359results about "Mechanical propulsion power" patented technology

A high power wireless resonant energy transfer system transfers energy across an airgap.

A method for pay-per-use, self-service charging of electric storage power systems of electric automobiles, said automobiles charged via electrical connections to a provided curbside charging station, said charging station automatically modifying grid electricity to be suitable for charging an array of said automobiles, said charging station also automatically securing electricity at off-peak rates when available and storing same for subsequent use.

A plug-in hybrid propulsion system includes a fast energy storage device that preserves battery life, where the energy storage elements of the hybrid drive train may be charged with externally supplied electricity as well as energy from the engine or regenerative braking. Electronic switches, passive electronics, an enclosure, controller circuitry, and / or control algorithms are used to manage the flow of power between a fuel powered engine, a battery, a fast energy storage system, traction motors, a charger, ancillary systems, an electrical distribution system, and / or a drive train.

A railroad vehicle (1500) for carrying freight is described. The railroad vehicle (1500) comprises power regeneration capability through a traction motor (1530) linked to a driving wheel (1520D), an electrical energy storage system (1550), a controller (1570) that may selectively operate the traction motor (1530) in a motoring mode, a coasting mode, or a dynamic braking mode. In the dynamic braking mode electrical energy from the traction motor (1530) is transmitted to the electrical energy storage system (1550). The controller (1570) is in communication with a communication link (1580) that receives control commands from an external control source (1595), and those control commands indicate the operating mode for a particular period of time.

A self-powered railroad system (1700), in one embodiment, comprises a locomotive (1710), a control source (1715), and a plurality of load units (1720A-K and 1730A-G), some of which are railroad vehicles (1720A-K) comprising the components of railroad vehicle (1500) that provide for selective operation in a motoring mode, a coasting mode, or a dynamic braking mode. The self-powered railroad system may also comprise a control source and at least one railroad vehicle controlled by the control source, such as for coupling, uncoupling, and moving to or from a loading dock.

A roadway-powered electric vehicle (RPEV) system includes: (1) an all-electric vehicle; and (2) a roadway network over which the vehicle travels. The all-electric vehicle has one or more onboard energy storage elements or devices that can be rapidly charged or energized with energy obtained from an electrical current, such as a network of electromechanical batteries. The electric vehicle further includes an on-board controller that extracts energy from the energy storage elements, as needed, and converts such extracted energy to electrical power used to propel the electric vehicle. The energy storage elements may be charged while the vehicle is in operation. The charging occurs through a network of power coupling elements, e.g., coils, embedded in the roadway. The RPEV system also includes: (1) an onboard power meter; (2) a wide bandwidth communications channel to allow information signals to be sent to, and received from, the RPEV while it is in use; (3) automated garaging that couples power to the RPEV for both replenishing the onboard energy source and to bring the interior climate of the vehicle to a comfortable level before the driver and / or passengers get in; (4) electronic coupling between “master” and “salve” RPEV's in order to increase passenger capacity and electronic actuators for quick-response control of the “slave” RPEV; (5) inductive heating coils at passenger loading / unloading zones in order to increase passenger safety; (6) an ergonomically designed passenger compartment; (7) a locating system for determining the precise location of the RPEV; and (8) a scheduling and dispatch computer for controlling the scheduling of RPEV's around a route and dispatch of RPEV's based on demand.

An electrical energy capture system for use in connection with a hybrid energy off highway vehicle system of a off highway vehicle. The hybrid energy off highway vehicle system includes an off highway vehicle, a primary power source, and an off highway vehicle traction motor propelling the off highway vehicle in response to the primary electric power. The off highway vehicle traction motor has a dynamic braking mode of operation generating electrical energy. The electrical energy capture system includes an energy management processor carried on the off highway vehicle. The capture system also includes an off highway vehicle electric generator connected to and driven by the primary power source for selectively supplying primary electric power, wherein the generator is responsive to said processor. An electrical energy storage device is carried on a off highway vehicle and is in electrical communication with the off highway vehicle traction motor. The storage device is responsive to the processor, selectively stores electrical energy generated in the dynamic braking mode, and selectively provides secondary electric power from said stored electricity electrical energy to the off highway vehicle traction motor. The off highway vehicle traction motor is responsive to the secondary electric power. The processor provides a first control signal to the electrical energy storage device to control the selective storing of the electrical energy generated in the dynamic braking mode, and to control the selective providing of secondary electric power to the off highway vehicle traction motor. The processor also provides a second control signal to the generator for controlling the selective supplying of primary electric power to the off highway vehicle traction motor.

A method for equalizing a storage parameter for a vehicle energy storage system having one or more energy storage banks associated therewith includes identifying a quiescent period of operation for the vehicle, and determining whether the value of a defined storage quantity for a first energy storage bank differs from the value of said defined storage quantity for a second energy storage bank by a threshold amount. During the quiescent period of operation, one of said first and second energy storage banks is discharged and the other of the first and second energy storage banks is charged. The one of the first and second energy storage banks corresponds to the bank having the value of the defined storage quantity exceeding the value of the defined storage quantity of the other of said first and second energy storage banks.

A device that includes a combustion engine with a piston that is mechanically freely movable in a housing. The device permits combustion of a fuel mixture to produce a pushing force to the piston. The device includes an electromagnetic energy transducer and an external current circuit, which is connected to the energy transducer for exchange of effect in a direction to or from the energy transducer. A control unit controls the direction of the effect, which is exchanged between the energy transducer and the external current circuit, during operation of the device. Such a device can be used to generate electrical energy, and can be employed in a vehicle.

High vehicle fuel efficiency is achieved by reducing fuel consumption during driving both in the city and on the highway. During driving in the city, the system accumulates the energy derived from vehicle motion during braking, and uses it to assist in vehicle propulsion at a later time. The energy can be stored either in a compressed-air reservoir or in an electric battery. During cruising on the highway, the engine operates in a two-stage gas-expansion cycle. The engine has primary and secondary cylinders. Only primary cylinders operate in internal-combustion mode. After expansion in primary cylinders, combustion gas is subjected to a second stage of expansion in secondary cylinders. This substantially improves the engine efficiency. Whenever heavy engine load is needed, all cylinders operate in internal-combustion mode.

A hybrid prolusion system comprising a first energy storage unit operable to supply power to a traction drive motor. A second energy storage unit is coupled with the first energy storage unit to provide additional power on demand to the traction drive motor. An auxiliary power unit (APU) is used to charge the first battery to maintain a desired voltage across the first energy storage unit.

A system for generating useful energy from vehicle motion. The system includes: a projection projecting above a road surface, pivotably mounted to the road surface to be pushed downward against an upward bias, by a vehicle tire passing over an upper surface of the projection; a master fluid cylinder mechanically linked to the projection; a fluid transfer device connected to the master fluid cylinder; a secondary fluid cylinder, communicating with the master fluid cylinder via the fluid transfer device; and a lever configured to transfer motion from the secondary fluid cylinder to a flywheel shaft, the flywheel shaft having a distal end coupled to an electric generator.

An apparatus comprises a power electronic energy conversion system comprising a first energy storage device configured to store DC energy and a first voltage converter configured to convert a second voltage from a remote power supply into a first charging voltage configured to charge the first energy storage device. The apparatus also includes a first controller configured to control the first voltage converter to convert the second voltage into the first charging voltage and to provide the first charging voltage to the first energy storage device during a charging mode of operation and communicate with a second controller located remotely from the power electronic energy conversion system to cause a second charging voltage to be provided to the first energy storage device during the charging mode of operation to rapidly charge the first energy storage device.

A system and method for managing electrical power generated by an engine for use in connection with operating a hybrid energy off highway vehicle load control system. A load control circuit determines a current operating condition of the Off Highway Vehicle, and determines a corresponding target operating condition of the Off Highway Vehicle The load control system determines a difference between the current operating condition and a target operating condition to identify transients. The load control system delivers power from the power source to a energy storage for an initial period after a transient condition is identified and then delivers power from the power source to source to the traction motors to propel the Off Highway Vehicle. The load control system also retrieves to power from the energy storage to assist in propelling the Off Highway Vehicle.

A hybrid power drive system for an aircraft that comprises a rotor and a first power drive sub-system. The first power drive sub-system includes at least one engine in connection with the rotor and provides a first power to the rotor. The hybrid power drive system also includes a second power drive sub-system connected in parallel to the first power drive sub-system, which supplements with a second power the first power delivered to the rotor during operation of the aircraft. In addition, an electric power source provides a third power to the second power drive sub-system.

