US20020147079A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20020147079A1
Application number: US09/812,415
Authority: US
Inventors: Douglas Kalnbach
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-03-21
Filing date: 2001-03-21
Publication date: 2002-10-10

Abstract

Exercise with a purpose, lose weight, stay healthy and produce your own electricity for your own use.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

this invention pertains to the subject of producing and storing electricity, while the participants exercise and lose weight, or just to ride bikes and have fun during the winter months or bad weather or whenever power is needed.[0001]

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

We read in the newspapers everyday of power shortages, black outs, brown outs, storms, ect. in which we lose power to our computers and appliances. The “Human Generator Power Sources” produces and stores electricity with no use of fossil fuels, wind, solar, nuclear, or hydro power to run the generator.[0002]

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Hu-Gen are human powered generators from stationary exercise bikes or treadmills and some can work off regular ten-speed or mountain bikes. Always have power to use for lighting, computers, tv's and appliances, even if the power does not go out. We can greatly decrease overall consumption of energy with these units, at home, the office, or a the exercise gym.[0003]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Basically this invention is using exercise equipment hooked to a low-amp alternator by means of a V-belt ( that fits in the alternator pulley) to produce 12 volt DC power. The stored DC power is then converted to 120 volt Ac power by means of inverters, this in turn will power anything in the home of office that needs power, computers, tvs, freezers, power tools, anything.[0004]

Also I have designed a support stand for ten-speed bikes, which really turns the alternator at a high R.P.M. sending DC power to the battery bank.[0005]

The floor mounted alternator support frame is made from scrap iron I had laying around, 12 inch I-Beam, angle iron and tube steel. This is how I tested the unit, it can be run off a treadmill, a stationary exercise bike, or a ten-speed/mountain bike.[0006]

Now we exercise with a dual purpose, 1=health, 2=produce power. I have plugged in a tv, light, and radio to the power inverters with very little drain on the batteries.[0007]

I have about 8 hours time in building the bike and alternator support frames and about 10 hours in figuring out the wiring to the alternator, and how to get it to work. Battery Bank Storage/Distribution Cabinet is an antique kitchen cabinet with a pull out drawer, 1—-door, and porcelain top, wheel casters make it easy to move around, it will be heavy with the batteries.[0008]

Description of Drawing View forDrawing #1/5

#1 The pipe that holds the Treadmill drive wheel in place. They pivot on the frame to allow for various heights of Treadmills.[0009]

#2 The 12 inch wide by 24 inch long piece of the I-Beam I used for the main body of the alternator Support Framework. 2, 1 inch by 1 inch by 14 inch high angles support the Alternator. Between them on a threaded rod for alignment.[0010]

#3 An angle iron stop that will keep the Treadmill drive wheel from touching the floor and stopping it from spinning.[0011]

#4 A stationary Exercise bike that has a rotating wheel/fan on it, so that the V-belt can be looped around and run to the alternator.[0012]

#8 A low-amp, Internally Regulated Alternator, same kind is used on G.M. cars, only lower amperage output.[0013]

Bottom drawing is an Elliptical type exercise machine that has a rotating wheel in the front that the V-belt can be looped around and run to the alternator.[0014]

#5 The hand grips you hold while standing and pedaling this exercise machine.[0015]

#6 The V-belt is looped around the rotating wheel and powers the alternator.[0016]

#7 Shows the rotating direction of the wheel.[0017]

#9 The foot pedals you stand on to pedal. I believe this type of exercise machine is called the Orbitrek. It has orbital type pedaling action.[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING VIEW FORDRAWING #2/5

#1 The rotation direction of the treadmill drive wheel.[0019]

#2 The travel direction of the treadmill belt.[0020]

#3 The actual treadmill, I used a Kathy Ireland treadmill because it is self-propelled and does not use electricity.[0021]

#4 The belt pulley that is fastened to the treadmill drive wheel, this supports and drives the belt to the alternator.[0022]

#5 The angle stop to keep the treadmill drive wheel off the ground.[0023]

#6 The 12 inch by 24 inch I-Beam alternator support.[0024]

#7 The ½ inch wide V-belt, which can be of various lengths depending on the pulley diameters. Belt can be tensioned by the all thread that holds the treadmill drive wheel and slide in and out of the pivoting pipe supports.[0025]

#8 The low-amp output alternator.[0026]

#9 The rubber tire that rides on the rubber treadmill belt.[0027]

Description on the end view of the floor mount[0028]

#6 The end view of the 12 inch by 24 inch I-Beam.[0029]

#8 The low-amp alternator.[0030]

#10 The adjustable threaded rod with nuts that align and support the alternator between the 2-1 inch by 1 inch angles.[0031]

#11 The wiring junction box.[0032]

#12 The 1 inch by 1 inch angle alternator supports.[0033]

