Bicycle-and-Flywheel Human Energy Harvester Device Details
Measurement of input pressure is at the individual bicycle unit, derived through
pressure sensors at the foot pedals and arm pedals; this pressure is mathematically
converted to wattage.
A water bottle holder is
provided at each station, as well as a headphone jack to enable optional listening to a
movie projected on the back wall, as done in commercial airplanes.
This device
can be easily scaled up: the twelve current
single-point input devices as shown can be expanded to 20 or more. The shaft joining all
the generators is a hollow tube made of lightweight and strong carbon fiber in order to
maximize efficiency by minimizing energy losses
due to excess mass.
Two large flywheels on the ends of the central shaft rotate on magnetic
bearings within large generators to capture maximum flywheel effect. This effect enables
Users to begin and end exercise sessions with no
appreciable decrease in overall device RPMs.
Each user combines arm and leg
physical inputs to get a comprehensive upper and lower body workout.