MXPA00010122A - Human-powered energy generation and transmission system - Google Patents

Abstract

Efficient human-powered or human-power assisted energy generation and transmission system adapted for use with vehicles. The present invention can be utilized to achieve overall energy transmission efficiency superior to mechanical drives that utilize chains and sprockets or other mechanical drive mechanisms. The present invention can completely eliminate the need for multiple sprokets and the associated shifting mechanisms presently used in most bicycles. By utilizing high efficiency, light weight, direct-drive generators and motors, and an imput controller, coupled with an efficient energy storage device, the present invention can reduce the overall weight and complexities of mechanical power transmissions, while, at the same time, offer higher overall efficiencies. In addition, the energy output to the output drive device can be controlled, through profiling and with an output controller, to maintain constant output, independent of instantaneous input. Thus, in a human-powered vehicle, constant thrust can be maintained significantly increasing the vehicle efficiency, compared to the cyclical thrust or torque generated using a mechanical system.

Description

* SYSTEM OF GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION OF ENERGY POWERED BY HUMAN f Field of Invention. The present invention relates generally to the generation and transmission of human-powered energy, and more particularly it relates to the use of human energy as at least a partial contributor of energy for a vehicle and for any other apparatus powered by electricity. 10 f Background of the Invention. Vehicles that use energy generated by humans have been around for several centuries. The advantages of energy storage in these vehicles have been well known during about a century. For example, US Patent No. 89,882 filed by S. Wilmarth, dated May 4, 1869, describes the use of a steering wheel to improve the performance of a human-powered three-wheeled velocipede. By way of • similar, US Patent No. 1 90,353 filed by W.

S. Mitchell on May 1, 1877, describes a spring as a form of alternative energy storage; again, to improve the performance of a velocipede. The typical pedal mechanism used on most bicycles, which use chains and sprockets, feeds energy in a cyclic way, with a maximum power only r when the pedal is horizontal. In addition, the aforementioned pedal mechanism requires numerous sprockets F different, that are changed through a mechanism of change to be possible the change of gears, depending on the terrain. 5 People have understood the limitations of the typical pedaling system used on most bicycles for many years. Some have tried to make several elliptical gear wheels to try to extend the portion of a rotation where the maximum power supply is obtained; this is I 10 during the horizontal position of the pedals. There has been some improvement in performance using this technique; although due to the complexities of "non-round" sprockets and the need for chain management techniques to deal with them, this method has never been disseminated. The problem is exacerbated due to the fact that ten to twenty relationships are still required to meet the needs of travel over several terrains.

A As with most other bicycles built today, they use a shift mechanism with a system of "derailment" to meet these requirements. More recently, U.S. Patent No. 5,035,678 filed by M. D. Hageman describes a "Cogwheel Transmission System for Bicycle with Energy Storage". This device helps to improve the efficiency of a chain-type bicycle transmission system on a cogwheel, using a set of springs to add torque to the point of minimum applied leverage. However, it would be convenient to have a vehicle that is not limited by the requirements of • use of chains, sprockets, deactivators, derailleurs, etc. , with its associated penalties of adding 5 weight, maintenance and safety aspects. For a long time in the last century, many people have also worked to change the position of a bicycle driver's seats while pedaling. For example, "recliners" in the current market. These recliners allow the driver • 10 sits in a reclined driving position; rather it is the most common straight position used by most bicycles. This configuration provides a much lower wind resistance; and, for most drivers, a more comfortable driving position. Although they offer certain advantages, recumbent seats still have the same limitations of the requirement for the use of multiple sprockets and the associated gear change mechanism. In addition, they have even longer chains; which adds both weight and complexity to the recumbents. 20 Most racing bicycles now have the driver's foot secured to the pedals so that they can pull a pedal, as they push the other pedal. This technique also allows adding energy during the minimum energy part of a cycle, for example, in the two vertical positions of the pedal travel.

This has helped increase the overall mechanical efficiency of human energy. Although, at the same time, because the driver's feet are embedded in a recessed way to the pedals, this also adds a level of danger; especially during low speed operation and at the time of arrest. 5 Similar efforts have been made with respect to watercraft. Beginning in the mid-1980s, people have experimented with hydrolyminas in watercraft operated by humans. For example, Alian V. Abbott, leads that ship, called the "Flying Fish M", and recorded a record speed of 6 f 10 minutes, 39.44 seconds during a course of 2,000 meters. This record was approximately 10 seconds faster than the single-person rowing record (reference of the "Scientific American" (Scientific American) of December 1986). This ship, as well as another boat powered by human hydroline (referred to later as "human-powered boats"), showed several problems that limited their use for extremely athletes A well conditioned. The first problem was the amount of energy required to make the human-powered hydrofoil can take a plane of approximately 1.5 HP during approximately 3 seconds. This level of energy, needs an athlete very well conditioned to produce it, even during this period of short time. The second problem is due to the cyclic movement of the bicycle-type energy transmission, where there is a loss in pressure from the impeller. He Abbott driver mentioned above, estimated that this loss would be from approximately 2% to 5% of the total. The third problem was that the stability of the hydrofoam was very poor. As of the 20th century, people have tried to develop aircraft to fulfill the human-powered flight. During the late 70's and early 80's, several very successful human-powered airplanes were demonstrated. These include the "Gossamer Cóndor", the "Gossamer Albatross", and the "Monarca B", each of them winning several "Kramer prizes" (prizes established by Henry Kramer, a British industrialist, reference of "American Scientist" (Scientific American) of November 1985. All of these ships showed similar problems to the aforementioned human-powered hydrofoils and boats.The "Monarch B" was successful with only one problem: energy storage.This aircraft used a separate electric generator with a number of NiCd batteries for energy storage, along with an electric motor driving a large impeller, parallel to the chain and sprocket system driving the impeller.This composite transmission system, did the job to win the prize Kramer, although again, required an extremely well-conditioned athlete to accomplish this feat.Using the present invention, they can be eliminated all the limitations mentioned above. Only cables (which can be very flexible and easily routed) are required to transmit power from the generator to the energy storage device; and subsequently from the storage apparatus of • energy to the output motor (or in the case of human-powered boats, two engines are used in the preferred mode). Therefore, the driver can be seated in the most effective position (which can vary from person to person). In addition, the structure of the vehicle (if two, three, four wheels are used in a vehicle based on wheels), it can be designed with maximum resistance for the proportion of weight, while minimizing the • 10 wind resistance and overall efficiency is maximized, without being restricted by chain placement, multiple cogwheels and complex derailment systems. The use of harmonic transmissions to obtain efficient proportions, with a higher gear increasing, have been well known for decades. For example, the leading provider of harmonic transmissions has informed the inventor of the To harmonic transmissions that have been used by the United States military for manually operated electric generators to be used with radio communications from the years 60's. However, using highly efficient switched magnetic resistance or rare earth magnet generators coupled with the profiling described herein as part of the present invention, the overall efficiency of said apparatus could be significantly improved. During at least the In the last decade, the high efficiencies of said motors and generators of switched magnetic resistance have been well known. For example, the motors used to drive the feed roller in rotary plotters have used switched magnetic resistance motors to drive said feed rollers. Because such feed rollers are usually made of plastic, and therefore do not have a good way to dissipate the heat from the motors, they usually require motors with efficiencies greater than (96%), to minimize heat build up in the first place. Switched magnetic resistance motors proved to be extremely reliable in these applications, due in large part to their high efficiencies. Similarly, as described in September 1998 in the issue of Airspace Engineering, due to their high efficiencies, the motors and generators of switched magnetic resistance are used effectively in the engines and generators of direct transmission that are part of an integrated energy unit with gas turbine used in military aircraft. In addition, since the early 1990s, ground motors (eg, neodimium) have been available in the market with efficiencies in excess of (96%). Currently, these motors are used in numerous industrial applications where performance is the main criterion, largely in servos without brush. Again, as with the switched magnetic resistance motors, the main requirements were high performance and reliability, which sent high efficiencies to eliminate the need for large cooling fans and heat sinks, required • previously for similar applications when less efficient motors are used. By significantly increasing the overall efficiency of the transmission system and the energy storage apparatus, the present invention makes it possible for an "average" human to perform similar feats to those of the Monarch B and the Flying Fish II mentioned above, while making the ships are much more • 10 resistant and significantly less expensive in its manufacture. Therefore, these products can be manufactured for the consumer market, and not only used as scientific experiments. The advantages of external power supply to help to human action, they have been well known for approximately a century. Many people have offered vehicles for sale to the public that have assistance from a battery, as well as those with various configurations that use internal combustion engines. A type of vehicle with wheels, normally called a "Moped", uses an internal combustion engine or an electric motor to supply most of the energy. Although, it offers a separate transmission system to allow the operator to add additional power. For example, in U.S. Patent No. 5, 489,002, Glenn C. Streiff describes a "two-wheeled vehicle powered by solar energy with solar collector to intensify energy", which also uses a pair of rechargeable batteries to supply • external energy. The Streiff patent again describes the use of chains and sprockets for both pedal and motor / generator systems; and because they only have two wheels, vehicles that use this concept will not have the ability to add power when the vehicle comes to a stop. Similarly, when the engine / generator is used for "regenerative braking", such a purpose will not be successful if the operator tries to add 10 energy to the system at times when regenerative braking is taking place. The present invention has the purpose of remedying both of these limitations.

Summary of the Invention. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system for generating and transmitting power assisted by human action or driven by a human, with a means for generating energy and a means for storing at least a part of said energy. generated for later use. It is another object of the present invention to provide said system for use in a vehicle. It is an object of the present invention to provide a human-powered vehicle with a means for generating said energy not only through conventional pedal, chain and sprocket transmissions, but also through other human movements. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a human-powered vehicle with efficient transmission trains to eliminate, or substantially reduce wasted energy and substantially channel all the energy generated either to the locomotion of the vehicle or to the storage medium. of energy mentioned above. It is still another object of the present invention to provide an energy dispersion means wherein the energy that is stored in the energy storage means is controllably released to facilitate the human operation of the vehicle. In other words, the stored energy can be released in such a way that constant energy is provided to the output medium, unlike the normal system of pedals that uses chains and sprockets. It is another object of the present invention to provide a constant power output in a pedal cycle, despite fluctuations in the instantaneous power supply, to thereby offer increased efficiency in vehicles, due to the fact that it does not exist "tension in the chain" or change in the transmission force for the vehicle. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a system for generating and transmitting human-powered energy for use in a vehicle which can be used to provide auxiliary electric power for such aspects as lightness, heating, pumping, etc. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle with an operator incentive to maintain a constant pedaling cadence to achieve maximum efficiency in this way. In accordance with these objects, it is a feature of a preferred embodiment of the present invention to provide a human-powered vehicle that employs an energy storage means in the form of an ultracapacitor which stores the energy generated through the movement of the operator. human, to be subsequently used at important points during locomotion. It is another feature of the present invention to provide the aforementioned human-powered vehicle which additionally employs an energy dispersion means which includes an intelligent controller which outlines the movement of the human operator and disperses energy during times of greatest it requires additional energy. For example, if the power generation means includes a typical bicycle pedal type distribution, the human operator will have the ability to exert maximum energy when the pedal is in a forward horizontal position. After another ninety degrees of rotation, the crankshaft pedals and arms will be in a vertical position, corresponding to a minimum energy output. Therefore, a machine is made more efficient if the stored energy is released when the pedal is in its upper vertical rotation position, and is lowered proportionally to a point where no energy is released • additional storage medium, whose point corresponds to the horizontal forward rotation point of the pedal. After passing through the horizontal position, the energy storage means will again begin to increase the energy output until the maximum level is again reached when the pedal is in its lower vertical position. It should be understood that the lower vertical position of one pedal corresponds to the upper vertical position w 10 of the other pedal. It is another feature of one embodiment of the present invention to provide a means of generating energy in the form of a rowing machine where the whole body is generating energy. The arms perform a rowing movement round and round, while the supports, open and contract as the person sitting on the machine moves linearly forward and backward in a seat provided on the rails. The energy generated by the manual movement, as well as the linear movement of the seat can be used to generate energy. This energy can be used partially to move the vehicle and, when desired, can be partially channeled to an energy storage means for later use. It is still another object of the present invention to provide the The aforementioned human-powered vehicle uses a highly efficient motor, so that when the energy is released from the energy storage medium, it contributes completely • with the train of transmission and locomotion of the vehicle. The present invention manages to increase the overall efficiency, 5 through the following means: First, using extremely light weight generators and motors (for example generators using rare earth magnets and switched magnetic resistance motors, respectively; brushless offer F 10 efficiencies of up to 94%; while they offer extremely high reliability), the transfer of energy in general can be achieved more efficiently. Second, using an extremely efficient energy storage device (for example an ultracapacitor), the energy storage efficiency can be significantly improved. These aforementioned ultracapacitors, f, offer the following advantages with respect to NiCd batteries: they have no memory effect; they have high efficiencies even in higher discharge and recharge ranges; and has a life cycle extremely long, with little or no degradation over time. These thin metal ribbon batteries offer almost the same advantages as ultracapacitors, although it has a more effective cost for current recreational vehicles. Third, by profiling the load on the operator of the present invention to compensate for the inherently cyclic change in the applied leverage of the typical pedal movement of a bicycle-type transmission system, maximum performance can be achieved. • energy output efficiency. The power controller (which will be mentioned later), will distribute the power to the energy storage apparatus 5 by effectively changing the load in the aforementioned generator to maximize overall efficiency. Fourth, using extremely efficient and lightweight power controllers (which control the power supply to the energy storage apparatus, as well as output controllers that control the output of energy from the energy storage apparatus), the present invention offers energy transfer efficiencies of up to 95%. A preferred embodiment of the present invention achieves this high efficiency using a PWM (Width Modulation of Pulsation), coupled with the use of MOSFETs (Semiconductor f Metal Oxide, Field Effect Transistors), or IGBTs (Isolated Bipolar Output Transistors), provided that it is most appropriate for the currents and voltages involved in a specific application. Alternative exchange apparatus techniques are possible. Fifth, using direct drive motors and generators, the need for large, heavy and inefficient gear reducers and gearboxes can be eliminated.

Using motors with earth magnets (for example Neodymium), or motors of switched magnetic resistance, it is possible to manufacture generators that have a sufficient number of poles so that these generators can operate directly at the speed of the power supply operated by human, for thereby eliminating the need for gear increasers of a large proportion, which could otherwise be required. This can make it possible for the generators to be built directly into the hub of the typical pedal mechanism transmission. Profiling the power output by human through • 10 of a power controller, the present invention raises the general output efficiencies of a human-powered power supply. Unlike a bicycle-type pedal system, which has maximum power supply only when the pedal is in the horizontal position, the present invention can adjust the level of energy output to the most efficient level. Therefore, when the pedal is in the vertical position of its travel, the ff power output will be at a minimum level; while at a later ninety degree point, the energy output will be at its maximum level (adjustment). Supervising the rotating position of the pedals (or alternate human powered feeding devices), the load on the generator can be adjusted continuously to maximize output efficiencies in general. In the preferred mode, both generators (human-powered power), as well as the output motors, could be both high efficiency direct drive types using rare earth magnets (eg Neodymium), and switched magnetic resistance technology (to achieve efficiencies in excess of 94%, and energy densities of approximately one horsepower per pound). In addition, both the power controller and the output controller could preferably use a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) or other change techniques that use MOSFETS or IGBTs to maximize the efficiency (up to 98%) of the transfer of power. energy in both devices. Using PWM techniques, the energy of the generator could be transferred in an energy storage device in a certain range through the heavy cycle of the PWM signal. For example, if the power output was set to a low level, the pulse width must be adjusted to the 15% heavy cycle; and a higher output level must be adjusted even heavy cycle of 75%. Similarly, the output controller could use a PWM system that could contain a flywheel diode around the motor to use the reactor inductive reactance to maintain the current in the transmission engine during the out-of-cycle of the PWM signal. The steering wheel diode could be connected and disconnected from a wheel-based vehicle, which could use regenerative braking. When used with an ultracapacitor such as an energy storage medium, the output controller could automatically adjust the heavy cycle of the output to compensate for a variation in the voltage level of the ultra capacitor. Therefore, if the voltage of the ultracapacitor was 10 volts, a 50% heavy cycle may be required to provide the same power level of a 25% heavy cycle when the ultracapacitor is at 20 volts. Similarly, the power controller could have the ability to use the reverse technique to maintain the desired output level of the human-powered generator. In addition, using the same energy storage device and energy output device to drive a vehicle, using the present invention, external energy can be added to the system with a small increase in hardware, complexity, or weight. For example, a boat powered by humans could use a solar cell to increase human energy. Using the same energy storage apparatus and the output energy apparatus, the increase in weight or complexity of the system would be minimal. Similarly, an efficient motor-generator system (whether powered by gasoline, diesel or another engine) could be added to a human-powered boat to increase either the performance and / or range of the vehicle. Again, using the same output transmission apparatus and energy storage apparatus, aggregate complexity could be minimal. Therefore, a vehicle with virtually zero contamination can be manufactured. By feeding energy into the energy storage apparatus when the present invention is in neutral, a sufficient amount of energy can be stored (over a length of time) so that it is possible for a human-powered can to obtain a plane without the high energy output that would normally be required to do this, from human energy. If the human-powered boat uses hydrofoils or a highly efficient planning hull or ski, the present invention makes it possible for anyone to store virtually enough energy to obtain this plane. It can take a long time for a person who is out of condition to store such energy (5 minutes, instead of 30 seconds for an athlete who is highly conditioned) but, once enough energy has been stored, the boat powered per human can be designed so that the energy required to keep it flat, is low enough that virtually anyone can keep it flat. During the various demonstrations of the human-powered hydrofoil canister, it was observed that the stability was extremely tenuous. That is, it was difficult to keep the hydrolifemine canister powered by human in the most effective position in the water. In the North American Patent No. 4.71 1, 195, Sidney G. Shutt describes an apparatus to assist in the solution of this problem. This device called "shutt strut", helped reduce this problem. In the preferred embodiment for a human-powered hydrofoil canister, the hydrofoils utilize "hydrilled sheets on the back", with a system for adjusting the configuration of the hydrofoils (to maximize the lift • during "takeoff"; while the drag is minimized once the human-powered boat is in the plane; using a similar technique used in the ailerons of large commercial aircraft), together with elevator type adjustment devices to stabilize the altitude of the ship. The use of the aforementioned loaded air sheets in the back (or, in the hydrolimines of the boat modality) • 10 powered by humans), are well known for their use in gliders; and have been used in a certain third-generation human-powered aircraft (see "Muscular" German mentioned in the "American Scientific" issue in November 1985). It is well known, for the good informed in the area of aerodynamics, that the air plates loaded in the back offer large proportions of • drag lift (important to get a human-powered hydrofoil boat to reach its plane), which prevails over a wide range of speeds and angles of attack.

