ENERGY RECOVERY SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A train car comprising:
- a vehicle frame having a first end, a second end, and an underside;
a first bogie positioned near said first end and attached to the underside of said vehicle frame;
a second bogie positioned near said second end and attached to the underside of said vehicle;
a device adapted to generate a magnetic field positioned underneath said vehicle frame; and
a controller adapted to activate said device such that the magnetic field generated by said device intersects with a conductor positioned off-board said train car and induces a voltage in said conductor thereby converting a portion of the train car'"'"'s kinetic energy to electrical current that flows through said conductor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An energy recovery system including a device that produces a magnetic field adapted for mounting to a vehicle and a stationary conductor adapted for placing in or adjacent the path of the vehicle wherein the magnetic field induces current to flow through the conductor when the vehicle moves past the conductor. The vehicle may be an automobile, a truck, a train, or other type of vehicle. When used in conjunction with a train, the energy recovery system may be designed to recover energy from non-locomotive train cars in addition to, or in lieu of, the train locomotive. Kinetic energy that would otherwise be lost to heat energy through the application of brakes to the non-locomotive cars can thereby be recovered and re-used.
34 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A train car comprising:
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a vehicle frame having a first end, a second end, and an underside; a first bogie positioned near said first end and attached to the underside of said vehicle frame; a second bogie positioned near said second end and attached to the underside of said vehicle; a device adapted to generate a magnetic field positioned underneath said vehicle frame; and a controller adapted to activate said device such that the magnetic field generated by said device intersects with a conductor positioned off-board said train car and induces a voltage in said conductor thereby converting a portion of the train car'"'"'s kinetic energy to electrical current that flows through said conductor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A train system comprising:
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a track having a rail; a coil positioned adjacent said rail; a non-locomotive train car; a device attached to said train car and adapted to generate a magnetic field; and a controller adapted to activate said device such that the magnetic field generated by said device intersects with said coil and induces a voltage in said coil thereby converting a portion of the train car'"'"'s kinetic energy to electrical current that flows through said coil. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of recovering energy from a train comprising:
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providing a regenerative brake on a non-locomotive train car; and using said regenerative brake to convert kinetic energy of said non-locomotive train car to electrical energy. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification