US5544484A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Engine induction air driven alternator
Assignee: Uusi LLC
•
Filing: 1994-07-29
•
Granted: 1996-08-13
•
Expires: 2014-07-29
Abstract
Abstract A turboalternator and air flow control assembly for mounting on a combustion air intake of an internal combustion engine comprises a body having an inlet and an outlet defining an air flow path, a nozzle carrier in the body defining a plurality of turbine nozzles spaced arcuately about and generally parallel with a central axis, the nozzles having inlet and outlet ends and forming a portion of the air flow path, a rotor mounted in the body on bearings for rotation on the central axis, the rotor driving an electric generator and including a turbine wheel having blades axially adjacent and radially aligned with said nozzles, a bypass passage in the body and connecting the inlet and outlet separately from the nozzles, and a bypass valve in the bypass passage and operable to control air flow through said bypass passage. Various embodiments including concentric or parallel bypass passage arrangements and having axial or radial gap alternators with permanent magnet rotors are featured. A battery charging system and method for voltage regulation of turbine and engine driven alternators combined in the system are also featured.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark G. Voss
- 👤 Gregory E. Peterson
- 👤 William O. Harvey
- 👤 Randall L. Perrin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 20:31
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D9/00; F02D9/02; F01; F01D; F01D17/00; F01D17/10; F01D17/12; F01D17/14; H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/14; H02J7/1423; H02J7/1469; H02J7/1476; H02P; H02P9/00; H02P9/04; H02P9/14; H02P9/26; H02P9/30; H02P9/48; F02D2009/0201; F02D2009/0283; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/70; Y02E10/72
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A turboalternator and air flow control assembly for mounting on a combustion air intake of an internal combustion engine, said assembly comprising: a body having an inlet and an outlet and defining therebetween an air flow path; a nozzle carrier in the body and defining a plurality of turbine nozzles spaced arcuately about and generally parallel with a central axis, said nozzles having inlet and outlet ends and forming a portion of said air flow path; a nozzle valve adjustable to sequentially restrict or close one or more of said nozzles to control air flow against the turbine blades through said nozzles; a rotor mounted in the body on bearings for rotation on said central axis, said rotor being drivingly connected with an electric generator and including a turbine wheel having blades axially adjacent and radially aligned with said nozzles; a bypass passage in said body and connecting said inlet and outlet separately from said nozzles; and a bypass valve in said bypass passage and operable to control air flow through said bypass passage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A turboalternator and air flow control assembly for mounting on a combustion air intake of an internal combustion engine, said assembly comprising: a body having an inlet and an outlet and defining therebetween an air flow path; a nozzle carrier in the body and defining a plurality of turbine nozzles spaced arcuately about and generally parallel with a central axis, said nozzles having inlet and outlet ends and forming a portion of said air flow path; a nozzle valve adjustable to sequentially restrict or close one or more of said nozzles to control air flow against the turbine blades through said nozzles; a rotor mounted in the body on bearings for rotation on said central axis, said rotor being drivingly connected with an electric generator and including a turbine wheel having blades axially adjacent and radially aligned with said nozzles; a bypass passage in said body and connecting said inlet and outlet separately from said nozzles; and a bypass valve in said bypass passage and operable to control air flow through said bypass passage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention as in claim 1 wherein said electric generator is an alternator having an electrically wound stator and magnets on said rotor axially adjacent to said stator with an axial air gap between them.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention as in claim 1 wherein said electric generator is an alternator having an electrically wound stator and magnets on said rotor radially adjacent to said stator with a radial air gap between them.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The invention as in claim 1 and further including a plastic ring closely surrounding said turbine blades and engagable by the blades in case of excessive growth of the rotor outer diameter in operation, the ring being formed of a material capable of interfering with rotation of the rotor by engaging the blade ends without causing significant damage thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention as in claim 4 wherein said rotor and blades are formed from a plastic and said ring material comprises a high performance amorphous resin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention as in claim 1 wherein said nozzle valve includes an arcuate flow control passage rotatable into and out of register with said nozzles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention as in claim 6 wherein said arcuate passage has an end of reduced radial width where it registers with a first one of said nozzles to control idle air flow through said first nozzle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention as in claim 7 wherein said reduced width end tapers essentially to a point.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention as in claim 7 wherein said first nozzle is of reduced size.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention as in claim 6 and further including an additional nozzle and an idle air control valve controlling air flow to said additional nozzle for idle speed control.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention as in claim 10 wherein said idle air control valve is fed by a separate idle air port not controlled by said nozzle valve.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention as in claim 11 wherein said additional nozzle is configured to accelerate idle air flow to supersonic velocities.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
164 words
A turboalternator and air flow control assembly for mounting on a combustion air intake of an internal combustion engine, said assembly comprising: a body having an inlet and an outlet and defining therebetween an air flow path; a nozzle carrier in the body and defining a plurality of turbine nozzles spaced arcuately about and generally parallel with a central axis, said nozzles having inlet and outlet ends and forming a portion of said air flow path; a rotor mounted in the body on bearings for rotation on said central axis, said rotor being drivingly connected with an electric generator and including a turbine wheel having blades axially adjacent and radially aligned with said nozzles; a bypass passage in said body and connecting said inlet and outlet separately from said nozzles, said bypass passage having an annular inlet that substantially surrounds and is centered on said axis; and a bypass valve in said bypass passage and operable to control air flow through said bypass passage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
164 words
A turboalternator and air flow control assembly for mounting on a combustion air intake of an internal combustion engine, said assembly comprising: a body having an inlet and an outlet and defining therebetween an air flow path; a nozzle carrier in the body and defining a plurality of turbine nozzles spaced arcuately about and generally parallel with a central axis, said nozzles having inlet and outlet ends and forming a portion of said air flow path; a rotor mounted in the body on bearings for rotation on said central axis, said rotor being drivingly connected with an electric generator and including a turbine wheel having blades axially adjacent and radially aligned with said nozzles; a bypass passage in said body and connecting said inlet and outlet separately from said nozzles, said bypass passage having an annular inlet that substantially surrounds and is centered on said axis; and a bypass valve in said bypass passage and operable to control air flow through said bypass passage.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention as in claim 13 and further including a nozzle valve adjustable to restrict or close one or more of said nozzles and said bypass passage inlet to separately control air flow to the turbine blades and through said bypass passage.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention as in claim 4 wherein said bypass valve and said nozzle valve comprise a single valve member that moves axially to control bypass flow and performs rotary oscillation about said axis to control air flow to the turbine blades.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention as in claim 15 and further including a contoured projection on said valve and extendable into said annular inlet to control the amount of bypass opening.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of regulating the output voltage of a permanent magnet alternator drivingly connected with a turbine driven by combustion intake air admitted at varying rates to an internal combustion engine, said method comprising: providing a power control bypass valve operable to control flow through a bypass passage around the turbine; closing said power control bypass valve to block the bypass flow and direct intake air through the turbine so long as said alternator output voltage remains below a preset limit; and opening said power control bypass valve whenever the output voltage reaches said preset limit, said valve opening being sufficient to control the flow of air through the turbine as necessary to limit the maximum turbine speed and thereby maintain said alternator output voltage substantially within said preset limit.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of regulating the output voltage of a permanent magnet alternator drivingly connected with a turbine driven by combustion intake air admitted at varying rates to an internal combustion engine, said method comprising: providing a power control bypass valve operable to control flow through a bypass passage around the turbine; closing said power control bypass valve to block the bypass flow and direct intake air through the turbine so long as said alternator output voltage remains below a preset limit; and opening said power control bypass valve whenever the output voltage reaches said preset limit, said valve opening being sufficient to control the flow of air through the turbine as necessary to limit the maximum turbine speed and thereby maintain said alternator output voltage substantially within said preset limit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 17 and further comprising: temporarily limiting excess voltage output from the alternator by connecting the output to a supplemental load; measuring current through the supplemental load and providing an analog signal proportional to said current; and controlling the opening of said power control bypass valve in proportion to said analog signal to reduce the alternator voltage output and limit current through the supplemental load.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said supplemental load is a resistance load.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
90 words
The method of claim 17 wherein an engine power control, in parallel with the power control bypass valve, is operable to limit flow to the turbine and to provide a primary turbine bypass for obtaining additional engine power, said method further comprising: restricting flow through the power control in proportion to the opening of the power control bypass valve to maintain the flow of air to the engine essentially constant at the power level determined by the power control irrespective of the opening position of the power control bypass valve.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2840343A
Cited
US3299629A
Cited
US3346175A
Cited
US4177005A
Cited
US4827170A
Cited
WO1992009800A1
Cited
US5394848A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-08-13 | 2000-02-12 | 2000-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-08-13 | 2004-02-12 | 2004-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-08-13 | 2008-02-12 | 2008-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |