System for generating electrical energy to supply power to propel vehicles

Claim 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.