#13 The tensioning spring that maintains a tight belt between the bike and the and the alternator.[0034]

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING VIEW FORDRAWING #3/5

#1 The 1 inch by 1 inch tube steel supports that are welded to the 3 inch by 2 inch angle cross piece.[0035]

#2 The 3 inch by 2 inch angle upright support that is welded to the 3 inch by 2 inch angle crosspiece upright 3 inch by 2 inch angle that is welded solid @ a 90 degree angle supports the bike and the low-amp alternator. Slotted holes in angle allow the alternator to be lowered to fit smaller bike tires, or mountain bikes.[0036]

#3 The ten-speed bike drive chain.[0037]

#4 The ten-speed bike, which is not drawn for clarity. I use a Huffy ten-speed for this type of application.[0038]

#8 The low-amp alternator, that rides on the ten-speed bike tire. The alternator pulley fits the tire nicely.[0039]

#11 The wire junction box or a voltage regulator if needed.[0040]

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING VIEW FORDRAWING #4/5

#1 The {fraction (3/4)} inch diameter rigid pipe piece that is welded to the 3 inch by 2 inch angle iron upright supports. This pipe slips over the ten-speed bike axle and nut and fits tight against the bike frame.[0041]

#2 The rear of the ten-speed bike.[0042]

#3 The 1 inch by 1 inch tube steel supports that are welded to the 3 inch by 2 inch angle crosspiece.[0043]

#4[0044]A 3 inch by 2 inch angle upright support that is bolted to the 3 inch by 2 inch angle crosspiece so you can loosen the bolt, pivot the upright support away from the bikes axle and remove the bike for regular riding or change bikes and let the kids charge batteries with their mountain bikes.

#5 The 3 inch by 2 inch angle iron crosspiece that has the 2, 1 inch by 1 inch tube steel supports welded to it for stability of the bike while pedaling.[0045]

#6 Where the 2 angles are welded solid on this side which keeps the low-amp alternator and bike tire in alignment.[0046]

#7 The {fraction (1/2)} inch diameter bolt that is tightened securely when the bike is set in the frame and inside the stationary {fraction (3/4)} inch pipe axle support.[0047]

#8 The low-amp output alternator.[0048]

I use this type of frame with a lady's Schwinn ten-speed bike with the rear tire and tube removed. I put the ½ inch V-belt over the rim and to the low amp alternator on the floor mount frame. This is the 1[0049]^sttype of application I used to run and test my idea.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING VIEW FORDRAWING #5/5

#1 A lamp that is mounted right on the cabinet, it can be either a 12 volt light or or 120 volt and plugged into one of the inverters.[0050]

#2 A 400 watt inverter that hooks to a 12 volt battery and changes to AC 120 volt power.[0051]

#3 The 120 volt inverter receptacle for plugging in appliances, power tools, ect. . . .[0052]

#4 The on/off power switch from the batteries to the amp meter and inverters.[0053]

#5 Shows hinge from the cabinet door that is removed for clarity.[0054]

#6 Caster wheels for portability. The unit will be heavy when loaded with batteries.[0055]

#7 The 3 wire power line and plug that run to either the floor mounted low-amp alternator system or the ten-speed bike frame mounted alternator. This supplies the power from these alternators to the batteries to charge them up.[0056]

#9 The deep cycle marine batteries hooked together in line. These are the type of batteries that do not give off Flammable Gases while being charged. Used in motor homes, travel trailers, ect. . . .[0057]

#10 An LED lighted charge meter that blinks when the batteries are getting empty on power. Found this on an electric battery golf cart.[0058]

#11 Another inverter, this is one that can be a higher watt unit, =1200 watts to run microwave ovens, air conditioners, big freezers, or other appliances that require higher wattage to run.[0059]

#12 A small 12 volt light that comes on when the low-amp alternator is turned on to charge. This reminds you to turn off the power to the alternator when you are not exercising or running it because it will drain the batteries back thru it.[0060]

#13 The on/off switch for power to the low-amp alternator to make it start charging the batteries while you are exercising. This must be turned off when you are done or it will drain the batteries back thru the alternator.[0061]

#14 An amp meter out of a car dash that shows if batteries are charging or discharging.[0062]

#15 An in line buss fuse from the batteries to the main on/off power switch.[0063]

#16 An AM/FM, CD car stereo player that can be mounted inside the storage distribution cabinet for your listening pleasure while you exercise and charge your batteries to power your appliances. The amount of batteries used determines the length of time for power supplies. The amount of power your appliances require determines supply time also.[0064]

Claims

1. What I claim as my invention is the use of several different components, electrical and exercise, to produce electricity, Most all of the components I have used in my invention are readily available in several stores, with the exceptions of the bike/alternator mount on drawing page #1 and the floor mounted alternator support frame on drawing page #2. This is a different type of renewable resource for power production.