System for generating electrical energy to supply power to propel vehicles

• US 3,971,454 A
• Filed: 04/13/1973
• Issued: 07/27/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nelson J. Waterbury
• Original Assignee: Nelson J. Waterbury
• Inventors: Waterbury, Nelson J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schonberg, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Milton L.
• Application Number:
  US05/350,944
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65 R, 180/65 A, 180/60, 191/2-4, 250/216, 250/215, 136/89, 296/97 F, 165/43, 237/12.3 R, 290/16, 320/56, 320/61, 320/62, 318/440
• US Class Current: 180/65.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/00 Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00; electric transmission arrangements B60K17/12; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles per se B60L; current-collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/005 without mechanical contact between the collector and the power supply line
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/62 charged by low-power generators primarily intended to support the batteries, e.g. range extenders
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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: Y10S 136/291 Applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/292 Space - satellite

Abstract

Solar radiant energy and high-intensity light are converted to electrical energy to supply electrical power for propelling vehicles in a safe, economical and efficient manner.

The radiant energy can be beamed from outer space by the use of satellites with collecting surfaces which can produce and store electrical power and which can distribute the electrical power to earth stations for redistribution to high-intensity light sources. High-intensity light-receiving cells or panels are fixed to the surface of a vehicle to collect the high-intensity light and to convert the light into useful electric power to operate the vehicle. Energy can be stored in batteries for subsequent use.

A vehicle can also be powered by hybrid means including solar cells and gas turbines.

Claims

1. An electric-powered vehicle having wheels driven by at least one electric drive motor;

a battery consisting of a multiplicity of cells electrically connected to the or each motor for supplying power thereto;

control means for regulating the supply of power from the battery to the or each drive motor;

at least one bank of solar cells mounted on the vehicle in such a position as to be exposed to solar radiation during sunlight hours;

means electrically connecting the or each bank of solar cells to the battery, said means including isolating means for protecting the solar cells against reverse current from the battery;

an electrical generator adapted to supply charge to the battery;

an intermittently operating gas turbine drivingly connected to the generator for operating the same;

a heat exchanger adapted to receive hot waste gases from said turbine and transfer heat to a heat exchange medium circulating therein;

a free-wheeling turbine drivingly connected to the generator;

conduit means for supplying heated heat exchange medium in gaseous form to the free-wheeling turbine and for returning heat exchange medium therefrom to the heat exchanger; and

a voltage regulator interpositioned between the generator and the battery for controlling the flow of charge to the battery, said voltage regulator having freedback means for controlling the operation of the first-mentioned turbine and of the generator in accordance with the charge existing on the battery.

2. An electric-powered vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said isolating means comprises a diode.

3. An electric-powered vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the first-mentioned turbine is powered by the combustion of butane gas.

4. An electric-powered vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the heat exchange medium is a non-flammable fluorinated hydrocarbon.

5. An electric-powered vehicle according to claim 3 wherein the heat exchange medium is a non-flammable fluorinated hydrocarbon.

6. An electric-powered vehicle according to claim 1 comprising auxiliary charging means for the battery adapted to be connected to a mains voltage supply.

7. An electric-powered vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said drive motor is an alternating current induction motor, and said control means comprises logic circuit elements responsive to driver operable controls and a speed signal supplied by the drive motor, means under the control of the logic circuit elements for producing a succession of pulses of a frequency and width corresponding to the torque demanded by the condition of the driver operable controls.

8. An electric-powered vehicle according to claim 7 wherein the vehicle is provided with heaters which are supplied with heat by a portion of the heated heat-exchange medium from said heat exchanger, and a radiator is connected to receive a portion of the heat exchange medium whereby the radiator acts as a heat dump for excess heat produced by the first-mentioned turbine.

9. An electric-powered vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said battery consists of a multiplicity of nickel-silver cells.

10. An electric-powered vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said battery consists of a multiplicity of zinc-air cells.

11. An electric-powered vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said battery consists of a multiplicity of alkali metal/sulfur cells.

12. An electric-powered vehicle according to claim 1 comprising fuel cells as an additional source of electrical power.