US3913699A — Automotive power system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 199 words

An automotive power system for use in a vehicle having a frame, front and rear axles, and wheels rotatably mounted to said axles for rolling upon a surface, said power system comprising: a combustion chamber mounted to said frame; means for supplying fuel to said combustion chamber; a compressor motor mounted to said frame and having an intake and an exhaust; a first conduit coupling the interior of said combustion chamber with the intake of said compressor motor; a compressor mounted to said frame and having an intake and an exhaust; a second conduit coupling the interior of said combustion chamber with the exhaust of said compressor; means for driving said compressor by said compressor motor; a drive motor separate from said compressor and said compressor motor mounted to said vehicle and having an intake and an exhaust, said drive motor being coupled to one of said axles for rotation thereof to drive the wheels mounted to said one axle, said drive motor being rotatable in either direction; a third conduit coupling the interior of said combustion chamber with the intake of said drive motor; and means for controlling the speed and direction of rotation of said drive motor.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 199 words

An automotive power system for use in a vehicle having a frame, front and rear axles, and wheels rotatably mounted to said axles for rolling upon a surface, said power system comprising: a combustion chamber mounted to said frame; means for supplying fuel to said combustion chamber; a compressor motor mounted to said frame and having an intake and an exhaust; a first conduit coupling the interior of said combustion chamber with the intake of said compressor motor; a compressor mounted to said frame and having an intake and an exhaust; a second conduit coupling the interior of said combustion chamber with the exhaust of said compressor; means for driving said compressor by said compressor motor; a drive motor separate from said compressor and said compressor motor mounted to said vehicle and having an intake and an exhaust, said drive motor being coupled to one of said axles for rotation thereof to drive the wheels mounted to said one axle, said drive motor being rotatable in either direction; a third conduit coupling the interior of said combustion chamber with the intake of said drive motor; and means for controlling the speed and direction of rotation of said drive motor.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 77 words

The automotive power system of claim 1 wherein said drive motor comprises: a plurality of positive displacement chambers; valve means for controlling the intake into and exhaust from said chambers; an intake manifold interconnecting said chambers through said intake valve means, said third conduit being connected to said intake manifold; and a crank shaft rotatably mounted to said drive motor, said crank shaft being rotatable in either direction, said crank shaft being coupled to said one axle.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 69 words

The automotive power system of claim 2 and further comprising: a differential mounted to said one axle for rotation thereof; a ring gear integrally coupled to the gearing of said differential; and a pinion mounted to said drive motor crank shaft, said pinion engaging said ring gear for rotation thereof upon rotation of said crank shaft by said drive motor, thereby driving said wheels mounted to said one axle.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 48 words

The automotive power system of claim 3 wherein said compressor motor comprises: a plurality of positive displacement chambers; valve means for controlling the intake into said chambers; and an intake manifold interconnecting said chambers through said intake valve means, said first conduit being connected to said intake manifold.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 47 words

The automotive power system of claim 4 wherein said compressor comprises: a plurality of positive displacement chambers; valve means for controlling the exhaust from said chambers; and an exhaust manifold interconnecting said chambers through said exhaust valve means, said second conduit being connected to said exhaust manifold.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 39 words

The automotive power system of claim 5 wherein said means for driving said compressor comprises a crank shaft common to both said compressor and said compressor motor, whereby said compressor rotates at the same speed as said compressor motor.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 83 words

The automotive power system of claim 3 wherein said means for controlling the speed and direction of rotation of said drive motor comprises: a cam shaft longitudinally slidable within its mounting to said drive motor, said cam shaft having a plurality of intake and exhaust lobes for controlling said valve means, the power to said drive motor and direction of rotation thereof being controlled by the longitudinal position of said cam shaft; and means for controlling the longitudinal position of said cam shaft.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 32 words

The automotive power system of claim 7 wherein said cam shaft is rotatable in the forward direction and in the reverse direction, corresponding with the direction of rotation of said drive motor.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 35 words

The automotive power system of claim 6 wherein said compressor and said compressor motor are integral parts of a unitary structure having a V-shaped configuration, the apex of said V-shape being said common crank shaft.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 25 words

The automotive power system of claim 1 wherein said combustion chamber and said first, second and third conduits are insulated to minimize heat loss therefrom.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 77 words

The automotive power system of claim 7 wherein: said drive motor valve means comprises: a plurality of intake valves actuated by said intake valve lobes on said cam shaft; and a plurality of exhaust valves actuated by said exhaust valve lobes on said cam shaft; said intake and exhaust valves are openable for varying amounts and for varying periods of time, the time and amount of opening being dependent upon the longitudinal position of said cam shaft.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 105 words

The automotive power system of claim 11 wherein said means for moving said cam shaft longitudinally comprises: a forward pedal operative to move said cam shaft in one direction to apply forward power to said chambers of said drive motor through said intake valves; a reverse pedal operative to move said cam shaft in the other direction to apply reverse power to said chambers of said drive motor through said intake valves; coupling means common to both said forward and reverse pedals for coupling said pedals to said cam shaft; and biasing means for returning said coupling means and said cam shaft to neutral position.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 97 words

The automotive power system of claim 7 wherein: each of said intake lobes on said cam shaft comprises a forward lobe and a reverse lobe longitudinally spaced on said cam shaft, said reverse lobe being offset angularly with respect to said forward lobe, said forward and reverse intake lobes being configured substantially identically; each of said exhaust lobes on said cam shaft comprises a forward lobe and a reverse lobe longitudinally spaced on said cam shaft, said reverse lobe being offset angularly with respect to said forward lobe, said forward and reverse lobes being configured substantially identically.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 120 words

The automotive power system of claim 13 and further comprising: an intake valve cam follower operatively coupled to each of said intake valves, said forward and reverse intake lobes being longitudinally spaced by at least the width of said intake valve cam follower; an exhaust valve cam follower operatively coupled to each of said exhaust valves, said forward and reverse exhaust lobes being longitudinally separated on one side of said cam shaft by at least the width of said exhaust valve cam follower; whereby when said cam shaft is in neutral position, said intake valves remain closed throughout a complete cycle of operation, and said exhaust valves remain closed at least in the vicinity of the top dead center position.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 56 words

The automotive power system of claim 14 wherein the radial thickness and angular width of said intake lobes vary with longitudinal position on said cam shaft, thereby opening said intake valves by different amounts and for different periods of time depending upon longitudinal position of said cam shaft with respect to said intake valve cam followers.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 56 words

The automotive power system of claim 14 wherein the radial thickness and angular width of said exhaust lobes vary with longitudinal position on said cam shaft, thereby opening said exhaust valves by different amounts and for different periods of time depending upon longitudinal position of said cam shaft with respect to said exhaust valve cam followers.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 49 words

The automotive power system of claim 16 wherein said forward and reverse exhaust cam lobes overlap in the bottom dead center position of said cam shaft so that when said cam shaft is in the neutral longitudinal position, said exhaust valves are open at the bottom dead center position.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 105 words

The automotive power system of claim 17 wherein each of said forward and reverse exhaust cam lobes has a radially projecting sloping surface, said surface being at an angle with respect to a line tangent to the surface of said cam shaft and normal to the axis thereof, said forward and reverse exhaust cam lobe radially projecting sloping surfaces facing in generally opposite directions with respect to the longitudinal axis of said cam shaft, whereby said sloping surfaces diverge from a condition of overlap in the vicinity of the bottom dead center position while being separated in the vicinity of the top dead center position.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 58 words

The automotive power system of claim 18 wherein the transitional surfaces of said cam lobes are so configured that said intake and exhaust valve cam followers easily and smoothly ride up onto and down off said cam lobe surfaces when said cam shaft rotates in the forward direction, in the reverse direction, or slides longitudinally in either direction.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 57 words

The automotive power system of claim 1 wherein said means for supplying fuel to said combustion chamber comprises a fuel pump directly coupled to and operating with said compressor to maintain the fuel supplied to said combustion chamber by said fuel pump, and the air supplied to said combustion chamber by said compressor, in substantially fixed ratio.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 17 words

The automotive power system of claim 2 wherein said positive displacement chambers comprise reciprocating pistons in cylinders.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 17 words

The automotive power system of claim 4 wherein said positive displacement chambers comprise reciprocating pistons in cylinders.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 17 words

The automotive power system of claim 5 wherein said positive displacement chambers comprise reciprocating pistons in cylinders.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 143 words

The automotive power system of claim 4 and further comprising: a cam shaft longitudinally slidable within its mounting to said compressor motor, said cam shaft having a plurality of longitudinally spaced intake lobes and exhaust lobes; said valve means of saiD compressor motor comprising a plurality of intake valves and a plurality of exhaust valves, each of said intake and exhaust valves having a cam follower operatively coupled thereto and actuated by said intake and exhaust lobes; said intake and exhaust lobes varying in radial thickness and angular width with longitudinal position on said cam shaft; the power to said compressor motor being controlled by the longitudinal position of said cam shaft. 25. The automotive power system of claim 24 and further comprising: means responsive to the pressure within said combustion chamber for controlling the longitudinal position of said compressor motor cam shaft.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 44 words

The automotive power system of claim 1 and further comprising: means for starting said power system comprising: means for injecting a volatile starting fuel into said combustion chamber; and means for igniting said starting fuel in the presence of air within said combustion chamber.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 97 words

The automotive power system of claim 5 wherein: said compressor valve means comprises a plurality of exhaust valves, each of said valves being normally biased to a closed position; said power system further comprising a cam shaft having cam lobes for controlling the opening of said intake valves; said exhaust valves being coupled to the interior of said combustion chamber through said second conduit, said exhaust valves opening to inject compressed air to said combustion chamber when the pressure within said compressor positive displacement chambers exceeds the back pressure on said exhaust valves from said combustion chamber.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 37 words

The automotive power system of claim 7 wherein said intake and exhaust valves in said drive motor are normally closed and variably openable by means of said intake and exhaust lobes on said drive motor cam shaft.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 32 words

The automotive power system of claim 2 wherein the volumetric capacity of said combustion chamber is substantially fifty times greater than the displacement of said positive displacement chambers in said drive motor.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 32 words

The automotive power system of claim 4 wherein said volumetric capacity of said combustion chamber is substantially thirty times greater than the displacement of said positive displacement chambers in said compressor motor.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 74 words

The automotive power system of claim 12 whereby when said drive motor and said vehicle are operating in the forward direction and said cam shaft is moved longitudinally in said other direction by said forward pedal, reverse torque is applied to said drive motor, said exhaust valves operate as intake valves and said intake valves operate as exhaust valves, thereby supplying energy by said drive motor to said combustion chamber through said third conduit.

Claim 32

Independent Claim 139 words

A method for propelling a wheeled vehicle having a compressor, a compressor motor, a combustion chamber, a fuel pump, a reversible drive motor and an axially slidable cam shaft, comprising the steps of: supplying air to said combustion chamber by means of said compressor; supplying fuel to said combustion chamber by means of said fuel pump; maintaining said air and said fuel in fixed ratio; burning said fuel in said combustion chamber; supplying high pressure gases from said combustion chamber to said compressor motor; driving said compressor by means of said compressor motor; supplying high pressure gases from said combustion chamber to said drive motor; driving the wheels of said vehicle by means of said drive motor; and controlling the torque and direction of rotation of said drive motor by means of the axial position of said cam shaft.

Claim 33

Independent Claim 139 words

A method for propelling a wheeled vehicle having a compressor, a compressor motor, a combustion chamber, a fuel pump, a reversible drive motor and an axially slidable cam shaft, comprising the steps of: supplying air to said combustion chamber by means of said compressor; supplying fuel to said combustion chamber by means of said fuel pump; maintaining said air and said fuel in fixed ratio; burning said fuel in said combustion chamber; supplying high pressure gases from said combustion chamber to said compressor motor; driving said compressor by means of said compressor motor; supplying high pressure gases from said combustion chamber to said drive motor; driving the wheels of said vehicle by means of said drive motor; and controlling the torque and direction of rotation of said drive motor by means of the axial position of said cam shaft.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method of claim 32 wherein: said drive means is driven in the forward direction by sliding said cam shaft in one direction; and said drive motor is driven in the reverse direction by sliding said cam shaft in the other direction.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 50 words

The method of claim 33 and comprising the further step of sliding said cam shaft in said other Direction when said drive motor and said vehicle are moving in the forward direction, thereby supplying compressed air to said combustion chamber by means of said drive motor acting as a compressor.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 32 wherein said compressor is driven directly by said compressor motor.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 32 wherein said fuel pump is driven directly by said compressor.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-10-20	1979-04-21	1979-10-21	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-10-20	1983-04-21	1983-10-21	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-10-20	1987-04-21	1987-10-21	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Automotive power system

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag