Anti-roll thrust system for hydrogen powered vehicles
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A roll stabilization system for a vehicle, comprising:
- at least one thruster mounted in a side pillar of the vehicle and in selective communication with a source of pressurized gas;
a fuel cell system located on-board the vehicle that provides power to the vehicle; and
a controller system for detecting a potential roll condition of the vehicle and releasing pressurized gas from said source of pressurized gas to said thruster in response to a detected potential roll condition,wherein said pressurized gas is an inert gas for use with said fuel cell system.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A thruster system is provided for a vehicle that can be used to reduce the roll propensity of a motor vehicle. The system utilizes a control system and multiple sets of thrusters which are strategically placed upon the vehicle. The control system is provided for detecting a potential roll condition and activates selected ones of the thrusters to produce a necessary thrust force for counteracting roll forces. The thrusters are connected to an on-board pressurized gas source that generates the anti-roll thrust force.
37 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A roll stabilization system for a vehicle, comprising:
-
at least one thruster mounted in a side pillar of the vehicle and in selective communication with a source of pressurized gas; a fuel cell system located on-board the vehicle that provides power to the vehicle; and a controller system for detecting a potential roll condition of the vehicle and releasing pressurized gas from said source of pressurized gas to said thruster in response to a detected potential roll condition, wherein said pressurized gas is an inert gas for use with said fuel cell system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method of resisting rollover for an automobile, comprising:
-
mounting a first thruster on a first side of said automobile; mounting a second thruster on a second side of said automobile, said first and second thrusters being in selective communication with a source of pressurized gas; sensing conditions for detecting a potential roll condition of said automobile; releasing pressurized gas from said source of pressurized gas to one of said first and second thrusters in response to a detected potential roll condition for generating a counteracting force for resisting the detected roll condition; and generating said counteracting force for resisting the detected roll condition by releasing said pressurized gas from one of said first and second thrusters in an upward, generally vertical direction, wherein said pressurized gas is pressurized hydrogen gas used for an on-board fuel cell system. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
-
-
12. A roll stabilization system for a vehicle, comprising:
-
at least one thruster mounted on the vehicle and in selective communication with a source of pressurized gas; a controller system for detecting a potential roll condition of the vehicle and releasing pressurized gas from said source of pressurized gas to said thruster in response to a detected potential roll condition; and a fuel cell system located onboard the vehicle for providing power to the vehicle, wherein said source of pressurized gas is stored hydrogen for use with said fuel cell system.
-
-
13. A roll stabilization system for a vehicle, comprising:
-
at least one thruster mounted on the vehicle and in selective communication with a source of pressurized gas; a controller system for detecting a potential roll condition of the vehicle and releasing pressurized gas from said source of pressurized gas to said thruster in response to a detected potential roll condition; and a pressurized gas delivery system including a pressure regulator valve for allowing a regulated pressure level to accumulate in said pressurized gas delivery system up stream of a thruster nozzle, wherein said pressurized gas delivery system includes a secondary valve disposed downstream of said pressure regulator valve and upstream of said thruster nozzle, and said pressurized gas delivery system includes a tertiary valve disposed between said regulator valve and said secondary valve and further comprising a gas purging system for purging a portion of said pressurized gas delivery system between said secondary and tertiary valves; wherein said pressurized gas is an inert gas. - View Dependent Claims (14)
-
-
15. A method of resisting rollover for a motor vehicle, comprising:
-
mounting a first thruster on a first side of said motor vehicle; mounting a second thruster on a second side of said motor vehicle, said first and second thrusters being in selective communication with a source of pressurized gas; sensing vehicle conditions for detecting a potential roll condition of said vehicle; releasing pressurized gas from said source of pressurized gas to one of said first and second thrusters in response to a detected potential roll condition for generating a counteracting force for resisting the detected roll condition; and purging pressurized gas from a gas delivery system upstream of at least one of said first and second thrusters, wherein said pressurized gas is pressurized hydrogen gas used for an on-board fuel cell system.
-
Specification