Method and apparatus for recovering energy wheel

Abstract

The present invention introduces a retrofit method of regenerative braking where no components of an automobile are to be replaced or removed and none of their functionality is modified. The recovering energy system is implemented as an additional, one piece, complete device, placed onto the existing automobile wheel's hub, and covered by the automobile's wheel. The system includes a housing, turbines, accumulators, and valves which act to both store and dispel energy as needed. This method of regenerative braking is therefore applicable to all the automobiles, independent or their power source, to newly built automobiles and those already on the road.

Claims

1. A system for a recovering energy wheel implementing an energy conservation device comprising: (a) one or more accelerating/braking turbines (2131) used for both, acceleration and braking, sitting on a wheel's axle or on an extended wheel axle (24) and located in a housing of the-system; (c) one or more accumulators (10) located in the housing of the system, utilizing compressed gas and liquid; (d) a connector to an original hub (41); wherein each accumulator (10) has an accelerator valve (711A) and a braking valve (711B) attached to it; wherein the pressure in the accumulator is achieved by the presence of special blocks (50) set on a path of the moving liquid, which special blocks are moved in and out of the path synchronously with revolution of the accelerating/braking turbine blades; wherein the accelerating/braking turbine (2131) pushes the liquid into the accumulator at a braking time when the braking valve (711B) is open and the accelerator valve (711A) is closed; wherein the accelerating/braking turbine (2131) is propelled by pressurized liquid coming out of the accumulator (10) at the acceleration time when the braking valve (711B) is closed and the accelerator valve (711A) is opened.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a secondary hub (44) attached to the axle or the extended axle.

3. A method of adding the system of claim 2 to a vehicle's drive train by the following steps: (a) taking off an original wheel (43); (b) attaching the system with the secondary hub (44) to the original hub (40); (c) attached the original wheel to the secondary hub (44).

4. A system for a recovering energy wheel implementing an energy conservation device comprising: (a) one or more freely rotating braking turbines (730) sitting on braking turbine axle (7410) sitting on the wheel's axle or on an extended wheel axle (724) and located in a housing of the system; (b) one or more accelerator turbines (721) sitting on the wheel's axle or on the extended wheel axle (724) and located in the housing of the system; (c) one or more accumulators (710) located in the housing of the system, utilizing compressed gas and liquid; (d) a connector to an original hub (742); wherein each accumulator (710) has an accelerator valve (7A) and a braking valve (7B) attached to it; wherein the pressure in the accumulator is achieved by the braking turbine (730) pushing the liquid into the accumulator at a braking time by being forced to rotate in direction in reverse to the direction of the wheel's axle or the extended wheel axle and when the braking valve (7B) is open and the accelerator valve (7A) is closed; wherein the accelerator turbine (721) is propelled by pressurized liquid coming out of the accumulator (710) at the acceleration time when the braking valve (B) is closed and the accelerator valve (A) is opened.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Presented here invention can be readily understood by considering the following detailed description with the accompanying drawings.

(2) FIG. 1. The ReWheel DevicePreferred embodiment.

(3) 100 ReWheel body

(4) 110 Stationary Connector

(5) 200 Fluid Stream at Acceleration Time

(6) 230 Fluid Passage Back to Braking Turbine

(7) 300 Fluid Stream at Braking Time

(8) 10 Accumulator

(9) 11 3-way valve

(10) 12 Pressured Fluid

(11) 13 Pressured Gas

(12) 21 Accelerator Gear Blades

(13) 22 Central Gear

(14) 23 Accelerator Gear Axle

(15) 24 Extended Axle

(16) 30 Braking Turbine

(17) 31 Braking Turbine Blades

(18) 40 Original Hub

(19) 41 Connector to Original Hub

(20) 42 Original Tire Rim

(21) 43 Original Tire

(22) 44 Secondary Hub

(23) FIG. 2. The ReWheel DeviceAlternative Embodiment 1.

(24) 7A open/close valves

(25) 7B open/close valves

(26) 700 Cone or other gear type is controlling the speed.

