Technical Field

The invention relates to a “Piezo-Electric Wheel” enabling the generation of electricity as a result of the application, to the electricity-generating piezo-crystals, of the vertical force imparted by the air pressure inside the motion-providing tire wheel and the vehicle weight at the point of contact with the road, intended for all the industries requiring the generation of electricity, particularly the automotive industry, characterized in that as a result of the rotation of the Piezo-Electric-Wheels (A) providing the motion of the Car (Al), the Car-Gravity-Force (A3) generated by gravity on the Contact-Surface (A5) with the Ground (A2) is transmitted via the wheels to the Ground (A2) in the form of Axle- Gravity-Force (A6) and said transmitted force is balanced with the Wheel-Pressure-Force (A4) generated by the air pressure inside the wheels, and consequently, the electricity is generated with the Piezo-Ring (F) as a result of application of the permanent pressure formed on the Contact-Surface (A5) to the Piezo-Tire (D) structure, the generated electricity is stored in the Piezo-Capacitor (E) and is supplied for the internal and external use.

State of the Art

The electricity that we need any moment of our daily life is provided by the energy sources. The energy sources are classified into two groups, namely the renewable and nonrenewable energy sources.

Nonrenewable energy sources include the fossil fuels and the radioactive elements. The reason why they are given this name is that they are depleted as they are used and that it takes very long time for the new ones to become available. The increase in the development rate of the technology, the rapid increase in the population and the associated increase in the production during the recent years accelerate the depletion of the nonrenewable energy sources available on the earth and the consumption of the fossil sources causes serious damages to the nature.

Renewable energy sources are defined as the energy forms, which are possible to be obtained from the carbon-neutral natural resources such as the solar light, wind, rain, tides, waves and geothermal heat and which are possible to be obtained from the sources naturally renewed on the human-time scale; among these, the Solar Energy obtained from the sun in the form of heat, light and photovoltaic electricity, the Wave Energy obtained from the mechanical movements generated by the tides in the seas and oceans, the Geothermal Energy obtained by the use of the heat that accumulates deep in the earth’s crust, the Biomass Energy obtained from the remains of the living beings and plants that have not yet fossilized, and the Hydroelectric Energy converted by the use of the movement of the flowing water are known and widely used.

Piezo-electricity is the ability of some materials with crystal structure to alter the electric field or electric potential as a result of the mechanical pressure applied on said materials.

If pressure is applied on an asymmetric ionic crystal with permanent polarization, the interpolar distance decreases and the charge accumulation increases on the surface; thus, a potential difference develops between the two ends and the current flows when these are connected by a conductor. As a result, the mechanical effect transforms into the electrical magnitude. On the other hand, if a voltage is applied between the two ends of the same crystal, the (-) charges are attracted towards the (+) electrode, the (+) charges are attracted towards the (-) electrode, the distance increases between the centers of the (-) and (+) charges and this results in an increase in the crystal length. If the direction of the field changes, the charges with the same sign repel each other and the length of the crystal decreases. As a result, the electrical effect transforms into the mechanical magnitude. This behavior is called the piezo-electric property and is possible to be used in the pressure measuring instruments, the sound recording and generation instruments and the optical focusing devices requiring very fine adjustment.

Piezo-electricity develops also from the polymers or ceramics as a result of the generation of +q and -q charges on either side of the crystal structure inside the material during the application of a load in the same direction (press or pull). The piezo-electric property is able to convert mechanical energy into electricity, or vice versa, i.e. electrical energy into mechanical energy.

The renewable energy sources used in the state of the art and the electricity generation systems from these sources have some shortcomings and disadvantages.

One of these shortcomings and disadvantages is that, for the techniques of generation of electricity from Heat, Light, Wind, Hydro, Geothermal, Biomass and Wave Energy sources, the system for generating the electricity is usually located at a fixed position near the source, the electricity is stored at the place of generation and is delivered to the end users via transmission lines or in the form of stored energy. This leads to losses and extra costs.

