An apparatus for harnessing energy from a wheel travelling on a railroad track includes an elongate body with a plurality of pockets spaced apart along a top surface thereof. Energy collection devices are installed in the pockets, and each includes an actuator extending proud of the top surface. A mounting assembly releasably mounts the body adjacent to the railroad track so that the actuators of the energy collection devices are positioned in a path of the wheel to be actuated thereby. The energy collection devices may be coupled to a low pressure fluid supply reservoir and a high pressure fluid accumulator, and used to pump fluid from the reservoir to the accumulator upon actuation.
F03G 7/08 - Mechanical-power-producing mechanisms, not otherwise provided for or using energy sources not otherwise provided for recovering energy derived from swinging, rolling, pitching, or like movements, e.g. from the vibrations of a machine
B61K 13/00 - Other auxiliaries or accessories for railways
E01B 26/00 - Tracks or track components not covered by any one of main groups
E01B 5/00 - RailsGuard railsDistance-keeping means for them
F16D 61/00 - Brakes with means for making the energy absorbed available for use
B60T 1/02 - Arrangements of braking elements, i.e. of those parts where braking effect occurs acting by retarding wheels
B60T 1/10 - Arrangements of braking elements, i.e. of those parts where braking effect occurs acting by retarding wheels by utilising wheel movement for accumulating energy, e.g. driving air compressors
B60T 3/00 - Portable devices for preventing unwanted movement of vehicles, e.g. chocks
B61H 9/06 - Brakes characterised by, or modified for, their application to special railway systems or purposes for storing energy during braking action
B61D 43/00 - Devices for using the energy of the movements of the vehicles
An apparatus for harnessing energy from a wheel travelling on a railroad track includes an elongate body with a plurality of pockets spaced apart along a top surface thereof. Energy collection devices are installed in the pockets, and each includes an actuator extending proud of the top surface. A mounting assembly releasably mounts the body adjacent to the railroad track so that the actuators of the energy collection devices are positioned in a path of the wheel to be actuated thereby. The energy collection devices may be coupled to a low pressure fluid supply reservoir and a high pressure fluid accumulator, and used to pump fluid from the reservoir to the accumulator upon actuation.
F03G 7/08 - Mechanical-power-producing mechanisms, not otherwise provided for or using energy sources not otherwise provided for recovering energy derived from swinging, rolling, pitching, or like movements, e.g. from the vibrations of a machine
B61K 13/00 - Other auxiliaries or accessories for railways
E01B 5/00 - RailsGuard railsDistance-keeping means for them
F16D 61/00 - Brakes with means for making the energy absorbed available for use
A traffic-actuated power generating apparatus includes a low pressure fluid supply reservoir, a high pressure fluid accumulator, and at least one energy collection device positioned in the path of oncoming traffic to be actuated thereby and pump fluid from the reservoir to the accumulator upon actuation. The energy collection device can be housed in a pad adapted to rest on a traffic-conveying surface, and fluid from the accumulator can be used to drive an electrical power generator.
F03G 7/08 - Mechanical-power-producing mechanisms, not otherwise provided for or using energy sources not otherwise provided for recovering energy derived from swinging, rolling, pitching, or like movements, e.g. from the vibrations of a machine
H02K 7/18 - Structural association of electric generators with mechanical driving motors, e.g.with turbines
patents
