a sensor for measuring a parameter, and a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the measured parameter or data associated therewith, and the apparatus further comprising a processor for processing the measured parameter to produce processed data, wherein the sensor is mounted to the axle assembly and is arranged to measure vibration in the axle assembly over a period of time to produce a vibration-time signal which varies with a periodicity corresponding to a spacing of sleepers along the railway track, and the processor is arranged to process the vibration-time signal to determine a track stiffness parameter from the measured vibration, wherein the processor comprises a periodicity module which is arranged to process the vibration-time signal to determine the presence of periodic alternating first and second signal portions respectively corresponding to railway track over a sleeper and railway track between adjacent sleepers. Also disclosed is a method of monitoring railway track.
B61L 15/00 - Indicateurs de signalisation sur le véhicule ou sur le train
B61L 23/04 - Dispositifs de commande, d'avertissement ou autres dispositifs de sécurité le long de la voie ou entre les véhicules ou les trains pour contrôler l'état mécanique de la voie
Apparatus for monitoring an axle of a wheelset assembly of a railway vehicle, the apparatus comprising a wireless sensor node fitted to a wheelset assembly, the wheelset assembly comprising an axle mounted between opposed wheels, each wheel being fitted to a respective opposite end of the axle, the wireless sensor node comprising a vibration energy harvester for converting mechanical energy from vibration in the wheelset assembly into electrical energy, a sensor for measuring a parameter, and a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the measured parameter or data associated therewith, and the apparatus further comprising a processor for processing the measured parameter to produce processed data, wherein the sensor is an accelerometer mounted to an end of the axle and the sensor and processor are arranged respectively to measure and process an axle percussion vibration frequency in the form of resonant vibration along the axle.
A technique comprising: detecting at a first radio node a first signal indicating the number of hops at which a second radio node that transmitted the first signal first detected a second, earlier signal; and deciding whether to transmit said first signal onwards from said first radio node based at least partly on (i) a direction indicator in said first signal, (ii) a comparison of the respective numbers of hops at which said first and second radio nodes first detected said earlier second signal, and (iii) the result of a search at said first radio node for onwards transmission of said first signal by another radio node in the direction indicated by said hop-count number direction indicator.
H04W 40/22 - Sélection d'itinéraire ou de voie de communication, p. ex. routage basé sur l'énergie disponible ou le chemin le plus court utilisant la retransmission sélective en vue d'atteindre une station émettrice-réceptrice de base [BTS Base Transceiver Station] ou un point d'accès
H04W 40/24 - Gestion d'informations sur la connectabilité, p. ex. exploration de connectabilité ou mise à jour de connectabilité
H04W 84/18 - Réseaux auto-organisés, p. ex. réseaux ad hoc ou réseaux de détection
B61L 13/00 - Manœuvre des signaux à partir du véhicule ou par le passage du véhicule
B61L 15/00 - Indicateurs de signalisation sur le véhicule ou sur le train
The invention provides a bracket (2) for mounting external equipment to the underside of rolling stock, the bracket comprising first and second plates (10a, 10b), and at least one joining member (11a to 11f) disposed between the first and second plates; wherein the joining member(s) are joined to the first plate by a plurality of joints and joined to the second plate by a plurality of joints. The invention also provides a rolling stock assembly comprising a bracket, a method for mounting external equipment to an underside of rolling stock, and a method for manufacturing a bracket for mounting external equipment to the underside of rolling stock.
F16B 5/04 - Jonction de feuilles ou de plaques soit entre elles soit à des bandes ou barres parallèles à elles par rivetage
F16B 5/07 - Jonction de feuilles ou de plaques soit entre elles soit à des bandes ou barres parallèles à elles par emboîtement des protubérances multiples portées par deux surfaces, p. ex. crochets, spirales
10.
GENERATOR AND METHOD FOR CONVERTING VIBRATIONAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
Disclosed is an electromechanical generator for converting mechanical vibrational energy into electrical energy, the electromechanical generator comprising: a mass resiliently connected to a body by a biasing device and adapted to oscillate about an equilibrium point relative to the body with an oscillation amplitude, a transducer configured to convert oscillations of the mass about the equilibrium point relative to the body into electrical energy, and a resilient device disposed between the biasing device and one of the mass and the body, wherein the resilient device is configured to be deformed between the biasing device and the one of the mass and the body only when the oscillation amplitude exceeds a predetermined non-zero threshold amplitude. The resilient device may comprise one of a helical spring, an O-ring and a spring washer, such as a Belleville washer, a curved disc spring, a wave washer, and a split washer.
A vibration energy harvester for converting mechanical vibrational energy into electrical energy, the vibration energy harvester comprising a device for generating electrical energy when subjected to mechanical vibration, and a current control circuit electrically connected to the device for providing a substantially constant output current at an electrical output of the vibration energy harvester.
H02P 9/00 - Dispositions pour la commande de génératrices électriques de façon à obtenir les caractéristiques désirées à la sortie
H02P 25/02 - Dispositions ou procédés pour la commande de moteurs à courant alternatif caractérisés par le type de moteur ou par des détails de structure caractérisés par le type de moteur
G05F 1/46 - Régulation de la tension ou de l'intensité là où la variable effectivement régulée par le dispositif de réglage final est du type continu
G05F 1/56 - Régulation de la tension ou de l'intensité là où la variable effectivement régulée par le dispositif de réglage final est du type continu utilisant des dispositifs à semi-conducteurs en série avec la charge comme dispositifs de réglage final
H01L 41/04 - DISPOSITIFS À SEMI-CONDUCTEURS; DISPOSITIFS ÉLECTRIQUES À L'ÉTAT SOLIDE NON PRÉVUS AILLEURS - Détails - Détails d'éléments piézo-électriques ou électrostrictifs
B60G 17/019 - Suspensions élastiques permettant d'ajuster les caractéristiques des ressorts ou des amortisseurs de vibrations, de réguler la distance entre la surface porteuse et la partie suspendue du véhicule ou de bloquer la suspension pendant l'utilisation pour s'adapter aux conditions variables du véhicule ou du terrain, p. ex. en fonction de la vitesse ou de la charge les moyens de régulation comportant des éléments électriques ou électroniques caractérisés par le type ou l'agencement des capteurs
H02H 7/12 - Circuits de protection de sécurité spécialement adaptés aux machines ou aux appareils électriques de types particuliers ou pour la protection sectionnelle de systèmes de câble ou de ligne, et effectuant une commutation automatique dans le cas d'un changement indésirable des conditions normales de travail pour convertisseursCircuits de protection de sécurité spécialement adaptés aux machines ou aux appareils électriques de types particuliers ou pour la protection sectionnelle de systèmes de câble ou de ligne, et effectuant une commutation automatique dans le cas d'un changement indésirable des conditions normales de travail pour redresseurs pour convertisseurs ou redresseurs statiques
H02M 3/158 - Transformation d'une puissance d'entrée en courant continu en une puissance de sortie en courant continu sans transformation intermédiaire en courant alternatif par convertisseurs statiques utilisant des tubes à décharge avec électrode de commande ou des dispositifs à semi-conducteurs avec électrode de commande utilisant des dispositifs du type triode ou transistor exigeant l'application continue d'un signal de commande utilisant uniquement des dispositifs à semi-conducteurs avec commande automatique de la tension ou du courant de sortie, p. ex. régulateurs à commutation comprenant plusieurs dispositifs à semi-conducteurs comme dispositifs de commande finale pour une charge unique
12.
AN ELECTROMECHANICAL GENERATOR FOR CONVERTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
An electromechanical generator for converting mechanical vibrational energy into electrical energy, the electromechanical generator comprising a housing, an electrically conductive coil assembly fixedly mounted in the housing, a magnetic core assembly movably mounted in the housing for linear vibrational motion along an axis, a first biasing device, mounted between the housing and the magnetic core assembly, adapted to apply a centering force acting to oppose movement of the magnetic core assembly away from a central position on the linear axis and a second magnetic biasing device adapted to provide a compensating force to compensate for variations in the centering force of the first biasing device due to temperature.
H02K 35/02 - Génératrices avec système de bobines, aimant, induit, ou autre partie du circuit magnétique à mouvement alternatif, oscillant ou vibrant avec des aimants mobiles et des systèmes de bobines fixes
13.
AN ELECTROMECHANICAL GENERATOR FOR, AND METHOD OF CONVERTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
An electromechanical generator for converting mechanical vibrational energy into electrical energy, the electromechanical generator comprising an electrically conductive coil assembly and a magnet assembly, the magnet assembly comprising at least one magnet and a two-part magnetic core, the two parts of the core being mounted by a biasing device so as to be relatively vibratable at a resonant frequency along an axis about a central position thereby to cause a change of magnetic flux linked with the coil assembly to generate an electrical potential in the coil assembly.
H02K 35/02 - Génératrices avec système de bobines, aimant, induit, ou autre partie du circuit magnétique à mouvement alternatif, oscillant ou vibrant avec des aimants mobiles et des systèmes de bobines fixes
H02K 35/04 - Génératrices avec système de bobines, aimant, induit, ou autre partie du circuit magnétique à mouvement alternatif, oscillant ou vibrant avec des systèmes de bobines mobiles et des aimants fixes
H02K 35/06 - Génératrices avec système de bobines, aimant, induit, ou autre partie du circuit magnétique à mouvement alternatif, oscillant ou vibrant avec des distributeurs mobiles de flux, les systèmes de bobines et les aimants étant fixes
14.
GENERATOR FOR CONVERTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
Reciprocating generator with moving armature (22) and moving core (50) having annular permanent magnets (52, 54). Both moving parts can oscillate at different resonant frequencies. The toroidal C-shaped core encloses a cylindrical armature coil in its C-shaped cavity. The armature coil is attached to a mount (26, 28) at the axial centre of the toroidal core. Each moving part is attached to a housing (4) by leaf springs (82, 84, 182, 184). Both moving parts having high mass and provide low leackage magnetic flux for efficient energy harvesting.
An electromechanical generator for converting mechanical vibrational energy into electrical energy, the electromechanical generator comprising a housing (4), an electrically conductive coil assembly (22, 24) fixedly mounted in the housing (4), a mount for the coil assembly (22, 24) extending inwardly of the radially inner side for fixing the coil assembly (22, 24) in the housing(4), a magnetic core assembly (50) movably mounted in the housing (4) for linear vibrational motion along an axis (A), and a biasing device (82, 84) mounted between the housing (4)' and the magnetic core assembly (50) to bias the magnetic core assembly (50) in opposed directions along the axis, towards a central position, wherein the magnetic core assembly (50) encloses the coil assembly (22, 24) on the radially outer side (23) and on the upper (27) and lower (29) edges, the magnetic core assembly (50) having a gap(55), on a radially inner portion thereof through which the mount (26) extends, and the radially inner portion including two opposed magnets (52, 54), spaced along the axis (A).
H02K 35/02 - Génératrices avec système de bobines, aimant, induit, ou autre partie du circuit magnétique à mouvement alternatif, oscillant ou vibrant avec des aimants mobiles et des systèmes de bobines fixes
This invention relates to the use of an electromagnetic generator and a pressure bladder located within a biological body in such a position to take advantage of the pressure fluctuations found within that body to produce electrical power. The invention uses these pressure fluctuations to displace the moving parts of a generator, to produce electricity in accordance with the Faraday principal, to power implanted devices.
brevets