Method for creating energy sources for a vehicle drive system

• US 7,227,274 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2006
• Issued: 06/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: N4 Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: Bruce R. Berkson
• Inventors: Berkson, Bruce R.
• Primary Examiner(s): GONZALEZ, JULIO C
• Application Number:
  US11/457,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20070013192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 327 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.R, 290/54, 290/43, 290/40.R, 290/40.C, 60/395, 602/86, 602/74
• US Class Current: 290/40.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 23/065 the combustion taking place in an internal combustion piston engine, e.g. a diesel engine
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2240/30 a fuel reformer
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/04 using liquids
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 5/02 the devices using heat
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/602 with energy recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F22B 1/1853 coming in direct contact with water in bulk or in sprays
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

The method for creating energy sources for a vehicle drive system includes burning an air fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine and discharging the burned air fuel mixture through an exhaust system of the vehicle. Steam is created utilizing heat of the exhaust system. The steam is passed through a generator which supplies mechanical or electrical power to an appropriate drive system of the vehicle. Hydrogen can be created utilizing the steam and a catalyst substrate. Wind turbines mounted to the vehicle can also supply electricity to the vehicle as air passes through the turbines due to movement of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for creating energy sources for a vehicle drive system, the method comprising the steps of:

burning an air fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine;

discharging the burnt air fuel mixture through an exhaust system;

creating steam utilizing heat of the exhaust system, including the steps of placing a housing adjacent to a catalytic converter of the exhaust system and injecting water into the housing;

passing the steam through a generator operably connected to a drive system of the vehicle; and

monitoring the temperature of the housing and injecting the water into the housing after the housing reaches a predetermined temperature.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the injecting step comprises the step of spraying water into the housing.

3. The method of claim 1, including the step of compressing the steam and passing the steam through the generator.

4. The method of claim 1, including the step of passing the steam through a Tesla turbine generator.

5. The method of claim 1, including the steps of generating electricity using the generator and supplying the electricity to an electric drive system of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the electricity is supplied to batteries of the electric drive system of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, including the step of providing power directly from the generator to a mechanical drive system of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, including the steps of mounting a wind turbine onto the vehicle and generating electricity as air passes through the turbine due to movement of the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8, including the step of supplying the electricity generated by the wind turbine to a battery or to a voltage regulator of the vehicle'"'"'s electrical system.

10. A method for creating energy sources for a vehicle drive system, the method comprising the steps of:

burning an air fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine;

discharging the burnt air fuel mixture through an exhaust system;

creating steam utilizing heat of the exhaust system;

creating hydrogen by passing the steam over a catalyst substrate;

mixing the steam with exhaust from the internal combustion engine before it is passed through a catalytic converter of the exhaust system and passing the steam and exhaust mixture over the catalyst substrate; and

passing the steam through a generator operably connected to a drive system of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the catalyst substrate comprises nickel hydride.

12. The method of claim 10, including the steps of collecting the hydrogen utilizing a permeable exchange membrane and storing the hydrogen in a tank.

13. A method for creating energy sources for a vehicle drive system, the method comprising the steps of:

burning an air fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine;

discharging the burnt air fuel mixture through an exhaust system;

placing a housing adjacent to a catalytic converter of the exhaust system;

creating steam by injecting water into the housing heated by the exhaust system, including the step of spraying the water into the housing after the housing reaches a predetermined temperature;

passing the steam through a generator; and

generating electricity using the generator and supplying the electricity to an electric drive system of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 13, including the step of compressing the steam and passing the steam through a generator.

15. The method of claim 13, including the step of passing the steam through a Tesla turbine generator.

16. The method of claim 13, including the step of creating hydrogen by passing the steam over a catalyst substrate.

17. The method of claim 16, including the step of mixing the steam with exhaust from the internal combustion engine before it is passed through a catalytic converter of the exhaust system and passing the steam and exhaust mixture over the catalyst substrate.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the catalyst substrate comprises nickel hydride.

19. The method of claim 16, including the steps of collecting the hydrogen utilizing a permeable exchange membrane and storing the hydrogen in a tank.

20. The method of claim 13, including the steps of mounting a wind turbine onto the vehicle and generating electricity as air passes through the turbine due to movement of the vehicle, and supplying the electricity generated by the wind turbine to a battery or to a voltage regulator of the vehicle'"'"'s electrical system.

21. A method for creating energy sources for a vehicle drive system, the method comprising the steps of:

burning an air fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine;

discharging the burnt air fuel mixture through an exhaust system;

placing a housing adjacent to a catalytic converter of the exhaust system;

creating steam by injecting water into the housing heated by the exhaust system;

creating hydrogen by passing the steam over a catalyst substrate;

mixing the steam with exhaust from the internal combustion engine before it is passed through a catalytic converter of the exhaust system and passing the steam and exhaust mixture over the catalyst substrate;

passing the steam through a generator; and

generating electricity using the generator and supplying the electricity to an electric drive system of the vehicle.