IES20080012A2 - A vehicle ramp - Google Patents

Abstract

A ramp recessed in the roadway which depresses when a car travels over the ramp returns to the up position when the car leaves the ramp. The gearing system has a clutch to allow the gears to continue turning the generator during the upward travel of the ramp. An equivalent system generates electricity on the spring driven up stroke of the ramp.

Description

The invention provides a vehicle ramp which generates electrical power when a vehicle is driven over it.

When pressure is exerted on the ramp by a vehicle travelling over it, the ramp is depressed. The downward travel of the ramp caused by the momentum of the vehicle is directed through a gear mechanism and is converted into rotation of the shaft on an Electric Generator. The high energy short travel of the lowering and rising ramp caused by momentum of the vehicle is converted into high speed rotation of the generator shaft through a gearing mechanism. The downward and upward movements of a rack on the travelling end of the PRG (Pivoting Ramp Generator) turns the gears engaged in the rack, as shown in the diagram. The large gear is geared down to a small gear on the generator shaft. The high speed rotation of the generator shaft is converted into electricity. The electricity Generator is mounted horizontally on a bracket on the base of the PRG unit, as shown in the attached diagrams (Fig 1 and Fig. 2). When the ramp is fully depressed by the vehicle travelling over it and the vehicle leaves the surfece of the PRG a strong spring mechanism pushes the Ramp back up into its fully raised position. Since action and reaction are equal and opposite, a Generator mounted in the PRG at the opposite side and geared to rotate the generator shaft on the upward movement of the Ramp, generates electricity on the upward travel of the ramp. Therefore Electricity is generated on the downward movement of the Pivoting Ramp and on the upward movement of the Pivoting Ramp. A ratchet/clutch mechanism in the gearing mechanism of the generators prevents reverse rotation of the shafts when they have reached their maximum travel and the ramp begins to move in the opposite direction. The shaft driving the generator has a flywheel that allows the generator shaft to continue rotating when the clutch engages at the end of the travel of the rack.

OPERATION: A vehicle commences passing over the Ramp at point Ά'. The ramp is hinged at Ά' ('16' on Fig. 1) to allow it to be depressed 125mm (B to C Fig. 1) as the vehicle travels over the length of the ramp. The vehicle leaves the Ramp at 'B' (Fig. 1) and passes past point 'C' (Road level on Fig. 1). The mass of the vehicle has depressed the Ramp 125mm (B to C) while passing over the Ramp (the distance from Ά' to O'). *B' has now depressed vertically to road J 5 .? ΙΕ Ο 8 ο 0 12 -2level C'. When the vehicle leaves the ramp and it's mass is no longer exerting on the Ramp the high tension spring ('2' in Fig. 1) returns the Ramp to the rest position (up position).

The 125mm depression of the Ramp ('Γ on Fig. 1) depresses the Rack ('4' on Fig, 1 and Fig. 2) 125mm. This depression of the rack rotates the first gear in the gearing mechanism ('5' in Fig. I and Fig. 2) a full 3.5 revolutions. Gear '5' is mounted on the same shaft ('6' in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) as the #1 48 gear ('7' on Fig. 1 & Fig. 2). The #1 '48' gear is meshed with 14 gear ('8' & '9' on Fig. 1 and '8' on Fig. 2). This '14' gear is mounted on shaft '11' in Fig 1 and Fig. 2 using a clutch/ratchet to allow rotation on the downward movement of the Ramp ('Γ on Fig. 1) and prevent backward rotation of the gears and flywheel '8', '10', '12' and 13 (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) during the upward movement of the Ramp, The #2 48 gear ('10' on Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) is also mounted on shaft ΊΓ (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2). The #2 48 Gear ('10' on Fig. 1 and Fig 2) is meshed with a 10 gear (Ί2 on Fig. 1 and Fig. 2). This 10 gear is mounted on shaft '14' on Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.

The Flywheel ('13' on Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) is also mounted on shaft '14' (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2). The 15 generator ('15' Fig. 1 and Fig 2) is mounted on shaft '14' (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2). Therefore the resultant rotation of shaft '14' is the speed of rotation of the generator shaft.

The generation of electricity from the depression of the Ramp is achieved when the shaft Ί4' in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 of the Generator ('15' in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) is rotating at between 2,200 and 2,500 rpm (Revolutions Per Minute). The ramp is designed to allow Circe 1.5 seconds of travel time or contact time from a vehicle over the ramp ('1' in Fig. 1) (i.e. 21 metres in length in 50 km/hr speed zone and 33 metres length in 80 km/hr speed zone). The mid range of 2,303 rpm equates to 38.4 revolutions per second or 57.62 revolutions per 1.5 seconds (the target travel time over the vehicle ramp).

The ratios are as follows: Operation: 1.5 Seconds to depress ramp.

The 125mm vertical depression distance of the Ramp = 3.5 revolutions of gear '5' on shaft '6' (Fig. 1 & Fig. 2). -3ΙΕ 0 8 0 0 1 2 This rotates #1 48 gear ('7' Fig. 1 & Fig. 2) on shaft '6' (Fig. 1 & Fig.2) 3.5 times, #1 48 gear tneshes with the 14 gear ('8' Fig. 2) on shaft '11' (Fig. 1 & Fig, 2) giving a Ratio; 3.43:1 x 3.5 Revolutions = 12.005 revolutions of shaft '11' (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2).

The #2 48 gear (10' in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) on shaft '11' (Fig. 1 & Fig. '2') is meshed with the 10 5 gear ('12' in Fig. 1 and Fig.2) on shaft '14' (Fig. 1 & Fig. 2) giving a ratio: 4.8:1. Therefore shaft '14' (Fig. 1 and Fig.2) is rotating at: 12.005 revolutions x 4,8 = 57.62 Revolutions per 1.5 sec depression of the Ramp = 38.4 revolutions per sec = 2,305 rpm.

Summary: 125 mm = 3.5 revolutions (revs) x #1 48 gear. 1 rev of #1 48 gear = 3.43 revs 14 gear (with 10 clutch/ratchet) = 3.43 revs of #2 48 gear. 1 rev of #2 48 gear = 4.8 revs of 10 gear.

Ratio: 3.43 : 1 to 4.8 : 1 Therefore: 125mm = 3,5 revs x 3.43 x 4.8 - 57.62 revs per depression of ramp 15 57.62 revs/1.5 secs of shaft '14' (Fig 1 & Fig. 2) = 38.42 revs / sec = 2,305 rpm of generator.

The flywheel '13' (Fig. 1 & Fig.2) on shaft '14' (Fig.l & Fig.2) which continues turning the 10 gear ('12' Fig. 1 & 2) and generator ('15' Fig. 1 &2) allows the generator to continue turning during the up-stroke of the ramp. The 10 gear and flywheel are mounted between 'twin pedestals’ to take the load and to ensure the generator shaft rotates but does not have to take any load.

Claims (5)

1. A vehicle ramp for generating electricity, comprising: a ramp arranged to depress when a vehicle drives over it; 5 a spring mechanism to return the ramp to a raised position; an electrical generator coupled to the ramp by a gear system; and a rack for connection of the ramp and gear system.

2. A vehicle ramp as claimed in claim 1 wherein: the gear system comprises a ratchet clutch 10 mechanism to prevent reverse rotation of the gears.

3. A vehiele ramp as claimed in claim 2, wherein: the electrical generator is mounted on a shaft having a flywheel, the flywheel sustaining revolution of the shaft for continued generation of electricity whilst the ramp is returning to its raised position.

4. A vehicle ramp as claimed in claim 3, wherein: the gear system comprises a plurality of gears having ratios to increase revolutions between a first gear and a final gear.

5. A vehicle ramp substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying 20 drawings.