HARNESSING SHEAR-THICKENING FLUIDS FOR SUSTAINABLE SPEED BREAKERS AND ENERGY GENERATION

Abstract

This invention presents a sustainable speed-reducing device utilizing a shear-thickening fluid to minimize vehicle impact while simultaneously harvesting kinetic energy for electricity generation. The device promotes road safety and sustainable energy practices.

Specification

Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains to the field of civil engineering, specifically focusing on the design and implementation of sustainable speed-reducing road infrastructure that incorporates energy harvesting capabilities.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Traditional speed bumps and rumble strips often cause discomfort and damage to vehicles, particularly at higher speeds. The impact forces can lead to wear and tear on vehicle suspensions, and the abrupt deceleration can be jarring for passengers. These negative consequences discourage drivers from adhering to posted speed limits, particularly in residential or pedestrian areas. Furthermore, existing speed-reducing measures do not typically incorporate sustainable energy-harvesting technologies. The maintenance and replacement of such infrastructure involve significant costs, environmental concerns due to material usage and disposal, and energy consumption associated with their manufacture and deployment.
Many existing speed bumps and rumble strips are constructed from materials that are not environmentally friendly, and their lifespan is often limited. Frequent repairs and replacements contribute to environmental waste and increase costs for municipalities. The manufacturing process consumes significant energy, and the materials themselves may have a negative impact on the surrounding environment. The lack of integrated energy harvesting technology necessitates the use of external power sources for lighting nearby areas, creating additional energy consumption.
There is a growing need for speed-reducing devices that are both effective and sustainable. These devices should minimize the impact on vehicles while effectively discouraging speeding. They should also incorporate energy-harvesting mechanisms that reduce their overall environmental impact and contribute to sustainable energy practices. The use of non-Newtonian fluids, such as shear-thickening fluids (STFs), offers a promising solution. STFs exhibit unique properties, changing viscosity based on applied stress and strain rate, allowing for a softer impact at lower speeds and increased resistance at higher speeds.
However, the integration of non-Newtonian fluids into a speed-reducing device that also incorporates energy harvesting presents significant design and engineering challenges. Existing patents focus on either reducing the impact force or harvesting energy, but not on a fully integrated system. This invention aims to address this gap by creating a speed bump that combines both features, thus promoting road safety and sustainable energy production.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the invention.
This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention and nor is it intended for determining the scope of the invention.
To further clarify advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.
This invention presents a novel speed-reducing device that utilizes non-Newtonian fluid (specifically, a shear-thickening fluid) to minimize the impact on vehicles while simultaneously providing increased resistance to speeding vehicles. The device also incorporates an energy-harvesting mechanism, converting kinetic energy from vehicle deceleration into electricity that can power streetlights or other nearby devices.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
FIGURE 1: A BLOCK DIAGRAM ILLUSTRATING THE COMPONENTS OF THE SPEED-REDUCING DEVICE AND THEIR INTERCONNECTIONS.
The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms "a"," "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes" and/or "including," when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
In addition, the descriptions of "first", "second", "third", and the like in the present invention are used for the purpose of description only, and are not to be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, features defining "first" and "second" may include at least one of the features, either explicitly or implicitly.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
The invention comprises several key components designed to achieve both speed reduction and energy generation:
1. Synthetic Rubber Layer: Forms the topmost layer of the device, providing a smooth surface for vehicle passage and protecting the underlying layers from wear and tear.
2. Non-Newtonian Fluid Layer: A shear-thickening fluid (STF) layer, sandwiched between the synthetic rubber and metal layers. This layer's viscosity changes based on applied stress, providing a softer impact for vehicles below the speed limit and increased resistance for speeding vehicles.
3. Metal Base Layer: Provides structural support, housing the rack-and-pinion mechanism and energy harvesting components.
4. Rack-and-Pinion Mechanism: Converts linear motion from vehicle interaction with the non-Newtonian fluid into rotational motion, which drives the electric generator.
5. Electric Generator: Converts rotational motion from the rack-and-pinion mechanism into electrical energy.
6. Spring System: Restores the device to its original shape after vehicle passage.
7. Circular Rod, L-Clamp, Sprocket, and Chain: Mechanical components transferring linear motion to the electric generator.
8. Battery: Stores the generated electrical energy for later use.
The system functions by converting the kinetic energy absorbed by the shear-thickening fluid into rotational motion via a rack-and-pinion system. This rotational motion drives the electric generator, producing electricity. The electricity is stored in a battery for later use, potentially powering streetlights or other nearby devices. The spring system ensures that the device returns to its original configuration after vehicle passage. The use of a shear-thickening fluid minimizes vehicle damage and enhances road safety while simultaneously contributing to sustainable energy generation.
, Claims:1. A speed-reducing device comprising a synthetic rubber layer, a shear-thickening fluid layer, a metal base layer, a rack-and-pinion mechanism, an electric generator, a spring system, and a battery.
2. The device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the shear-thickening fluid is selected to provide a softer impact at lower speeds and increased resistance at higher speeds.
3. The device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the rack-and-pinion mechanism efficiently converts linear motion into rotational motion to drive the electric generator.
4. The device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the electric generator converts rotational motion into electrical energy that is stored in the battery.
5. The device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the spring system ensures the device returns to its original configuration after vehicle passage.
6. The device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the device is designed for easy integration into existing road infrastructure.
7. A method for reducing vehicle speed comprising using a device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the device's properties adjust based on vehicle speed.
8. The method as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the device generates electricity from vehicle kinetic energy.
9. The method as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the generated electricity is used to power streetlights or other nearby devices.

10. The method as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the device is constructed from environmentally friendly materials.

Documents