Linear motion electric power generator

Claim 2

A linear motion electric power generator for generating electric current from mechanical work done by an intermittent force comprising: at least one rare earth magnet defining a magnetic field, said at least one magnetic being contained in a non-ferrous, non-conducting tube, at least one coil located within said magnetic field, said at least one magnet and said at least one coil being arranged to permit bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion of said at least one magnet relative to said at least one coil so as to generate an electric current in said at least one coil, and a springless orientation means for maintaining a neutral position in the absence of said force, of said at least one magnet relative to said at least one coil, from which said bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion occurs.

Claim 3

A generator as in claim 1 wherein said orientation means comprises a magnet located below and in magnetic polar opposition to said at least one rare earth magnet so as to counteract a gravitational force and suspend said rare earth magnet at said neutral position in the absence of said force.

Claim 4

A generator as in claim 1 wherein said orientation means comprises at least two orientation magnets each located on opposite sides of said at least one rare earth magnet and in magnetic opposition to said rare earth magnet so as to suspend said rare earth magnet between said at least two orientation magnets in the absence of said force.

Claim 5

A generator as in claim 1 and further comprising a source of bi-directional force wherein said source of bi-directional force also comprises said orientation means.

Claim 6

A generator as in claim 1 wherein said generator is fabricated in the general shape of a standard battery.

Claim 7

A generator as in claim 1 wherein said orientation means comprises a toroidal magnet means located outside said cylindrical tube and ferrous cylinder located inside said cylindrical tube.

Claim 8

A generator as in claim 1 and further comprising an electrical energy storage means.

Claim 9

A generator as in claim 7 wherein said storage means is a rechargeable battery.

Claim 10

A generator as in claim 7 wherein said storage means is a capacitor.

Claim 11

A generator as in claim 1 and further comprising a bridge rectifier.

Claim 12

A generator as in claim 1 wherein said generator is adapted to provide the power for low power electronics.

Claim 13

A generator as in claim 11 wherein said low power electronics is a radio.

Claim 14

A generator as in claim 1 and further comprising a magnetic shield means for confining the magnetic field produced by said at least one magnet.

Claim 15

A generator as in claim 13 wherein said shield is comprised of high permeability foil.

Claim 16

A linear motion electric power generator for generating electric current from mechanical work done by an intermittent force comprising: at least one rare earth magnet defining a magnetic field, at least one coil located within said magnetic field, said at least one magnetic and said at least one coil being arranged to permit bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion of said at least one magnetic relative to said at least one coil so as to generate an electric current in said at least one coil, and a a ferrous ring located outside said tube for maintaining a neutral position in the absence of said force, of said at least one magnet relative to said at least one coil, from which said bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion occurs.

Claim 17

A linear motion electric power generator for generating electric current from mechanical work done by an intermittent force comprising: at least one rare earth magnet defining a magnetic field, at least one coil located within said magnetic field, said at least one magnetic and said at least one coil being arranged to permit bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion of said at least one magnetic relative to said at least one coil so as to generate an electric current in said at least one coil, and a a ferrous ring located outside said tube for maintaining a neutral position in the absence of said force, of said at least one magnet relative to said at least one coil, from which said bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion occurs.

Claim 18

A linear motion electric power generator for generating electric current from mechanical work done by an intermittent force comprising: at least one rare earth magnet defining a magnetic field, at least one coil contained in a non-ferrous, non-conducting tube and located within said magnetic field, said at least one magnet and said at least one coil being arranged to permit bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion of said at least one magnet relative to said at least one coil so as to generate an electric current in said at least one coil, and a springless orientation means for maintaining a neutral position in the absence of said force, of said at least one magnet relative to said at least one coil, from which said bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion occurs.

Claim 19

A linear motion electric power generator for generating electric current from mechanical work done by an intermittent force comprising: at least one rare earth magnet defining a magnetic field, at least one coil contained in a non-ferrous, non-conducting tube and located within said magnetic field, said at least one magnet and said at least one coil being arranged to permit bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion of said at least one magnet relative to said at least one coil so as to generate an electric current in said at least one coil, and a springless orientation means for maintaining a neutral position in the absence of said force, of said at least one magnet relative to said at least one coil, from which said bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion occurs.

Claim 20

A linear motion electric power generator for generating electric current from mechanical work done by an intermittent force comprising: at least one rare earth magnet defining a magnetic field, at least one coil located within said magnetic field, said at least one magnetic and said at least one coil being arranged to permit bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion of said at least one magnetic relative to said at least one coil so as to generate an electric current in said at least one coil, a springless orientation means for maintaining a neutral position in the absence of said force, of said at least one magnet relative to said at least one coil, from which said bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion occurs, and a first buoy and a second buoy wherein said at least one magnet is located in said first buoy and said at least one coil is located in said second buoy and said buoys are arranged so that when located on a body of water experiencing wave action said first buoy will move relatively to said second buoy.

Claim 21

A linear motion electric power generator for generating electric current from mechanical work done by an intermittent force comprising: at least one rare earth magnet defining a magnetic field, at least one coil located within said magnetic field, said at least one magnetic and said at least one coil being arranged to permit bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion of said at least one magnetic relative to said at least one coil so as to generate an electric current in said at least one coil, a springless orientation means for maintaining a neutral position in the absence of said force, of said at least one magnet relative to said at least one coil, from which said bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion occurs, and a first buoy and a second buoy wherein said at least one magnet is located in said first buoy and said at least one coil is located in said second buoy and said buoys are arranged so that when located on a body of water experiencing wave action said first buoy will move relatively to said second buoy.

Claim 22

A linear motion electric power generator for generating electric current from mechanical work done by an intermittent force comprising: at least one rare earth magnet defining a magnetic field, at least one coil located within said magnetic field, said at least one magnetic and said at least one coil being arranged to permit bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion of said at least one magnetic relative to said at least one coil so as to generate an electric current in said at least one coil, and a magnet located below and in magnetic polar opposition to said at least one rare earth magnet so as to counteract a gravitational force and suspend said rare earth magnet at a neutral position, in the absence of said force, from which said bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion occurs.

Claim 23

A linear motion electric power generator for generating electric current from mechanical work done by an intermittent force comprising: at least one rare earth magnet defining a magnetic field, at least one coil located within said magnetic field, said at least one magnetic and said at least one coil being arranged to permit bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion of said at least one magnetic relative to said at least one coil so as to generate an electric current in said at least one coil, and a magnet located below and in magnetic polar opposition to said at least one rare earth magnet so as to counteract a gravitational force and suspend said rare earth magnet at a neutral position, in the absence of said force, from which said bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion occurs.

Claim 24

A linear motion electric power generator for generating electric current from mechanical work done by an intermittent force comprising: at least one rare earth magnet defining a magnetic field, at least one coil located within said magnetic field, said at least one magnet and said at least one coil being arranged to permit bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion of said at least one magnet relative to said at least one coil so as to generate an electric current in said at least one coil, a springless orientation means for maintaining a neutral position in the absence of said force, of said at least one magnet relative to said at least one coil, from which said bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion occurs, a source of bi-directional force wherein said source of bi-directional force also comprises an orientation means and a piston attached to said at least one magnet.

Claim 25

A linear motion electric power generator for generating electric current from mechanical work done by an intermittent force comprising: at least one rare earth magnet defining a magnetic field, at least one coil located within said magnetic field, said at least one magnet and said at least one coil being arranged to permit bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion of said at least one magnet relative to said at least one coil so as to generate an electric current in said at least one coil, a springless orientation means for maintaining a neutral position in the absence of said force, of said at least one magnet relative to said at least one coil, from which said bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion occurs, a source of bi-directional force wherein said source of bi-directional force also comprises an orientation means and a piston attached to said at least one magnet.

Claim 26

A linear motion electric power generator for generating electric current from mechanical work done by an intermittent force comprising: at least one rare earth magnet defining a magnetic field, at least one coil located within said magnetic field, said at least one magnet and said at least one coil being arranged to permit bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion of said at least one magnet relative to said at least one coil so as to generate an electric current in said at least one coil, and a springless orientation means for maintaining a neutral position in the absence of said force, of said at least one magnet relative to said at least one coil, from which said bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion occurs, wherein said generator is adapted to be worn on the body of a walker of a runner and said force is provided by the body motion of said walker or runner.

Claim 27

A linear motion electric power generator for generating electric current from mechanical work done by an intermittent force comprising: at least one rare earth magnet defining a magnetic field, at least one coil located within said magnetic field, said at least one magnet and said at least one coil being arranged to permit bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion of said at least one magnet relative to said at least one coil so as to generate an electric current in said at least one coil, and a springless orientation means for maintaining a neutral position in the absence of said force, of said at least one magnet relative to said at least one coil, from which said bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion occurs, wherein said generator is adapted to be worn on the body of a walker of a runner and said force is provided by the body motion of said walker or runner.

Claim 28

A linear motion electric power generator for generating electric current from mechanical work done by an intermittent force comprising: at least one rare earth magnet defining a magnetic field, at least one coil located within said magnetic field, said at least one magnet and said at least one coil being arranged to permit bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion of said at least one magnet relative to said at least one coil so as to generate an electric current in said at least one coil, and a springless orientation means for maintaining a neutral position in the absence of said force, of said at least one magnet relative to said at least one coil, from which said bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion occurs, wherein said generator is adapted to be worn on the body of an animal and said force is provided by the body motion of said animal.

Claim 29

A linear motion electric power generator for generating electric current from mechanical work done by an intermittent force comprising: at least one rare earth magnet defining a magnetic field, at least one coil located within said magnetic field, said at least one magnet and said at least one coil being arranged to permit bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion of said at least one magnet relative to said at least one coil so as to generate an electric current in said at least one coil, and a springless orientation means for maintaining a neutral position in the absence of said force, of said at least one magnet relative to said at least one coil, from which said bi-directional, linear, or approximately linear, motion occurs, wherein said generator is adapted to be worn on the body of an animal and said force is provided by the body motion of said animal.

Claim 30

A generator as in claim 17 wherein said first buoy is a long cylindrical buoy moving freely within said second buoy which is of toroidal shape and is much smaller in length.

Claim 31

A generator as in claim 17 wherein said first buoy is a shallow draft toroidal shaped buoy, and said second buoy is a long cylindrical buoy free to move within said first buoy.

Claim 32

A generator as in claim 17 and further comprising an electrical transmitter located in said second buoy.

Claim 33

A generator as in claim 4 where gravitational force on a pendulum arm provides said bi-directional force and said orientation means.

Claim 34

A generator as in claim 25 wherein two pendulum arms are oriented at ninety degrees to each other so as to provide pendulum movement for any tilt of said generator.