FR3048460A1 - DEVICE FOR CONNECTING AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE DAMPER TO A TRANFORMATION MECHANISM WITH A GENERATOR - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for continuously supplying an electric vehicle alternator while driving by linking the pulsations of the lower part of at least one damper of the vehicle subjected to the compression and expansion phases to (at least) a small size conversion mechanism (about 20 cm squared) that can be placed at the least inconvenient location, for example on the side of a passenger car trunk. This device consists of a rack (1) fixed integrally to the lower part of a damper that accompanies it in all its movements. This rack (1) freely drives in both directions of rotation a gear wheel (2) integral with two pulleys (3, 5) which actuate two cables (4, 6) alternately in opposite directions. These two cables (4, 6) transfer their pulses to a mechanism that converts these pulses into regulated rotation applied to an output shaft driving an inertia flywheel (33) which itself rotates the input shaft. an alternator recharging the vehicle's batteries permanently. This device is particularly intended to significantly increase the autonomy of all-electric vehicles and to increase the electrical parity in hybrid vehicles.

Description

The device according to the invention makes it possible to take advantage of the energy dispensed by the mass of an electric or hybrid vehicle when it is subjected, by moving, to the irregularities of the ground carrying it. No lane is perfectly straight and one can see, even on a highway supposedly perfectly asphalted and flat that the shock absorbers of a vehicle are always in movement back and forth, a fortiori when the vehicle is subject to bursts of wind, that it initiates turns, that it carries out braking, etc ...

Inventions have already emerged to try to solve this problem of increasing the range of electric vehicles by exploiting the energy lost by the movements of the mass of these vehicles when they drive. In particular French Patent No. 1103120 filed October 13, 2011. This patent describes a random energy capture device to transform them into a regulated mechanical rotation on an output shaft, which can be placed on an electric vehicle by recording the irregularities of the soil and turning them into regulated rotation on a shaft on which is coupled an alternator. This device has the advantage of bringing the output shaft at a speed sufficient to operate an alternator, and this in a gentle way avoiding the problems of mechanical inertia to overcome when applying at a slow speed of starting a strong multiplication in output (coefficient of the order of 50 in the present case). This device works by the action added several spiral-banded metal springs, whose action in tension is retained and released without friction by simple magnetic phenomenon provided by several permanent magnets. However, this device has five disadvantages: - Its size makes it difficult to fit into a vehicle, - The spiral springs set in perpetual tension and relaxation, as powerful as they are, get tired and need to be replaced regularly, - Only one body ensures the triggering the spring release inducing the rotation of the output shaft, which requires a long time between successive triggers.

The prototype of this device, although having been machined to the maximum in aluminum and plastics, approaches 50 kg. - There is no mechanical solution of connection between the damper and the device in question.

The device according to the invention is the subject of a new design and provides a solution to each of the five disadvantages mentioned above, namely:

A small footprint so that it can be housed discretely, for example in a trunk of a passenger vehicle, - A resilient function of tensioning and relaxation provided for life by repulsion of permanent magnets. - An alternation of two releases to launch the output shaft ensuring a better regulation, - A reduced weight to turn around 20 kg.

A clear and viable solution for joining the shock absorber and the transformation mechanism.

The device according to the invention is in its most general form in the form of a rack attached to the lower part of a vehicle damper (advantageously an electric vehicle) driving freely alternately in both directions of rotation a wheel of gear. This gear wheel is integral with a first pulley, equipped with a return spring, which drives a first flexible transmission element in a first direction according to the compression phases of the damper. A second pulley, also integral with the gear wheel, itself equipped with a return spring, drives a second flexible transmission element according to the relaxation phases of the damper.

Means allow a transformation mechanism to receive on its input shaft in the same direction of rotation the pulses induced by the alternating actions of the two flexible elements and restores them on an output shaft driving a flywheel launched according to a regulated rotation.

According to a particular embodiment, the device comprises: - A rack driving a gear wheel in the two rotational directions alternately. This rack is placed jointly at the bottom of the vehicle damper. - A first pulley secured to said gear wheel driving a first cable in a first direction. - A second pulley, also integral with said gear causing a second cable in a second direction opposite to the first. A frame of parallelepipedal shape housing a mechanism transforming the pulses introduced alternatively by the first and second cables in controlled rotation applied on an output shaft, said mechanism comprising: a) A first shaft guided in rotation in the frame in the traversing entirely along its longitudinal central axis, this shaft being rotated in the same direction by two pulleys mounted on irreversible bearings and urged alternately by the pulses provided by the first and second cables, b) A first and second flywheels mounted on the first shaft integrally with it, each leading a succession of weights repelling each other by magnetic repulsion. A first and second lugs, secured respectively to the first and second flywheels, each lead to this succession of flyweights freely moving in a circular circuit described around the axis of the first shaft. c) A second hollow shaft freely guided in rotation around the first shaft between the first and second flywheels. d) A third and fourth flywheel each mounted by an irreversible bearing bearing (called "free wheel") on the second hollow shaft. These third and fourth wheels are placed in opposition respectively to the first and second steering wheel so as to form two empty crowns enclosing the two sets of weights and guiding them in their circular orbit. These third and fourth flywheels are respectively equipped with a third and fourth lug designed to retain the series of weights, causing the progressive compression of the spaces between each of them. e) A temporary rotation lock caused by magnetic repulsion retaining the passage of at least one permanent magnet placed on the periphery of each of these third and fourth wheels between magnets placed on brackets fixed to the frame. f) A first conical gearwheel integrally mounted to the second hollow shaft; g) A second conical gearwheel integrally engaging a first output shaft perpendicular to the first and second shafts. h) An inertia flywheel rotated by the third shaft, regulating the output speed of the mechanism. Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description given with reference to the accompanying drawings for illustrative but not limiting, in which:

Figure 1 shows the vehicle damper and the connecting device with the transformation mechanism.

FIG. 2 represents in longitudinal section the mechanism allowing the transformation of the pulses brought by the shock absorber of the vehicle,

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the flyweights moving in the crown-shaped free space left between a couple of two juxtaposed flywheels,

Figure 4 shows how several pairs of juxtaposed flywheels can be placed in series so as to add their compression effect.

With reference to these four figures, the device comprises:

A rack (1) welded to the lower part of the shock absorber of the vehicle - A gear wheel (2) mounted free to rotate in both directions, engaged on the rack (1),

A first pulley (3) integrally mounted to the gear wheel (2) - A first cable (4) actuated in a first direction by the first pulley (3)

A second pulley (5) integrally mounted to the gear wheel (2) - A second cable (6) actuated in the second direction by the second pulley (5) - A frame (7) of parallelepiped shape housing the mechanism transforming the pulses provided by the first and second cables (4, 6) and comprising: a) a first input shaft (8) controlling the mechanism, equipped with an irreversible bearing (9) fixed to the frame ensuring its anti-return locking, rotated in the same direction by a third and a fourth pulley (10,11) respectively receiving the pulses induced by the first and second cables (4, 6). These pulleys (10,11) are each mounted on an irreversible bearing (12,13) and alternately rotate in the same direction the input shaft (8). These third and fourth pulleys (10,11) are each equipped with a return spring (not shown). b) An additional shaft (34) parallel to the first shaft (8) cantilevered on the frame (7), this shaft carrying the pulley (11) and a gear wheel (35) c) A wheel gear (35) integral with the fourth pulley (11) engaged with another gear wheel (36) integral with the first shaft (8). d) at least first and second flywheels (14,15) integrally mounted to the first shaft (8) inside the frame (7), e) a third and fourth flywheel (16,17) placed juxtaposed respectively to the first and second flywheel (14,15) on the same axis of the first shaft (8), each independently driving a same hollow shaft (18) placed coaxially around the first shaft (8). Each of these third and fourth wheels (16,17) is mounted on the hollow shaft (18) on an irreversible bearing bearing (19, 20) and drives in the same direction of rotation. The Juxtapositions of these two sets of wheels, namely the first with the third (14,16) and the second with the fourth (15,17), leave a free space (21) in the shape of a circular ring centered on the first tree (8). f) At least two distinct series of weights (22,23, ...), each occupying, one after the other two free rings (21) mentioned above, each weight (22, 23, .. .) being equipped with a permanent magnet on each of its faces so as to present to its two neighbors faces of magnets of the same pole repelling each other. g) A first inner lug (24) integral with each of the first and second flywheels (14,15) pushing the two sets of weights (22, 23, ...) one after the other. h) A second pin (25) internally fitting integrally each of the third and fourth flywheels (16,17) retaining the two series of weights (22, 23, ...) so as to cause their compression on each other. gi) A temporary rotation locking of the third and fourth flywheels (16,17) caused by magnetic repulsion retaining the passage of at least one permanent magnet placed on the periphery of each of these flywheels (26, 27) between magnets placed on stirrups (28, 29) attached to the frame (7). j) A first bevel gear (30) integrally mounted to the second hollow shaft (18), k) A second bevel gear (31) engaging the first wheel (30) on a third output shaft (32) perpendicular to the first and second shafts (8 and 18), according to a multiplying coefficient. l) A flywheel (33) regulating the output speed of the third shaft.

Thus defined, the device works as follows:

The pulses induced by the lower part of the shock absorber when the vehicle is moving are transmitted to the rack (1) in linear movements alternating from bottom to top during the compression phases of the shock absorber and from top to bottom during its phases of relaxation. These pulses are transmitted to the toothed wheel (2) which is freely biased in rotation in both directions. This toothed wheel (2) is integral with the first pulley (3) of a diameter greater than the toothed wheel (2), which provides a first multiplication.

This first pulley (3) makes work in tension in a first direction the first cable (4) during the compression phases of the damper.

A second pulley (5) is also integral with the toothed wheel (2) and operates in tension in a second direction a second cable (6) during the expansion phases of the damper.

The two pulleys (10,11) drive alternately and in the same direction of rotation the first shaft (8) of the conversion mechanism which compresses gradually the two sets of weights (22, 23 ...) by the rotations of the first and second wheels 14,15) on the one hand and the third and fourth wheels (16,17) on the other hand.

Both flywheels (16,17) are temporarily retained in rotation by the devices (28, 29)) fixed to the frame (7). The two flywheels (16,17) are released alternately by driving in turn the second hollow shaft (18), it can continue on its inertial momentum through two irreversible bearings (19, 20).

Thus initiated by additional pulses, the second hollow shaft (18) drives in rotation the bevel gear wheel (30) coupled to a second conical gear wheel (31) of smaller diameter inducing a multiplication of the applied output speed. at the third shaft (32) at the output of the mechanism. This third shaft (32) drives an inertia flywheel (33) coupled to an alternator supplying the batteries of the vehicle permanently.

The device according to the invention is intended to transmit the energy provided by the pulses of a car damper moving from a rack fixed to the lower part of this damper, to a transformation mechanism feeding an alternator, for example. a series of mechanical elements such as a gear wheel, pulleys and cables allowing a flexibility of positioning of the mechanism (a cube of 20 cm of edge), for example on one side inside a vehicle trunk of tourism.

Claims (2)

1 - device for feeding an alternator by connecting the lower part of a vehicle damper to a conversion mechanism, characterized in that it comprises: A - A rack (1) fixed to the lower part of the damper, this rack freely driving alternately in both directions of rotation a gear wheel (2), B - A first pulley (3) integral with the gear wheel (2) driving a first flexible transmission element (4) in a first direction according to the compression phases of the shock absorber, C - A second pulley (5) integral with the gear wheel (2) driving a second flexible transmission element (6) in the second direction according to the phases of expansion of the damper, D - a transformation mechanism receiving on a first input shaft (8) the pulses induced by the alternating actions of the two flexible elements (4, 6) and restoring them on a third output shaft ( 32) launched in a controlled rotation. 2 - Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the two flexible transmission elements (4,6) are cables. 3 - Device according to claims 1) and 2) characterized in that the first cable (4) drives a third pulley (10) mounted on the input shaft (8) of the mechanism on an irreversible bearing (12) l 'driving in a single direction of rotation, 14 - Device according to claims 1) and 2) characterized in that the second cable (6) drives a fourth pulley (11) mounted on an irreversible bearing and means allowing the pulley to drive the shaft (8) in the same single direction of rotation., 5 - Device according to claim 1) characterized in that the mechanical transformation is performed by the progressive compression followed by the sudden expansion of a series of permanent magnets opposing their faces in poles identical signs one after the other. , 6 - Device according to claims 1) and 5) characterized in that the magnets are arranged unit on each of the two sides of several weights (22, 23 ...) freely guided one after the other in at least two crown-shaped free spaces (21) oriented on the first shaft (8) of the mechanism. R7 - Device according to claims 1), 5) and 6) characterized in that the free spaces (21) are each delimited by the juxtaposition of a steering wheel (14,15 ...) driven by the drives of the first shaft ( 8) of the mechanism and another flywheel (16,17 ...) disposed along the same axis and driving a second hollow shaft (18) in one-way rotation around the first shaft (8) by means of a bearing irreversible (19, 20 ...). R8 - Device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the flywheel (14,15 ...) is provided integrally with a first lug (24) having a single magnet on one side, driving, in its race in describing the free space (21), the weights (22,23 ...) one after the other. R9 - Device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the flywheel (16,17) is provided integrally with a second lug (25) retaining the weights (22, 23 ...) by causing magnetic repulsion the progressive compression of the spaces separating them from each other. RIO - Device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the progressive compression of the weights (22, 23 ...) and their expansion are caused alternately by at least one element (26) located on the periphery of the steering wheel (16) , this element being thwarted in its orbit by another element (28) fixed to the frame (7) which it must force the passage when the torque it develops is calibrated for this purpose.