Systems and methods for powering a vehicle, and generating and distributing energy

• US 8,240,406 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2011
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Blue Wheel Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Blue Wheel Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Stoicoviciu, Laurian, Sharp, Spencer
• Primary Examiner(s): OLSZEWSKI, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US13/188,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20110278079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: 180/2.1, 180/2.2, 180/165, 191/10, 191/4, 191/13, 191/14, 320/109
• US Class Current: 180/2.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/10 Air crafts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/18 Buses
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/30 Trolleys
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/28 Four wheel or all wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/005 without mechanical contact between the collector and the power supply line
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/30 using propulsion power stored mechanically, e.g. in fly-wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60M 7/003 for vehicles using stored power (e.g. charging stations)
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/30 The power source being a fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/322 : the battery being on-board an electric or hybrid vehicle, e.g. vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G], power aggregation, use of the battery for network load balancing, coordinated or cooperative battery charging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 : with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/116 : with gears
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1846 : structurally associated with wheels or associated parts dynamos arranged in the wheel hub of cycles B62J6/12
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 : Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• 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 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/126 : the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49009 : Dynamoelectric machine
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4902 : Electromagnet, transformer or inductor

Abstract

A system and method for powering of a vehicle is disclosed. In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a powering assembly may include an axle, a wheel coupled to the axle, and at least one secondary coil winding affixed to the wheel. The wheel may be configured to rotate about the axle in a plane substantially perpendicular to an axis of the axle. The at least one secondary coil may be configured such that when the wheel is proximate to an embedded conductor embedded in a roadway and carrying a first electrical current, a magnetic field induced by the first electrical current induces a second electrical current in the at least one secondary coil winding.

Claims

1. A powering assembly comprising:

an axle;

a wheel coupled to the axle and configured to rotate about the axle in a plane substantially perpendicular to an axis of the axle;

at least one secondary coil winding affixed to the wheel and configured such that when the wheel is proximate to an embedded conductor embedded in a roadway and carrying a first electrical current, a magnetic field induced by the first electrical current induces a second electrical current in the at least one secondary coil winding;

a magnetic sensor configured to determine an intensity of a magnetic field; and

an actuator communicatively coupled to the magnetic sensor and configured to, based on at least the intensity, laterally move the wheel in a direction substantially parallel to the axis, the actuator comprising;

a worm gear mechanically coupled to the axle; and

a motor mechanically coupled to the worm gear.

2. A powering assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one commutator electrically coupled to the at least one secondary coil; and

one or more brushes configured to;

electrically couple to the at least one commutator; and

electrically couple to at least one of a drive system of a vehicle and energy storage device of a vehicle such that the second electrical current in the at least one secondary winding is conducted to at least one of the drive system and the energy storage device.

3. A powering assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an arm mechanically coupled to the axle and configured to mechanically couple the powering assembly to a vehicle.

4. A vehicle comprising:

a chassis; and

powering assembly mechanically coupled to the chassis, the powering assembly comprising;

an axle;

a wheel coupled to the axle and configured to rotate about the axle in a plane substantially perpendicular to an axis of the axle;

at least one secondary coil winding affixed to the wheel and configured such that when the wheel is proximate to an embedded conductor embedded in a roadway and carrying a first electrical current, a magnetic field induced by the first electrical current induces a second electrical current in the at least one secondary coil winding;

a magnetic sensor configured to determine an intensity of a magnetic field; and

an actuator communicatively coupled to the magnetic sensor and configured to, based on at least the intensity, laterally move the wheel in a direction substantially parallel to the axis, the actuator comprising;

a worm gear mechanically coupled to the axle; and

a motor mechanically coupled to the worm gear.

5. A vehicle according to claim 4, the powering assembly further comprising:

at least one commutator electrically coupled to the at least one secondary coil; and

one or more brushes configured to;

electrically couple to the at least one commutator; and

electrically couple to at least one of a drive system of a vehicle and energy storage device of a vehicle such that the second electrical current in the at least one secondary winding is conducted to at least one of the drive system and the energy storage device.

6. A vehicle according to claim 4, further comprising an arm mechanically coupling to the axle to the chassis.

7. A method for powering a vehicle comprising:

coupling a wheel to an axle such that the wheel rotates about the axle in a plane substantially perpendicular to an axis of the axle;

affixing at least one secondary coil winding to the wheel such that when the wheel is proximate to an embedded conductor embedded in a roadway and carrying a first electrical current, a magnetic field induced by the first electrical current induces a second electrical current in the at least one secondary coil winding; and

mechanically coupling an actuator to the axle such that, based on an intensity of a magnetic field detected by a magnetic sensor communicatively coupled to the actuator, the actuator causes the wheel to laterally move in a direction substantially parallel to the axis, the actuator comprising;

a worm gear mechanically coupled to the axle; and

a motor mechanically coupled to the worm gear.

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising:

electrically coupling at least one commutator to the at least one secondary coil;

electrically coupling one or more brushes to the at least one commutator; and

electrically coupling the one or more brushes to at least one of a drive system of a vehicle and energy storage device of a vehicle such that the second electrical current in the at least one secondary winding is conducted to at least one of the drive system and the energy storage device.

9. A method according to claim 7, further comprising mechanically coupling an arm to the axle, the arm configured to mechanically couple to a vehicle.

10. An assembly for a vehicle comprising:

an axle;

a wheel coupled to the axle and configured to rotate about the axle in a plane substantially perpendicular to an axis of the axle;

a magnetic sensor mechanically coupled to at least one of the axle and the wheel and configured to determine an intensity of a magnetic field; and

an actuator communicatively coupled to the magnetic sensor and mechanically coupled to at least one of the axle and the wheel and configured to, based on at least the intensity, laterally move the wheel in a direction substantially parallel to the axis, the actuator comprising;

a worm gear mechanically coupled to the axle; and

a motor mechanically coupled to the worm gear.

11. An assembly according to claim 10, further comprising an arm mechanically coupled to the axle and configured to mechanically couple the powering assembly to a vehicle.