(27) 701 This turbine is locked to the rim

(28) 702 Rim

(29) 709 Air pumping pistons

(30) 710 Accumulator

(31) 721 Accelerator turbine

(32) 724 Extended axle

(33) 730 Braking turbine

(34) 741 Reverse Rotation direction disk with controlled speed

(35) 742 Sitting on the extended wheel's axle disk

(36) 743 Tire

(37) 7110 Stationary Connector

(38) 7200 At acceleration time, the compressed gas, pressing on the liquid is forcing the acceleration turbine blades forward

(39) 7230 Passage between the accelerating turbine and braking turbine. Arrow shows direction of liquid during braking

(40) 7300 At braking time the liquid from the braking turbine is forcing the acceleration turbine backwards while compressing the air

(41) 7410 Braking turbine axle

(42) FIG. 2A. The ReWheel DeviceAlternative Embodiment 1example of reverse rotation direction mechanism

(43) 1 first disk and its rotation direction

(44) 2 cone or other gear type between two disks

(45) 3 second disk rotating in different direction

(46) FIG. 2B. The ReWheel DeviceAlternative Embodiment 1Air pumping pistons.

(47) FIG. 3. The ReWheel DeviceAlternative Embodiment 2.

(48) 100 ReWheel body

(49) 110 Stationary Connector

(50) 711A open/close acceleration valve

(51) 711B open/close braking valve

(52) 10 Accumulator

(53) 12 Pressured gas

(54) 13 Pressured liquid

(55) 24 Extended Axle

(56) 40 Original Hub

(57) 41 Connector to Original Hub

(58) 42 Original tire rim

(59) 43 Original tire

(60) 44 Secondary hub

(61) 2131 Turbine blade

(62) 55 Disk with guiding rail

(63) FIG. 4A. The ReWheel DeviceAlternative Embodiment 2Neutral state

(64) 711A open/close acceleration valve

(65) 711B open/close braking valve

(66) 2131 turbine blade

(67) 10 accumulator

(68) 13 liquid

(69) 24 extended axle

(70) 50 special block

(71) 51 moving needle bearing

(72) 55 disk with guiding rail

(73) 56 guiding rail

(74) FIG. 4B. The ReWheel DeviceAlternative Embodiment 2Neutral stateSpecial Blocks state

(75) 50 special block

(76) 51 moving needle bearing

(77) FIG. 5A. The ReWheel DeviceAlternative Embodiment 2Braking state

(78) 711A open/close acceleration valve

(79) 711B open/close braking valve

(80) 2131 turbine blade

(81) 10 accumulator

(82) 13 liquid

(83) 50 special block

(84) 51 moving needle bearing

(85) 54 pressure applied by blades

(86) 55 disk with guiding rail

(87) 56 guiding rail

(88) FIG. 5B. The ReWheel DeviceAlternative Embodiment 2Braking stateSpecial Blocks state

(89) 50 special block

(90) 51 moving needle bearing

(91) FIG. 6A. The ReWheel DeviceAlternative Embodiment 2Accelerating state

(92) 711A open/close acceleration valve

(93) 711B open/close braking valve

(94) 2131 turbine blade

(95) 10 accumulator

(96) 13 liquid

(97) 24 extended axle

(98) 50 special block

(99) 51 moving needle bearing

(100) 54 pressure applied on blades

(101) 55 disk with guiding rail

(102) 56 guiding rail

(103) FIG. 6B. The ReWheel DeviceAlternative Embodiment 2Accelerating stateSpecial Blocks state

(104) 50 special block

(105) 51 moving needle bearing

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(106) Referring to FIG. 1, the ReWheel (Recovering Energy Wheel) device, of the shape of a cylinder, is added to the traditional automobile's wheel in the place between the traditional Rim and the traditional wheel Hub.

(107) The ReWheel device operates like a powerful spring placed inside the automobile's wheel, transforming the kinetic energy of a moving automobile into potential energy of compressed gas during the braking process and then transforming back that potential energy of compressed gas into kinetic energy of the automobile during acceleration process.

(108) The ReWheel device is connected to the Original Hub (40) sitting on the original wheel, by the Original Hub Connector (41). Original Hub Connector (41) extends the original axle by the Extended Wheel Axle (24), going all the way until the Secondary Hub Connector (44).

(109) The Original Hub Connector (41), is taking the place that would normally be taken by the Original Tire Rim (42). The Original Tire Rim (42) with mounted on it Original Tire (43) is being connected instead to the Secondary Hub Connector (44).

(110) The body of the device, ReWheel Body (100), is kept stationary by the Stationary Connector (110). The Stationary Connector (110) is, in turn, connected to the part of an automobile's tire suspension system, which is always stationary to the wheel's axle. It can, for example, be connected to the upper ball joint or its equivalent.

(111) This FIG. 1. shows two accumulators (10) located in the direction of radius coming out of the Extended Wheel Axle (24), having their pressured gas side towards the axle. The ReWheel device can utilize multiple accumulators, each of them being connected to 3-Way-Valves (11) without changing the principle of the device's operation.

(112) There are number of turbine-like components within this implementation of the ReWheel. One, is the Braking Turbine (31) and the others are the Accelerator Gears (21). This implementation shows two Accelerator Gears (21) standing on the opposite sides of the Central Gear (22), which is being driven by the Accelerator Gears (21). The Central Gear (22) is hard connected to and is rotating on the Extended Wheel Axle (24).

(113) The Accumulators (10) are pre-charged with Pressured Gas (13), inert gas, like Nitrogen. Originally the other side of the accumulator is not charged. The Pressured Fluid (12) then comes to the accumulator during the braking process and further compressing the Pressured Gas (13). Since the fluid we use in this implementation is oil which is virtually not compressible under pressure, and since it can change its shape and direction based on the pipes it is going through, makes it a perfect conductor of force.

(114) The 3-Way Valves (11) controlled by any mechanical or electronic device, are, in turn controlling the braking and acceleration of the automobile. They can be in any of the following 3 states: Neutral statewhen all Braking (B) and Accelerating (A) valves are closed; Acceleration state, when braking valves (B) are closed and acceleration valves (A) are open, causing Fluid Stream at Acceleration Time (200), which in turn is causing the Accelerator Gears (21) to rotate faster, in turn rotating the Central Gear (22); and Braking state, when accelerating valves (A) are closed and braking valves (B) are opened, causing Fluid Stream at Braking Time (300), which is causing further compression of the Pressured Gas (13) and further charging the accumulators with potential energy of compressed gas (13), which process is in turn causing the automobile to brake as every force has a counter force.

(115) The change in the state of the device, causing braking of the automobile and transforming the energy from kinetic to potential is implemented as follows. At the neutral state of the device (no braking and no acceleration) the Braking Turbine (30), hard connected and positioned on the Extended Wheel Axle (24) is rotating along with the Original Tire (43). The fluid positioned between the Braking Turbine Blades (31) rotates without any pressure applied to it.

(116) The Fluid inside the ReWheel device for the largest part is always located between the blades of the Braking Turbine (30) and in compressed state (12) within Accumulators (10).

(117) Braking State.

(118) When braking of the automobile is desired, the following is done: Port B of the 3-Way-Valve (11) is opened (port A can only be closed at this time); and special blocks are set to move out and back in to block the free rotation of the fluid.

(119) The movement of the blocks is synchronized with the rotation of the blades not to block the blades and to only block the liquid in between the blades.

(120) Blocking the liquid is putting pressure on the Braking Turbine Blades (31). Since the Braking Turbine (30) is placed on the same Extended Axle (24) as the Original Tire Rim (42), blocking the liquid works against the rotation of the Original Tire (43). The inertia of the moving car is creating the counter force, which in turn forces the Fluid Stream at Braking Time (300) in the accumulators (10) through the, open at this time, port B of the 3-Way-Valve.

(121) Acceleration State.

(122) When acceleration of the car is desired, port A of the 3-Way-Valve (11) is opened (port B can only be closed at this time).

(123) The Pressured Gas (13) is then able to force the Pressured Liquid (12), creating the Fluid Stream at Acceleration Time (200) to hit the Blades of the Accelerator Gears (21). The Accelerator Gears (21) are in turn rotating the connected to them Central Gear (22), which is standing on the same Extended Axle (24) connected to the Original Rim (42). Used during the acceleration process liquid is then passed back to the Braking Turbine blades (31), via the Fluid Passage back to Braking Turbine (230). At this time the braking turbine is rotating without a load, with no pressure on its blades, and with available space for the liquid in between its blades.

(124) Neutral State.

(125) Both ports of the 3-Way-Valves (11) are closed. All the turbines are rotating freely.

Detailed Description of the Alternative Embodiment-1

(126) FIG. 2. Shows Alternative Embodiment-1.

(127) This figure is also showing two volumes within high pressure cylinders (accumulators). One side of each cylinder is filled with liquid and the other side with gas.

(128) Here, as well, the accumulators are used within the construction being an addition to the automobile wheel's rim and positioned on the extended automobile wheel's axle (724).

