Vehicle driving method and hybrid vehicle propulsion system

Claim 3

A method of claim 1 , and further comprising the steps of: detecting the temperature of said thermal storage means to generate a temperature signal; said controlling step enabling intermittent operation of said heat engine in response to said temperature signal so as to maintain said thermal storage means within a predetermined temperature range.

Claim 4

A hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle, comprising: a gas turbine for generating a first power output and discharging hot exhaust; an expansion turbine for generating a second power output; an output shaft coupled to said gas turbine and said expansion turbine for driving said vehicle; heat recovery means including thermal storage means for recovering and storing heat of said hot exhaust to generate motive gases in a closed circuit to operate said expansion turbine; and a control unit for operating said gas turbine in an on/off mode to intermittently supply said hot exhaust to said thermal storage means.

Claim 5

A hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle, comprising: a gas turbine for generating a first power output and discharging hot exhaust; an expansion turbine for generating a second power output; an output shaft coupled to said gas turbine and said expansion turbine for driving said vehicle; heat recovery means including thermal storage means for recovering and storing heat of said hot exhaust to generate motive gases in a closed circuit to operate said expansion turbine; and a control unit for operating said gas turbine in an on/off mode to intermittently supply said hot exhaust to said thermal storage means.

Claim 6

A hybrid propulsion system according to claim 3 , further comprising: temperature sensing means for detecting temperature of said thermal storage means to generate a temperature signal; said control unit being responsive to said temperature signal for intermittently operating said gas turbine so as to maintain said thermal storage means within a predetermined temperature range.

Claim 7

A hybrid propulsion system according to claims 3 or 4 , further comprising a turbine housing enclosing said gas turbine and said expansion turbine in axially spaced and concentric relationship.

Claim 8

A hybrid propulsion system according to claims 3 or 4 , in which said gas turbine comprises an annular stator including at least one radially and inwardly extending flow deflector, a flywheel turbine rotatably disposed in said annular stator and having its outer periphery formed with an annular jet stream path and a plurality of circumferentially spaced turbine blades facing said annular path, said annular path accommodating said flow deflector.

Claim 9

A hybrid propulsion system according to claim 6 , in which said expansion turbine comprises an annular stator including at least one radially and inwardly extending flow deflector, and a flywheel turbine having its outer periphery formed with an annular jet stream path and a plurality of circumferentially spaced turbine blades facing said annular path, said annular path accommodating said flow deflector.

Claim 10

A hybrid propulsion system according to claim 7 , in which said output shaft comprises a first hollow shaft coupled to said expansion turbine and a second shaft coupled to said gas turbine and extending through said first hollow shaft.

Claim 11

A hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle, comprising: a turbine housing; a compressor mounted on said turbine housing to supply compressed air; combustor means for combusting air and fuel to produce first motive gases; first and second annular stator means fixedly mounted in said turbine housing in axially spaced relationship and each including an inlet to introduce a jet stream in a tangential direction, an outlet to exhaust expanded gases and at least one radially and axially extending flow deflector to deflect said jet stream; first and second turbine rotors rotatably disposed in said first and second annular stators to produce first and second power outputs, respectively and coupled to a common output shaft, each of said first and second turbine rotors including on its outer periphery formed with an annular jet stream path communicating with said inlet and said outlet to allow said jet stream to run therebetween and accommodating therein said flow deflector, and a plurality of turbine blades formed adjacent said annular path; said first stator means introducing said first motive gases and discharging said expanded gases as hot exhaust; heat recovery means including thermal storage means for recovering and storing heat of said hot exhaust to thereby produce second motive gases to be applied to the inlet of said second stator means; and control means for operating said combustor means in an on/off mode to cause said hot exhaust to be intermittently supplied to said thermal storage means.

