US 12345002 B1Patent grantUnited States

Energy-Harvesting Smart Speed Bump

Official patent title

Smart speed bump and methods for energy generation

Arabic title: مطب سرعة ذكي وطرق لتوليد الطاقة

Invention

Problem

Conventional speed bumps dissipate vehicle energy as heat and vibration and may cause discomfort, vehicle stress, and repeated braking and acceleration. Prior energy-harvesting designs can be mechanically complex, difficult to install, or insufficiently integrated with shock absorption and energy storage.

Why it matters

Recovering part of the mechanical energy transferred at traffic-calming points could power nearby low-energy infrastructure while retaining the primary speed-control function.

Approach

A vertically moving speed bump compresses a spring-coupled piston oil pump. Pressurized oil is stored in a tank and directed through an oil turbine connected to an electrical generator, with the mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical components contained in a subterranean roadway housing.

Who may benefit

Potential beneficiaries include municipalities, roadway and parking operators, smart-city developers, traffic-equipment manufacturers, infrastructure contractors, and organizations studying distributed energy harvesting.

Potential value

The design combines traffic calming, spring-based shock absorption, hydraulic energy storage, turbine generation, and service access in a modular subterranean assembly intended for standardized roadway installation.

Background

Speed bumps reduce vehicle speed but force vertical motion that dissipates kinetic energy and can increase discomfort, mechanical loading, and fuel use. Mechanical and hydraulic energy-harvesting bumps have been proposed, yet some require separate accumulators, external power systems, complex roadway modification, or inadequate damping. A practical unit must manage repeated wheel loads, return the bump reliably, contain hydraulic equipment, and permit maintenance. The disclosed assembly integrates these functions in a single reinforced, below-road housing that converts piston-driven oil pressure into generator rotation.

Technology overview

The arcuate speed-bump body moves within a tapered channel and drives a piston rod while a helical compression spring returns it after a vehicle passes. The piston transfers oil between a main reservoir and a compressed-oil tank. Pressurized oil rotates a turbine shaft connected to a generator. Guide rails, damping pads, mounting brackets, vents, wiring, reinforced concrete, anchors, and access plates support alignment, vibration control, installation, and service. The housing is divided into upper, middle, and lower sections within a roadway trench.

Potential applications

Traffic calming with local electrical-energy recovery.
School-zone and residential-street infrastructure research.
Parking, toll, campus, and industrial-entry installations.
Power support for nearby lighting, sensors, or traffic equipment.
Smart-city roadway energy-harvesting pilots.

Evidence-supported advantages

Integrates speed control and hydraulic power generation in one assembly.
Uses a compression spring and damping elements for controlled displacement.
Stores energy hydraulically before driving the turbine and generator.
Places the main components in a protected subterranean housing.
Includes access and mounting features intended to simplify service and installation.

Development stage

A detailed mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, and installation design is described; a road-tested prototype, measured electrical output, traffic-safety performance, fatigue life, and maintenance data were not established. The development stage was not independently verified.

Commercial opportunity

The assembly may interest municipalities, parking operators, and traffic-equipment suppliers. Viability depends on measured energy per vehicle, net energy after added vehicle losses, road-safety certification, structural fatigue, hydraulic leakage control, drainage, weather resistance, installation downtime, maintenance cost, and lifecycle economics at representative traffic volumes.

Patent classifications

WIPO IPC

E01F9/529Additional work such as equipping roads or constructing platforms, helicopter landing stages, signs or snow fences
F03B13/00Machines or engines for liquids

CPC

E01F9/529Additional work such as equipping roads or constructing platforms, helicopter landing stages, signs or snow fences
F03B13/00Machines or engines for liquids
F04B19/04Positive-displacement machines for liquids; pumps

Inventors

First inventorMohamed Bechir Ben Hamida

Keywords

smart speed bump
energy harvesting
hydraulic generator
piston pump
oil turbine
traffic calming
roadway infrastructure
shock absorption

Patent document and drawings

The patent publication is mapped to this record. Patent drawings remain within that publication; no separately cleared public media package has been supplied.