System and method for the combination of a flywheel and motor / generator inside a wheel hub for hybrid vehicle propulsion. The flywheel and motor / generator are connected by a planetary gear system, in which a first port is connected to the flywheel, a second port is connected to the wheel hub, and a third port is connected to a motor / generator. An additional motor / generator may be used at one of the first port and second port. The system may be used in an electric-kinetic hybrid mode, or in a fuel-kinetic hybrid mode, when used in a vehicle having an internal combustion engine as the prime mover. Efficiency of energy storage and release is significantly improved in comparison to prior art.

The present invention is an energy storage apparatus having a rotor and a stator. The stator includes a bobbin having a cylindrical shape and open at each end. The bobbin includes at least one fin extending longitudinally on an exterior surface of the bobbin. The bobbin also includes a phase winding longitudinally and circumferentially encircling said bobbin. The winding is separated by at least one fin. The bobbin also includes at least one cooling passage for transporting a cooling medium.

Temperature control systems and methods can be designed for controlling the interior climate of a vehicle or other the climate of another desired region. The temperature control system for a vehicle can have a thermoelectric system providing heating and / or cooling, including supplemental heating and / or cooling. The thermoelectric system can transfer thermal energy between a working fluid, such as liquid coolant, and comfort air upon application of electric current of a selected polarity. The thermoelectric system can supplement or replace the heat provided from an internal combustion engine or other primary heat source. The thermoelectric system can also supplement or replace cold energy provided from a compressor-based refrigeration system or other primary cold energy source.

A system and method for generating power includes a motor assembly, an inertia-assisted, torque-enhanced gearbox, including a flywheel assembly and a clutch assembly, and a generator assembly. The motor assembly is used to drive the flywheel assembly up to the generator's designed operating speed. When the flywheel assembly reaches the generator operating speed, the clutch assembly engages and connects the flywheel assembly to the generator assembly. When the flywheel assembly is connected to the generator assembly, it supplies the generator with the starting torque required to start the generator. The motor assembly then supplies the torque necessary to operate the flywheel assembly and the generator assembly at the generator's designed operating speed. When the generator encounters peak loads, the flywheel assembly also supplies peak load torques to the generator assembly. The generator assembly is operable to supply power to a load connected to the generator assembly.

Some embodiments include an electricity transfer system for modifying an electric vehicle charging station. Other embodiments of related systems and methods are also disclosed.

A hybrid drive system includes a motor coupled between a transmission and a differential, and a hybrid controller coupled to a vehicle such that the hybrid controller is mounted separately from an engine controller. A hybrid drive system including the above hybrid drive system, and a method of installing the hybrid drive system are also included herein.

A method of bridging a gap in an external electrical power supply line without stalling using an electrically powered rail propulsion vehicle includes using an electrically powered rail propulsion vehicle to propel a consist, the electrically powered rail propulsion vehicle configured to run as an emission-free pure electric unit from the external electrical power supply line; determining if a gap in the external electrical power supply line condition occurs; and supplying electric power from one or more ultracapacitor packs to run the electrically powered rail propulsion vehicle if a gap condition is determined to occur.

A flywheel-driven vehicle is powered by an electric motor. The rotation of the flywheel is initiated and maintained by an electric motor, wherein the electric motor is powered alternatively by a plurality of batteries (or sets of batteries). A charger assembly is connected to the plurality of batteries. In operation, one battery at a time powers the electric motor while, simultaneously, the other battery(s) is / are being recharged.

A hybrid energy railway vehicle system having a traction motor with a dynamic braking mode of operation for dynamically braking the traction motor and for generating dynamic braking electrical energy and an electrical energy storage system that is in electrical communication with the traction motor and that stores dynamic braking electrical energy generated by the traction motor. The system also has a hybrid energy railway vehicle with a plurality of wheels wherein the traction motor has a motoring mode of operation for driving one of the wheels in response to electrical input energy. A converter selectively provides stored electrical energy from the energy storage system to the traction motor as electrical input energy for driving one or more of wheels. The hybrid energy railway vehicle is optionally equipped computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for controlling the operation of the hybrid energy railway vehicle and a processor configured to control the operation of the railway vehicle as a function of at least one of a plurality of operating modes.