Equipment for Generating Electrical Energy for Vehicles with a Cooling Unit

Abstract

The invention relates to equipment for generating electrical energy for vehicles. It is configured to provide electric energy to the cooling unit of the vehicle wherein it is installed and comprises a wheel (2) which rotates forced by the rotation of a tyre (3) of the vehicle and which is linked to an axle (1) connected to an electric generator (4). It also has a battery for storing the electricity generated by the rotation of the axle (1) and is able to use it when the vehicle is stopped, and it comprises a drive mechanism configured to move the wheel (2) between a resting position wherein it is separated from the tyre (3) and a working position wherein it is in contact with the tyre (3).

Claims

1. A set of equipment for generating electric energy for vehicles equipped with a chassis (14) and tyres (3) preferably intended to power a cooling unit of the vehicle, which comprises: at least one generator assembly (11), a battery (15), a control unit (13) connected to the battery (15), wherein the at least one generator assembly (11) comprises: an axle (1) and a wheel (2) arranged on one of the ends of the axle (1), wherein the wheel (2) is intended to make contact with the upper portion of one of the tyres (3) of the vehicle such that when the vehicle moves it causes a rotational movement of the wheel (2) and therefore of the axle (1); an electric generator (4) connected to the axle (1) which transforms the rotational energy of said axle (1) into electricity, and attached to the control unit (13) and the battery (15) in order to store the electricity generated by the rotation of the axle (1); characterized in that the at least one generator assembly (11) further comprises: a drive mechanism, configured to move the wheel (2) between a resting position wherein it is separated from the tyre (3), and a working position wherein it is in contact with the tyre (3), such that it is kept in the working position until the electric generator (4) is at 100% charge and the wheel (2) moves back to the resting position, wherein the drive mechanism comprises: a support (8) intended to be linked to the chassis (14) of the vehicle, a movable plate (5) attached to the support, a cover (7) supporting the electric generator (4), and which is in contact with the movable plate (5), a drive element, attached to the movable plate (5), so as to move the movable plate (5) with respect to the support (8), integrally with the cover (7) and the wheel (2), from the resting position to the working position, and a solenoid valve (16), connected to the control unit (13), which enables the passage or exit of pressurised air to the drive element.

2. The equipment of claim 1, additionally comprising a reducer (19) positioned between the axle (1) and the wheel (2).

3. The equipment of claim 1, additionally comprising a charger (20), attached to the electric generator (4) and the battery (15) in order to transform the alternating current generated in the electric generator (4) into a direct current that is stored in the battery (15).

4. The equipment of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism configured to move the wheel (2) additionally comprises: guides (21) located on the support (8), parallel to the chassis (14), whereon the movable plate (5) is positioned, a guide platform (22), intended to be fastened to the chassis (14), a bearing (23), located in the guide platform (22), supporting the axle (1), the actuating element, attached to the movable plate (5), so as to move the movable plate (5) with respect to the support (8), on the guides (21), parallel to the chassis (14), integrally with electric generator (4) and the wheel (2), from the resting position to the working position.

5. The equipment of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism configured to move the wheel (2) additionally comprises: an articulation shaft (9) attached to the support (8) and to the movable plate (5), the drive element, comprising a pneumatic mattress (6) attached to the movable plate (5) and to the support (8), such that when inflated it causes the movable plate (5) to tilt with respect to the articulation shaft (9) in order to move the cover (7) integrally with the electric generator (4) and the wheel (2), from the resting position to the working position.

6. The equipment of claim 4, wherein the drive mechanism configured to move the wheel (2) additionally comprises a vibration-absorbing disk (12) positioned between the electric generator (4) and the cover (7).

7. The equipment of claim 5, wherein the drive mechanism configured to move the wheel (2) additionally comprises a vibration-absorbing disk (12) positioned between the movable plate (5) and the cover (7).

8. The equipment of any of claims 1 to 7, additionally comprising at least two generator assemblies (11) and a synchronoscope (18) connected to the control unit (13), the charger (20) and the electric generators (4) of the generator assemblies (11) in order to unify the currents generated by the electric generators (11) and transfer them to the battery (15).

9. The equipment of any of claims 1 to 7, additionally comprising a detector (17) for the speed of the vehicle connected to the control unit (13).

10. The equipment of any of claims 1 to 7, additionally comprising at least one three-phase socket for exterior charging.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] To complement the description that is being made and for the purpose of helping to better understand the features of the invention according to a preferred practical embodiment thereof, in which a set of drawings depicting the following in an illustrative and non-limiting manner is attached as an integral part of said description:

[0040] FIG. 1.—Shows an exploded view of the generator assembly.

[0041] FIG. 2.—Shows a side view of a vehicle with a cooling unit wherein the equipment is observed, installed in the chassis of the vehicle.

[0042] FIG. 3.—Shows a rear view of a vehicle with a cooling unit and a zoom can be seen of the area of the chassis of the vehicle wherein the equipment is positioned.

[0043] FIGS. 4a-b.—Show a first embodiment of the drive mechanism.

[0044] FIG. 4c.—Shows the silentblock positioned in the drive mechanism of the first embodiment.

[0045] FIG. 5.—Shows a second embodiment of the drive mechanism.

[0046] FIG. 6.—Shows a schematic view of the control unit connected to the battery, the electric generator, the solenoid valve and the speed detector.

[0047] FIG. 7.—shows a schematic view of the control unit connected to the different elements when the equipment comprises a synchronoscope.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0048] Below, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described with the aid of FIGS. 1 to 7.