Another one of these shortcomings and disadvantages is that, for the techniques of generation of electricity from Heat, Light, Wind, Hydro, Geothermal, Biomass and Wave Energy sources, it is generally not possible to perform full-time electricity generation from the sources such as Heat, Light, Wind and Wave, which are dependent on the presence of the Sun, and the electricity generation is interrupted in the absence of the sources such as Hydro, Geothermal and Biomass, which are dependent on the seasonal or periodic timeframes and on atmospheric conditions. This causes discontinuous electricity generation and uncertainties.

Another one of these shortcomings and disadvantages is that, for the techniques of generation of electricity from the mechanical motion occurring due to the weight, linear motion or vibration, the system for generating the electricity is usually fixed, while the drive systems applying pressure or force are in motion. Therefore, the electricity is stored at the place of generation and is delivered to the end users via transmission lines or in the form of stored energy. This leads to losses and extra costs.

Another one of these shortcomings and disadvantages is that, in the systems converting the mechanical motion into the electrical energy, the vertical or horizontal linear forwardbackward motion is converted into the circular motion and the electricity is generated by a generator connected to a rotating shaft. This leads to the friction, heat and conversion losses and results in an increase in the maintenance-operation costs due to the fatigue of the materials in the moving parts.

Another one of these shortcomings and disadvantages is that, in the systems converting the mechanical motion into the electrical energy, the vertical or horizontal linear forwardbackward motion is converted into the pressure via the pumps or hydraulic systems, stored in the tanks or reservoirs and applied to the wheels or circular mechanisms where the electricity is generated by a generator driven by the rotary motion. This leads to the friction, heat and conversion losses and results in an increase in the maintenance-operation and storage costs due to the fatigue of the materials.

Another one of these shortcomings and disadvantages is that the techniques of generation of electricity from the moving systems such as the cars, billions of which are today in use worldwide, said cars continuously applying vertical pressure force on the ground due to their weight and the gravity and having to use fossil fuels or stored electricity for their horizontal motions, remain limited to the methods that employ an electricity-generating system located on the ground and a moving system that applies pressure on the former, wherein the generation of electricity is restricted to the generation from the mechanical parts placed on the ground, from the potential energy of the fluids stored in the pressure tanks or reservoirs disposed on the roadsides, or via the electromechanical systems adapted to the vehicle wheel.

A search conducted in the existing patent literature related to topic of “Electricity Generation from the Motion of Vehicles” revealed the International Patent Application with the publication no. US7530761 entitled “System and Method for Electrical Power Generation Utilizing the Vehicle Traffic on Roadways". The system disclosed in this application is described as the following as a complicated system with conversion losses, such as a Pump-Tank- Hydraulic and Turbine- Generator- Accumulator system: "...The electrical power generation is achieved via the transfer of motion to the hydraulic cylinders from the pressure generated with the help of the weight the vehicles impart on the ground during the traffic, the subsequent actuation of a hydromotor by the hydraulic systems and the flow provided in the drive system associated with a generator... ” The system of this application does not have any similarity to the system with “Piezo-Electric Wheel” according to the present invention.

Another search revealed the National Patent Application no. 2014/4876, entitled “Electricity Generation with Mechanical Bump”. The system disclosed in this application is described as the following as a complicated system with conversion losses, such as an Electromechanical, Pump-Tank- Hydraulic and Turbine- Generator- Accumulator system: “...Generation of electricity with a first fixed bump and a second fixed bump, a movable mechanical bump disposed between said fixed bumps, a high-pressure air pump assembly actuated by a vehicle moving over the system, a main frame to which the movable mechanical bump, the steel spring, the high-pressure pump assembly and all hoses are mounted, an air hose conveying the compressed air, a high-pressure air tank storing the compressed air that is conveyed, an air turbine providing the rotational movement obtained by way of guiding the stored air to the outlet at the desired pressure level and enabling said guided air to impact said outlet, and a generator enabled to operate with a coupled shaft as a result of the rotational movement... ” The system of this application does not have any similarity to the system with “Piezo-Electric Wheel” according to the present invention.

