Hybrid turbine-electric motor system

• US 6,105,697 A
• Filed: 03/28/1997
• Issued: 08/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Winstead B. Weaver
• Original Assignee: Winstead B. Weaver
• Inventors: Weaver, Winstead B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, J. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McKinley, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US08/825,373
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/65.8
• US Class Current: 180/65.245
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/18 the air being heated from the plant exhaust gases B60H1/025 takes precedence; exhaust or silencing apparatus associated with devices profiting by exhaust energy F01N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/13 using AC generators and AC motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/06 Combustion engines, Gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/50 for auxiliary power units (APU's)
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1415 with a generator driven by a prime mover other than the motor of a vehicle
• 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

Abstract

An improved hybrid turbine-electrical motor system (10) that is designed to replace conventional internal combustion piston engines. The system (10) is disclosed in two design configurations: a first basic design which includes a fuel source (12), a turbine (14), an alternator (16), a motor speed controller (18), a drive motor (20) and a load (22) and a second design which includes additional elements that enhance the operation of the system (10). These other elements include a gear reduction transmission (24) that reduces the shaft speed of the turbine, a speed regulator (19) that remotely controls the operation of the motor speed controller (18), a plurality of leak detectors (26) which alert an operator that there is an accumulation of gas, a heater (60) which utilizes the hot exhaust gases from the turbine (14) to heat the interior of a vehicle, and an auxiliary power unit (APU) (30) that functions in combination with an APU activating circuit (40). The APU (30) is activated to enhance the operation of the turbine (14) when the load requirements of the turbine (14) have been exceeded.

Claims

1. An improved hybrid turbine electric motor system comprising:

a) a fuel source,

b) a turbine having an input and an output shaft with the input having means for receiving said fuel source which operates said turbine,

c) an alternator having an input and an output, wherein the input is connected to the output shaft of said turbine,

d) a motor speed controller having an input and an output, wherein the input is electrically connected to the output of said alternator,

e) at least one drive motor having an input and an output shaft, wherein the input is electrically connected to the output of said motor speed controller, and

f) a load connected to the output shaft on said drive motor.

2. The system as specified in claim 1 wherein said fuel source comprises a non-fossil fuel.

3. The system as specified in claim 2 wherein said non-fossil fuel comprises hydrogen.

4. The system as specified in claim 3 wherein said hydrogen is stored in a 1,000 to 20,000 PSI pressure vessel which includes a pressure regulator that reduces the hydrogen pressure to 10 to 100 PSI prior to introduction into said turbine.

5. The system as specified in claim 4 further comprising a plurality of hydrogen leak detectors located in potential collection areas within said vehicle.

6. The system as specified in claim 1 wherein said fuel source comprises a fossil fuel.

7. The system as specified in claim 6 wherein said fossil fuel is comprised of either gasoline, diesel, kerosene, natural gas, propane or jet fuel.

8. The system as specified in claim 1 wherein said fuel source which operates said turbine is ignited by an electrical ignition means located within said turbine.

9. The system as specified in claim 8 wherein said ignition means comprises a spark plug or a glow plug.

10. The system as specified in claim 1 wherein said alternator is comprised of a high-voltage, high-amperage alternator that produces a voltage between 0 to 1000 volts a-c at a frequency ranging from 0 Hz to 1600 Hz.

11. The system as specified in claim 1 wherein said motor speed controller, which produces an output frequency and/or a voltage, is operated and controlled by a speed regulator which includes a variable voltage circuit having means for controlling the output frequency and/or voltage of said controller which, in turn, controls the speed of said drive motor.

12. The system as specified in claim 1 wherein said drive motor is comprised of an alternating current electric motor.

13. The system as specified in claim 12 wherein said drive motor is electrically connected to said motor speed controller.

14. The system as specified in claim 13 further comprising a transmission that is connected between said drive motor and said load.

15. The system as specified in claim 14 wherein said transmission is comprised of a manual-shift transmission.

16. The system as specified in claim 14 wherein said transmission is comprised of an automatic-shift transmission.

17. The system as specified in claim 1 wherein said load is comprised of a set of drive wheels connected to a vehicle.

18. The system as specified in claim 1 further comprising:

a) an auxiliary power unit (APU) connected through an APU activating circuit to said alternator and to said motor speed controller, wherein said APU activating circuit activates said APU when the design limits of said turbine are exceeded, and

b) a rectifier having an input and an output, wherein the input is applied from said alternator via said APU activating circuit, and

c) a rechargeable battery having an input, a first output and a second output, wherein the input is applied from the output of said rectifier, the first output is applied through a regulator to said alternator, and the second output is applied through an inverter to said motor speed controller, wherein when the voltage of said rechargeable battery drops to a lower limit, said regulator applies a signal to said alternator which then applies an a-c current to said rectifier which applies a d-c charging current to recharge said battery, said battery then activates said inverter to allow said inverter to apply an a-c current to said motor speed controller.

19. The system as specified in claim 1 further comprising a heater having a fresh air intake, an exhaust gas-to-fresh air heat exchanger and a vehicle air distribution system, wherein fresh air enters said fresh air intake and is directed through said heat exchanger where heat is extracted from the exhaust of said turbine and introduced into a vehicle'"'"'s interior through said vehicle air distribution system ducts.