Patent US4290268A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4290268A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Vehicle braking and kinetic energy recovery system
Assignee: Purification Sciences Inc
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Filing: 1978-09-15
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Granted: 1981-09-22
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Expires: 1998-09-15
Abstract
Abstract An auxiliary kinetic energy recovery system is provided for a vehicle with a rotary sliding vane engine including a compressor, a combustion chamber and a motor in which the braking is done by connecting the rotor of the compressor to a wheel and braking rotation of the rotor by controlling the gas flow through the rotary sliding vane compressor, such as by varying the outlet to increase the pressure ratio. This eliminates the conventional friction brakes. The compressed air generated during braking is fed to a surge tank for later use in operating the vehicle engine, thus recovering a portion of the kinetic energy of the vehicle. Additional amounts of kinetic energy are recovered by means of a closed circuit compressible gas circulating system which comprises an auxiliary compressor actuated by the same shaft as that attached to the engine compressor. Expansion of the compressed gas provides torque to the rotor of a motor which drives a shaft by means of which kinetic energy can be recovered as storable electrical power or compressed air. The rotary slide vane motor can also be used as the brake by controlling the inlet thereto. The compressor and motor can be separate units or portions of one unitary rotary sliding vane device. The compressor-brake and motor-brake can be used together or separately and as integral or separate parts of a rotary sliding vane engine and also with other different types of engines.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank E. Lowther
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:38
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D57/00; F16D57/02; B; B60; B60K; B60K6/00; B60K6/08; B60K6/12; B60T; B60T1/00; B60T1/02; B60T1/08; B60T1/10; F01; F01B; F01B17/00; F01B17/02; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/60; Y02T10/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for braking a vehicle comprising the steps of: (a) powering said vehicle with an engine including a compressor, a combustion chamber, and a motor for converting hot combustion products into rotation of a shaft, and at least one of said compressor and motor being a rotary sliding vane device, said motor and compressor being operatively connected to a wheel of said vehicle for rotation therewith; (b) braking said vehicle by loading said compressor and therefore said wheel, and (c) recovering kinetic energy of said vehicle during braking thereof in a closed circuit gas circulating system for a gas capable of undergoing a change of phase, compressing said gas in said closed circuit during braking to change its phase, and storing said gas in its changed phase state for later use.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for braking a vehicle comprising the steps of: (a) powering said vehicle with an engine including a compressor, a combustion chamber, and a motor for converting hot combustion products into rotation of a shaft, and at least one of said compressor and motor being a rotary sliding vane device, said motor and compressor being operatively connected to a wheel of said vehicle for rotation therewith; (b) braking said vehicle by loading said compressor and therefore said wheel, and (c) recovering kinetic energy of said vehicle during braking thereof in a closed circuit gas circulating system for a gas capable of undergoing a change of phase, compressing said gas in said closed circuit during braking to change its phase, and storing said gas in its changed phase state for later use.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method according to claim 1 including using said recovered kinetic energy by changing said gas stored in its changed phase state to an expanding gas and feeding said expanding gas to an air expansion motor in said closed fluid circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
93 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said closed circuit fluid circulating system comprises elements including a surge tank for storing said gas, an expansion valve for expanding said gas, at least one heat exchanger for heating said gas, a motor adapted to be driven by said gas, a compressor for compressing and condensing said gas from an expanded form to a condensed form, pipe lines for conveying said gas and connecting said elements, and an output shaft from said motor for using the energy produced by driving said motor with said gas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said gas is ammonia, carbon dioxide, or a halogenated hydrocarbon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said gas is carbon dioxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 2 including driving a wheel of said vehicle with said air expansion motor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 2 including driving an air compressor with said air expansion motor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 2 including driving an electrical generator with said air expansion motor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 8 including feeding generated electricity to an electric-storage device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method according to claim 3 including braking said vehicle to cause said motor to rotate said shaft, and to cause said compressor of said closed system to compress said expanded gas into said surge tank, and condensing said gas in said surge tank, heating said surge tank with said heat exchanger, expanding said gas and heating said gas to an expanded form, feeding said gas through said motor for return to said compressor, and driving said output shaft of the motor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 10 including connecting an air compressor to said output shaft and compressing air with said compressor and feeding it into a storage tank for said air.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 10 including connecting a generator to said output shaft and driving said generator with said output shaft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 9 including connecting an electric storage battery to said generator and collecting electricity from said generator in said battery.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 13 including connecting an air compressor in series with said generator on said output shaft and compressing air with said compressor into a storage tank for said air.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
138 words
Apparatus comprising: (a) a vehicle having at least one wheel; (b) an engine connected to said vehicle for powering said vehicle and including a compressor, a combustion chamber, and a motor, at least one of said compressor and motor being a rotary sliding vane device said motor and compressor being operatively connected to a wheel of said vehicle, (c) means for braking said vehicle including means for loading said compressor and therefore said wheel; and (d) means for recovering kinetic energy of said vehicle during braking, said means comprising a closed circuit fluid circulating system including operatively connected to said wheel for compressing a gas capable of undergoing a change of phase and for compressing said gas in said closed circuit during braking to change its phase and storing said gas in its changed phase for later use.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
138 words
Apparatus comprising: (a) a vehicle having at least one wheel; (b) an engine connected to said vehicle for powering said vehicle and including a compressor, a combustion chamber, and a motor, at least one of said compressor and motor being a rotary sliding vane device said motor and compressor being operatively connected to a wheel of said vehicle, (c) means for braking said vehicle including means for loading said compressor and therefore said wheel; and (d) means for recovering kinetic energy of said vehicle during braking, said means comprising a closed circuit fluid circulating system including operatively connected to said wheel for compressing a gas capable of undergoing a change of phase and for compressing said gas in said closed circuit during braking to change its phase and storing said gas in its changed phase for later use.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus according to claim 15 including an air expansion motor in said closed gas circuit and means for using said recovered kinetic energy including means for changing the gas stored in its changed phase state into an expanding gas and means for feeding said expanding gas to said air expansion motor in said closed gas circuit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
91 words
The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said closed circuit gas circulating system comprises elements including a surge tank for storing said gas, an expansion valve for expanding said gas, at least one heat exchanger for heating said gas, a motor for driving by said gas, a compressor for compressing and condensing said gas from an expanded form to a condensed form, pipe lines for conveying said gas and connecting said elements, and an output shaft from said motor for using the energy produced by driving said motor with said gas.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said gas is ammonia, carbon dioxide, or a halogenated hydrocarbon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said gas is carbon dioxide.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 16 including means for connecting said air expansion motor to a wheel of said vehicle to aid in driving said vehicle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 16 including means for connecting said air expansion motor to an electrical generator to be driven by said motor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus according to claim 16 including an air compressor for compressing air and means for driving said compressor with said motor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus according to claim 18 including an electric storage device and means for feeding electricity generated by said motor to said electric storage device.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-09-21 | 1985-03-23 | 1985-09-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-09-21 | 1989-03-23 | 1989-09-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-09-21 | 1993-03-23 | 1993-09-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |