Electric vehicle with downhill electro-generating system

• US 5,215,156 A
• Filed: 06/25/1992
• Issued: 06/01/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nathan Stulbach
• Original Assignee: Nathan Stulbach
• Inventors: Yuter, Seymour C., Stulbach, Nathan
• Primary Examiner(s): JOHNSON, BRIAN L
• Application Number:
  US07/905,488
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/2.1, 180/242, 180/282, 180/285, 180/292, 180/165, 290/16, 310/112, 310/113, 310/114
• US Class Current: 180/65.31
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/15 with additional electric power supply with capacitors charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/40; with batteries charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/61
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A vehicle having an electro-generating system which includes a dynamoelectric generator. The shaft of the dynamoelectric generator is linked directly or indirectly with the rotating axle of the road wheels of the vehicle, preferably via a mechanical turns amplifier. The turns amplifier will multiply the rotation rate of the electro-generating system and increase the production capacity of electric power. The dynamoelectric generator can be utilized to recharge a storage battery driving the vehicle while the car is in motion, especially automatically when the vehicle is going down hill. The vehicle'"'"'s electric motor can be driven directly from a dynamoelectric generator in place of a storage battery after the vehicle is moving. In railroad cars (freight and passenger) the electro-generating system can be utilized to charge storage batteries, with their electricity utilized for other electro-energy requirements.

Claims

1. A vehicle adapted to be driven by an electrical motor electrically connected to charge storage battery means and having an electro-operating system comprising a first dynamoelectric generator, first mechanical turns amplifier means for coupling said first dynamoelectric generator to a road wheels axle of the vehicle, a second dynamoelectric generator, downhill sensing means coupled to a portion of the vehicle, and second mechanical turns amplifier means responsive to said downhill sensing means for automatically coupling said second dynamoelectric generator to a road wheels axle of the vehicle only when the vehicle is going downhill, whereby said first dynamoelectric generator is driven by the amplified rotation of the axle whenever said axle rotates thereby converting movement of the vehicle into electrical energy, and said second dynamoelectric generator is automatically driven by the amplified rotation of the axle only when said vehicle is going downhill thereby converting downhill movement of the vehicle into electrical energy.

2. A vehicle adapted to be driven by an electrical motor electrically connected to charged storage battery means and having an electro-generating system according to claim 1, said storage battery means controllably coupled to said electric motor for turning said electric motor, first electrical coupling means for coupling the electrical energy generated by said first dynamoelectric generator to said storage battery means for charging said storage battery means whenever the vehicle is in motion, and second electrical coupling means for coupling the electrical energy generated by said second dynamoelectric generator to said storage battery means for charging said storage battery means only when the vehicle is going downhill.

3. A vehicle adapted to be driven by an electrical motor electrically connected to charged storage battery means and having an electro-generating system according to claim 2 wherein said first mechanical turns amplifier means comprises a drum fixedly connected to said road wheels axle and with an outside diameter larger than the outside diameter of said axle, said first dynamoelectric generator having a driven shaft with an outside diameter smaller than the outside diameter of said road wheels axle.

4. A vehicle adapted to be driven by an electrical motor electrically connected to charged storage battery means and having an electro-generating system according to claim 3 wherein said second mechanical turns amplifier means comprises a second drum fixedly connected to said road wheels axle and having an outside diameter larger than the outside diameter of said axle, said second dynamoelectric generator having a driven shaft with an outside diameter smaller than the outside diameter of said road wheels axle.

5. A vehicle adapted to be driven by an electrical motor electrically connected to charged storage battery means and having an electro-generating system comprising a first dynamoelectric generator, first mechanical turns amplifier means for coupling said first dynamoelectric generator to a road wheels axle of the vehicle, said first mechanical turns amplifier means comprising a drum fixedly connected to said road wheels axle and with an outside diameter larger than the outside diameter of said axle, said first dynamoelectric generator having a driven shaft with an outside diameter smaller than the outside diameter of said road wheels axle, a second dynamoelectric generator, second mechanical turns amplifier means for automatically coupling said second dynamoelectric generator to a road wheels axle of the vehicle only when the vehicle is going downhill, said second mechanical turns amplifier means comprising a second drum fixedly connected to said road wheels axle and having an outside diameter larger than the outside diameter of said axle, said second dynamoelectric generator having a driven shaft with an outside diameter smaller than the outside diameter of said road wheels axle, whereby said first dynamoelectric generator is driven by the amplified rotation of the axle whenever said axle rotates thereby converting movement of the vehicle into electrical energy, and said second dynamoelectric generator is automatically driven by the amplified rotation of the axle only when said vehicle is going downhill thereby converting downhill movement of the vehicle into electrical energy, said second mechanical turn amplifier means further comprising a third drum fixedly mounted on said road wheels axle adjacent to and concentrically with and having the same diameter as said second drum, a fourth drum freely rotationally mounted on the shaft of said second dynamoelectric generator, a continuously rotatable looped belt coupling said third and fourth drums, a fifth drum fixedly mounted on said shaft of said second dynamoelectric generator adjacent to and concentrically with and having the same diameter as said fourth drum, downhill sensing means coupled to a portion of the vehicle for sensing when the vehicle is going downhill and for moving said continuously rotatable looped belt to said fixedly mounted fifth drum, whereby when said vehicle is going downhill said shaft of said second dynamoelectric generator is driven to generate electrical energy, said storage battery means controllably coupled to said electric motor for turning said electric motor, first electrical coupling means for coupling the electrical energy generated by said first dynamoelectric generator to said storage battery means for charging said storage battery means whenever the vehicle is in motion, and second electrical coupling means for coupling the electrical energy generated by said second dynamoelectric generator to said storage battery means for charging said storage battery means only when the vehicle is going downhill.

