WO2011098848A1

WO2011098848A1 - A method of bidirectional automotive transport

Info

Publication number: WO2011098848A1
Application number: PCT/IB2010/000279
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Gano; Enrique Scalabroni
Original assignee: John Gano; Enrique Scalabroni
Priority date: 2010-02-11
Filing date: 2010-02-11
Publication date: 2011-08-18

Abstract

The Method of Bidirectional Automotive Transportation enables automobiles to apply their full performance capacity in either direction of movement (forward and rearward) without turning around. This invention is defined by two principles. The first is dual opposite-facing steering systems which enable both the front and rear wheels of the vehicle to be steered and driven as if they were guiding the "front" of a conventional car. The second principle is the synchronized, same-sense final drive output of one or more piston-engine powertrains, capable of delivering full and equal torque and speed in either the clockwise or counter-clockwise sense of rotation to the wheel axels, and thus to the automobile's forward or rearward motion. A supporting series of inventions, 4 Systems and 2 Apparatuses, make this Method practicable. This Method's applied utility is principally for personnel transport with enhanced anti-terrorist bomb and ambush protection (the Bidirectional Armoured Limosine, with 2,000-2,500 hp, 5-second direction-reversal time, over 300 kph in speed, and up to 2 tons of layered new-material defensive armour), and for urban/suburban family transport in low-risk environments with increased convenience, ease and safety of driving and parking (the Bidirectional Family Van, and Bidirectional City Car).

Description

Description:

Title of Invention:

A Method of Bidirectional Automotive Transportation

0001 Technical Field: Automotives

0002 Background Art and Need for Bidirectional Automotive Transport:

For close to 6,000 years, since our Neolithic forbearers first harnessed a draft animal to pull a wheeled cart, powered transport has moved overwhelmingly in the forward direction. This is because of the biological fact that draft animals do not walk or run backwards very well, and the mechanical fact that it is easier to steer an animal's nose than to steer a heavy-laden cart in order to change direction.

This concept of unidirectional front-led motion has so deeply permeated human technological culture that, "Don't put the cart before the horse," is a commonplace of common sense. The automobile, as "the horseless carriage", carried on this tradition. Even now, well over a century since the automobile's invention, apart from trains and trams which run on rails, rail- less powered road vehicles such as automobiles and trucks have been near- ui iversally unidirectional.

The method of bidirectional automotive transportation is a radical invention in the context of this multi-millennial background art. It is based on the concept that automobiles should be capable of applying their full performance capacity in either direction of movement (forward and rearward). This invention is defined by two principles. The first principle is dual opposite-facing steering systems (usually but not necessarily including dual driver positions) which allow both the front and rear wheels to be steered and driven as if they were guiding the front of a conventional car. The second principle is the synchronized, same-sense operation of one or more piston-engine power trains, capable of delivering full and equal torque and speed in either the clockwise or counter-clockwise sense of rotation to the wheel axels, and thus to the automobile's forward or rearward motion. (Electric motors have this capability inherently; piston engines do not. So in the case of electric motors, the first principle alone defines Bidirectionality.) Two fundamental changes in global driving needs now make bidirectional automotive transport a useful and potentially vital invention. The first is the rapid rise of terrorism, with the specter of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) roadside bombs, and ambushes with suicide-bombers, machine guns and Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG's), which increase the life-or-death urgency of secure land transportation, principally in a crescent of terror risk stretching from East Africa through the Mid-east to Central Asia, but potentially anywhere in the world. The pre-existing risks of banditry and kidnapping in certain Latin American and African cities and countries also call for increased protection in land transport.

Conventional armoured limousines, the closest vehicle in the Background Art to the first projected bidirectional car, the bidirectional armoured limousine, are simply large sedans cut in half, "stretched" several meters with floor beams and road-car bodywork, fitted with a long longitudinal power axel for transmission, then armoured with steel plates sufficient to protect only against small arms fire.

The bidirectional armoured limousine (an embodiment defined herein) offers substantially increased active and passive protection through: quickness of response and efficacy of evasion (shifting from forward drive to full speed backwards drive in approximately 5 seconds, without turning at all), escape speed (up to 300 kph), weight of multi-layer/ multi-material armour borne (2 to 3 tons), and improved handling and cornering from a much stiffer chassis structure and 8-wheel power-drive and 8-wheel braking (versus 2-wheel power-drive and 4 brakes.) It is an entirely new and unprecedented invention.

The second fundamental change in global driving needs which challenges the Background Art is the rise of global environmental consciousness, and the growing consensus that fossil fuel consumption with its associated exhaust emissions urgently need to be curtailed.

Bidirectional automotive transport has significant contributions to make in this area as well, because it is suitable for any type of engine, including electrical, hybrid, and alternative fuel engines. It eliminates the "backing out" process that clogs parking lots with other cars in the lane idling or having to back up to allow a parked car to back out and turn around to its desired direction. With a bidirectional family van or bidirectional city car (other embodiments illustrated herein), parking in the garage or parking lot is a simple as driving straight in, then driving straight out with full normal visual reference instead of rear-view-mirror-view, while seated at the separate steering on the "back" side of the car, which now becomes its "front". Bidirectionality offers greatly increased convenience and security for less- than-expert drivers such as senior citizens as well.

Bidirectional automotive transportation for driving in low-risk environments offers enhanced (a) driver convenience, (b) emissions reduction, (c) improved traffic safety from the reduction in the most common source of minor "fender-bender" accidents that make up the bulk of auto insurance claims, and (d) improvement in traffic flow management, which can all easily be envisioned as benefits.

Even the heavily-armoured and strongly-powered bidirectional armoured limousine is designed for emissions-reduction. In city driving it uses no more than one sedan engine, reserving its second engine on instant call for highway and emergency driving. Conventional "stretch" limousines spend hours waiting for their passengers to arrive at any moment, expecting a cool cabin compartment, so the chauffeurs commonly run their 350 horsepower engines, producing the dirtiest emissions for hours just to power a 10 horsepower air-conditioner. The bidirectional armoured Umousine uses its 8 square meter roof surface to mount a solar cell array, keeping the cabin cool with the heat of the sun.

In these and many other ways, the method of bidirectional automotive transportation transcends the 6,000 year-old history of the Background Art, from wooden-wheel ox-carts to modern primarily-unidirectional cars, and this method holds promise to open the way for many further innovations and applications in automotives. While the appearance of its innovative embodiments may now produce a sense of shock and suspicion (especially among automotive engineers and auto-industry executives immersed in the

Background Art) the significantly improved performance, utility, and driver convenience of bidirectional automotives may make its unique and unprecedented profile the form and function of many automobiles to come. The shock to the Background Art may be great indeed when a 8.4-meter-long,

5-ton bidirectional armoured ainiousine lists more power then a 70-ton US M1A2 Abrams heavy battle tank (2,000 hp vs. 1,500), and can consistently beat famous top-brand road race cars in drag-races (according to engineering calculations, based on kg/hp, 8-wheel vs. 2-wheel power-drive, and superior aerodynamics).

What is the state of the Background Art concerning bidirectional automobiles? The WIPO patent search engine Patentscope, covering over 10,000,000 patents and applications world-wide, still posts "zero listings" for "bi-directional automobile" and its variations. Such is the prior art. Such is the historical and techno-cultural frames of reference for this invention.

Note: In bidirectionali j, there is no fixed "front" or "back" of the car, besides its current direction of motion. Hoxvever, for the sake of clarity, the conventional terms "fonuard/reanuard" and "front/back" will be used, with the understanding that these terms are not fixed but entirely dependent on the flick of a switch.

Summary of Invention: 0003 Technical Problem

Conventional automobiles and trucks, with several forward gears and usually only one single low reverse gear, have distinct technical and performance limitations. While these limitations are obvious, they form such a part of the culture and heritage of automobiles that they are taken for granted as being part of "what is" an automobile by most automotive designers, engineers, and auto-industry executives, as well as by the public. The method of bidirectional automotive transportation ("the method") makes a fresh and frank analysis of the inherent Technical Problem areas in conventional automobiles and proposes concrete and practical solutions which are attainable with existing technologies, materials, and manufacturing and assembly processes. Conventional automobiles, transports and trucks have:

1. low speed in reverse gear

2. poor handling in reverse motion

3. require a complicated sequence of maneuvers to reverse direction

(3-point turn, U-turn, hand-brake turn, drive around the block)

4. cannot turn around on narrow, confined roads

5. have power limited to the capacity of a single engine

6. have poor engine cooling in reverse gear motion 7. are generally limited to 2- or 4-wheel drive only

8. burn fuel and produce emissions when idling for electric charge, sometimes only for air conditioning 9. 4- wheel-drive models have a "transmission bump" running through the cabin, impeding movement and making noise and vibration 0004 Solution to Problem

This invention of a method of bidirectional automotive transportation solves each of these technical problems of conventional automobiles. While the principles of the method are simple and clear, its functional operation is complicated. Even with efforts to simplify systems and apparatuses to the ultimate practicable point, in order to decrease heat and wear and increase robustness, the application of the method remains complex. This initial configuration consists of a series of linked bidirectional inventions, totaling 8 Systems, 1 Assembly and 2 Apparatuses. Several of these subsidiary inventions can stand alone as inventions in their own right, as they have applications beyond bidirectional automotives, yet they also form part of the workings of the bidirectional method.

The integrated operational functionality of the method, as solution to the problems of the background art, is embodied in the design of the bidirectional armoured limousine, as well as the concept designs of the bidirectional family van and bidirectional city car.

Besides the Method, these invented Systems are:

1. the bidirectional dual synchronized opposite-facing steering

system

2. the bidirectional dual opposite-facing steering electronic control

unit and program system

3. the bidirectional reverse-gearless power transmission system

4. the bidirectional reverse-gearless power transmission electronic

control unit and program system

5. the bidirectional drive shift mechanism electronic control

unit and program system 6. the bidirectional single-axel final drive system

7. the bidirectional two axel final drive system

8. the bidirectional compact 4-wheel drive power train system

The method employs one assembly, which may have other applications,

1. the reverse-gearless drive shift assembly

In addition, the method employs two inventions of apparatuses:

1. the bidirectional drive shift mechanism, and

2. the bidirectional compact double- wheel final drive/ differential

Furthermore, the method is embodied in the concept and design of the inventions illustrated herein: (a) the bidirectional armoured limousine, (b) the bidirectional family van, and (c) the bidirectional city car.

In less technical terms, the main innovations by which the method of bidirectional automotive ti'ansportation solves each of the abovementioned technical problems in the background art of conventional automobiles are:

1. a bilaterally-symmetrical chassis (based on transverse central axis, halfway between the ends of the car)

2. dual synchronized steering systems (usually but not necessarily

accompanied by dual driving positions, and in some

configurations by dual drivers.)

3. a single bidirectional power train, or two or more synchronized

power trains giving same-sense torque to the powered wheel axel(s) 4. 2- to 12-or-more-wheel synchronized power drive, driving in the same direction

0006 Advantageous Effects of Invention This invention, the bidirectional method of automotive transportation, and these other inventions, remedy each of the above-listed weaknesses in conventional automobile design. The Solutions are listed here below in the same sequence and with the same alphabetical reference letter as the Problems were listed here above:

1. equal torque, power and speed in forward of rearward motion

(bidirectionality)

2. equal steering and handling in forward or rearward motion

3. "stop and go backwards" change of direction without any turning

4. capability of escaping from narrow, confined roads (rapid full-speed and full-handling reverse in security models such as the armoured limousine)

5. single engine power, or the combined power of two or more engines which gives significantly higher total power than conventional vehicles

6. equal engine cooling in either the forward or rearward direction of motion 7. traction drive in numbers of wheels ranging from 2 to 12 and over

8. roof solar panels to supply electric power for air-conditioning and entertainment systems when parked, reducing idling fuel wastage and emissions (particularly important in limousines)

9. independent power trains obviate the need for a longitudinal power transmission axel

10. in addition to solving the abovementioned technical problems of

conventional automobiles, bidirectional automobiles offer distinct advantages in anti-terror protection (rapid escape, very high speeds and maneuverability despite the heavy weight of armour),

11. ease of parking (no more backing-up or backing-out, simply

driving away "forward" in the opposite direction, from the former "back" of the car.)

12. increased traffic control efficiency and reduced emissions in

parking lots (reduced waiting and backing up for other cars to back up out of parking) 7 Brief Description of Drawings 1.

Bidirectional compact 4-wheel-drive power train system/

Bidirectional reverse-gearless power train system These two bidirectional power trains are identical from the engine up until the final drive. At that point, in configuration with a bidirectional compact double- wheel final drive/ differential and two closely-spaced wheel axels (as illustrated in Fig. 1) the whole system is the invention: bidirectional compact 4-wheel-drive power train system. If fitted with a standard single-axel final drive/ differential, however, it is the invention: bidirectional reverse-gearless power train system.

This is the overview of the bidirectional power train systems, of which the component assembly and apparatuses are detailed below.

The engine and flywheel/ clutch assembly (#1, #2) are standard art. The transmission, however, is the invention bidirectional reverse-gearless transmission system, composed of a reverse gearless gearbox (#3) and a bidirectional drive shift mechanism (#4), which transforms the unidirectional gearbox output into either clockwise or counter-clockwise torque. The bidirectional compact double- wheel final drive/ differential (#5) transfers torque in either sense of rotation to the two wheel axels. Or a standard final drive (not shown) is fitted for single-axel power.

Fig. 2

Reverse-gearless bidirectional power transmission system

This system is an invention that obviates the need for a reverse gear, by, in effect, transforming all the forward gears in the gearbox into reverse-drive gears as well. It consist of (#1) a reverse-gearless gearbox (automatic, manual, or selectable) transferring the input unidirectional torque across the torque curve, and (#2) a bidirectional drive shift mechanism which determines the direction of rotation of the system's output torque, either clockwise or counterclockwise.

Fig. 3

Bidirectional drive shift mechanism This apparatus, the bidirectional drive shift mechanism, is one among several which could be designed under the method of bidirectional automotive transportation that allows the full torque output of the engine and gearbox to be applied in either sense of rotation and thus of drive direction, according to the selection of the drivers. The invention lies in its function, as well as in this specific design.

#1, The input shaft (from the gearbox) delivers torque from the gearbox in one sense of rotation (the primary sense). #2, the primary input gear rotates in this sense as a slave. #3, the primary sense selector system's function is either to engage the primary input gear directly to the primary output gear to transfer the same (primary) sense of rotation, or to disengage their connection. It is composed of: #3a, a control rod, #3b, a 2-way electro valve, #3c, a fork, and #3d, a dog ring. #4, and idler gear, interinesh.es between #2 and #5, the secondary input gear, to give these two gears the same sense of rotation. #6, the secondary sense selector system, has the same structure and function as #3, and is similarly composed of #6a, a control rod, #6b, a 2-way electro valve, #6c, a fork and #6d, a dog ring. Its function is either to engage or disengage the secondary input gear with #8 with the secondary output gear, which in turn meshes with #9, the primary output gear. The primary output gear and #10 the output shaft therefore rotate in either direction: in the primary sense if the primary selector is engaged, and in the opposite secondary sense if the secondary selector is engaged. #7 the electronic control unit (ECU) controls both electro valves to assure that only one selector system is engaged at one time. The whole apparatus is housed in #11, the mechanism case.

Fig. 4

Bidirectional compact double- wheel final drive/ differential

Conventional 4-wheel-drive vehicles rely on a longitudinal axel to transfer torque from the engine to the second wheel axel at the other end of the car. Yet in the 8- wheel-drive configuration of the bidirectional armoured limousine, for example, there are two powered wheel axels at one end of the car and two more at the other end of the car, each set operated by their own bidirectional compact 4-wheel drive power train system. A new final drive needed to be invented to cope with these closely-spaced axels without the use of a power axel. It needed to be compact, simple, and robust. The result is this apparatus, which uses simple gears to achieve the objective of bidirectional torque transfer to two compactly-spaced powered wheel axels. #1, the input pinion gear shaft receives either-directional torque from the bidirectional drive shift mechanism. #1 is mounted with two pinion gears, which each mesh with #2, idlers, which in turn mesh with #3, the final drive gears. Thus the input torque is applied to two compactly-spaced wheel axels in either direction. Each final drive gear has #4, a differential assembled within it, which connect via triploid joint to the final drive shafts. Description of Embodiments

0008 Example: Bidirectional armoured limousine (Fig. 5)

The bidirectional armoured limousine is (#1) a limousine car strongly armoured with multi-layer/ multi-material armour, featuring (#2) an extra- reinforced protective cage structure for passengers, (#3) dual opposite-facing drivers trained to operate as a team, (#4) dual bidirectional compact 4-wheel- drive power train systems, (#5) dual opposite-facing synchronized alternating control steering systems, (#6) active/passive selectable suspension system, (#7) extended-range fuel tanks, and (#8) boots (trunks).

The bidirectional armoured limousine has significantly stronger passive protection than existing armoured limousines, not only because of new compound armour materials, but because its high power affords it to carry the additional weight. Despite this weight of armour, it also has quicker and nimbler evasive action capability due to its high power, stiffer chassis structure, and 8-wheel grip and braking (vs. 2-wheel drive and 4 brakes), and, of course, it has the ability in a dangerous situation to reverse direction in seconds and run out backwards at maximum speed without exposing the limousine's broad sides as a target when turning around.

The bidirectional armoured limousine can be configured with the combined power of its two engines ranging up to over 2,500 hp., weighing 4 - 6 metric tons depending on the armour load, and capable of maximum speeds exceeding 300 kph. Its direction-reverse time at road speeds is around 5 seconds, depending on driver crew proficiency, and engineering studies indicate that despite its size and weight it can beat famous top-class road sports cars in drag-races. 0009 Example: Bidirectional family van (Fig. 6) The bidirectional family van is designed for suburban transportation, with the main merit of extra convenience and safety from not having to back out of garages or parking places, but rather simply switching the driver seat at the other end of the car. It has only one engine (#1) equipped with a single reverse-gearless power train system fitted at one end, (#2) a central seating area open to various configurations, (#3) and (#4) rear lights and headlights in one combined unit, (#5) a boot (trunk) in the inverse space of the engine, and (#6) a bidirectional steering system and two compact collapsible steering columns so that one can free more space for passengers when not in use.

