frictionless bicycle light generator

Description

I have been working for a couple of years or so on generating power in a very efficient manner. This idea is for an application of the idea to a real world problem. The normal way to power bicycle lights is to use batteries (not very environmentally friendly) or to use a dynamo that rides on the front or rear wheel ( not very user friendly).

My idea is to use my frictionless power generation system on a bicycle and to make this into a product that can be sold in bicycle shops around the world as a 'bolt-on' replacement for the current solutions, but also to bring the technology to the bicycle manufacturers and convince them to install it on new-build bikes.

The idea consists of a number of magnets that are attached to the spokes of the wheel (front or back) and a coil that generates the power while cycling.... with a small Li battery (or a super capacitor power can be stored for when you stop. By my current calculations, there is also enough power to re-charge a mobile

Discussions

Martin wrote 07/04/2018 at 08:04

The hub generator does not have a friction drive, so it does not use friction. It also does not cause extra friction as it rides on the same bearings the wheel needs anyway. Of course it induces some drag when you take power from it (and probably a tiny amount of eddy current losses just when it is turning. But that is really negligible. The drag when you take power is just the converted power which any type of generator will cause. Your magnets also.

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david.reid wrote 04/20/2018 at 06:47

So far, this is at the idea phase, but based on my earlier experiements in making wind-turbines using the same technology and mechanical arrangements, My wind generator can produce 500+ watts in a moderate breeze. But the research is not online- yet. I'm busy with patents for the special design of the generator.

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gpmontt wrote 03/27/2018 at 21:53

do you want thisone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JsNxOX34cE ?

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Martin wrote 07/04/2018 at 08:11

This is a generator with a very large (and variable) air gap. That makes it inefficient in the way of needing many very high power magnets. The air gap also has to be large because the wheel can wobble. So also this works somehow (flickering LEDs) it is far from being a good electrical generator.

Having all this magnets exposed to the elements and possible obstacles or debris is also a bad think. If the nickel coating is damaged the magnets corrode really fast to grey powder.

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david.reid wrote 03/15/2018 at 07:06

The effort required is less than the traditional generator on the tire type. But still takes power away...and I have to eat another mars bar to make up for it.

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david.reid wrote 03/15/2018 at 07:05

I know of the hub generators. but they still use friction to generate the power.

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DeepSOIC wrote 03/20/2018 at 01:32

What do you mean by "friction"?

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randallohman wrote 03/14/2018 at 21:21

My dad had the hub generator on his Raleigh bicycle, like this one:http://minisystem.blogspot.com/2011/09/ode-to-raleigh-superbe-and-its-dynohub.html I look forward to your add-on innovation.

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Mike Szczys wrote 03/13/2018 at 18:25

I really like the idea behind this one. Should be an interesting entry for the Power Harvesting challenge too!

Can't wait to see what you come up with!

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frictionless bicycle light generator

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