WO2011011779A1

WO2011011779A1 - Flywheel battery for an electric or hybrid automobile

Info

Publication number: WO2011011779A1
Application number: PCT/US2010/043236
Authority: WO
Inventors: Barnet L. Liberman
Original assignee: Liberman Barnet L
Priority date: 2009-07-24
Filing date: 2010-07-26
Publication date: 2011-01-27

Abstract

A flywheel/battery having a mass and rotatably mounted about an axis in an electric or hybrid automobile for increasing the efficiency of the battery in such automobile. A first gear is connected for rotation with the battery about the axis, and a second gear connected to a drive shaft of the automobile. The first gear operatively and disengageably engages the second gear such that during the operative engagement the battery is rotated when the drive shaft of the automobile is rotated. A mechanism is provided for causing engagement and disengagement of the first and second gears so that, during engagement, (1) rotation of the drive shaft causes rotation of the battery during movement of the vehicle and (2) rotation of the battery assists in rotation of the drive shaft during acceleration of the vehicle, and so that the battery mass assists in deceleration of the vehicle.

Description

FLYWHEEL BATTERY FOR AN ELECTRIC OR HYBRID

AUTOMOBILE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to power supplies for electric or hybrid automobiles and, more particularly, to a flywheel/battery for electric or hybrid automobiles.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventional batteries used in electric or hybrid automobiles are bulky and heavy, and are simply dead weight stored in the automobile. That is, the battery merely provides electrical energy to the motor of the automobile, but the battery itself must be moved along with the automobile and, thus, provides no mechanical benefits to the motion of the automobile.

Moreover, it is known that electric motors are inefficient when starting, i.e., they consume vast amounts of energy to move an automobile from a standing position. However, electric motors are highly efficient during full operation or while the automobile is already moving.

185017 l.DOC SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a battery of an electric or hybrid vehicle, such as an automobile, operates as a flywheel which is rotatably mounted to the automobile to thereby form a flywheel/battery. The flywheel/battery is in mechanical communication with the transmission and drive shaft of the automobile, and is preferably formed in the shape of a rotatable cylinder. In an embodiment, the flywheel/battery is stored in the trunk of the automobile. In another embodiment, the flywheel/battery is stored in an engine compartment of the automobile.

When the automobile is determined to be decelerating or is about to decelerate (i.e., when a brake is engaged and/or when the driver's foot is removed from an accelerator pedal} , the drive shaft of the vehicle, through the transmission of the vehicle, engages and causes the flywheel/battery to spin.

The rotational energy that is used to start the rotation of the flywheel/battery is thus subtracted from the rotational energy that is currently being used to provide the forward momentum of the automobile (via the rotational movement of the drive shaft and wheels of the automobile) . Consequently, the mass of the battery assists in deceleration.

On the one hand, when the flywheel/battery rotates above a threshold rotational speed relative to a speed of the automobile, the drive shaft is disengaged from the flywheel/battery so that the flywheel/battery freely rotates. On the other hand, when the automobile is at a full stop and the flywheel/battery is disengaged from the drive shaft, the continued rotational motion or inertia of the flywheel/battery is used when acceleration of the automobile is detected, such as when a brake is disengaged or an accelerator is engaged. If the flywheel/battery is rotating at this time, the rotation is applied to the drive shaft to aid the acceleration of the automobile.

The flywheel/battery thus provides a way to utilize the otherwise unused mechanical energy (i.e., rotating mass) of the flywheel/battery of an automobile in an advantageously, mechanically-useful way by transferring rotational energy from the drive shaft to the flywheel/battery for a short time (e.g., while standing still at a stop light, etc.), and by transferring the rotational energy from the flywheel/battery back to the drive shaft during acceleration to assist in commencing motion of the automobile.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying figure. It is to be understood, however, that the figure is designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The Figure is an illustrative schematic diagram of a flywheel/battery in mechanical communication with a transmission and drive shaft of an automobile in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED

EMBODIMENT

With specific reference to the Figure, shown therein is a schematic diagram of a flywheel/battery 10 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Here, the flywheel/battery 10 is shown in mechanical communication with a transmission 12 and drive shaft 14 of an automobile (not shown) . It should be understood that the flywheel/battery 10 is sized to meet the electrical requirements of the particular automobile in which the flywheel/battery 10 is disposed. Therefore, the size of the flywheel/battery 10 will vary depending on the automobile in which it is implemented or disposed. In an embodiment, the flywheel/battery 10 is formed in the shape of a rotatable cylinder having an axis and the flywheel/battery 10 is stored in the trunk of the automobile. In another embodiment, the flywheel/battery 10 is configured as a rotatable cylinder and is stored in an engine compartment of the automobile. In accordance with a contemplated embodiment, the flywheel/battery 10 is mounted in the automobile and oriented with its axis in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the automobile. For example, the rotation of the flywheel battery 10 is in a direction transverse to the length of the automobile. As a result, the rotation of the flywheel/battery is unaffected by the forward or rearward motion of the automobile .

