Patent US5621264A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5621264A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Water craft using piezoelectric materials
Assignee: Ocean Power Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1995-08-07
•
Granted: 1997-04-15
•
Expires: 2015-08-07
Abstract
Abstract A flexible layer of piezoelectric material, e.g., a known PVDF polymer, is used for generating electrical energy for use on a water craft. In one arrangement, the sheet is laminated within a craft hull of fiberglass. Electrodes are provided for the major opposite surfaces of the layer, and an encapsulating material, e.g., fiberglass or a layer of the polymer itself, comprises the water contacting, exterior surface of the hull. In salt water, the water is one electrode, and an outer encapsulating layer is omitted. Spaced apart air pockets are optionally provided along the polymer sheet for increasing the flexing thereof in response to passing water and for inducing turbulence in the passing water. Elongated, flexible and electroded sheets, optionally including air pockets, are towed behind or beneath the craft, or are flown from a mast on the craft.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Y. Epstein
- 👤 George W. Taylor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 17:20
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02N; H02N2/00; H02N2/18; H02N2/185; B; B63; B63J; B63J3/00; B63J3/04; B63B; B63B35/00; B63B2035/009; B63J2003/001; B63J2003/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
51 words
A generator for generating electrical energy in response to being disposed within a moving fluid, the generator comprising a flexible, electroded sheet of piezoelectric material, said sheet having oppositely disposed major surfaces, and spaced apart protrusions on one of said surfaces for inducing turbulence in the fluid passing said one surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
51 words
A generator for generating electrical energy in response to being disposed within a moving fluid, the generator comprising a flexible, electroded sheet of piezoelectric material, said sheet having oppositely disposed major surfaces, and spaced apart protrusions on one of said surfaces for inducing turbulence in the fluid passing said one surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
A generator according to claim 1 wherein said protrusions comprise gas containing pockets.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
97 words
A system for generating electrical energy on a water craft having a hull portion submerged during use of the craft in a body of water, a piezoelectric generator mounted on said hull portion for generating electrical energy in response to movement of said craft through the water, said generator comprising a layer of a piezoelectric material mounted on said hull portion, electrodes on oppositely disposed surfaces of said layer, and said layer including spaced apart protrusions for interacting with water moving past said layer for inducing vibrations of said layer and the generation of electrical energy thereby.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
97 words
A system for generating electrical energy on a water craft having a hull portion submerged during use of the craft in a body of water, a piezoelectric generator mounted on said hull portion for generating electrical energy in response to movement of said craft through the water, said generator comprising a layer of a piezoelectric material mounted on said hull portion, electrodes on oppositely disposed surfaces of said layer, and said layer including spaced apart protrusions for interacting with water moving past said layer for inducing vibrations of said layer and the generation of electrical energy thereby.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system according to claim 3 wherein said hull portion comprises a wall, said oppositely disposed surfaces of said layer face respectively inwardly towards and away from said wall, and said protrusions are disposed on said inwardly facing surfaces for spacing portions of said generator from said wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system according to claim 3 wherein said hull portion comprises a wall, said surfaces of said layer face respectively inwardly towards and away from said hull, and said protrusions are disposed on said outwardly facing surface for providing direct contact with water moving past said craft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 3 wherein said generator comprises a plurality of individual, spaced-apart power generating elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 6 wherein each of said elements is defined by a pair of oppositely disposed electrodes and a portion of said layer sandwiched between said electrode pair.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system according to claim 7 wherein said power generating elements are spaced apart by said protrusions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system according to claim 7 wherein said protrusions are formed of non-electroded piezoelectric material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3064137A
Cited
US3239678A
Cited
US3774048A
Cited
US4186323A
Cited
US4185621A
Cited
US4402524A
Cited
US4467236A
Cited
US4387318A
Cited
US4515997A
Cited
US4404490A
Cited
US4984449A
Cited
US5305507A
Cited
US5432396A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-04-14 | 2000-10-14 | 2001-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-04-14 | 2004-10-14 | 2005-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-04-14 | 2008-10-14 | 2009-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |