Turboalternator for hybrid motor vehicle

• US 5,831,341 A
• Filed: 05/02/1996
• Issued: 11/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Satcon Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Satcon Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Heitmann, Arnold M., Selfors, Brian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dougherty, Thomas M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US08/642,085
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 290/52, 290/54, 290/43, 290/45, 60/668, 60/698, 60/716, 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/301
• US Class Current: 290/52
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 15/02 Adaptations for driving vehicles, e.g. locomotives
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 6/20 Adaptations of gas-turbine plants for driving vehicles

Abstract

A turboalternator for a hybrid motor vehicle includes a low speed portion to generate electrical power, a high speed portion to generate electrical power, the high speed portion being generally parallel to the low speed portion and being independent from each other.

Claims

1. A turboalternator for a hybrid motor vehicle comprising:

a low speed portion to generate electrical power; and

a high speed portion to generate electrical power, said high speed portion being generally parallel to said low speed portion and being mechanically independent from the low speed portion;

each of said low speed portion and said high speed portion comprising;

a compressor;

a turbine;

an alternator disposed between said compressor and said turbine; and

a common shaft interconnecting said compressor, said alternator and said turbine;

wherein said shaft is supported by hydrodynamic bearings.

2. The turboalternator as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an intercooler interconnecting said compressor of said low speed portion and said compressor of said high speed portion.

3. The turboalternator as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a combuster interconnecting said compressor and said turbine of said high speed portion.

4. The turboalternator as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one alternator and said shaft are provided with hydrodynamic lubrication and cooling.

5. A turboalternator for a hybrid motor vehicle comprising:

a low speed portion to generate electrical power; and

a high speed portion to generate electrical power, said high speed portion being generally parallel to said low speed portion and being mechanically independent from the low speed portion;

each of said low speed portion and said high speed portion comprising;

a compressor;

a turbine;

an alternator disposed between said compressor and said turbine; and

a common shaft interconnecting said compressor, said alternator and said turbine;

wherein said alternator comprises an alternator rotor extending radially from said shaft, said rotor having a plurality of slots adjacent to the outer diameter of the rotor, each slot containing an electrically conductive, magnetically susceptible bar.

6. The turboalternator as set forth in claim 5, wherein said shaft is supported by hydrodynamic bearings.

7. The turboalternator as set forth in claim 5, wherein said slots in said rotor are spaced equidistantly from each other about the outer diameter.

8. The turboalternator as set forth in claim 5, wherein each bar comprises copper.

9. The turboalternator as set forth in claim 5, wherein said rotor and said shaft are provided with hydrodynamic lubrication and cooling.

10. A hybrid motor vehicle comprising:

a chassis;

at least two wheels connected to said chassis; and

a hybrid powertrain system operatively connected to at least one of said two wheels to create a force to move said chassis, said hybrid powertrain system comprising a turboalternator;

wherein said turboalternator comprises;

a low speed portion to generate electrical power; and

a high speed portion to generate electrical power, said high speed portion being generally parallel to said low speed portion and being mechanically independent from the low speed portion;

each of said low speed portion and said high speed portion comprising;

a compressor;

a turbine;

an alternator disposed between said compressor and said turbine; and

a common shaft interconnecting said compressor, said alternator and said turbine;

wherein said alternator comprises an alternator rotor extending radially from said shaft, said rotor having a plurality of slots adjacent to the outer diameter of the rotor, each slot containing an electrically conductive, magnetically susceptible bar.

11. The hybrid motor vehicle as set forth in claim 10, wherein said shaft is supported by hydrodynamic bearings.

12. The hybrid motor vehicle as set forth in claim 10, wherein said slots in said rotor are spaced equidistantly from each other about said outer diameter.

13. The hybrid motor vehicle as set forth in claim 10, wherein each bar comprises copper.

14. The hybrid motor vehicle as set forth in claim 10, wherein said rotor and said shaft are provided with hydrodynamic lubrication and cooling.