[0049] The present invention describes a set of electrical energy equipment for vehicles having a cooling unit. The described equipment is positioned on the internal portion of the chassis (14), in contact with a tyre (3), as seen for example in FIG. 1, and is intended to be connected to a cooling unit of a vehicle.

[0050] The equipment comprises at least one generator assembly (11), comprising an axle (1), a wheel (2) arranged on one of the ends of the axle (1), and a reducer (19), which is positioned between both of them, said wheel (2) being intended to make contact with the upper portion of one of the tyres (3) of the vehicle such that when the vehicle moves it causes a rotational movement of the wheel (2) and therefore of the axle (1).

[0051] FIG. 2 shows a side view of a vehicle with a cooling unit wherein a set of equipment like the one described has been installed. In said figure it can be seen how the wheel (2) of the equipment stays in contact with one of the tyres (3) of the vehicle when it is in the working position, meaning, when it is generating energy.

[0052] In FIG. 3 you can see the equipment installed in a vehicle with a cooling unit from a different view. In this case it shows a rear view of the vehicle and the area of the chassis (14) wherein the equipment is installed can be seen.

[0053] The equipment also comprises an electric generator (4) connected to the axle (1) which transforms the rotational energy of said axle (1) into electricity.

[0054] In order to move the wheel (2) between a resting position wherein it is separated from the tyre (3) and a working position wherein it is in contact with the tyre (3), the equipment comprises a drive mechanism.

[0055] In a first embodiment of the invention, said drive mechanism comprises; [0056] a support (8) intended to be linked to the chassis (14) of the vehicle, [0057] an articulation shaft (9) attached to the support (8), [0058] a movable plate (5) tilting with respect to the articulation shaft (9), [0059] a cover (7) which supports the electric generator (4) and is in contact with the movable plate (5), [0060] a drive element comprising a pneumatic mattress (6) attached to the movable plate (5) and to the support (8), such that when inflated it causes the movable plate (5) to tilt with respect to the articulation shaft (9) in order to move the cover (7) integrally with the electric generator (4) and the wheel (2), from the resting position to the working position, [0061] a solenoid valve (16) which enables the passage of pressurised air to the pneumatic mattress (6) or the outlet of air from the inside of the pneumatic mattress (6) for the inflating or deflating thereof;

[0062] In this first embodiment, the drive mechanism comprises, as shown in FIG. 4c, a silentblock (12) positioned between the movable plate (5) and the cover (7).

[0063] In a second embodiment of the invention, which is shown in FIG. 5, the drive mechanism comprises: [0064] a support (8) intended to be linked to the chassis of the vehicle (14), [0065] guides (21) located on the support (8), parallel to the chassis (14), [0066] a movable plate (5) positioned on the guides (21), [0067] a cover (7) which supports the electric generator (4) and is in contact with the movable plate (5), [0068] a guide platform (22), intended to be fastened to the chassis (14), [0069] a bearing (23), located in the guide platform (22), supporting the axle (1), and [0070] an actuating element, attached to the movable plate (5), so as to move the movable plate (5) with respect to the support (8), parallel to the chassis (14), integrally with the cover (7) and the wheel (2), from the resting position to the working position.

[0071] In this second embodiment, the drive mechanism comprises a silentblock (12) positioned between the electric generator (4) and the cover (7).

[0072] In order to enable the passage of pressurised air to the drive element, the drive mechanism of either of the two embodiments comprises a solenoid valve (16).

[0073] The equipment also comprises a solid graphene or lithium battery, attached to the electric generator (4) in order to store the electricity generated by the rotation of the axle (1).

[0074] In order to convert the three-phase current generated in the electric generator (4) into direct current which is stored in the battery (15), a charger (20) is connected between both elements.

[0075] The equipment comprises a control unit (13), which is shown in FIG. 6, which is a fundamental part for the management and operations thereof. The control unit is at least connected to the electric generator (4), the battery (15) and the solenoid valve (16).

[0076] This control unit (13) receives signals from the different components and also sends and activates others for the movement, connection and disconnection thereof. Likewise, the control unit (13) is configured to receive data about the charge of the battery (15), about the demand for energy. Depending on the data obtained from each element of the equipment, the control unit (13) manages the activation of the drive mechanisms in order to bring the wheel (2) of the equipment into contact with the tyre (3) of the vehicle. Likewise, the control unit (13) determines whether the energy generation is being performed correctly.

[0077] The equipment can further comprise a detector (17) for the speed of the vehicle connected to the control unit (13).

[0078] In exemplary embodiments, the control unit (13) can be additionally connected to other external devices, such as for example, displays of the assembly of the equipment, or additional control devices for generating energy and for charging and discharging the batteries of the equipment.

[0079] In one embodiment of the invention, the equipment comprises at least two generator assemblies (11) and a synchronoscope (18) connected to the control unit (13), as shown in FIG. 7, to the battery (15) and to the electric generators (11) of the generator assemblies (11), in order to unify the currents generated by the electric generators (11) and transfer them to the battery (15).

[0080] The equipment also has an internal combustion engine able to be connected to the cooling unit of the vehicle configured to supply electrical energy to said cooling unit when the battery is discharged (15).

[0081] In the internal combustion engine which is used for possible cases of a prolonged stop of the vehicle is wherein, in an exemplary embodiment, a flywheel is used to increase the efficiency of operations of said internal combustion generator. This flywheel enables a greater driving torque to be provided to the combustion engine in order to generate sufficient autonomous energy with a gasoline motor as small as possible, balancing consumption to a minimum.

[0082] This embodiment is only used at specific times when, due to prolonged stops, an additional energy contribution is necessary. It is foreseen that with the development of more efficient polymers and materials for batteries it is not necessary to use the internal combustion generator in the equipment under any circumstances.