GB2342955A

GB2342955A - Motorised transportation

Info

Publication number: GB2342955A
Application number: GB9822770A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Alexan Chester-Barnett
Original assignee: CHESTER BARNETT RICHARD ALEXAN
Current assignee: CHESTER BARNETT RICHARD ALEXAN
Priority date: 1998-10-20
Filing date: 1998-10-20
Publication date: 2000-04-26
Also published as: GB9822770D0

Abstract

A drive motor comprises a screw compressor 20 connected via a rotary drive output 23 to a drivechain, such as a gear box 22 for propelling a drive wheel of a vehicle. Compressed gas from a storage chamber 24 is supplied via a flow valve 26 to a high pressure port of the screw compressor, which acts as a continuous expansion chamber. The storage chamber 24 may contain compressed air, steam, carbon dioxide or nitrogen which may be generated by chemical reactions within a chamber 40, or generated in an electrolysis chamber 44, or the chamber may be refilled from a compressed air source, by a separate compressor, or by the screw compressor during regenerative braking.

Description

MOTORISE TRANSPORTATION The present invention relates to a means for motorised transportation.

The internal combustion engine is now very well established as a means of transportation across the world. However, there is serious concern as to the continued viability of the internal combustion engine, due both to environmental concerns at the emissions which are produced as an inevitable by-product, and due to doubt as to the continued availability of the hydrocarbon fuel which must be employed.

Various legislatures around the world have responded to this difficulty by requiring vehicle manufacturers to produce internal combustion engines which emit ever lower levels of poisonous emissions. Vehicle manufacturers have so far been able to comply partly with these measures, and have also sought to produce more fuel efficient engines. A major step in this process has been the"engine management system", an electronic processor which monitors various output variables of the engine and certain demand variables and adjusts the engine configuration accordingly. Such systems have been effective in reducing emissions and fuel consumption.

The other significant advance in the reduction of vehicle emissions is the catalytic converter. This provides a high temperature, high reactivity surface which the exhaust gases contact, and is effective in significantly reducing the most harmful emissions.

Despite these advances, even a modern car will still consume a significant amount of fuel and emit a significant amount of emissions.

Recent legislation in California has called upon manufacturers eventually to offer zero emission vehicles. Manufacturers are considering battery-powered vehicles and fuel cell powered vehicles in response to this.

However, battery powered vehicles are heavy and of limited range despite recent advances in battery technology. Likewise, fuel cell technology is yet to be viable despite many years of effort.

The present invention therefore provides a drive motor comprising a screw compressor, a source of compressed gas arranged to supply the high pressure port of the screw compressor and a drivechain attached to the rotary drive of the screw compressor.

Thus, the screw compressor will act as a continuous expansion chamber, deriving power output from the drop in pressure of the gas.

The drivechain can include elements such as gears, belts, chains and the like, and can lead to a drive wheel for propelling a vehicle containing the drive motor.

The compressed gas is preferably air, but other gases such as steam, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and so on can be employed. The gas can be stored in a compression chamber and/or generated ad hoc by reaction or by electrolysis, for example.

The drive motor of the present invention is capable of producing no emissions whatsoever at the motor, and thus is capable of complying with the relevant Californian legislation. In addition, the compressed gas effectively serves as an energy store in the same manner as a conventional battery. However, the store can be used and replenished without decreasing its storage capacity as is the case with battery technology, and the time taken to refill the compressed gas chamber will be significantly less than to recharge a battery. Refilling can be done from a compressed air source, from a mechanical drive to the screw compressor, or from a separate compressor.

The vehicle is preferably able to drive the screw compressor or a separate compressor from its inertia so as to allow regenerative braking. A suitable one-way valve between the screw compressor and the source of compressed gas should suffice for this purpose.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a screw compressor; and Figure 2 is a schematic view of a drive motor according to the present invention.

Figure 1 illustrates a known screw compressor of the type which can be used within the present invention. A pair of axles 10,12 support conforma helical blades 14,16 which are adapted to interlock and rotate when a compressed gas is directed into the space between them, for example along arrow 18. Such compressors are known as such and principes for their design are well established.

Figure 2 shows a schematic illustration of a drive motor according to the present invention. Central to the drive motor is a screw compressor 20, which drives a gear box 22. This powers a vehicle via a drive output 23.

The screw compressor 20 is provided with compressed air from a compressed air storage chamber 24 via a valve 26. The valve 26 is capable of adjusting the flow rate of compressed air into the screw compressor 20 and therefore acts as a throttle.

The compressed air storage chamber 24 can be filled with compressed air from an external source via inlet 28 and valve 30. Valve 30 is provided to prevent loss of compressed air via the inlet 28. Alternatively, the compressed air chamber 24 can be partially refilled during braking via oneway valve 31 and safety valve 32.

As a further alternative, compressed gas can be generated in situ via chemical reactions within a chamber 40, communicating with the compressed air chamber 24 via pressure line 42. In generai, the gases which can be produced by such reactions will be gases other than air, for example carbon dioxide. However, provided these gases are inert there will be no risk involved.

As a further alternative, gases can be generated be in situ in an electrolysis chamber 44 supplie with liquid from a vessel 46. A suitable liquid is water. Power for the electrolysis step can be provided via an external jack 48. Clearly, DC power would be preferable to AC power as AC electrolysis of water produces a hydrogen: oxygen mix which may in certain circumstances be unsafe. DC electrolysis allows the gases to be separated, and provided the concentration of oxygen which is released by the device is relatively low there should be no safety risk. Regeneration via electrolysis will inevitably take a significant length of time and could therefore be seen as a method of adding charge whilst stationary for extended periods.

A further alternative, not illustrated, is to employ a reservoir of liquid nitrogen or other gas. This could be allowed to boil, preferably with assistance from an electrical heater element, thereby providing a source of compressed gas. This could be used as the principal source of gas, or it could be a emergency failback.

Thus, the present invention provides a means of providing a swiftly rechargeable motor which produces zero emissions during use. It is also expected that embodiments of the invention will run significantly more quietly and smoothly than existing internal combustion engines.

Many variations can be made from the above described example. For example, the illustrated example can be regenerated via an external source of compressed air, by regenerative braking, by electrolysis, and by reaction.

Particular embodiments of the invention could omit one or more of these means. Furthermore, the gas described will normally be air although it may occasionally be enriched with nitrogen, carbon dioxide or oxygen. In practice, any suitable gas could be employed.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A drive motor comprising a screw compressor, a source of compressed gas arranged to supply the high pressure port of the screw compressor and a drivechain attached to the rotary drive of the screw compressor.
2. A drive motor according to claim 1 in which the drivechain leads to a drive wheel for propelling a vehicle containing the drive motor.
3. A drive motor according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the compressed gas is one of air, steam, carbon dioxide or nitrogen.
4. A drive motor according to any one of the preceding claims in which the gas is stored in a compression chamber.
5. A drive motor according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the gas generated ad hoc by reaction or by electrolysis.
6. A drive motor according to claim 4 comprising means for refilling the compression chamber from a compressed air source.
7. A drive motor according to claim 4 comprising means for refilling the compression chamber from a mechanical drive to the screw compressor.
8. A drive motor according to claim 4 comprising means for refilling the compression chamber from a separate compressor.
9. A drive motor according to any preceding claim in which the vehicle is able to drive the screw compressor or a separate compressor from its inertia so as to allow regenerative braking.
10. A drive motor substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying figures.