Returning to the Figure, positive and negative electrical contacts 16 and 18 extend outward from the ends of the cylindrical flywheel battery 10 along its axis, and are connected to the alternator of the automobile (not shown) in a manner that is known to those skilled in the art. Insulating (non-conductive} tubes 20a and 20b are disposed over and shield the electrical contacts 16 and 18. It will be known to those of ordinary skill in the art that both electrical contacts 16 and 18 can, likewise, be positioned on the same side of the battery.

First ends 22a, 22b of the non-conductive tubes 20a and 20b are respectively coupled to the outer body of the flywheel/battery 10. The non-conductive tubes 20a and 20b are also provided with second ends 24a, 24b. Located at the second ends 24a, 24b are one or more first gears 26a, 26b configured to rotatably engage one or more second gears 28 and 30, respectively. The second gear 30 couples the flywheel/battery to a shaft 34 that, in turn, is coupled to the transmission 12 of the automobile. The transmission 12 of the automobile is coupled to the drive shaft 14, which is coupled to a wheel axle 36 by a coupling device, such as a rear differential. ^'it should be appreciated that the wheel axle 36 supports and rotates wheels 38a and 38b in a manner known to those skilled in the art. In one embodiment, gear 28 is a freely rotating gear. In another embodiment, gear 28 is used to engage a regenerative braking system (not shown) . It should be appreciated that the gear arrangements can comprise wheel and tooth arrangements. However, it is also contemplated that the gear arrangements comprise worm gears or other known gear arrangements, and it is not the intention of the disclosed embodiments to be limited to any one particular gear mechanism.

In operation, when the automobile is determined to be decelerating or is about to decelerate (i.e., when a brake is engaged and/or when the driver's foot is removed from the accelerator pedal of the automobile, etc.), the drive shaft 14, through the transmission 12, engages and drives the second gear 30, which engages and drives gear 26b, which causes the flywheel/battery 10 to rotate. In this manner the mass of the flywheel/battery 10 is coupled to the drive shaft 14 to assist in slowing down the driveshaft.

Means for engaging and disengaging the first and second gears may be achieved, for example, by way of a transfer case or clutch device 32 controlled by the transmission 12. In known transfer cases, the power transmittal is achieved with a set of gears. In some automobiles, such as four wheel drive trucks or vehicles intended for off -road use, this feature is controlled by the driver, where the driver can place the transfer case into either "two wheel drive" or "four wheel drive" mode. This is sometimes accomplished by a shifter, similar to that in a manual transmission.

In accordance with a disclosed embodiment, however, the switching of the transfer case 32 is electronically operated by an internal switch (not shown) based on a determination of the motion of the automobile, e.g., the automobile is at a stop, is accelerating or decelerating, etc. In any event, the engagement and disengagement of the gear 30 is achieved in the same manner in which automatic or manual transmissions engage and disengage their gears. Consequently, the complex mechanical structure associated therewith is not shown for purposes of clarity.

The rotational energy that is used to start the rotation of the flywheel/battery 10 is thus subtracted from the rotational energy that is currently being used to provide the forward momentum of the automobile (via the rotational movement of the drive shaft 14 and wheels 38a and 38b) . That is, the drag on the drive shaft 14 due to the mass of the battery detracts from the rotational energy being used to move the vehicle forward. Consequently, an increase in deceleration is created. In other words, rather than let the drive shaft 14 spin freely, and thereby allow the rotational energy to dissipate on its own while the automobile speed is decreasing, the rotational energy from the drive shaft 14 is, instead, transferred to the flywheel/battery 10 and, thus, becomes subjected to the parasitic effect caused by the mass of the flywheel/battery. This mechanical action serves to force the rotating drive shaft 14 to rotate the flywheel/battery 10, so that the rate at which the wheels and/or drive shaft 14 lose energy is increased due to the parasitic energy effect cause by the mass of the flywheel/ battery 10 on the drive shaft 14 of the automobile. Additionally, the mechanical action reduces the energy required for braking and, thus, advantageously reduces wear on the brake components of the automobile, such as the brake discs, rotors and/or brake pads .

When the flywheel/battery 10 starts rotating faster than a threshold speed based on the speed of the automobile, the gears 30 and 26b disengage from each other and the flywheel/battery 10 will freely rotate. When the automobile is at a full stop, the mass associated with the rotational motion or inertia of the flywheel/battery 10 is used to aid the acceleration of the automobile. Specifically, upon determining that the automobile is about to move (i.e., the accelerator is pressed or the brake is released, etc.), the gears 30 and 26b re-engage each other. The rotational motion of the flywheel/battery 10 which is now coupled to the drive shaft 14 assists in the rotation of the drive shaft 14 via the transmission 12. That, in turn, causes rotation of the wheels 38a and 38b and movement of the automobile. That is, the rotational energy or mass of the flywheel/battery 10 is added to the rotational energy provided by the engine to help turn/rotate the drive shaft 14. The produced mechanical motion helps reduce the mechanical strain or load on the engine or electric motor of the automobile -- which is least efficient in this range -- when accelerating the automobile from a full stop by utilizing the mass of the battery.

It should be noted that the mass of the flywheel/battery 10 increases the energy required to move the automobile from a standstill. However, this effect is negated by the additive nature of the flywheel/battery to the rotation of the drive shaft, i.e., the overall energy consumption is a net positive gain. Moreover, there is very little net increase in the overall weight of the automobile, while providing for an increase in the utility of the battery. In particular, the battery is required for automobile operation in any event, only now, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the battery is also used mechanically as a flywheel .

Thus, the above-described flywheel/battery 10 provides a way to utilize the otherwise unused mechanical energy {i.e., mass) of the battery of an automobile in an advantageously mechanically useful way by draining rotational energy from the drive shaft 14 during braking, storing the rotational energy for a short time (e.g., while standing still at a stop light, etc.), and using the stored rotational energy by transferring energy back to the drive shaft 14 during acceleration to assist in commencing motion of the automobi1e .

In one embodiment, the flywheel/battery 10 is disposed in a housing 40 (indicated in the Figure by dashed lines) which does not rotate with the flywheel/battery and which is surrounded by a mineral or other non-conductive lubricating oil 42. In another embodiment, the flywheel/battery 10 is disposed in the housing 40 and surrounded only by air.

The disclosed embodiments of the flywheel/battery 10 advantageously provide a way to improve the operational efficiency of automobiles that are stopped and restarted often, such as buses or garbage trucks. Moreover, the disclosed embodiments of the flywheel/battery advantageously increase the operational range of an automobile because, at points of deceleration, energy is absorbed by the disclosed flywheel/battery .

Thus, while there are shown, described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice.

Claims

What is Claimed is :

1. An apparatus for providing increasing efficiency of an electric or hybrid automobile, comprising:

a battery having a mass and rotatably mounted to the automobile and rotating about an axis, and a first gear connected for rotation with the battery about the axis,- and a second gear connected to a drive shaft of the automobile, the first gear operatively and disengageably engaging the second gear such that during the operative engagement the battery is rotated when the drive shaft of the automobile is rotated; and

means for causing engagement and disengagement of the first and second gears so that, during engagement, one of rotation of the drive shaft causes rotation of the battery during movement of the vehicle and rotation of the battery assists in rotation of the drive shaft during acceleration of the vehicle, and so that the battery mass assists in

deceleration of the vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the battery comprises a flywheel formed as a flywheel/battery which is in mechanical communication with a transmission and the drive shaft of the automobile.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: positive and negative electrical contacts outwardly extending from respective ends of the battery along the axis of the battery.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the battery is one of cylindrical shape and eccentric shape.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising non-conductive tubes disposed over and shielding the positive and negative electrical contacts of the battery.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein first ends of the non-conductive tubes are respectively coupled to an outer body of the battery.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for engaging and disengaging disengages the first and second gears when the rotational speed of the battery exceeds a threshold speed and engages the first and second gears when the rotational speed of the battery is below the threshold speed.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for engaging and disengaging comprises a clutch.

9. A method for increasing efficiency of a battery of an electric or hybrid automobile, the battery having a mass, the method comprising the steps of:

determining, while the vehicle is at a full stop, whether the automobile is about to accelerate;

if said determining step determines that the vehicle is about to accelerate, engaging a first gear connected for rotation with the

battery about an axis with a second gear

connected to a drive shaft of the automobile such that the first gear operatively and

disengagingly engages the second gear and such that, during engagement, one of rotation of the drive shaft causes rotation of the battery and rotation of the battery assists in

rotation of the drive shaft; disengaging the first and second gears when the rotational speed of the battery- exceeds a threshold speed based on the speed of the automobile such that the battery is allowed to freely rotate about the axis,- determining, while the automobile is moving, whether the automobile is

decelerating; and

if it is determined that the automobile is decelerating, and if the first and second gears are disengaged, engaging the first and second gears such that the mass of the battery assists in deceleration of the automobile.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the battery comprises a flywheel which forms a flywheel/battery in mechanical communication with a transmission and the drive shaft of the automobile.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein positive and negative electrical contacts extend outwards from ends of the battery along the axis of the battery.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the battery is cylindrical .

13. The method of claim 11, wherein non-conductive tubes are disposed over and shield the electrical contacts of the battery.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein first ends of the non-conductive tubes are respectively coupled to an outer body of the battery.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the automobile is determined to be decelerating when at least one of a brake is engaged and a foot of a driver is removed from an accelerator pedal of the automobile.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the automobile is determined to be accelerating from a stop position when one of an accelerator control of the automobile is activated and a brake of the automobile is released.