Energy conversion apparatus for wheeled vehicles

• US 7,614,474 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2008
• Issued: 11/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xiaoli Yang
• Original Assignee: Xiaoli Yang
• Inventors: Yang, Xiaoli
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): OLSZEWSKI, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US12/043,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20080149404A1
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.51, 180/305, 180/306, 180/307, 180/308, 152/2, 152/4, 152/15, 152/100
• US Class Current: 180/305
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 25/08 from a ground wheel, e.g. engaging the wheel tread or rim
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/12 by means of a chargeable fluidic accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0015 the motor being hydraulic
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

Taught is an apparatus for converting energy in a wheeled vehicle, comprising a wheel rim; a tire; and a plurality of hydraulic plunger cylinders alternatively distributed on periphery of the wheel rim.

Claims

1. An apparatus for converting energy in a wheeled vehicle comprising:

a wheel rim;

a tire; and

a plurality of hydraulic plunger cylinders alternatively distributed on periphery of the wheel rim;

wherein,

the wheel rim comprises a plurality of peripheral annular cylinder blocks, a rotary shaft sleeve, and a closed annular hydraulic fluid reservoir disposed therebetween;

a central axis of the rotary shaft sleeve operates as a wheel shaft,

the rotary shaft sleeve operates as a central shaft sleeve of the wheel rim,

a central shaft circulation channel is disposed on the central axis;

the central shaft circulation channel comprises a hydraulic fluid-outlet channel and a hydraulic fluid-return channel,

a hydraulic fluid-inlet port and a hydraulic fluid-outlet port are disposed on the rotary shaft sleeve,

the hydraulic fluid-inlet port of the rotary shaft sleeve is connected to the hydraulic fluid-outlet channel of the central shaft circulation channel,

the hydraulic fluid-outlet port of the rotary shaft sleeve is connected to the hydraulic fluid-return channel of the central shaft circulation channel;

a hydraulic motor is disposed between the hydraulic fluid-outlet channel and the hydraulic fluid-return channel;

a hydraulic fluid-outlet port of each of the hydraulic plunger cylinders is connected to the hydraulic fluid-inlet port of the rotary shaft sleeve, and

the hydraulic fluid-outlet port of the rotary shaft sleeve and the hydraulic fluid-inlet port of each of the hydraulic plunger cylinders are connected to the closed annular hydraulic fluid reservoir.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the relative angle between the plunger cylinders on the periphery of the wheel rim is between 5 and 15°

.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plunger cylinders on the periphery of the wheel rim are alternatively arranged in two or multiple loops.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein elastomer is filled between the peripheral annular cylinder block and the tire.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

an annular pipe is disposed at an outer edge of the closed annular hydraulic fluid reservoir;

the hydraulic fluid-outlet port of each of the hydraulic plunger cylinders is connected to the annular pipe; and

the annular pipe is connected to the hydraulic fluid-inlet port of the rotary shaft sleeve via a diversion tube.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein

an annular pipe is disposed at an outer edge of the closed annular hydraulic fluid reservoir;

the hydraulic fluid-outlet port of each of the hydraulic plunger cylinders is connected to the annular pipe; and

the annular pipe is connected to the hydraulic fluid-inlet port of the rotary shaft sleeve via a diversion tube.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein

an annular pipe is disposed at an outer edge of the closed annular hydraulic fluid reservoir;

the hydraulic fluid-outlet port of each of the hydraulic plunger cylinders is connected to the annular pipe; and

the annular pipe is connected to the hydraulic fluid-inlet port of the rotary shaft sleeve via a diversion tube.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein

an annular pipe is disposed at an outer edge of the closed annular hydraulic fluid reservoir;

the hydraulic fluid-outlet port of each of the hydraulic plunger cylinders is connected to the annular pipe; and

the annular pipe is connected to the hydraulic fluid-inlet port of the rotary shaft sleeve via a diversion tube.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the annular pipe is a ring groove disposed on the peripheral annular cylinder block.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the annular pipe is a ring groove disposed on the peripheral annular cylinder block.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the annular pipe is a ring groove disposed on the peripheral annular cylinder block.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the annular pipe is a ring groove disposed on the peripheral annular cylinder block.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein output hydraulic fluid at high pressure from all wheels of a vehicle is combined and provided to the hydraulic motor.

14. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein output hydraulic fluid at high pressure of all wheels of a vehicle is combined and provided to the hydraulic motor.

15. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein output hydraulic fluid at high pressure of all wheels of a vehicle is combined and provided to the hydraulic motor.

16. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein output hydraulic fluid at high pressure of all wheels of a vehicle is combined and provided to the hydraulic motor.

17. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein output hydraulic fluid at high pressure of all wheels of a vehicle is combined and provided to the hydraulic motor.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein output hydraulic fluid at high pressure of all wheels of a vehicle is combined and provided to the hydraulic motor.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein output hydraulic fluid at high pressure of all wheels of a vehicle is combined and provided to the hydraulic motor.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein output hydraulic fluid at high pressure of all wheels of a vehicle is combined and provided to the hydraulic motor.