0010 Example: Bidirectional city car (Fig. 7)

The bidirectional city car is the smallest minimahst version of this method. It uses (#1) electric motors mounted in the wheels, and thus follows only the first principle of the method of bidirectional automotive transportation, namely (#6) the dual synchronized opposite-facing steering systems, here also with collapsible steering columns. (#2) the batteries are floor mounted, and (#3) there are two boots (trunks) with hatches using the space commonly used for an engine. (#4) and (#5) are the combined rear-light/ headlight assembly. (#7) front and rear doors, and (#8) a central fixed seat for back-to- back seating as in a ski gondola

This car is designed as an economical and high convenient runabout for local transport for shopping and errands, and its advantages are ease and safety in quick parking and driving out for short multiple-errand trips. 0013 Industrial Applicability

The method of bidirectional automotive transport has wide industrial applicability, including: a. civilian security vehicles better equipped for the age of terror (such as in armoured limousines, personnel transports, trucks and ambulances) b. military vehicles (when adapted to special standards with heavier armour, stronger suspensions, and weapons and

communication systems) c. urban and suburban civilian transport, (with the convenience and

added driving security of "always facing forward" handling, eliminating the need to back out).

Claims

Claims Claim 1

A method of bidirectional automotive transportation wherein an automobile, truck, personnel transport, or any other rail-less auto-powered transport vehicle has two substantially equivalent steering mechanisms located at either ends of said vehicle providing substantially equivalent steering capabilities respectively for the forward and rearward directions of motion.

Claim 2 The method of claim 1, characterized in that said transport vehicle is powered by one or more piston-engine-powered power trains providing equal driving capability across the entire torque and speed ranges in either the forward or rearward directions of motion. Claim 3

The metliod of claim 2, characterized in that said power trains are operating in synchronization for powered drive in either forward or rearward directions of motion, obviating for the need of a longitudinal power axle between the front and rear of the vehicle in the case of 4-wheel drive or more

(e.g. 8-wheel drive).

Claim 4 The method of claim 3, characterized in that said transport vehicle has at least

4 wheels. Claim 5 A system of synchronized bidirectional steering consisting of two substantially equivalent and opposite-facing steering systems fitted at either ends of said vehicle providing substantially equivalent steering capabilities respectively for the forward and rearward directions of motion. Claim 6

A central bidirectional steering electronic control unit (ECU) and program synchronizing the operation of the steering systems of claim 5 respectively, so as to enable only one directional steering system to be operated at one time and prevent both directional steering systems from being operated simultaneously. iClaim 7 A reverse-gearless bidirectional piston-engine-powered power train in which the power train transfers the entire range of torque produced by the engine to the vehicle's wheel axles, so as to cause them to rotate in either the clockwise or counter-clockwise sense of rotation at equal power and speed, thus producing equal propulsion performance in both the forward and rearward directions of motion.

Claim 8

A central electronic control unit (ECU) and program, providing synchronized operation between two or more piston-engine-powered power trains so as to cause them to work together to drive in the same direction, such that if the forward-facing power train is driving in forward drive, the rearward-facing power train is driving in reverse drive, and all wheel axles are rotating in the same direction, combining the power of two or more power trains to propel the vehicle in the chosen direction.

Claim 9

A reverse-geaiiess drive shift assembly consisting of a reverse-gearless gearbox attached to a bidirectional drive shift mechanism.

Claim 10

The reverse-gearless gearbox of claim 9, further characterized in that it is automatic, manual, or selectable.

Claim 11

A bi-directional drive shift mechanism placed as to take unidirectional torque as it emerges from a gearbox with one sense of rotation, and to transfer it to the output shaft with the same sense of rotation or to convert it into torque with the contrary sense of rotation to transfer to the output shaft, without loss of torque. Claim 12

A central bidirectional drive shift mechanism electronic control unit (ECU) and program operated by the vehicle's driver(s), providing selection control of the sense of output torque rotation.

Claim 13 The power train of claim 2 characterized in that it consists of a traditional single-axle final drive.

Claim 14

The power trains of claim 2 characterized in that it consists of a 2-axle and 4- wheel drive final drive.

Claim 15

A bidirectional power train of claim 2, characterized in that it transfers torque to two closely-spaced wheel axles, producing bidirectional 4-wheel drive.