Therefore, the hydrofoils loaded on the back make it possible to make a human-powered boat that is more suitable for varying loading and speed conditions than those currently available. Again, in the preferred embodiment of a powered boat per human, the shape of the hydrofoil is mechanically adjustable in a manner similar to that used to adjust the ailerons in a large commercial aircraft. This feature offers two advantages: first, that the human-powered boat could be on the plane with a reduced cost of speed and energy; and 5 seconds, the hydrofoam could be tuned for the conditions of variation of the power and energy load. Therefore, a well-trained athlete would have the ability to fine-tune the hydrofoil for minimal drag and achieve maximum speed; while the same boat powered by human could be • 10 acceptable for a family, at a much lower speed. Still, the boat powered by human could be operated in plane in both cases; and, therefore, requiring much less energy than a similar boat powered by a human without these characteristics. Again, in the preferred embodiment, of a boat of hydraulically driven by human using the present invention, stability is achieved with the use of adjustable winglets. This is, A small adjustable surfaces are automatically adjusted, using skis that are mounted on the front of the human-powered boat to sense the water level, and adjust level so that the hydrolyminas are always in the water; and even, that they are just below the surface of the water, minimizing the drag of struts that secure the hydrofoils to the boat driven by humans. Again, in the preferred embodiment of this In a human-powered boat, a water jet (or ductile propellant) is used to push the water on its hydrofoils, so that the hydrofoils are in plane faster than would be required by the speed of the hull. without this feature When this feature is used, with the increased efficiency (especially at zero speed) of a ductile propeller, the human-powered boat could be on the plane at very low power and power levels.