Another search revealed the National Patent Application no. 2017/02618, entitled “System Generating Electrical Energy from Vehicle Wheel”. The system disclosed in this application consists of the moving mechanisms like gears and springs and the complicated systems with conversion losses and is described as the following: “...The invention relates to a system, which generates electrical energy from the vehicle wheel and which may be used by being linked to the wheel rim of the road vehicles, wherein the generation of electricity is achieved by means of an outer hoop to which the pressure generated by the vehicle weight at the point of contact of the tire with the ground is transmitted, the rack and pinion gears and spring mechanisms formed to be present as multiple units for the application of the pressure by the outer hoop and a generator driven by the rack and pinion gears and spring mechanisms... ” The system of this application does not have any similarity to the system with “Piezo-Electric Wheel” according to the present invention. Another search revealed the National Patent Application no. 2018/17769, entitled ‘‘Recirculation System Generating Electricity from the Self Energy and Mechanism Constituting Said System”. The system disclosed in this application is described as the following as a complicated system with conversion losses, such as Electromechanical- Feedback, Generator- Inverter- Motor, Accumulator-Charge-Discharge: “...The accumulator providing the initial motion to the electric motor, the electric motor transmitting the rotational motion to the electricity-generating wheel, the electricitygenerating wheel rotating the drive gear as a result of the transmitted motion, the drive gear transmitting the rotational motion to the first gear via the second gear, the first gear generating alternating electric current by rotating the alternator gear via the chain, the inverter converting the electricity into the direct current and charging the same into the accumulator... ” The system of this application does not have any similarity to the system with “Piezo-Electric Wheel” according to the present invention.

Another search revealed the National Patent Application no. 2019/00063, entitled “Surface-Mounted Smart Barrier Blockage and Bump System”. The system disclosed in this application is described as the following as a system, which stores the vehicle weight in the form of compressed air and converts the same into the electrical energy via a Turbine- Generator- Accumulator system: “...A system, which is mounted to the road surface at the bumps positioned for the purposes related to speed limit and controlled movement on the inner-city roads and at the controlled entrance-exit points requiring security in the areas such as Airports, Intercity Bus Terminals, Shopping Malls, Car Parks, Public Buildings and Military Sites, is capable of generating its own energy and of being readily mounted on a firm ground on-site without the need for excavation and is able to be readily dismantled and reused in the areas of needed, if desired... ” The system of this application does not have any similarity to the system with “Piezo-Electric Wheel” according to the present invention.

Another search revealed the National Patent Application no. 2019/21316, entitled “Vehicle-Top Energy Harvesting Device with a Vaned Rotor”. The system disclosed in this application is described as the following: “...This is an energy harvesting device, which is disposed in the land, air and marine-surface vehicles and converts the air current generated by the motion of the vehicles into the electrical energy. The air current generated by the motion of the vehicle first causes the rotational motion in the rotor of the energy harvesting device via the vanes present in the rotor unit of said device. This rotational motion angularly rotates the magnets on the rotors and the variable magnetic flux density generated according to the Faraday’s Law from the windings in the coils of the stators generates the electromotor force. Thus, a three-phase alternating voltage is obtained from the output of the energy harvesting device... ” The system of this application does not have any similarity to the system with “Piezo-Electric Wheel” according to the present invention.

