System for storing and using deceleration energy
First Claim
1. A system for storing deceleration energy from a motor vehicle and for using the stored deceleration energy to at least assist in accelerating the motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle includes an engine, a wheel axle having a wheel mounted on each end thereof, and a drive shaft having a first piece coupled to the engine and a second piece coupled to the wheel axle, the system comprising:
- a) means for storing electrical energy;
b) a generator, mechanically coupled to said drive shaft and electrically coupled to said storing means, for converting deceleration energy into electrical energy;
c) a motor, mechanically coupled to said drive shaft and electrically coupled to said storing means, for converting the stored electrical energy into mechanical energy; and
d) switch means for switching the generator on and the motor off when the motorized vehicle is decelerating, for switching the generator off and the motor on when the motorized vehicle is accelerating, and for switching the generator off and the motor off when the motorized vehicle is neither decelerating nor accelerating, wherein said switch means comprises a coupling, said coupling having an outer ring shaped component coupled to said second piece of said drive shaft, said outer ring shaped component being shaped to include a pair of inwardly extending projections, and an inner annular shaped component coupled to said first piece of said drive shaft, said inner annular shaped component being shaped to include a pair of appropriately sized slots adapted to receive said inwardly extending projections, and a pair of sending units, one of said pair of sending units being mounted on one of said pair of inwardly extending projections for actuating said generator when said outer ring shaped component rotates faster than said inner annular shaped component, the other of said pair of sending units being mounted on the other of said pair of inwardly extending projections for actuating said motor when said inner annular shaped component rotates faster than said outer ring shaped component.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for storing deceleration energy from a motor vehicle and for using the stored deceleration energy to assist in accelerating the motor vehicle. In one embodiment, the system comprises a generator mechanically coupled to the drive train for converting deceleration energy to electrical energy, means electrically coupled to the generator for storing the electrical energy outputted by the generator, a motor mechanically coupled to the drive train and electrically coupled to the storing means for converting the stored electrical energy to mechanical energy used to assist in accelerating the motor vehicle, and a detector/switch for determining whether the motor vehicle is decelerating, accelerating, or neither and for switching the generator on and the motor off when the motor vehicle is decelerating for switching the generator off and the motor on when the motor vehicle is accelerating, and for switching the generator off and the motor off when the motor vehicle is neither accelerating nor decelerating.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A system for storing deceleration energy from a motor vehicle and for using the stored deceleration energy to at least assist in accelerating the motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle includes an engine, a wheel axle having a wheel mounted on each end thereof, and a drive shaft having a first piece coupled to the engine and a second piece coupled to the wheel axle, the system comprising:
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a) means for storing electrical energy; b) a generator, mechanically coupled to said drive shaft and electrically coupled to said storing means, for converting deceleration energy into electrical energy; c) a motor, mechanically coupled to said drive shaft and electrically coupled to said storing means, for converting the stored electrical energy into mechanical energy; and d) switch means for switching the generator on and the motor off when the motorized vehicle is decelerating, for switching the generator off and the motor on when the motorized vehicle is accelerating, and for switching the generator off and the motor off when the motorized vehicle is neither decelerating nor accelerating, wherein said switch means comprises a coupling, said coupling having an outer ring shaped component coupled to said second piece of said drive shaft, said outer ring shaped component being shaped to include a pair of inwardly extending projections, and an inner annular shaped component coupled to said first piece of said drive shaft, said inner annular shaped component being shaped to include a pair of appropriately sized slots adapted to receive said inwardly extending projections, and a pair of sending units, one of said pair of sending units being mounted on one of said pair of inwardly extending projections for actuating said generator when said outer ring shaped component rotates faster than said inner annular shaped component, the other of said pair of sending units being mounted on the other of said pair of inwardly extending projections for actuating said motor when said inner annular shaped component rotates faster than said outer ring shaped component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A motorized vehicle comprising:
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a) a wheel axle, said wheel axle having a wheel mounted on each end; b) an engine for use in driving the rotation of said wheel axle; c) a drive shaft including a first piece and a second piece, said first piece being mechanically coupled to said engine and said second piece being mechanically coupled to said wheel axle; d) means for storing electrical energy; and e) a drive shaft assembly interconnecting said first piece of said drive shaft and said second piece of said drive shaft, said drive shaft assembly including; i) a generator, mechanically coupled to said second piece of said drive shaft and electrically coupled to said storing means, for converting deceleration energy into electrical energy, ii) a motor, mechanically coupled to said second piece of said drive shaft and electrically coupled to said storing means, for converting the stored electrical energy into mechanical energy, and iii) switch means for switching the generator on and the motor off when the motorized vehicle is decelerating, for switching the generator off and the motor on when the motorized vehicle is accelerating, and for switching the generator off and the motor off when the motorized vehicle is neither decelerating nor accelerating, wherein said switch means comprises a coupling, said coupling having an outer ring shaped component coupled to said second piece of said drive shaft, said outer ring shaped component being shaped to include a pair of inwardly extending projections, and an inner annular shaped component coupled to said first piece of said drive shaft, said inner annular shaped component being shaped to include a pair of appropriately sized slots adapted to receive said inwardly extending projections, and a pair of sending units, one of said pair of sending units being mounted on one of said pair of inwardly extending projections for actuating said generator when said outer ring shaped component rotates faster than said inner annular shaped component, the other of said pair of sending units being mounted on the other of said pair of inwardly extending projections for actuating said motor when said inner annular shaped component rotates faster than said outer ring shaped component. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A system for storing deceleration energy from a motor vehicle and for using the stored deceleration energy to at least assist in accelerating the motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle includes an engine, a wheel axle having a wheel mounted on each end thereof, and a drive shaft having a first piece coupled to the engine and a second piece coupled to the wheel axle, the system comprising:
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a) means for storing electrical energy; b) a generator, mechanically coupled to said drive shaft and electrically coupled to said storing means, for converting deceleration energy into electrical energy; c) a motor, mechanically coupled to said drive shaft and electrically coupled to said storing means, for converting the stored electrical energy into mechanical energy; and d) switch means for switching the generator on and the motor off when the motorized vehicle is decelerating, for switching the generator off and the motor on when the motorized vehicle is accelerating, and for switching the generator off and the motor off when the motorized vehicle is neither decelerating nor accelerating, wherein said switch means comprises a coupling, said coupling having an outer ring shaped component coupled to said second piece of said drive shaft, said outer ring shaped component being shaped to include a pair of inwardly extending projections, and an inner annular shaped component coupled to said first piece of said drive shaft, said inner annular shaped component being shaped to include a pair of appropriately sized slots adapted to receive said inwardly extending projections, first actuating means mounted on one of said pair of inwardly extending projections for actuating said generator when a greater rotational force is imparted to said outer ring shaped component than to said inner annular shaped component, and second actuating means mounted on the other of said pair of inwardly extending projections for actuating said motor when a greater rotational force is imparted to said inner annular shaped component than to said outer ring shaped component. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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Specification