Method and apparatus for powering of amphibious craft
First Claim
1. A marine propulsion system for wheeled amphibious craft having an in wheel electric motor/generator, comprising:
- a jet propulsion unit having;
an inlet for fluid flow,adaptive outlet nozzles through which fluid discharge is controlled as to direction and as to size for the purpose of maximizing at least one of thrust and efficiency based upon measured true input power,a fluid flow path to direct said fluid flow between said inlet and said outlet nozzles,at least one impeller disposed within said fluid flow path to impart energy into said fluid flow from an electrical power source provided to the in wheel electric motor/generator,wherein said impeller is operably coupled to said in wheel electric motor/generator of said wheeled amphibious craft,wherein the wheel hub of said in wheel electric motor/generator is the impeller and stator vanes are operably coupled to a stator structure of said in wheel electric motor/generator,a fluid flow defining channel which accommodates said in wheel electric motor/generator with a wheel hub impeller arrangement,wherein said in wheel electric motor/generator is comprised of;
at least one rotor section and at least one stator section arranged such that a gap exists between rotor and stator sections,wherein said rotor section is operably coupled to a wheel of said wheeled amphibious craft for rotation and said stator section is operably coupled to the amphibious craft for nonrotational support, the rotor section comprising a permanent magnet structure with an associated magnetic flux field and the stator section comprising current carrying conductors;
wherein the wheel is operably coupled to the impeller and rotatable with respect to the stator section about a rotational axis;
wherein the stator and rotor sections of said in wheel electric motor/generator are configured such that the interaction of their magnetic fluxes causes at least one of;
(a) the conversion of electrical energy into rotational torque energy when electrical power is applied at input terminals of said current carrying conductors to create an associated magnetic flux field within the current carrying conductors that interacts with said rotor magnetic flux field thus applying magnetic torque to said rotor section, and(b) the conversion of rotational torque energy of said wheel into electrical energy when relative motion exists between the permanent magnet structure within the rotor section and the current carrying conductors within the stator section, generating electrical power at the terminals of said current carrying conductors to create an associated magnetic flux field within the current carrying conductors that interacts with said rotor section magnetic flux field, thus applying magnetic counter torque to said rotor section.
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Abstract
The methods and apparatuses of the present invention provides for powering and maneuvering (forward, reverse and steering) systems for amphibious vehicle, marine vessel or ground vehicle operation and control. An improved propulsion system may incorporate the use of electric motors combined with impellers which use positive and negative magnetic torque applications and allows for new control strategies when used in water or on the ground. More precise control of the motoring and steering forces is provided which is suitable for use in a variety of amphibious, marine vessels or ground vehicle applications. Various types of electric drive motor/generators may be incorporated for use therein. Intelligent motion control systems may provide for improved vehicle control that can provide motive force and braking force in a precisely controlled manner that significantly improves performance and has faster control dynamics incorporating a fully integrated electrical braking and maneuvering system.
34 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A marine propulsion system for wheeled amphibious craft having an in wheel electric motor/generator, comprising:
a jet propulsion unit having; an inlet for fluid flow, adaptive outlet nozzles through which fluid discharge is controlled as to direction and as to size for the purpose of maximizing at least one of thrust and efficiency based upon measured true input power, a fluid flow path to direct said fluid flow between said inlet and said outlet nozzles, at least one impeller disposed within said fluid flow path to impart energy into said fluid flow from an electrical power source provided to the in wheel electric motor/generator, wherein said impeller is operably coupled to said in wheel electric motor/generator of said wheeled amphibious craft, wherein the wheel hub of said in wheel electric motor/generator is the impeller and stator vanes are operably coupled to a stator structure of said in wheel electric motor/generator, a fluid flow defining channel which accommodates said in wheel electric motor/generator with a wheel hub impeller arrangement, wherein said in wheel electric motor/generator is comprised of; at least one rotor section and at least one stator section arranged such that a gap exists between rotor and stator sections, wherein said rotor section is operably coupled to a wheel of said wheeled amphibious craft for rotation and said stator section is operably coupled to the amphibious craft for nonrotational support, the rotor section comprising a permanent magnet structure with an associated magnetic flux field and the stator section comprising current carrying conductors; wherein the wheel is operably coupled to the impeller and rotatable with respect to the stator section about a rotational axis; wherein the stator and rotor sections of said in wheel electric motor/generator are configured such that the interaction of their magnetic fluxes causes at least one of; (a) the conversion of electrical energy into rotational torque energy when electrical power is applied at input terminals of said current carrying conductors to create an associated magnetic flux field within the current carrying conductors that interacts with said rotor magnetic flux field thus applying magnetic torque to said rotor section, and (b) the conversion of rotational torque energy of said wheel into electrical energy when relative motion exists between the permanent magnet structure within the rotor section and the current carrying conductors within the stator section, generating electrical power at the terminals of said current carrying conductors to create an associated magnetic flux field within the current carrying conductors that interacts with said rotor section magnetic flux field, thus applying magnetic counter torque to said rotor section. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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2. A propulsion system for wheeled amphibious craft having an in wheel electric motor/generator, comprising:
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a control system through which vehicle maneuvering is controlled as to direction and as to maximizing at least one of torque applied and efficiency, a torque controller to direct torque to each individual wheel from an electrical power source provided to the in wheel electric motor/generator, wherein each said wheel is operably coupled to said wheeled amphibious craft, wherein said in wheel electric motor/generator is comprised of; at least one rotor section and at least one stator section arranged such that a gap exists between said rotor and stator sections, wherein said rotor section is operably coupled to a wheel of said wheeled amphibious craft for rotation and said stator section is operably coupled to an an amphibious craft for nonrotational support, the rotor section comprising a permanent magnet structure with an associated magnetic flux field and the stator section comprising current carrying conductors; and