By using the present invention in a wheel-based vehicle, it is possible to significantly increase the energy level • 10 stored when a mountain is lowered, through both regenerative braking, as well as neutral pedaling. If the vehicle is a bicycle and it is stopped, the operator could continue pedaling even though it is in neutral to store energy, and a support or similar could be provided to facilitate movement. For the Therefore, when a mountain climb section occurs, it could be stored enough energy to be possible for the operator • ascend that mountain with a much higher speed, while continuing to supply power to the pedal at a constant level.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, it would be possible to adjust both a pedaling cadence and a power level through an electronic control. Therefore, it will be possible to adjust a cadence of, for example, sixty beats per minute. In a cadence less than sixty, the load would be reduced; while in a cadence greater than sixty, the load would increase. The operator will have the ability to adjust both the cadence and the associated load. • Another embodiment of the present invention uses an energy meter that can measure and display: power and output power 5 instantaneously; energy stored in a band to indicate that sufficient energy is available for a human-powered boat to reach a plane, etc.; total energy supply (from human power over a period of time); and distances covered (or time spent), or distance available to go • 10 with the level of stored energy that is present. Therefore, it would be possible to exhibit a speed and distance available to go on a determined inclined path with a wheel-based vehicle driven by a human; or the distance available at a certain speed with a boat powered by a human. This meter could also exhibit: cadence (real, as well as desired), power (or load - both real and the power that is being generated), etc. The present invention can use the movement of the feet and / or arm and / or other body movement to generate power of effective way. The present invention could use an efficient electrical generation means, which can include an efficient gear increasing means (for example a planetary gear or harmonic transmission); a feeding means to change the linear movement to a rotary movement (the present The invention can also be used directly with a linear generation means); an electronic control means which will perceive the position of the power supply to optimize the output of • power of the human power supply; and an energy storage means that both stores energy and acts as a handwheel for any electrical output operated by the present invention. Unlike a mechanical bicycle pedal mechanism, which achieves maximum power transfer only when the pedal is horizontal, the power controller of the • 10 present invention, will have the ability to modulate the load to increase the efficiency of the human body feed. If a foot pedal type mechanism is used as a human power feeding means for the present invention, the effective load can be modulated by the control means. electronic to optimize the power supply and, hence, power output. If a rowing machine power feeding means is used in the present invention, the power can be generated effectively by both arm-type rowing movement, as per the movement of the sliding seat, normally used competition scull. Therefore, you can now row in the right direction (having the ability to see where you are going, without having to look over your shoulder), a significant safety feature for any rowing-type boat powered by human.

Using a one-way clutch means in both oars, the power output from the oars can be • modulated by an electronic control mode to maximize the power supply (and, hence, the output of human power 5 to the energy storage medium) from the movement of the human body. In addition, a linear for a revolving movement feeding means can generate energy from the movement of the rocking seat of the rowing mechanism. The sliding seat can have a grid and a pinion (or other apparatus), with the pinion on one side operating a generation means, to generate power in one direction; and a second pinion operating a generation means in the opposite direction. The generator could use a pinion that could operate in a one-way clutch to obtain power only in an address, if desired. You could use a linear motor as a generator.

In an alternative mode, the seat could be stationary and the route behind the oars would move a rest for the foot. Therefore, the energy could be captured 20 in both directions of the rowing paths, as well as from the movement of the foot rest. With this modality, the momentum transfer can be minimized from the movement of the body, thus offering increased efficiency in human-powered boats. As with other modes, the input controller could be adjusted to profile the power output for maximum overall efficiency. • As with all human-powered vehicles, all aspects of the present invention and associated hardware for any vehicle driven (or assisted) by human, weight, and friction (either rotation mechanisms or by induced air or water drag) , they should be kept at a minimum. The overall efficiency must be carefully evaluated for each component, • as well as for the system in general; while it remains in account for the practical cost / performance limitations for any vehicle sold to the consumer market. For example, all efforts should be made to reduce drag and friction using, for example, Teflon surfaces for supports, etc.; and aerodynamic cleaning bodies to reduce the drag of both air as water (in a boat powered by humans).

• In addition, the preferred human-powered can is used the dimple tape described in the North American Patent No. 5, 540, 406 of Anthony c. Occhipini to significantly improve the lifting / dragging of the hydrofoils in our 20 hydrolifera-powered human canister. Said dimple tape is also used to reduce drag on all other surfaces that are in contact with water throughout the human-powered boat, again, in the ways described by the Occhipini patent.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be better appreciated from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic overview of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the mode of operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating the logic followed by the controller used in the preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the present invention employing an electronic controller using pulse width modulation technology; and Figure 5 is a graphic illustration of a power profiling modality according to the teaching of the present invention. Although the present invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings, and will be described in more detail below. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the present invention to the specific forms described, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents that are within the spirit and scope of the invention. • the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Detailed Description of the Invention.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the present invention is a schematic form, and generally refers to the vehicle driven by Human 20. However, the present invention does not need to be used with vehicles 20, since the power generation means 40, the power transmission drive means, the energy storage means 44, and the conversion means of 46 energy could be used together with any device powered by electricity. As shown in Figure 1, the human-powered vehicle 20 includes practically any type of conceivable vehicle for transporting individuals or cargo, including land vehicles 22, watercraft 24 and aircraft 26. By way of example only, this is normally conceived that the land vehicles 22 may include automobiles 28, motorcycles 30, bicycles 31, mopeds 32, wheelchairs 33, and all land vehicles (ATV) 34. Similarly, watercraft 24 and aircraft 26 may include any particular type of the vehicle falling under said categories, including hydrofoils 36, planning helmets 37, jet skis 41, and propulsion planes 38, respectively or a hybrid such as an airshipper 39.

