3.1
WORKING
An
electricity generating playground device, indicated generally at in accordance with
the present invention for generating electricity when children play on the
playground device. The playground device can be a merry-go-round a bicycle, a
treadmill, and the like. Additionally, the playground device can have a cyclically movable part , an
electricity generator and indicated
generally at . The cyclically movable part can be moved in reciprocal or repetitive
cycle by children playing on the playground device . For example, in the case of a
merry-go-round, the cyclically movable part can be a rotatable upper deck that
can be turned by children pushing on the deck. The electrical generator can be operable coupled to the cyclically
movable part The generator can be operated by the cyclically movable
part so as to generate
electricity when the cyclically movable part is moved through a repetitive
motion. In one aspect, the generator can
be a permanent magnet generator and alternator that can have a low start up
speed due to low cogging and resistive torque design. Additionally, the
generator can be a gearless, direct drive, and low RPM generator, as known in
the art.
The playground device can also include a battery electrically coupled to the electricity
generator . The battery can
receive and store electricity from the electricity generator . In one aspect, the battery can be a 12 V lead acid battery, or a deep
cycle RV or marine battery. In another aspect, the battery can be a rechargeable valve regulated
lead-acid battery with a qualified electrolyte. Other batteries, as known in
the art can also be used, so long as the battery is rechargeable. It will be
appreciated that as children play on the electricity generating playground
device , the children can move
the cyclically movable part in
uneven and irregular cycles in a given unit of time. This can cause an
irregular output from the generator which
can cause less than ideal conditions for charging a battery . Additionally, as the activity level on
the playground device ebbs and
flows, the frequency of complete cycling of the cyclically movable part can fall below a minimum threshold for
generating power from the generator in
which case the drag from the generator can cause the cyclically movable part to stop cycling or become difficult to
move. Moreover, in an effort to generate as much electricity as possible from
the play of the children on the playground device , the generator can cause drag on the playground device
that significantly dampens the free cycling or momentum driven cycling of the
cyclically movable part making
the cyclically movable part difficult to move. These problems can cause
children or adult supervisors to lose interest in the playground device . For example, if the playground device is
inefficient at producing electricity, adults supervisors may not view the
device as anything more than a toy. Additionally, if the cyclically movable
part is difficult to move,
children may view the playground device as a work tool instead of a toy, and,
thus, choose to decrease energy expenditure on the device.
The current generated by the
generator in order to limit the amount of kinetic energy from the cyclically
movable part that is converted to electricity. Thus, the duty cycle
controller can be programmed or set to limit the electrical current generation
to a level approximately equal to about 25% of the kinetic energy expended by
children playing on the playground device. The inventors have found that by
limiting the amount of current generated by the generator to about 25%
of the kinetic energy of children playing on the playground device allows for
adequate electricity generation to charge the batteries and does not
induce so much drag or dampening on the playground device that operation of the
cyclically movable part turns from fun to work for the children playing on the
device.
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