6. A vehicle adapted to be driven by an electrical motor electrically connected to charged storage battery means and having an electro-generating system according to claim 5 wherein said downhill sensing means comprises a slide mounted housing enclosing a spherical ball normally positioned at one end when the vehicle is level and going up hill, said spherical ball moving to the other end of said slide mounted housing when the vehicle is going downhill to slide said other end of said slide mounted housing forward, and mechanical linkage means linking said other end of said slide mounted housing to said continuously rotatable looped belt and adapted to move said continuously rotatable looped belt from said freely rotational fourth drum, which does not drive said shaft of said second dynamoelectric generator, to said fixed fifth drum, which drives said shaft of said second dynamoelectric generator when said slide mounted housing is slid forward because the vehicle is going downhill.

7. A vehicle adapted to be driven by an electrical motor electrically connected to charge storage battery means and having an electro-generating system comprising a dynamoelectric generator, downhill sensing means coupled to a portion of the vehicle, and automatic coupling means for automatically coupling said dynamoelectric generator to a road wheels axle of the vehicle in response to said downhill sensing means only when the vehicle is going downhill, whereby said dynamoelectric generator is automatically driven by the rotation of the road wheels axle only when said vehicle is going downhill, thereby converting downhill movement of the vehicle into electrical energy, whereby said dynamoelectric generator does not turn and electricity is not generator during the time said vehicle is moving along level ground.

8. A vehicle adapted to be driven by an electrical motor electrically connected to charged storage battery means and having an electro-generating system according to claim 7, said storage battery means controllably coupled to said electric motor for turning said electric motor, and electrical coupling means for coupling the electrical energy generated by said dynamoelectric generator to said storage battery means for charging said storage battery means only when the vehicle is going downhill.

9. A vehicle adapted to be driven by an electrical motor electrically connected to charged storage battery means and having an electro-generating system comprising a dynamoelectric generator, downhill sensing means coupled to a portion of the vehicle, and automatic coupling means for automatically coupling said dynamoelectric generator to a road wheels axle of the vehicle in response to said downhill sensing means only when the vehicle is going downhill, whereby said dynamoelectric generator is automatically driven by the rotation of the road wheels axle only when said vehicle is going downhill, thereby converting downhill movement of the vehicle into electrical energy, said storage battery means controllably coupled to said electric motor for turning said electric motor, and electrical coupling means for coupling the electrical energy generated by said dynamoelectric generator to said storage battery means for charging said storage battery means only when the vehicle is going downhill, and wherein said automatic coupling means comprises a first drum fixedly mounted on said road wheels axle, a second drum freely rotationally mounted on the shaft of said dynamoelectric generator, a third drum fixedly mounted on the shaft of said dynamoelectric generator adjacent to and concentrically with and having the same diameter as said second drum, a continuously rotatable looped belt coupling said first and second drums, said downhill sensing means sensing when the vehicle is going downhill and for moving said looped belt to said fixedly mounted third drum, whereby when said vehicle is going downhill said shaft of said dynamoelectric generator is driven to generate electrical energy.

10. A vehicle adapted to be driven by an electrical motor electrically connected to charged storage battery means and having an electro-generating system according to claim 9 wherein said downhill sensing means comprises a slide mounted housing enclosing a spherical ball normally positioned at one end when the vehicle is level and going up hill, said spherical ball moving to the other end of said slide mounted housing when the vehicle is going downhill to slide said other end of said slide mounted housing forward, and mechanical linkage means linking said other end of said slide mounted housing to said continuously rotatable looped belt and adapted to move said continuously rotatable looped belt to said fixed third drum, which drives said shaft of said second dynamoelectric generator when said slide mounted housing is slid forward because the vehicle is going downhill.