• Therefore, it can be seen that the vehicle 20 can include a wide variety of current vehicle types. However, each vehicle comprised by the present invention could include the same basic technology that could include energy generating means 40 and means of the power transmission train 42 and storage means 44 and an energy conversion means 46. In the use of the aforementioned elements, the present The invention has the ability to operate extremely efficiently and utilize a portion of the energy generated by the operator for actual locomotion, and a portion of the energy to charge the energy storage means 44 for later use. In addition, through the power transmission train 42, the vehicle 20 is This is done more efficiently since less energy is needed to overcome the resistance of the drive train components, and therefore more energy can be used for either actual storage or propulsion of the vehicle. Finally, through the new characteristics of the energy conversion means 46, The energy released by the energy storage means 44 can be released in a controlled and structured manner, to power in the most efficient way the energy needed by the operator of the vehicle. Therefore, said system ensures that the energy is released when it is most required and does not wear out when the human operator has the capacity to efficiently energize the vehicle. Each of these elements will be described in greater detail in the present description. With respect to the power generating means, the human-powered vehicle 20 of the present invention is designed to be energized by any number of mechanical devices that are adapted to convert the human movement into energy for storage purposes, or for the purpose of conversion of the propulsion means of the vehicle. For example, one embodiment of the present invention could use a typical bicycle-type mechanism • 10 in which a pair of pedals 48 would be attached to the arms mounted to a rotating hub. The human operator, therefore, could exert the energy to cause the pedals to spin, with said rotating energy being subsequently driven by the power transmission train means 42 to either load the energy storage means 44 or for driving the vehicle through the energy conversion means 46. • In an alternative embodiment, the pedals 48 need not be used. Rather, a pair of 50 foot pumps or 52 hand pumps could be employed. Foot pumps 50 and pumps for 52 hands are commonly used in modern exercise equipment such as stair climbers, Nordic ski machines, and stationary bicycles. More specifically, the human operator originates that foot pumps 50 or hand pumps 52 operate individually in a backward and forward movement.

