Pressurized electric charging

• US 6,054,838 A
• Filed: 07/23/1998
• Issued: 04/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Constantinos Tsatsis
• Original Assignee: Constantinos Tsatsis
• Inventors: Tsatsis, Constantinos
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOATLEY, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US09/120,478
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101, 290/52, 290/55, 180/165, 180/65.3
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/12 by means of a chargeable fluidic accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/30 using propulsion power stored mechanically, e.g. in fly-wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/62 charged by low-power generators primarily intended to support the batteries, e.g. range extenders
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/90 using propulsion power supplied by specific means not covered by groups B60L50/10 - B60L50/50, e.g. by direct conversion of thermal nuclear energy into electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/06 Combustion engines, Gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/15 Pneumatic energy storages, e.g. pressure air tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 6/14 Gas-turbine plants having means for storing energy, e.g. for meeting peak loads
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 6/16 for storing compressed air
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 15/006 in the form of pneumatic energy, e.g. compressed air energy storage [CAES] accumulators for supplying fluid under pressure F15B1/04
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1415 with a generator driven by a prime mover other than the motor of a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/16 Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/96 having chargeable mechanical accumulator

Abstract

Method and apparatus for electrical storage and pressure charging, by compressed fluid through a venturi, the electrical storage, where the electrical storage can take the form of a battery for operating a motor vehicle and electrical charges are produced by a generator operated by a turbine connected to a pressure storage tank operated when the storage charge falls below a prescribed level; in the method, stored compressed fluid operates a generator for charging the electrical storage.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising

means for storing electrical energy;

and

pressure means for charging the electrical storage means through a venturi;

wherein said pressure means comprises means for storing compressed fluid.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said electrical storage means comprises a battery for operating a motor vehicle.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said battery is installed to supply motive power for a vehicle.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said compressed fluid is air is produced by a compressor system.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said pressure means includes means for generating electrical charges and said compressor system includes a low-pressure compressor and a high-pressure compressor.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said means for generating electrical charges comprises a pressure storage tank connected to a turbine which is connected to a generator and said low pressure compressor is connected to an inter-cooler.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the charge on said electrical storage means in monitored and said means for generating electrical charges is operated when said charge on said electrical storage means falls below a prescribed level and said high pressure compressor is connected to an after-cooler.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein the operation of said means for generating electrical energy is terminated when said charge on said electrical storage means returns to said prescribed level and said compressor system includes a saturator and a combustor.

9. A method of electrical charging comprising

storing electrical energy in electrical storage means;

and

venturi charging said electrical storage means by means for storing compressed fluid.

10. The method of claim 9 including storing electrical energy in a battery.

11. The method of claim 10 including installing said battery in a vehicle to supply motive power therefor.

12. The method of claim 9 including storing compressed air in said pressure means.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein said compressed fluid originates in a low-pressure compressor.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said pressure means includes means for generating alternating current electrical charges.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said means for generating electrical charges comprises a pressure storage tank connected to a turbine which is connected to a generator having a conventional magnetized rotor and a conventional stator winding which supplies additional magnetization to the rotor windings.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the charge on said electrical storage means is monitored and said means for generating electrical charges is operated when said charge on said electrical storage means falls below a prescribed level.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the operation of said means for generating electrical energy is terminated when said charge on said electrical storage means returns to said prescribed level.

18. A method of fabricating electrical charging apparatus comprising the steps of:

(a) providing means for storing electrical energy; and

(b) providing means for pressure charging the electrical storage means through a venturi by a compressed gaseous fluid.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said electrical storage means comprises a battery for moving a vehicle, said pressure means comprises means for storing a compressed gaseous fluid and includes means for generating electrical charges from a pressure storage tank connected to a turbine which is connected to a generator, and the charge on said electrical storage means is monitored to operate when said charge on said electrical storage means falls below a prescribed level, and the operation of said means for generating electrical energy is terminated when said charge on said electrical storage means returns to said prescribed level.