Turbine generator regenerative braking system

• US 6,966,394 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2004
• Issued: 11/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Patrick Fleming
• Original Assignee: Patrick Fleming
• Inventors: Fleming, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SWENSON, BRIAN L
• Application Number:
  US10/885,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20040238248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 180/165, 180/2.1, 180/2.2, 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 303/152, 303/10, 604/13, 604/14, 603/30, 603/33, 606/68, 606/98, 604/17
• US Class Current: 180/165
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/10 by means of a chargeable mechanical accumulator, e.g. flywheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/105 the accumulator being a flywheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/585 comprising friction brakes and retarders
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 6/14 Gas-turbine plants having means for storing energy, e.g. for meeting peak loads
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/00 Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus if the apparatus aspects are predominant, see the relevant subclasses for such apparatus, e.g. H02K7/18; Power stations or aggregates incorporating only machines or engines of positive-displacement type F03C; hydraulic engineering aspects E02B; combinations with wind energy converters F03D9/008
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/12 storing kinetic energy, e.g. using flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/941 which is a land vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 61/00 Brakes with means for making the energy absorbed available for use F16D57/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/16 Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/90 Energy harvesting concepts as power supply for auxiliaries' energy consumption, e.g. photovoltaic sun-roof

Abstract

A turbine generator regenerative braking system is for an automotive or other vehicle having ground engaging wheels and an electrical energy storage device. The braking system comprises an hydraulic fluid turbine generator having an electrical power output connected to the electrical energy storage device, a plurality of hydraulic fluid pumps, an actuation system for operatively connecting/starting pumping action, and a hydraulic fluid circuit connecting the hydraulic pumps to the turbine generator. In some versions of the system, a hydraulic pump, a clutch and an adjustable flow nozzle will be dedicated to each ground engaging wheel of the vehicle. In operation, braking is preferably initiated by the actuation of a brake master cylinder which provides hydraulic pressure to cause each rotating wheel with its corresponding hydraulic pump to engage. The pressurized fluid output of each pump is then fed to the turbine through the adjustable-flow nozzle causing the flywheel, and thus the generator, to rotate. The rotation of the turbine generator produces electrical power which is transmitted to the vehicle'"'"'s electrical energy storage device.

Claims

1. A turbine generator regenerative braking system for braking a rotating shaft, said braking system comprising:

a rotating shaft of a piece of machinery;

a plurality of hydraulic fluid pumps adapted to be mechanically linked to said rotating shaft so that said rotating shaft powers the pumps;

a hydraulic fluid circuit having one end in fluid communication with said hydraulic pumps and a second end comprising an adjustable-outlet jet nozzle;

an hydraulic fluid turbine generator positioned near said jet nozzle and having an electrical power output connected to a battery device;

wherein said rotating shaft is slowed by mechanically linking said rotating shaft to said hydraulic fluid pumps to pump hydraulic fluid to the jet nozzle so that the jet nozzle sprays hydraulic fluid on the generator to generate electricity;

wherein said rotating shaft is stopped by closing said jet nozzle; and

wherein said jet nozzle is an adjustable direction needle valve.

2. A turbine generator regenerative braking system according to claim 1 wherein said rotating shaft is a combustion engine shaft.

3. A turbine generator regenerative braking system according to claim 1 wherein said rotating shaft is a combustion engine vehicle shaft.

4. A turbine generator regenerative braking system according to claim 1 wherein said rotating shaft is a combustion engine vehicle axle.

5. A turbine generator regenerative braking system according to claim 1 wherein said fluid turbine generator further includes flywheel, having a plurality of cups.

6. A turbine generator regenerative braking system according to claim 1 wherein said pumps have a positive displacement.

7. A turbine generator regenerative braking system according to claim 6 wherein said positive displacement pumps are of the fixed displacement type.

8. A turbine generator regenerative braking system according to claim 6 wherein said positive displacement pumps are of a variable displacement type.

9. A method of regeneratively braking a rotating shaft, the method comprising:

providing a hydraulic fluid circuit comprising a hydraulic pump at one end and an adjustable-outlet jet nozzle at a second end;

providing an hydraulic fluid turbine generator near said jet nozzle and connecting an electrical power output of said turbine generator to a battery device;

mechanically linking said hydraulic pump to a rotating shaft of a piece of machinery so that said hydraulic fluid pump is actuated to pump hydraulic fluid to the jet nozzle to spray hydraulic fluid on the generator to generate electricity; and

wherein said rotating shaft is slowed by the work load of said pumping of the hydraulic fluid; and

wherein said jet nozzle is an adjustable-direction needle valve.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising closing said jet nozzle to stop flow of said hydraulic fluid and stop rotation of said rotating shaft.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein said rotating shaft is a combustion engine shaft.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein said rotating shaft is a combustion engine vehicle shaft.

13. A method according to claim 9, wherein said rotating shaft is a combustion engine vehicle axle.

14. A method according to claim 9, wherein said fluid turbine generator further includes flywheel, having a plurality of cups.

15. A method according to claim 9 wherein said pump is a positive displacement pump of fixed displacement.

16. A method according to claim 9 wherein said pump is a positive displacement pump of variable displacement.