Regenerative motor propulsion systems

• US 7,482,767 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2005
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Technipower Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Solomon Technologies Incorporated (Technipower Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tether, David Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro; Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US11/046,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20060175996A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• Field of Search: 318/139, 318/153, 318/154, 318/158, 318/161, 318/375, 318/376
• US Class Current: 318/139
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/10 Dynamic electric regenerative braking B60L7/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2021/202 of hybrid electric type
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/17 by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/20 the vessels being powered by combinations of different types of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 9/00 Marine propulsion provided directly by wind power wind-motors driving underwater propulsive elements B63H13/00
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 2003/046 using wind or water driven turbines or impellers for power generation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/00 Maritime or waterways transport
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/50 Measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions related to the propulsion system
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/5236 Renewable or hybrid-electric solutions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A vehicle or watercraft regeneration system includes at least one electric motor capable of generating electricity and a controller for the at least one motor; wherein the controller to optimize the efficiency of the regeneration. The controller can optimize efficiency by including comprises circuitry for biasing the electric motor during regeneration. Also provided is a regeneration system that further comprises an electricity storage device such as a battery, a capacitor, an electrolysis unit that generates hydrogen from water, and a flywheel. In addition, an efficiency enhancing system for a watercraft or vehicle includes at least one electric motor capable of generating electricity; a controller for the at least one motor; and an electrical connection between the at least one motor and the controller, where in the controller adjust one or more magnetic fields of the electric motor during regeneration to optimize the efficiency of the regeneration. Methods for increasing efficiency of regeneration of a watercraft of vehicle powered by at least one electric motor are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A vehicle or watercraft regeneration system, comprising:

at least one electric motor on a vehicle or watercraft which is capable of generating electricity; and

a controller for the at least one electric motor, the controller;

a) sensing current operating conditions of the at least one electric motor;

b) accepting real-time data from a sensor relating to the vehicle or watercraft'"'"'s status; and

c) applying an algorithm to (a) and (b) to trigger a switching of the at least one electric motor from motoring to generating electricity and to generate a biasing signal for application to the at least one electric motor during the switching,

wherein the biasing signal is effective to place the at least one electric motor in an optimized condition for generating electricity to optimize the efficiency of regeneration.

2. The vehicle or watercraft regeneration system of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises controller circuitry configured to generate a biasing signal effective to bias the at least one electric motor by adjusting one or more electromagnetic fields.

3. The vehicle or watercraft regeneration system of claim 2, wherein the biasing signal comprises an electromagnetic pulse of less than 1 second duration.

4. The vehicle or watercraft regeneration system of claim 2, wherein the biasing signal increases the rotational speed of the at least one electric motor while the at least one electric motor is acting as a motor and before the controller switches the at least one electric motor to a regeneration mode.

5. The vehicle or watercraft regeneration system of claim 1, further comprising a manual input that allows a user to switch the controller on or modify its operation.

6. The vehicle or watercraft regeneration system of claim 1, further comprising an electricity storage device selected from a group consisting of a battery, a capacitor, an electrolysis unit that generates hydrogen from water, and a flywheel.

7. The vehicle or watercraft regeneration system of claim 1, wherein the real-time data from a sensor relating to the vehicle or watercraft'"'"'s status is selected from a group consisting of a deceleration signal, an acceleration signal, a tilt signal, a speed signal, a change in speed signal, a tilt or attitude signal, a signal corresponding to sail luft, a signal corresponding to wind activity, a signal corresponding to vehicle wheel slip, a signal corresponding to wave activity, a signal corresponding to propeller slip, a signal corresponding to the depletion state of a stored power supply, signal corresponding to back EMF voltage of a motor, and a signal corresponding to the amount of total stored power.

8. The vehicle or watercraft regeneration system of claim 1, wherein the controller biases the at least one electric motor to achieve a minimum rpm prior to a regeneration event.

9. A vehicle or watercraft regeneration system as described in claim 8, wherein the biasing signal increases the at least one electric motor rpm by at least 10% prior to a regeneration event.

10. A vehicle or watercraft regeneration system as described in claim 1, wherein the controller biases the at least one electric motor to decrease motor internal resistance to rotation.

11. A vehicle or watercraft regeneration system as described in claim 10, wherein the controller biases the at least one electric motor by pulsing the at least one electric motor.

12. A watercraft comprising the regeneration system of claim 1.

13. A terrestrial vehicle comprising the regeneration system of claim 1.

14. A flying vehicle comprising the regeneration system of claim 1.

15. A method for enhancing the efficiency of a watercraft or vehicle, comprising:

providing at least one electric motor capable of generating electricity;

providing a controller for the at least one electric motor;

sensing by the controller of current operating conditions of the at least one electric motor;

accepting by the controller of real-time data from a sensor relating to the watercraft or Vehicle'"'"'s status;

applying an algorithm by the controller to the current operating conditions and the real-time data relating to the status of the motor to trigger a switching of the at least one electric motor from motoring to generating electricity; and

generating a biasing signal by the controller for application to the at least one electric motor during the switching,

wherein the biasing signal adjusts one or more magnetic fields of the at least one electric motor during regeneration to optimize the efficiency of the regeneration.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one electric motor is a permanent magnet motor and the method further includes the controller generating a biasing signal to adjust one or more electromagnetic fields that combine with the field of the permanent magnet motor.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the controller generating a biasing signal to adjust the one or more magnetic fields by adjusting the spacing between magnets by controlling at least one piezo electric device, solenoid device and/or screw mechanism.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the real-time data from a sensor relating to the watercraft or vehicle'"'"'s status is selected from a group consisting of:

a throttle movement;

release of a throttle;

activation of a brake;

activation of a speed control lever or switch;

electrical power loss;

decrease in available electrical power;

a battery status signal;

a change in battery status;

a change in fuel cell status;

a status or change in status of a fuel cell chemical power reservoir;

a temperature or change in temperature;

a motor speed or change in motor speed;

a generator speed or change in generator speed;

a change in motor/generator speed;

an attitude indicator or change in attitude indicator;

an elevation or change in elevation;

a vehicle speed or change in vehicle speed;

a wind speed or change in wind speed;

a wave speed, change in wave speed;

a wave direction or change in wave direction;

a wind direction nor change in wind direction;

a deceleration or acceleration signal;

an electrical signal input by a user;

a computer output obtained from operation of a stored program;

a piezoelectric generated signal;

a distance indication;

a light indicator;

a sound indicator;

a vibration indicator;

a motor or generator or motor/generator efficiency measurement or calculation; and

/or a radio signal.

19. A kit for converting a watercraft or land vehicle to regeneration, comprising the drive system components recited in the method of claim 15, a package to contain the drive system components, and instructions for use of the drive components.