Mass transit systems

• US 4,218,889 A
• Filed: 02/07/1979
• Issued: 08/26/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BMC Acquisition Corporation
• Original Assignee: Erik F. Buell
• Inventors: Buell, Erik F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yeung, James C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): O'Connor, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US06/010,037
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 180/54 C, 180/54 F, 180/165, 180/2 A, 180/310, 60/698, 60/676, 60/670, 60/721, 126/433, 126/437, 126/440, 126/450
• US Class Current: 60/676
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 16/00 Arrangements in connection with power supply of propulsion units in vehicles from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind B60L8/00; marine propulsion by wind motors driving water-engaging propulsive elements B63H13/00; wind motors specially adapted for installation on vehicles F03D9/32
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 3/10 for vehicle drive, e.g. for accumulator locomotives
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/31 having discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F24V 40/00 Production or use of heat resulting from internal friction of moving fluids or from friction between fluids and moving bodies
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/00 Heat storage plants or apparatus in general; Regenerative heat-exchange apparatus not covered by groups F28D17/00 or F28D19/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/40 Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

A mass transit system is provided which derives its basic energy from the solar system and recovered heat energy. The system of the invention provides a storage building having a roof and an internal storage area for a multiplicity of individual wheel vehicles, a solar energy collection system on the roof of said building, water storage means in said building, a circulating system circulating water from said water storage means through said solar energy collection system for heating said water and storing said heat as heated water in said water storage means, energy conversion means in said building converting said heat in said water storage means to rotary energy, a plurality of wheeled vehicles, energy storage means in each said wheeled vehicle, means connecting said energy conversion means selectively to the energy storage means of each said wheeled vehicle for transferring and storing energy from the water storage means to the energy storage means in said wheeled vehicles, energy transmission means in each wheeled vehicle selectively connecting said energy storage means to drive wheels on said vehicle for driving the same, a braking system in each wheeled vehicle acting selectively to stop said drive wheels, a heat collection system surrounding said brakes for collecting frictional heat resulting from braking said vehicle, a vehicle solar heat collection on each said vehicle, fluid energy transfer means receiving the heat from the friction heat collection system and from said solar heat collection system on the vehicle, a drive means selectively connected to said energy storage means for adding driving energy thereto, said drive means connected to said fluid energy transfer means and energized thereby.

Claims

1. A mass transit system comprising a storage building having a roof and an internal storage area for a multiplicity of individual wheel vehicles, a solar energy collection system on the roof of said building, water storage means in said building, a circulating system circulating water from said water storage means through said solar energy collection system for heating said water and storing said heat as heated water in said water storage means, energy conversion means in said building converting said heat in said water storage means to rotary energy, a plurality of wheeled vehicles, energy storage means in each said wheeled vehicle, means connecting said energy conversion means selectively to the energy storage means of each said wheeled vehicle for transferring and storing energy from the water storage means to the energy storage means in said wheeled vehicles, energy transmission means in each wheeled vehicle selectively connecting said energy storage means to drive wheels on said vehicle for driving the same, a braking system in each wheeled vehicle acting selectively to stop said drive wheels, a heat collection system surrounding said brakes for collecting frictional heat resulting from braking said vehicle, a vehicle solar heat collection system on each said vehicle, fluid energy transfer means receiving the heat from the friction heat collection system and from said solar heat collection system on the vehicle, a drive means selectively connected to said energy storage means for adding driving energy thereto, said drive means connected to said fluid energy transfer means and energized thereby.

2. A mass transit system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the solar energy collection system is a group of reflectors and fresnel lenses collecting the heat energy from the solar system and directing it into the circulatory system of water from the storage means.

3. A mass transit system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the energy conversion means is a steam turbine driven by steam created by the solar heating system.

4. A mass transit system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wheeled vehicles are in the form of motor buses having a pair of counterrotating flywheels and means for connecting said flywheels to said energy conversion means.

5. A mass transit system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the flywheels are selectively connected to drive wheels on said motor buses by means of a variable ratio transmission.

6. A mass transit system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drive means is a Stirling heat engine.

7. A mass transit system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the Stirling heat engine is connected to the energy storage means by means of a one-way clutch.

8. A mass transit system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the heat collection system surrounding said brakes comprises a sealed housing surounding the braking surfaces and a high heat capacity gas in said housing transferring heat from the brakes to an energy collection system.

9. A mass transit system as claimed in claim 1 wherein each wheeled vehicle carries a solar energy system in the form of fresnel lenses and heat pipes whereby said lenses direct heat onto said heat pipes.