Claim 12

A hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle, comprising: a turbine housing; a compressor mounted on said turbine housing to supply compressed air; combustor means for combusting air and fuel to produce first motive gases; first and second annular stator means fixedly mounted in said turbine housing in axially spaced relationship and each including an inlet to introduce a jet stream in a tangential direction, an outlet to exhaust expanded gases and at least one radially and axially extending flow deflector to deflect said jet stream; first and second turbine rotors rotatably disposed in said first and second annular stators to produce first and second power outputs, respectively and coupled to a common output shaft, each of said first and second turbine rotors including on its outer periphery formed with an annular jet stream path communicating with said inlet and said outlet to allow said jet stream to run therebetween and accommodating therein said flow deflector, and a plurality of turbine blades formed adjacent said annular path; said first stator means introducing said first motive gases and discharging said expanded gases as hot exhaust; heat recovery means including thermal storage means for recovering and storing heat of said hot exhaust to thereby produce second motive gases to be applied to the inlet of said second stator means; and control means for operating said combustor means in an on/off mode to cause said hot exhaust to be intermittently supplied to said thermal storage means.

Claim 13

A hybrid propulsion system according to claim 9 , further comprising throttle means movably disposed in said turbine housing and actuated by said control means to minimize pumping action of said compressor during non-operation period of said combustor means.

Claim 14

A hybrid propulsion system according to claim 9 , in which said first and second turbine rotors comprise first and second flywheels, respectively, each of said first and second flywheels including a pair of rotor disks fixedly supported by said output shaft, each of said rotor disks including a radially extending annular wall formed with said turbine blades facing said annular path.

Claim 15

A hybrid propulsion system according to claim 11 , in which each of said turbine blades has a first surface to introduce said jet stream deflected by said flow deflector, an intermediate surface upon which said jet stream impinges, and a second surface contiguous with said intermediate surface for guiding said jet stream toward said annular path.

Claim 16

A hybrid propulsion system according to claims 9 or 10 , in which said combustor means comprises a substantially semi-circular combustion chamber disposed in said turbine housing, a pre-evaporation and pre-mixing duct mounted at an entrance of said combustion chamber, a fuel nozzle mounted in said duct.

Claim 17

A hybrid propulsion system according to claim 13 , in which said combustor means further comprises an injection nozzle mounted in said combustion chamber downstream of said duct to effect injection of water or vapor thereinto.

Claim 18

A hybrid propulsion system according to claim 14 , further comprising means for recycling vapors contained in said hot exhaust.

Claim 19

A hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle, comprising: a gas turbine including a turbine housing, compressor means mounted in said turbine housing, combustor means communicating with said compressor means to produce primary motive gases, a primary expansion turbine driven by said primary motive gases to produce a power output, and an output shaft coupled to said primary expansion; control means for operating said gas turbine in an on/off mode; said gas turbine including primary annular stator means fixedly mounted in said turbine housing and having an inlet to introduce a jet stream of said primary motive gases into said stator means in a tangential direction, at least one flow deflector radially and inwardly extending to deflect said jet stream and an outlet to exhaust hot exhaust, and said primary expansion turbine including a flywheel having its outer periphery formed with an annular jet stream path to allow said jet stream and a plurality of circumferentially spaced turbine blades formed adjacent said annular path, said annular path receiving said flow deflector of said stator means.

Claim 20

A hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle, comprising: a gas turbine including a turbine housing, compressor means mounted in said turbine housing, combustor means communicating with said compressor means to produce primary motive gases, a primary expansion turbine driven by said primary motive gases to produce a power output, and an output shaft coupled to said primary expansion; control means for operating said gas turbine in an on/off mode; said gas turbine including primary annular stator means fixedly mounted in said turbine housing and having an inlet to introduce a jet stream of said primary motive gases into said stator means in a tangential direction, at least one flow deflector radially and inwardly extending to deflect said jet stream and an outlet to exhaust hot exhaust, and said primary expansion turbine including a flywheel having its outer periphery formed with an annular jet stream path to allow said jet stream and a plurality of circumferentially spaced turbine blades formed adjacent said annular path, said annular path receiving said flow deflector of said stator means.

Claim 21

A hybrid propulsion system according to claim 16 , further comprising: heat recovery means including thermal storage means for recovering and storing heat of said hot exhaust to produce secondary motive gases; secondary annular stator means fixedly mounted in said turbine housing in axially spaced relationship from said primary stator means to introduce said secondary motive gases in a tangential direction; and a secondary expansion turbine rotatably disposed in said secondary stator means and including a flywheel connected to said output shaft and having an annular jet stream path to introduce said jet stream of said secondary motive gases and turbine blade means formed adjacent said annular path for expansion of said secondary motive gases.