Apparatus and method for hydraulically converting movement of a vehicle wheel to electricity for charging a vehicle battery
First Claim
1. ) An apparatus for converting movements of a wheel of a vehicle relative to a body of the vehicle to electricity for charging a battery of the vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- a generator mounted on the vehicle, the generator having an input shaft that is rotated to produce electricity from the generator;
a battery mounted on the vehicle, the battery being connected in electrical communication with the generator for receiving electricity produced by the generator;
a hydraulic motor mounted on the vehicle, the hydraulic motor having an output shaft that is operatively connected to the generator input shaft to rotate the generator input shaft on operation of the hydraulic motor;
a piston operatively connected to the wheel of the vehicle for movement of the piston in response to movement of the wheel;
a cylinder mounted on the vehicle, the cylinder receiving the piston for reciprocating movement of the piston in the cylinder in response to movement of the wheel; and
, a hydraulic circuit communicating the cylinder with the hydraulic motor to cause operation of the hydraulic motor in response to movement of the piston in the cylinder.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and its method of operation hydraulically convert the relative movements between a vehicle wheel and a body of the vehicle to electricity, and use the electricity to recharge a battery of the vehicle. A generator is provided on the vehicle and a hydraulic motor is provided on the vehicle to rotate an input shaft of the generator. A double acting piston and cylinder assembly is operatively connected to each wheel of the vehicle, and each double acting piston and cylinder assembly is connected through a hydraulic circuit to the hydraulic motor. Movements of the vehicle wheels during operation of the vehicle cause reciprocating movements of each piston in each double acting piston and cylinder assembly. The reciprocating movements of the pistons pump liquid to the hydraulic motor and draw liquid from the hydraulic motor to cause operation of the hydraulic motor. The operation of the hydraulic motor drives the generator input shaft, which in turn produces electricity that is supplied to the vehicle battery to recharge the vehicle battery.
107 Citations
20 Claims
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1. ) An apparatus for converting movements of a wheel of a vehicle relative to a body of the vehicle to electricity for charging a battery of the vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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a generator mounted on the vehicle, the generator having an input shaft that is rotated to produce electricity from the generator;
a battery mounted on the vehicle, the battery being connected in electrical communication with the generator for receiving electricity produced by the generator;
a hydraulic motor mounted on the vehicle, the hydraulic motor having an output shaft that is operatively connected to the generator input shaft to rotate the generator input shaft on operation of the hydraulic motor;
a piston operatively connected to the wheel of the vehicle for movement of the piston in response to movement of the wheel;
a cylinder mounted on the vehicle, the cylinder receiving the piston for reciprocating movement of the piston in the cylinder in response to movement of the wheel; and
,a hydraulic circuit communicating the cylinder with the hydraulic motor to cause operation of the hydraulic motor in response to movement of the piston in the cylinder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. ) An apparatus for converting movements of a wheel of a vehicle relative to a body of the vehicle to electricity for charging a battery of the vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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a generator mounted on the vehicle, the generator having an input shaft that is rotated to produce electricity from the generator;
a battery mounted on the vehicle, the battery being connected in electrical communication with the generator for receiving electricity produced by the generator;
a hydraulic motor mounted on the vehicle, the hydraulic motor having an output shaft that is operatively connected to the generator input shaft to rotate the generator input shaft on operation of the hydraulic motor;
a cylinder mounted on the vehicle body, the cylinder having an interior volume;
a piston operatively connected to the wheel of the vehicle for movement of the piston in response to movement of the wheel relative to the vehicle body;
the piston having a piston head mounted in the cylinder interior volume dividing the cylinder interior volume into first and second parts; and
,a hydraulic circuit communicating the cylinder with the hydraulic motor, the hydraulic circuit including a pressure line that directs liquid from the cylinder to the hydraulic motor, and a liquid vacuum line that directs liquid from the motor to the cylinder. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. ) A method of converting movements of a wheel of a vehicle relative to a body of the vehicle to electricity and charging a battery of the vehicle, the method comprising:
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providing a generator on the vehicle with the generator having an input shaft that is rotated to produce electricity from the generator;
connecting the generator in electrical communication with the battery to supply the electricity produced by the generator to the battery;
providing a hydraulic motor with an output shaft on the vehicle and operatively connecting the hydraulic motor output shaft to the generator input shaft to rotate the input shaft in response to operation of the hydraulic motor;
providing a piston and operatively connecting the piston to the wheel of the vehicle for movement of the piston in response to movements of the wheel;
providing a cylinder on the vehicle and mounting the piston in the cylinder from reciprocating movement of the piston in the cylinder in response to movement of the wheel; and
,communicating the cylinder with the hydraulic motor by a hydraulic circuit that causes operation of the hydraulic motor in response to movement of the piston in the cylinder. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification