Integration of turboalternator for hybrid motor vehicle

• US 5,893,423 A
• Filed: 05/02/1996
• Issued: 04/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Satcon Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Satcon Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Selfors, Brian J., Heitmann, Arnold M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Poon, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RODRIGUEZ, PAMELA
• Application Number:
  US08/642,090
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 180/69.6, 180/65.3, 180/68.1, 180/60, 290/52, 60/39.511, 415/175, 415/176, 416/DIG. 4
• US Class Current: 180/65.245
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/30 characterised by chargeable mechanical accumulators, e.g. flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/06 Combustion engines, Gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/114 Racing vehicles, e.g. Formula one, Karts
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 15/10 Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 17/03 with tiltably-supported segments, e.g. Michell bearings hydrostatic bearings with tiltably supported bearing pads F16C32/0666; made from a plurality of rods F16C33/26; with flexible leaves F16C17/024; hydrodynamic bearings with chambers F16C33/1075
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 17/20 having deep-bar rotors
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1823 structurally associated with turbines or similar engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/96 having chargeable mechanical accumulator

Abstract

A turboalternator for a hybrid motor vehicle includes at least one compressor, at least one turbine, at least one alternator disposed between the at least one compressor and the at least one turbine, and a common shaft interconnecting the at least one compressor and the at least one alternator and the at least one turbine.

Claims

1. A turboalternator for a hybrid motor vehicle comprising:

a compressor having a compressor impeller;

a turbine having a turbine rotor;

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, and

wherein said alternator comprises a solid 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.

2. A turboalternator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said compressor comprises an impeller connected to said common shaft.

3. A turboalternator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said turbine comprises an impeller connected to said common shaft.

4. A turboalternator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said compressor comprises a compressor impeller connected to said common shaft.

5. A turboalternator as set forth in claim 4 wherein said turbine comprises a turbine impeller connected to said common shaft.

6. A turboalternator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said alternator comprises an alternator rotor disposed between said compressor rotor and said turbine rotor and connected to said common shaft, said compressor rotor and said alternator rotor and said turbine rotor being directly driven on said common shaft.

7. A turboalternator for a hybrid motor vehicle comprising:

a compressor having a compressor impeller;

a turbine having a turbine rotor;

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,

wherein said alternator comprises a solid 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, and

wherein said alternator and said shaft are provided with lubrication and also have hydrodynamic cooling, both using the same fluid stream.

8. A turboalternator for a hybrid motor vehicle 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 a solid 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.

9. The turboalternator as set forth in claim 8, wherein said shaft is supported by hydrodynamic bearings.

10. The turboalternator as set forth in claim 8, wherein said slots in said alternator rotor are spaced equidistantly from each other about an outer diameter of the rotor.

11. The turboalternator as set forth in claim 8, wherein each of said bars comprises copper.

12. A turboalternator for a hybrid motor vehicle 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 a solid 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,

wherein said rotor and said shaft are provided with lubrication and also have hydrodynamic cooling, both using the same fluid stream.

13. 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 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 a solid 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.

14. The hybrid motor vehicle as set forth in claim 13, wherein said shaft is supported by hydrodynamic bearings.

15. The hybrid motor vehicle as set forth in claim 13, wherein said slots in said alternator rotor are spaced equidistantly from each other about an outer diameter of the alternator rotor.

16. The hybrid motor vehicle as set forth in claim 13, wherein each of said bars comprises copper.

17. 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 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 a solid 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,

wherein said rotor and said shaft are provided with lubrication and also have hydrodynamic cooling, both using the same fluid stream.

18. A turboalternator for a hybrid motor vehicle comprising:

a compressor having a compressor impeller;

a turbine having a turbine rotor;

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, and

wherein said alternator and said shaft are provided with lubrication and also have hydrodynamic cooling, both using the same fluid stream.

19. A turboalternator for a hybrid motor vehicle 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 and said shaft are provided with lubrication and also have hydrodynamic cooling, both using the same fluid stream.

20. 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 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 and said shaft are provided with lubrication and also have hydrodynamic cooling, both using the same fluid stream.