The patent applications mentioned above deal with the generation of electricity from the vehicle weights. Said systems are described as the complicated systems comprising the Generators that generate electricity via the drive mechanisms mounted to the outside of the rotating wheels, the feedback systems that transmit the rotational motion received from the vehicle’s engine via Generator- Inverter- Accumulator-Motor to the motor initiating the first motion or Pressure-Tank-Hydraulic and similar mechanisms formed on the lower part of the road, wherein said systems operate with the pressure generated by the weight of the vehicle. The hydraulic pistons start to move due to the pressure, the pressure is stored in the tanks and reservoirs, the pressure is applied to the hydromotor to drive the generator and, in this way, the generation of electricity is achieved.

Said systems have rather high cost and the generation of electricity is possible only during the instant when the vehicle is moving over said systems. Today, the systems capable of generating electrical energy in any place and under any condition where the vehicle is motion are needed.

Consequently, the need for the different approaches such as “the Piezo-Electric Wheel”, which eliminates the aforesaid disadvantages and enables the generation of electricity upon the application of the vertical force imparted by the air pressure inside the motionproviding tire wheel and the vehicle weight at the point of contact with the road to the electricity-generating piezo-crystals, and the inadequacy of the solutions available in the state of the art have brought up the interest in providing an improvement in the relevant technical field. Object of the Invention

The primary object of the invention is to enable the supply of Electricity for the vehicles in motion, especially for the Hybrid Vehicles (Al) that are electrically-propelled, in any place and under any condition without using fossil fuels or an additional energy source.

Another object of the invention is to enable the Electricity generated by the vehicle motion to be supplied for the internal use in the vehicle in motion in an uninterrupted manner without being converted into other energy forms and without being subjected to the conversion losses.

Another object of the invention is to utilize the Vehicle Weight and the force of gravity, which are permanently present and are applied on the ground, for the Electricity generated with the motion of the vehicle, without using an additional energy source and without causing losses in the vehicle speed and power.

Another object of the invention is to enable the applicability of the developed technology without causing modifications and additional implementations in the existing vehicle systems and wheel structures and without resulting in the need for special procedures of manufacture and maintenance-operation.

The principal object of the invention is to offer an alternative to the supply of the Electrical Energy needed by the vehicles in motion with the complicated systems comprising the Generators that generate electricity via the drive mechanisms mounted to the outside of the rotating wheels, the feedback systems that transmit the rotational motion received from the vehicle’s engine via Generator- Inverter- Accumulator- Motor to the motor initiating the first motion or Pressure-Tank- Hydraulic and similar mechanisms mounted to the ground or the roadside or by means of the Charging Stations positioned at fixed points, to eliminate the energy losses in the complicated systems, to reduce the maintenanceoperation costs caused by the fatigue of the materials, and to generate and supply for the internal and external use the electricity by applying the Force of Gravity imparted by the vehicles in motion on the road to the Piezo-Electric layers disposed inside the wheel, which generate electricity by means of pressure.

The structural and characteristic features and all the advantages of the invention will be more clearly understood from the figures provided below and the detailed description written with reference to said figures, and thus, the evaluation should be made taking these figures and detailed description into consideration.

Description of the Figures

In order to best understand the advantages of the invention along with its embodiment and additional members, it is necessary to consider the invention together with the figures the descriptions of which are provided below.

Figure-1: A Perspective View of the System and the Components Thereof.

Figure-2: A Perspective View of the Piezo-Wheel and the Components Thereof.

Figure-3: A Sectional View of the Piezo-Wheel and the Components Thereof.

Figure-4: A Perspective View of the Wheel-Rim and the Components Thereof.

Figure-5: A Perspective View of the Outer-Tire and the Components Thereof.

Figure-6: A Perspective View of the Piezo-Tire and the Components Thereof.

Figure-7: A Perspective View of the Piezo-Capacitor and the Components Thereof.

Figure-8: A Perspective View of the Piezo-Ring and the Components Thereof.

Figure-9: An Assembly View of the Piezo-Tire and the Components Thereof.

Figure-10: Piezo-Electric-Module Components and Connection Diagram Thereof.

Figure-11: Piezo-Electric-Module Series Connection Diagram.

Figure- 12: Piezo-Electric-Module Parallel Connection Diagram.

Description of the Part Reference Numerals

The components of our invention entitled “Piezo-Electric Wheel”, which is the subject of our present application, have been assigned the reference numerals as follows; the reference numerals for the components are used for reference purposes in the Block Diagrams, Representative Drawings and Drawings presented in the section Figures. A. Piezo-Electric- Wheel

Al. Car A4. Wheel-Pressure-Force

A2. Ground A5. Contact-Surface

A3. Car-Gravity-Force A6. Axle-Gravity-Force

B. Wheel-Rim

Bl. Hub B4. Electric-Socket

B2. Valve-Hole B5. Air- Valve

B3. Socket-Hole B6. Lug-Nut

C. Outer-Tire

Cl. Outer-Tire-Tread C4. Outer-Tire-Heel

C2. Outer-Tire-Shoulder C5. Outer-Tire-Cord

C3. Outer-Tire-Sidewall C6. Outer-Tire-Tie

D. Piezo-Tire

DI. Piezo-Tire-Casing D4. Piezo-Negative-Line

D2. Piezo-Tire-Tie D5. Crystal-Lower-Bearing

D3. Piezo-Positive-Line D6. Crystal-Upper-Bearing

E. Piezo-Capacitor

El. Positive-Metal-Plate E4. Capacitor-Sheath

E2. Middle-Insulator-Plate E5. Negative-Pole

E3. Negative-Metal-Plate E6. Positive-Pole

F. Piezo-Ring

Fl. Positive-Line F7. Positive-Pole

F2. Crystal-Module F8. Upper-Pressure-Plate

F3. Negative-Line F9. Negative-Pole

F4. Piezo-Crystal F10. Crystal-Negative-Surface

F5. Lower-Pressure-Plate Fll. Crystal-Positive-Surface

F6. Coupling-Diode F12. Crystal-Body G. Piezo-Electric Module

Gl. Crystal G4. Positive-Voltage

G2. AC-Power G5. Capacitor

G3. Diode G6. Negative-Voltage

H. Piezo-Electric- Connection

Hl. Negative-Line H4. Positive-Line

H2. Positive-DC-Voltage Xl-n. Series-Connected-Modules

H3. Blockage-Diode Yl-n. Parallel-Connected-Modules

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention relates to a “Piezo-Electric Wheel” enabling the generation of electricity as a result of the application, to the electricity-generating piezo-crystals, of the vertical force imparted by the air pressure inside the motion-providing tire wheel and the vehicle weight at the point of contact with the road, intended for all the industries requiring the generation of electricity, particularly the automotive industry; the operation, the components and the functions of the system are described below in detail based on the Representative Drawing in Figure-1 and the other figures drawn according to the functions (Figure-2, Figure-3, Figure-4, Figure-5, Figure-6, Figure-7, Figure-8, Figure-9, Figure-10, Figure-11 and Figure-12).

The general operating logic of the invention is based on the principle that, as a result of the rotation of the Piezo-Electric-Wheels (A) providing the motion of the Car (Al), the Car- Gravity-Force (A3) generated by gravity on the Contact-Surface (A5) with the Ground (A2) is transmitted via the wheels to the Ground (A2) in the form of Axle-Gravity-Force (A6) and said transmitted force is balanced with the Wheel-Pressure-Force (A4) generated by the air pressure inside the wheels, and consequently, the electricity is generated with the Piezo-Ring (F) as a result of application of the permanent pressure formed on the Contact- Surface (A5) to the Piezo-Tire (D) structure, the generated electricity is stored in the PiezoCapacitor (E) and is supplied for use. • Assembly of the System: The vehicle wheels consisting of the components Wheel- Rim (B) and Outer-Tire (C) are disassembled in the existing maintenance-repair systems and by known methods, and the Outer-Tire-Tie (C6) is bonded to the inside of Outer-Tire (C). The Piezo-Tire-Tie (D2) on the side walls of Piezo-Tire (D) and the Outer-Tire-Tie (C6) are bonded together, and the Piezo-Tire (D) layer is fixed inside the Outer-Tire (C). The Outer-Tire (C), inside which the Piezo-Tire (D) has been fitted, is placed on the Wheel-Rim (B) by known methods, the Air-Valve (B5) is positioned into the Valve-Hole (B2), the Electric-Socket (B4) is positioned in to the Socket-Hole (B3), and the assembly is thus achieved.

