WASTE ENERGY REGENERATION SYSTEM FOR NON-HYBRID VEHICLES
First Claim
1. A vehicle system configured to utilize a vehicle'"'"'s waste kinetic energy, comprising:
- a self-charging motor mechanically coupled to a vehicle shaft, the vehicle shaft being coupled to a combustion engine;
a vehicle battery;
an ultra capacitor electrically coupled to the self-charging motor; and
a controller module configured to direct electrical power to be stored in the ultra capacitor when the electrical power is generated by the self-charging motor during application of vehicle brakes in response to rotation by the vehicle shaft.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A conventional vehicle can be turned into a semi-hybrid vehicle using an ultra capacitor, a self-charging motor, and a number of different other components configured to maximize usage of vehicle waste kinetic energy. In one implementation, detected deceleration of the semi-hybrid vehicle causes the self-charging motor to pass electrical power to the ultra capacitor. In one implementation, the self-charging motor can also be used to further decelerate, or brake, the vehicle. After deceleration, such as upon accelerating the vehicle, the self-charging motor initially draws power from the ultra capacitor to add torque to the drive shaft, which can significantly reduce required fuel consumption. In another implementation, the semi-hybrid vehicle is configured to differentially engage refrigerant compressor power sources so that the refrigerant compressor can be synchronized with a mechanical power source before engaging. This can minimize or eliminate jerking of the vehicle during air conditioner compressor engagement.
95 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A vehicle system configured to utilize a vehicle'"'"'s waste kinetic energy, comprising:
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a self-charging motor mechanically coupled to a vehicle shaft, the vehicle shaft being coupled to a combustion engine;
a vehicle battery;
an ultra capacitor electrically coupled to the self-charging motor; and
a controller module configured to direct electrical power to be stored in the ultra capacitor when the electrical power is generated by the self-charging motor during application of vehicle brakes in response to rotation by the vehicle shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. In a vehicle having a vehicle battery, a method of using an ultra capacitor and a self-charging motor to increase fuel efficiency through recovery and use of vehicle kinetic waste energy, comprising the steps of:
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identifying the presence of vehicle waste kinetic energy;
engaging a self-charging motor, wherein the self-charging motor translates mechanical energy from a rotating shaft into electrical power representing the vehicle waste kinetic energy;
storing the electrical power representing the identified vehicle waste kinetic energy in an ultra capacitor; and
engaging the self-charging motor with the stored electrical power from the ultra capacitor to accelerate the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A semi-hybrid vehicle system configured to utilize mechanical waste energy from vehicle deceleration, comprising:
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a self-charging motor mechanically coupled to a combustion engine via a first clutch and to a refrigerant compressor via a second clutch;
a transmission PTO coupled to the self-charging motor via the first clutch; and
a controller module electrically coupled to a vehicle battery, to an ultra capacitor, and to the self-charging motor;
wherein the controller module is configured to operate the refrigerant compressor through the self-charging motor using vehicle waste energy provided from one of the transmission PTO, the vehicle battery, or the ultra capacitor, depending on one or both of;
(i) release of a fuel application system;
or(ii) application of a vehicle braking system. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A vehicle system configured to tie together operation of the vehicle'"'"'s braking system, electrical system, and air conditioning system in order to maximize fuel consumption efficiency, comprising:
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a braking system coupled with a braking controller;
an electrical system that communicatively couples a vehicle battery and an ultra capacitor to a controller module; and
a multi-mode self-charging motor coupled to the controller module, to the vehicle battery, to the ultra capacitor, and to the air conditioning system;
wherein the controller module and self-charging motor are configured to, upon detecting application of the vehicle brakes, decelerate the vehicle system by increasing electrical output of the self-charging motor to the ultra capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification