Partially Self-Refueling Low Emissions Vehicle and Stationary Power System

• US 20100107994A1
• Filed: 10/22/2009
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donald E. Moriarty
• Original Assignee: Donald E. Moriarty
• Inventors: Toner, Stephen, Moriarty, Donald
• Granted Patent: US 8,459,213 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/3
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/08 recovering energy derived from swinging, rolling, pitching or like movements, e.g. from the vibrations of a machine
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

A method and device to optimize the cumulative beneficial effect of harvesting available forms of lost energy, including energy that is lost while a vehicle is in motion (e.g., kinetic energy and energy contained in electromagnetic radiation. The cumulative energy that is recovered is converted to electrical energy which powers the on-board electrolyzer to produce more hydrogen and oxygen while the system is in operation and stationary. Stationary, passive forms of energy (e.g., solar, wind, hydro, etc.) will also be available to power the electrolyzer. The system also contemplates using passive forms of energy to power a non-mobile system which incorporates an internal or external combustion engine in place of a fuel cell. An oxygen injection control device is employed to control the supply of oxygen to the combustion engine.

Claims

1. A method for powering a mobile vehicle, comprising:

separating a volume of water into hydrogen and oxygen components using an electrolyzer;

storing the hydrogen and oxygen components onboard the vehicle;

providing a closed loop internal combustion engine with no direct access to atmospheric air;

supplying the internal combustion engine with a predetermined quantity of the hydrogen component;

supplying the internal combustion engine with a predetermined quantity of the oxygen component, said predetermined quantity being injected under pressure into the internal combustion engine;

mobilizing the automobile with power generated from the internal combustion engine;

converting motion from the mobilized vehicle into electrical energy;

transmitting the electrical energy to an energy system control; and

transmitting a portion of the electrical energy from the energy system control to the electrolyzer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined quantity of oxygen and hydrogen injected into the internal combustion engine is determined from the load placed on the internal combustion engine.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined quantity of oxygen injected into the internal combustion engine is determined from a throttle position of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the internal combustion engine includes an oxygen injection control device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the oxygen injection control device includes a modular device removably coupled to the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the oxygen injection control device communicates with an engine control unit of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the oxygen is injected into the internal combustion engine at a predetermined pressure, wherein said pressure is greater than atmospheric pressure.

8. A system for powering a vehicle, comprising:

a separation device adapted to separate a volume of water into hydrogen and oxygen components;

a storage device adapted to store the hydrogen and oxygen onboard the vehicle, the storage device operatively coupled to the engine;

a closed loop internal combustion engine operatively coupled to the storage device;

an oxygen injection control device operatively coupled to the engine;

an energy control system operatively coupled to the separation device; and

an energy conversion apparatus operatively coupled to the vehicle and adapted to selectively transmit energy to both the energy control system and the separation device.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of energy conversion apparatuses operatively coupled to the vehicle and adapted to transmit energy to the energy control system.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the oxygen injection control device is a modular device removably coupled to the engine and configured to communicate with an engine control unit of the vehicle.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the oxygen injection control device is configured to inject a predetermined quantity of oxygen into the internal combustion engine at a predetermined rate, the rate of injection being determined from a throttle position of the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the oxygen injection control device is configured to inject a predetermined quantity of oxygen into the internal combustion engine at a predetermined rate, the rate of injection being determined from engine load.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising a water injection control device configured to inject a predetermined quantity of water into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the internal combustion engine comprises a mixing chamber coupled to a combustion chamber, said mixing chamber configured to receive the oxygen and hydrogen components from the storage device.

15. A device for generating electrical power from motion of a wheel, comprising:

a hollow ring having a plurality of coil members disposed throughout the ring;

a magnet moveably disposed within the hollow ring; and

a locking mechanism adapted to secure the magnet in place relative to the hollow ring during acceleration of the wheel and release the magnet during deceleration of the wheel.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the magnet comprises a solid metallic arched cylinder, wherein a radius of curvature of the magnet substantially corresponds to the radius of curvature of the hollow ring to enable slidable movement of the magnet within the hollow ring.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein an inner surface of the hollow ring includes a material having a coefficient of friction less than about 0.1.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein an inner surface of the hollow ring includes a material having a coefficient of friction less than about 0.06.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein an outer surface of the magnet includes a material having a coefficient of friction less than about 0.06.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein the magnet further comprises a plurality of wheels operatively coupled between the magnet and the hollow ring.