The air is introduced into the assembled Piezo-Electric-Wheel (A), the balancing is performed by means of a Tire Balancing Machine and the generated electricity is checked by way of measurement via the Electric-Socket (B4). In the same way, the Piezo-Electric-Wheel (A) is mounted to the vehicle by means of the Lug-Nuts (B6) using the known methods and techniques.

• Generation of Electricity: The generation of electricity is based on the principle that, as a result of the rotation of the Piezo-Electric-Wheels (A) providing the motion of the Car (Al), the Car-Gravity-Force (A3) generated by gravity on the Contact-Surface (A5) with the Ground (A2) is transmitted via the wheels to the Ground (A2) in the form of Axle-Gravity-Force (A6) and said transmitted force is balanced with the Wheel- Pressure-Force (A4) generated by the air pressure inside the wheels, and consequently, the electricity is generated by the application of the permanent pressure formed on the Contact-Surface (A5) to the Piezo-Tire (D) structure.

If pressure is applied on an asymmetric ionic Piezo-Crystal (F4) with permanent polarization, the interpolar distance decreases and the charge accumulation increases on the surface; thus, a potential difference develops between the two ends and the current flows when these are connected by a conductor. As a result, the mechanical effect transforms into the electrical magnitude. This behavior is called the piezoelectric property and is possible to be used in the pressure measuring instruments, the sound recording and generation instruments and the optical focusing devices requiring very fine adjustment. The Piezo-Crystals (F4) are connected in series to form the Piezo-Module (F2) structures providing adequate voltage, each structure is connected in parallel to the Coupling-Diodes (F6) to form the Piezo-Ring (F) structure, a Current of sufficient magnitude is obtained owing to the Crystal-Modules (F2) connected in parallel, and the generated Electricity is stored in the circular Piezo-Capacitor (E) within the structure and is provided as DC Power for internal and external use via the Electric-Socket (B4) on the Wheel-Rim (B).

• Electrical Capacity: The commercially manufactured Piezo-Crystals (F4) have an average diameter of 20 mm and a thickness of 5 mm and are capable of generating 1.5 Volt, 5 mA AC Power. In order to obtain good efficiency from the Piezo-Crystals (F4), it is necessary to apply a transient periodic pressure on the Crystal-Positive-Surface (Fll) and the Crystal-Negative-Surface (F10) and then release the pressure. A positive- voltage difference forms between the Crystal-Poles (F7, F9) when the pressure is applied, a negative-voltage difference forms between the same when the pressure is released, and, as long as the wheel turns, a 1.5V, 5 mA AC Power is generated, consisting of the pulses with frequency depending on the vehicle speed.

About 12V, 5mA AC Power is generated by connecting in series about 10 Piezo- Crystals (F4) per wheel width (at least 20 cm) and 12V, 5 mA DC Power is generated by rectification via the Coupling-Diode (F6).

Besides, it is possible to provide the capacity to generate 12V, 1.5A DC Power in 1 revolution, by connecting in parallel about 360 Crystal-Modules (F2) with an angular spacing of 1 degree depending on the Wheel diameter; considering that the vehicle has at least 4 wheels, it becomes possible to generate around 12V, 3A DC Power as long as the Piezo-Electric-Wheels (A) turn and the Car (Al) moves at an average speed of 90 km/h and said generated electricity is stored on the Capacitor (E) inside the wheel.