said wheel is operably coupled to an impeller and rotatable with respect to the stator section about a rotational axis;wherein the stator and rotor sections of said in wheel electric motor/generator are configured such that the interaction of their magnetic fluxes causes at least one of; (a) the conversion of electrical energy into rotational torque energy when electrical power is applied at input terminals of said current carrying conductors to create an associated magnetic flux field within the current carrying conductors that interacts with said rotor section magnetic flux field, thus applying magnetic torque to said rotor section of said wheel, and (b) the conversion of rotational torque energy of said wheel into electrical energy when relative motion exists between the permanent magnet structure within the rotor section and the current carrying conductors within the stator section, generating electrical power at the terminals of said current carrying conductors to create an associated magnetic flux field within the current carrying conductors that interacts with said rotor section magnetic flux field, thus applying magnetic counter torque to said rotor section. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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3. A marine propulsion system for water craft having an electric motor/generator, comprising:
a jet propulsion unit having; an inlet for fluid flow, adaptive outlet nozzles through which fluid discharge is controlled as to direction and as to size for the purpose of maximizing at least one of thrust and efficiency based upon measured true input power, a fluid flow path to direct said fluid flow between said inlet and said outlet nozzles, and at least one impeller disposed within said fluid flow path to impart energy into said fluid from an electrical power source, wherein said impeller is operably coupled to said electric motor/generator and the stator vanes are operably coupled to a stator structure of said electric motor/generator, a fluid flow defining channel which accommodates said electric motor/generator impeller arrangement, wherein said electric motor/generator is comprised of; at least one rotor section and at least one stator section arranged such that a gap exists between said rotor and stator sections, wherein said rotor section is operably coupled to said impeller for rotation and said stator section is operably coupled to said fluid flow channel for non-rotational support, the rotor section comprising a permanent magnet structure with an associated magnetic flux field and the stator section comprising current carrying conductors; wherein the fluid flow defining channel is a fluid flow defining channel of a marine craft; wherein the rotor section is rotatable with respect to the stator section about a rotational axis; wherein the stator and rotor sections of said electric motor/generator are configured such that the interaction of their magnetic fluxes causes at least one of; (a) the conversion of electrical energy into rotational torque energy when electrical power is applied at input terminals of said current carrying conductors to create an associated magnetic flux field within the current carrying conductors that interacts with said rotor section magnetic flux field, thus applying magnetic torque to said rotor section of said impeller, and (b) the conversion of rotational torque energy of said impeller into electrical energy when relative motion exists between the permanent magnet structure within the rotor section and the current carrying conductors within the stator section, generating electrical power at the terminals of said current carrying conductors to create an associated magnetic flux field within the current carrying conductors that interacts with said rotor section magnetic flux field, thus applying magnetic counter torque to said rotor section.
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4. A marine propulsion system for wheeled amphibious craft having an in wheel electric motor/generator, comprising:
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a radial wheel hub impeller propulsion unit that is partially submerged within a fluid to impart energy into said fluid and cause motive force to be applied by a rotating wheel to said amphibious craft, which is operably coupled to an in wheel electric motor/generator; wherein said in wheel electric motor/generator is comprised of; at least one rotor section and at least one stator section arranged such that a gap exists between said rotor and stator sections, wherein said rotor section is operably coupled to a wheel of said wheeled amphibious craft for rotation and said stator section is operably coupled to the amphibious craft for nonrotational support, the rotor section comprising a permanent magnet structure with an associated magnetic flux field and the stator section comprising current carrying conductors; wherein the wheel is operably coupled to an impeller and rotatable with respect to the stator section about a rotational axis; wherein the stator and rotor sections of said in wheel electric motor/generator are configured such that the interaction of their magnetic fluxes causes at least one of; (a) the conversion of electrical energy into rotational torque energy when electrical power is applied at input terminals of said current carrying conductors to create an associated magnetic flux field within the current carrying conductors that interacts with said rotor section magnetic flux field, thus applying magnetic torque to said rotor section of said wheel, and (b) the conversion of rotational torque energy of said wheel into electrical energy when relative motion exists between the permanent magnet structure within the rotor section and the current carrying conductors within the stator section, generating electrical power at the terminals of said current carrying conductors to create an associated magnetic flux field within the current carrying conductors that interacts with said rotor section magnetic flux field, thus applying magnetic counter torque to said rotor section.
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26. A marine propulsion system for wheeled amphibious craft, comprising:
an in-wheel motor/generator, comprising; at least one rotor section and at least one stator section arranged such that a gap exists between rotor and stator sections; and impeller blades operably connected to and rotatable with the rotor section; wherein the stator section is configured for non-rotational coupling to an amphibious craft, the rotor section is configured for operable coupling to a wheel of the amphibious craft and for rotation with respect to the stator section, and the impeller blades are configured to form at least a part of a hub of the wheel; wherein the rotor section comprises a permanent magnet structure and the stator section comprises current carrying conductors; wherein the stator and rotor sections of the in wheel electric motor/generator are configured such that the interaction of their magnetic fluxes causes at least one of; (a) the conversion of electrical energy into rotational torque energy when electrical power is applied at input terminals of the current carrying conductors; and (b) the conversion of rotational torque energy of said wheel into electrical energy when relative motion exists between the permanent magnet structure and the current carrying conductors.
Specification