(129) Here, as well, the gas compressed during the deceleration of the automobile serves as the storage of energy.

(130) Here, as well, the liquid is being the conduit of force between the pressure on the blades within the rotating turbines and compressed gas. At times the gas is referred to as air, however the only important qualities of these components are liquid and gas. An inert gas, i.e. nitrogen, is more appropriate in this case.

(131) The turbines, sitting on the same axle as the wheel's rim, affect the rotation of the rim.

(132) On this FIG. 2 we have depicted two turbines, the braking turbine (730) on the left and the accelerating turbine (721) on the right, with the two accumulators (710) in between. Rim (702), locked, by the connection 701, to the accelerating turbine (721) on the right, placed on the gears of the extended wheel's axle (724), i.e. both are always rotating with the same speed.

(133) Acceleration:

(134) The compressed gas which is pressing on the liquid, which in turn is pressing on the specially angled blades of the acceleration turbine (721), is causing the acceleration. The used for acceleration liquid is then allowed to come in between the blades of the braking turbine (730) on the left via the passage between the accelerating turbine and braking turbine (7230).

(135) At this time the braking turbine (730) and the liquid between its blades are freely rotating in the same direction as the acceleration turbine (721). This rotation is ensured by the liquid coming from the accelerating turbine (721) and the angle of the blades of the braking turbine (730).

(136) Braking:

(137) As seen on the FIG. 2, when the braking turbine axle (7410) moves to the left to perform braking the reverse rotation direction mechanism, (the cone or other gear type (700) and the reverse rotation direction disk (741)), is used to connect the freely rotating braking turbine (730) with the sitting on the extended wheel's axle disk (742).

(138) That makes the braking turbine (730) to start rotating in the direction opposite to the rotation of the wheel (743). The angle of the turbine's blades affects the liquid to be pushed in the direction opposite to where it came from, i.e. in the direction shown in (7230) towards the accelerating turbine (721), which is sitting on, and is being locked to the extended wheel axle (724). The liquid is now pressing against the rotation of the accelerating turbine (721) and therefore against the rotation of the wheel (743), which in turn is causing the automobile to brake, while compressing the air, as shown by the (7300). Additionally, at the time when the braking turbine axle moves to the left to perform braking, air pumping pistons (709) get connected to the power-train axle.

(139) When the braking turbine axle, (7410) on which the 2-1 rotation direction disk (741) is positioned, moves to the left, it makes a connection with the sitting on the extended wheel axle (724) disk (742) via the cone or other gear type (700). The working of the reverse rotation direction mechanism is obvious when looking at FIG. 2A. The two disks connected in such way have to rotate in different directions. This is possible since the braking turbine (730) can rotate freely around the extended axle (724) without having a hard connection to the axle (724).

(140) One of the possible implementations of air pumping pistons (709) is seen on FIG. 2B.

(141) As it is usually done in the art, the transformation of circular movement into linear directional movement is performed via non-centrically positioned on an axle disk causing the movement of the linear direction moving objects by pushing them by the perimeter of the disk.

(142) In our case the non-centrically positioned disk is sitting on the extended axle (724) and is pushing the air pumping pistons (709). The task of the air pumping pistons (709) is either setting up the initial pressure of the gas within accumulators (710), or potentially keeping up with that pressure in the case of gas leakage.

Detailed Description of the Alternative Embodiment-2

(143) FIG. 3 Shows Alternative Embodiment-2.

(144) In this embodiment the turbine represented by its blades (2131) and sitting on the extended axle (24) works as both, braking and accelerating turbine. Additionally, the accumulators (10) are positioned under the blades of the turbine and not in between the two turbines. That allows to minimize the dimension of the device in the direction of the extended axle approximately 3 times.

(145) The FIG. 3 shows the original hub connector (41) connected on one side to the original hub (40) and on the other side to the extended axle (24), on the other side of which there is a secondary hub (44). The original tire (43) is sitting on the original rim (42), which is placed on the secondary hub (44). The ReWheel device body (100) has attached to it the described above stationary connector (110).

(146) Accumulators inputs and outputs are shown as (711B) for the brake input, and (711A) for the acceleration output. That is analogous to the accumulators input (11B) and output (11A) in the first described embodiment, and analogous to the accumulators input (7B) and output (7A) in the first alternative embodiment.

