Method for creating energy sources for a vehicle drive system

• US 7,808,118 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2007
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• 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:
  US11/757,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20070278795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 290/43, 290/54, 290/1.R, 290/40.R, 290/40.C, 602/74, 602/86, 60/395
• US Class Current: 290/40.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/007 Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0023 Detecting, eliminating, remedying or compensating for drive train abnormalities, e.g. failures within the drive train
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/006 Converting flow of air into electric energy, e.g. by using wind turbines
• 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: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

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, the method comprising the steps of:

burning an air fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine of the vehicle;

discharging the burnt air fuel mixture through an exhaust system of the vehicle;

creating a vapor utilizing heat of the exhaust system wherein the creating vapor step comprises the steps of placing a housing adjacent to or at least partially surrounding a portion of the exhaust system and injecting a liquid into the housing;

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

monitoring the temperature of the housing and injecting the liquid into the housing after the housing reaches a vapor-generating temperature.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the housing is placed adjacent to or at least partially surrounds a portion of a catalytic converter of the exhaust system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the injecting step comprises the step of spraying water into the housing to create steam.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the vapor-generating temperature is at least 275°

F.

5. The method of claim 1, including the step of compressing the vapor and passing the vapor through the generator.

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

7. 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.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the electricity is supplied to batteries of the electric drive system of the vehicle.

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

10. The method of claim 1, including the step of creating hydrogen by passing the vapor over a catalyst substrate.

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

12. 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 and supplying the electricity generated by the wind turbine to a battery or to a voltage regulator of the vehicle'"'"'s electrical system.

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

burning an air fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine of the vehicle;

discharging the burnt air fuel mixture through an exhaust system of the vehicle;

creating a vapor utilizing heat of the exhaust system;

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

mixing the vapor with exhaust from the internal combustion engine before it is passed through a catalytic converter of the exhaust system and passing the heated vapor and exhaust mixture over a catalyst substrate to produce hydrogen.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the catalyst substrate comprises metal hydride.

15. The method of claim 13, including the steps of collecting at least a portion of the hydrogen utilizing a permeable exchange membrane and storing the hydrogen.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the hydrogen is used to heat a catalytic converter of the vehicle, while an internal combustion engine of the vehicle idles.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the hydrogen is used to power a turbo-fan engine, which is operably connected to an electrical generator to produce electricity.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the hydrogen is used to power a Tesla turbine configured to internally combust the hydrogen gas and drive an electrical generator operably connected thereto.

19. The method of claim 18, including the step of coupling the Tesla turbine to a mechanical drive system of the vehicle.

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. The method of claim 13, including the step of collecting at least a portion of carbon molecules generated after passing the exhaust mixture over the catalyst substrate.

22. A method for creating energy sources for a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

burning an air fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine of the vehicle;

discharging the burnt air fuel mixture through an exhaust system of the vehicle;

creating a liquid vapor utilizing heat of the exhaust system;

mixing the vapor with exhaust from the internal combustion engine before it is passed through a catalytic converter of the exhaust system;

passing the heated vapor and exhaust mixture over a catalyst substrate to produce hydrogen.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the catalyst substrate comprises metal hydride.

24. The method of claim 22, including the step of collecting at least a portion of the hydrogen utilizing a permeable exchange membrane, and storing the hydrogen.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein at least a portion of the hydrogen is used to:

a) heat a catalytic converter of the vehicle;

b) power a turbo-fan engine operably connected to an electrical generator;

or

c) power a Tesla turbine configured to internally combust the hydrogen and drive an electrical generator operably coupled thereto.

26. The method of claim 22, including the step of collecting at least a portion of carbon molecules generated after passing the exhaust mixture over the catalyst substrate.