Automotive power plant

• US 4,578,955 A
• Filed: 12/05/1984
• Issued: 04/01/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ralph Medina
• Original Assignee: Ralph Medina
• Inventors: Medina, Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F.
• Application Number:
  US06/678,277
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 60/698, 60/709, 60/716, 60/718, 60/726, 60/727, 60/729, 60/39.45, 180/65.2, 180/65.4, 180/165, 180/301
• US Class Current: 60/709
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 73/00 Combinations of two or more engines, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

In an automotive power plant including an electric motor having a drive shaft connected to a transmission and a battery pack connected to the motor for vehicle speeds up to 30 miles per hour approximately, the improvement comprising an alternate power source including an electric generator connectable to the drive shaft having output leads connected to the battery pack and to the motor. An air compressor having a drive shaft is coupled to the motor drive shaft and has a pressurized air outlet connected to a reservoir. A boost pump is connected to the reservoir or air compressor to a combustion chamber having an electric ignition and a connection to a pressurized fuel source and includes a high velocity exhaust gas outlet. A turbine receives exhaust gases for driving an impellor secured upon the compressor shaft.

Claims

1. In an automotive power plant including an electric motor having a drive shaft, an automatic transmission connected to said drive shaft and a battery pack with power leads connected to said motor for operating said transmission for vehicle speeds up to 30 miles per hour, approximately;

the improvement comprising an alternate power source for said motor including an electric generator having a rotor receiving and connectable to said drive shaft and a stator having output leads connected to said battery pack;

an air compressor having an air inlet, a drive shaft axially coupled to said motor drive shaft and a pressure air outlet;

a pressurized air reservoir connected to said air outlet;

a boost pump having an air inlet connected to said reservoir, air pressurizing means and a pressurized air outlet;

a combustion chamber having a first inlet connected to said boost pump outlet and a combustion exhaust pipe;

a pressurized fuel source connected to said combustion chamber;

an ignition means in said combustion chamber connected to said battery pack;

a turbine having a casing and an impellor therein axially mounted upon and connected to said compressor drive shaft and with said casing connected to said combustion exhaust pipe;

and control means connected to said generator for cutting off battery drive to said motor and energizing said generator and said compressor, said turbine transmitting torque to said compressor and motor drive shafts.

2. In the power plant of claim 1, said control means including an electrical circuit having a control switch connected to said generator for energizing said stator, a relay switch connected to said power leads and to said control switch and a remote panel control connected to said relay switch and motor.

3. In the power plant of claim 2, the coupling between said motor drive shaft and compressor drive shaft including a normally open clutch;

said control means further including an electrical connector between said relay switch and said clutch.

4. In the power plant of claim 1, said boost pump including a first cylinder and a reciprocal first piston therein;

said air pressurizing means including a pulser cylinder aligned with said first cylinder;

a reciprocal spring biased second piston in said pulser cylinder having a piston rod connected to said first piston;

a conduit interconnecting said air reservoir and said pulser cylinder;

and an intermittently operable cut-off valve in said latter conduit for reciprocating said second piston.

5. In the automotive power plant of claim 4, the spring bias of said second piston including a coiled spring interposed between said second piston and pulser cylinder intermittently retracting said second piston;

said cut-off valve controlling flow of pressurized air to said pulser cylinder for intermittently advancing its piston.

6. In the automotive power plant of claim 5, a solenoid on said cut-off valve connected to said power leads for intermittently operating said cut-off valve.

7. In the automotive power plant of claim 1, said fuel source including a tank containing fuel, and a fuel pressurizing means interconnecting said tank and said combustion chamber for injecting pressurized fuel thereinto.

8. In the automotive power plant of claim 7, said fuel pressurizing means being a fuel pump connected to said compressor shaft.

9. In the automotive power plant of claim 7, said fuel pressurizing means including an injector connected to said compressor shaft.

10. In the automotive power plant of claim 1, said ignition means including at least one spark plug, and a timing means connected to said spark plug and to said compressor shaft.

11. In the automotive power plant of claim 1, and an air preheater interposed into the connection of said boost pump outlet to said combustion chamber.

12. In the automotive power plant of claim 1, and nozzels within said turbine casing connected to said combustion exhaust pipe for directing expanding pressurized gases to said impellor.

13. In the power plant of claim 3, a clutch operator interposed between said electrical connector and clutch for engaging said clutch on activation of said panel control.

14. In the power plant of claim 1, a restictor valve connected to said reservor and to said boost pump.

15. In the automotive power plant of claim 11, said air reheater including an electric resistance coil within said heater and connected to said battery pack.

16. In the power plant of claim 1, said boost pump including a plurality of first cylinders respectively connected to said reservoir;

each first cylinder having a reciprocal first piston and each first cylinder outletting into said combustion chamber;

said air pressurizing means including a corresponding plurality of pulser cylinders aligned with said first cylinders respectively;

a reciprocal spring biased second piston in each pulser cylinder having a piston rod connected to said first pistons respectively;

there being a plurality of conduits interconnecting said air reservoir with each of said pulser cylinders;

and an intermittently operable solenoid control valve in each of said latter conduits for reciprocating said second pistons respectively.