Power packaging with railcars

• US 8,294,285 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2009
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: F3 & I2 LLC
• Original Assignee: F3 & I2 LLC
• Inventors: Hunter, Jefferey Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuevas, Pedro J
• Application Number:
  US12/605,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20100060093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.R, 290/4.R
• US Class Current: 290/1.R
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/006 to power outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/50 Charging stations characterised by energy-storage or power-generation means
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/53 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/57 Charging stations without connection to power networks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 63/044 the engine-generator unit being placed on a frame or in an housing
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 25/00 Controlling two or more co-operating engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/06 peculiar to engines driving electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/08 recovering energy derived from swinging, rolling, pitching or like movements, e.g. from the vibrations of a machine
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/14 Combined heat and power generation [CHP]
• 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 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

An energy generating module includes an enclosure, a modular cage, a fuel chamber, and a railcar chassis. The energy generating module is transportable on rails via the railcar chassis. The modular cage comprises a peripheral cage secured to an interior of the enclosure and one or more multi-directional extensions extending from the peripheral cage to support an energy generating device within the enclosure. The multi-directional extensions are movable in multiple directions as the peripheral cage sways during transportation of the energy generating module so as to permit the energy generating device to track its inertial position more closely than the sway of the peripheral cage during transportation of the energy generating module. The fuel chamber is configured to be in fluid communication with the energy generating device.

Claims

1. An module comprising an enclosure, a modular cage, a fuel chamber, and a railcar chassis, wherein:

the module is transportable on rails via the railcar chassis;

the modular cage comprises a peripheral cage secured to an interior of the enclosure and one or more multi-directional extensions extending from the peripheral cage that are configured to support an energy generating device within the enclosure;

the multi-directional extensions are configured to support the energy generating device by suspending the energy generating device during transportation of the energy generating module and are movable in multiple directions as the peripheral cage sways during transportation of the module so as to permit the energy generating device to track its inertial position more closely than the sway of the peripheral cage during transportation of the module; and

the fuel chamber is configured to be in fluid communication with the energy generating device.

2. The module of claim 1 wherein the module further comprises an energy-transfer receptacle configured to be coupled to the energy generating device and transfer at least a portion of an energy output from the energy generating device to an energy consuming or transferring device.

3. The module of claim 2 wherein the energy consuming device comprises a vehicle.

4. The module of claim 2 wherein the energy consuming device comprises a device maintained within the enclosure.

5. The module of claim 2 wherein the energy-transfer receptacle is further configured to receive an energy input from an energy producing device.

6. The module of claim 1 wherein:

the enclosure comprises a boom system extendable from and retractable to an exterior of the enclosure such that the boom system may extend and retract between a position in-line with, and conforming to, a footprint of the exterior of the enclosure and a position projecting outward, upward or a combination of outward and upward from the exterior of the enclosure; and

the boom system deploys a plurality of energy-transfer receptacles when projecting outward or upward from the exterior of the enclosure.

7. The module of claim 1 wherein the enclosure is integrally formed with the railcar chassis such that the railcar chassis and the enclosure cooperate to form a railway freighting car.

8. The module of claim 1 wherein:

the railcar chassis is integrally formed with an intermodal railcar, and

the enclosure is supported by the intermodal railcar.

9. The module of claim 1 wherein the module is removably coupled to the railcar chassis.

10. The module of claim 1 wherein the module further comprises a power generating device supported by the multi-directional extensions of the modular cage and configured to generate electrical power.

11. The module of claim 1 wherein the module further comprises a wind turbine engine coupled to an exterior surface of the enclosure and operable to generate electrical power as the module is transported on the rails.

12. The module of claim 11 wherein the enclosure further comprises an exterior aerodynamic feature operable to channel air passing over the module toward the wind turbine engine.

13. The module of claim 1 wherein:

the enclosure comprises an energy generating device section and a multipurpose section separated by an interior dividing wall; and

the modular cage is disposed within the energy generating device section.

14. The module of claim 13 wherein the multipurpose section comprises a livable space.

15. The module of claim 1 wherein the multi-directional extensions each define multiple directions of movement.

16. The module of claim 1 wherein at least one of the multi-directional extensions defines a single direction of movement and the multi-directional extensions collectively define multiple directions of movement.

17. The module of claim 1 wherein the multi-directional extensions are moveable in multiple directions so as to permit the energy generating device to track its lateral inertial position, its vertical inertial position, or a combination thereof, more closely than the sway of the peripheral cage during transportation of the module.

18. The module of claim 1 wherein the modular cage further comprises one or more movement dampening mechanisms to dampen movement of one or more of the multi-directional extensions during transportation of the module.

19. The module of claim 1 wherein the modular cage further comprises a suspension affixed to the peripheral cage that reduces the sway of the peripheral cage during transportation of the module.

20. The module of claim 1 wherein the modular cage is repeatably insertable into and withdrawable from an interior of the enclosure.

21. An module comprising an enclosure, a modular cage, a fuel chamber, a boom system, and a railcar chassis, wherein:

the module is transportable on rails via the railcar chassis;

the modular cage comprises a peripheral cage secured to an interior of the enclosure and one or more multi-directional extensions extending from the peripheral cage that are configured to support an energy generating device within the enclosure;

the fuel chamber is configured to be in fluid communication with the energy generating device;

the enclosure comprises a boom system extendable from and retractable to an exterior of the enclosure such that the boom system may extend and retract between a position in-line with, and conforming to, a footprint of the exterior of the enclosure and a position projecting outward, upward or a combination of outward and upward from the exterior of the enclosure; and

the boom system comprises a plurality of energy-transfer receptacles operable to be deployed when projecting outward or upward from the exterior of the enclosure.

22. An module comprising an enclosure, a modular cage, a fuel chamber, one or more peripheral railcars, and a railcar chassis, wherein:

the module is transportable on rails via the railcar chassis;

the modular cage comprises a peripheral cage secured to an interior of the enclosure and one or more multi-directional extensions extending from the peripheral cage that are configured to support an energy generating device within the enclosure;

the multi-directional extensions are movable in multiple directions as the peripheral cage sways during transportation of the module so as to permit the energy generating device to track its inertial position more closely than the sway of the peripheral cage during transportation of the module; and

the fuel chamber is supported by the peripheral railcars such that the fuel chamber is remotely coupled to the module.