11. A vehicle adapted to be driven by an electrical motor electrically connected to charge storage battery means and having an electro-generating system comprising a dynamoelectric generator, downhill sensing means coupled to a portion of the vehicle, and automatic coupling means for automatically coupling said dynamoelectric generator to a road wheels axle of the vehicle in response to said downhill sensing means only when the vehicle is going downhill, whereby said dynamoelectric generator is automatically driven the rotation of the road wheels axle only when said vehicle is going downhill, thereby converting downhill movement of the vehicle into electrical energy, said storage battery means controllably coupled to said electric motor for turning said electric motor, and electrical coupling means for coupling the electrical energy generated by said dynamoelectric generator to said storage battery means for charging said storage battery means only when the vehicle is going downhill, and wherein said automatic coupling means comprises a first drum fixedly mounted on said road wheels axle, a second drum mounted adjacent to and concentrically with and having the same diameter as said first drum fixedly mounted on said road wheels axle, a third freely rotatable drum mounted on the shaft of said dynamoelectric generator, a fourth drum fixedly mounted on the shaft of said dynamoelectric generator adjacent to and concentrically with and having the same diameter as said third drum, a continuously rotatable looped belt coupling said first and third drums, said downhill sensing means for sensing when the vehicle is going downhill and for moving said looped belt from said first and third drums to said fixedly mounted second and fourth drums, whereby when said vehicle is going downhill said shaft of said dynamoelectric generator is driven to generate electrical energy.

12. A vehicle adapted to be driven by charged storage battery means and having an electro-generating system comprising an electric motor for moving said vehicle by means of a power train, said storage battery means controllably coupled to said electric motor for turning said electric motor, a first dynamoelectric generator, first mechanical coupling means for coupling said first dynamoelectric generator to said power train between said electric motor and the road wheels of the vehicle, a second dynamoelectric generator, downhill sensing means coupled to a portion of the vehicle, second mechanical coupling means responsive to said downhill sensing means for automatically coupling said second dynamoelectric generator to said power train only when the vehicle is going downhill, whereby said first dynamoelectric generator is driven by the rotation of said power train whenever said power train rotates thereby converting movement of the vehicle into electrical energy, said second dynamoelectric generator being automatically driven by the rotation of said power train only when said vehicle is going downhill thereby converting downhill movement of the vehicle into electrical energy, first electrical coupling means for coupling the electrical energy generated by said first dynamoelectric generator to said storage battery means for charging said storage battery means whenever the vehicle is in motion, and second electrical coupling means for coupling the electrical energy generated by said second dynamoelectric generator to said storage battery means for charging said storage battery means only when the vehicle is going downhill.

13. A vehicle adapted to be driven by charged storage battery means and having an electro-generating system comprising an electric motor connected to a power train, storage battery means controllably coupled to said electric motor for turning said electric motor, a first dynamoelectric generator, first mechanical turns amplifier means for coupling said first dynamoelectric generator to said power train between said electric motor and the road wheels of the vehicle, a second dynamoelectric generator, downhill sensing means coupled to a portion of the vehicle, second mechanical turns amplifier means mechanically connected to said downhill sensing means for automatically coupling said second dynamoelectric generator to said power train only when the vehicle is going downhill, whereby said first dynamoelectric generator is driven by the amplified rotation of said power train whenever said power train rotates thereby converting movement of the vehicle into electrical energy, said second dynamoelectric generator is automatically driven by the amplified rotation of said power train only when said vehicle is going downhill thereby converting downhill movement of the vehicle into electrical energy, first electrical coupling means for coupling the electrical energy generated by said first dynamoelectric generator to said storage battery means for charging said storage battery means whenever the vehicle is in motion, and second electrical coupling means for coupling the electrical energy generated by said second dynamoelectric generator to said storage battery means for charging said storage battery means only when the vehicle is going downhill.

14. A vehicle adapted to be driven by charged storage battery means and having an electro-generating system comprising a dynamoelectric generator, downhill sensing means coupled to a portion of the vehicle, mechanical coupling means connected to said downhill sensing means for coupling said dynamoelectric generator to a road wheels axle of the vehicle only when the vehicle is going downhill thereby converting downhill movement of the vehicle into electrical energy, an electric motor coupled to said road wheels axle, and electrical coupling means for coupling the electrical energy generated by said dynamoelectric generator to said electric motor only when the vehicle is going downhill, whereby said dynamoelectric generator does not turn and electricity is not generated during the time said vehicle is moving along level ground.

15. A vehicle adapted to be driven by charged storage battery means and having an electro-generating system comprising a dynamoelectric generator, downhill sensing means coupled to a portion of the vehicle, mechanical coupling means connected to said downhill sensing means for coupling said dynamoelectric generator to a road wheels axle of the vehicle only when the vehicle is going downhill thereby converting downhill movement of the vehicle into electrical energy, an electric motor coupled to said road wheels axle, and electrical coupling means for coupling the electrical energy generated by said dynamoelectric generator to said electric motor only when the vehicle is going downhill and wherein said mechanical coupling means coupled to a road wheels axle comprises a turns amplifier.