(147) FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B. Neutral State of ReWheel Device.

(148) FIG. 4A represents the view of an alternative embodiment-2 as a 90 degrees angle section against the extended axle (24). It shows the ReWheel device in its neutral state.

(149) The neutral state of ReWheel is set via not engaged accumulators (10) when their valves (711A) are (711B) being closed, and by not engaged special blocks (50). In its neutral state, ReWheel does not affect the rotation of an automobile wheels, as the turbine blades (2131) are not being affected by liquid pressure in any way.

(150) Special blocks described in the first embodiment are to move out and back in, to block the free rotation of the fluid in a way synchronized with the rotation of the blades, not to block the blades and to only block the liquid in between the blades.

(151) The implementation of synchronization between a rotational movement and linear directional movement is well known in the art and is often simply done by a non-centrically positioned on an axle disk, causing the linear directional movement of other objects by pushing them via the perimeter of the disk. However, a specific embodiment used here, allowing one turbine to affect both, braking and acceleration, has an additional requirement on such special blocks, a requirement of at least 180 degrees rotation, described below, under FIG. 6.

(152) Therefore, a construction of special blocks (50) is presented here in combination with a moving in and out needle bearing (51) and a disk (55) with guiding rail (56).

(153) FIG. 4B shows the moving needle bearing (51) being in a state corresponding to a neutral state of the ReWheel device. In this state the wider part of the needle bearing (51), that is the side with the bearing, is inside the special block (50) and is not in contact with the guiding rail (56). The other side of the moving needle bearing (51), its prolonged axle, is out, allowing it to be locked into a locking hole.

(154) A control mechanism implemented electronically would switch the state of the moving needle bearing (51). The state of the needle bearing (51) can be switched only at the corresponding position of the turbine blades (2131), when the turbine blades are passing by the special blocks (50). That is where the special blocks are in their most inner (neutral) position, and where the moving needle bearing (51) can be moved in between its two states: a locked-in by its axle side state by sliding into a specially designed for that lock; or in the other direction, being unlocked and having its bearing side within the guiding rail (56).

(155) FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B. Braking State of ReWheel Device.

(156) FIG. 5B shows the needle bearing (51) in it's unlocked state where it's bearing part is engaged within the guiding rail (56) as shown on FIG. 5A.

(157) FIG. 5A shows special blocks (50) blocking the liquid (13) and forcing the liquid through the opened braking valve (711B) into the accumulators (10) in the same way that was previously described for the first implementation presented by FIG. 1 through the corresponding opened braking valve (11B). Analogous to the process described by FIG. 1 in relation to valves (7B) and (7A), in the braking state of ReWheel the braking valves (711B) are open and the accelerating valves (711B) are closed.

(158) The special blocks (50) are moving out and back in, to block the free rotation of the fluid (13) and their movement is synchronized with the rotation of the blades (2131) not to block the blades and to only block the liquid (13) in between the blades.

(159) The pressure of the liquid, (13) within the accumulators (10) affected by the pressure of the gas (12), seen on the FIG. 3, is slowing the rotation of the turbine sitting on the extended wheel (24) by pressing on the turbine's blades (2131) against their rotation. Liquid (13) being pushed into the accumulators (10) through the open valve (711B) is increasing the pressure within the accumulators (10), thus increasing the potential energy saved within the accumulators, while decreasing the kinetic energy of the automobile by slowing its wheels, by slowing the rotation of the extended axles (24).

(160) FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B. Accelerating State of Re Wheel Device

(161) FIG. 6B shows the moving needle bearing (51) in the unlocked state, when the special blocks (50) are engaged within the guiding rail (56).

(162) Switching between braking and acceleration states can only be done by going through the neutral state. In the neutral state the turbine blades (2131) must rotate forward at least 180 degrees. That is important so that the potentially pressed between the turbine blades (2131) and previously closed special block liquid would be equally distributed within the full 180 degrees distance between the turbine's blades (2131). That would prevent a potential pressure in the wrong direction when the accumulator valves are opened again, and the special blocks are again blocking the liquid.

(163) On FIG. 6A we see the accelerating valves (711A) opened and braking valves (711B) closed. The pressured liquid (13) coming from the accelerating valves is pressing on the turbine blades (2131). This pressure, shown by the arrow (54), is causing the blades (2131) of the turbine sitting on the extended axle (24) to rotate forward faster, and thus causing the acceleration of an automobile.