Again, later said movement could be used to operate the power train means 42 for the reasons mentioned above. In a further embodiment, the power generating means 40 could be provided in the form of a rowing machine 54, wherein the operator would be located in a slidable seat. The seat would be adapted to move back and forward in a linear motion, and the legs of the operator would extend and contradict. Simultaneously with this linear movement, the operator's arms would perform a paddling motion where a pair of cables or other suitable actuators would be pulled against the resistor to generate power in this way. Again, said generated energy could be used to operate the power transmission train means 42, and thus energize the energy storage means 44 or the energy conversion means 46. Although a number of specific modalities have been described. in this application, it will be understood that the power generation means 40 is defined as any structure that is adapted to be operated by human power. Really possible combinations of the mechanical devices mentioned above are possible. Turning now to the power transmission train means 42, the present invention again comprises a number of different modalities. For example, the aforementioned pedals 48 the foot pumps 50 the hand pumps 52 and the rowing machine 54, could all be used to cause a sprocket 56 to rotate and thus cause a chain 58 to be guided wheel toothed to move in an endless circuit. This rotating energy could be used to operate a generator 60 of energy storage medium 44, or it could be used to provide propulsion to the vehicle. It is understood that a number of sprockets of different sizes 56 could be provided to provide a different number of meshing, providing greater or lesser resistance to the human operator. In another embodiment of the present invention, a harmonic transmission 62 could be employed which would thus have an extremely high gear ratio of the order of 100 to 1, or more. Therefore, the relatively small rotation or movement by the human operator, could cause a correspondingly high RPM at the output of the harmonic transmission for either charging the energy storage means 44 or for driving the vehicle through the medium of energy conversion 46. Still in another additional mode, a planetary gear system 61 could be used. In another preferred embodiment, the drive train means 42 may be connected to direct the transmission generator 60 and eliminate the need for gear regenerators. Similarly, a direct transmission motor 72 can be used to directly operate the wheels of the vehicle 20. These engines and direct transmission generators have a running speed stroke that depends largely on the number of poles in them. . Using ones with ground magnet motors (eg Neodymium) or "switched" magnetic resistance, generators having a sufficient number of poles can be manufactured so that these generators can operate directly at the human power supply speed (normally 60 to 120 RPM on a bicycle), thereby eliminating the need for large proportion gearboxes. Once energy has been created through the power generation means 40 and converted into a rotary output energy through the power transmission train means 42, the energy created can be either stored in the energy storage means 44, or used to drive the vehicle through the energy conversion means 46. First, with respect to the energy storage means 44, it is understood that the output of the power train means 42 is connected to the generator 60, to operate the generator 60 and thereby create rotational energy. This rotational energy could be used to charge the ultracapacitor 64 or battery 66, it could be used to impart movement to the steering wheel 68. The energy stored in the ultracapacitor 64, in the battery 66 or in the steering wheel 68, could later be extracted to a at a later time when energy propulsion is required, as will be specifically described below. In another modality, the steering wheel 68 could have a built-in motor / generator, as it was referenced in the October 1996 issue of the Discover magazine.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the entire set of energy created by the human operator could be used to • charging the energy storage means 44, and thus leaving the vehicle 20 stationary. In an alternative mode, the energy storage means 40 could remain inactive and the entire set of energy created by the human operator could be used to boost the vehicle. In yet another embodiment, portions of the created energy could charge the energy storage means 44, while the remaining part could be used for propulsion of the vehicle. An expert in the art will also readily recognize that more than one power generation means 40 can be used to energize the same vehicle, for example, with a tandem bicycle. With respect to the actual form in which the vehicle 20 can In order to be driven, in the present invention again a number of different modalities are involved. In a first modality of the To the present invention, the energy created by the human operator could be directed through the transmission train means 42 and directly to the impeller 70 of the vehicle 20. In the description of the The impeller 70 the present invention includes the connection of the energy transmission train means 42 for an angle or wheel of a land vehicle, or a water or air displacement impeller. However, when the energy storage medium 44 is dragged until it partially or completely drives the vehicle 20, it will be necessary to provide a motor 72 for transforming the electrical energy stored in the ultracapacitor 64 or battery 66, into mechanical energy of rotation. This mechanical energy of rotation, later will be used in turn, to energize the wheels or the impeller of the vehicle. A separate engine 5 could be used for each wheel or driver of the vehicle.

Again, with an eye toward efficiency, the present invention utilizes a high efficiency motor that has a relative light weight. This ensures that the maximum amount of energy is being used for the propulsion of the vehicle in the opposite way • 10 to overcome the internal mechanical resistance of the motor. The overall weight of the vehicle 20 is also kept as low as possible. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention employs a rare earth magnet motor, which was described above, and which can be used to directly operate the impeller or wheel.

Together with the means of energy conversion 46, the present The invention provides a new way in which the energy from the energy storage means 44 can be distributed almost efficiently for the propulsion of the vehicle.Return now to Figures 2 and 3, it can be seen that the medium energy conversion 46 also preferably includes a controller based on a microprocessor 74. The controller 74 is used to calculate the amount of energy that must be released during the actual operation of the vehicle 20, to ensure that the energy is released only when the it requires, and does not wear out when the human operator has full capacity to generate enough power. For example, with respect to the distribution of the bicycle pedal 48 described above, one skilled in the art will clearly recognize that during the rotation of the pedals 48, the human operator has the ability to generate the maximum amount of energy when the pedal is in its front horizontal position. As the operator continues to move the pedal downward in a rotating manner, less and less power is generated by the operator until the lower vertical position is reached when the minimum amount of power is generated. At this lower vertical point, the opposite pedal is in its upper vertical position. Therefore, it could be advantageous if the energy storage means 44 is controlled to supply power at the moment when the pedals are placed vertically, and then proportionally decrease the energy released until a minimum level is reached when the pedals are horizontal and the operator is generating the maximum power in this way. After passing the horizontal position, the power output of the storage medium 44 increases as the power output of the operator decreases. Therefore, it can be appreciated that the energy output of the storage medium 44 will reflect a cyclic pattern, which can be enhanced using an appropriate control algorithm. This power could also be adapted to the operator in particular.

The present invention accomplishes this by providing a controller 74 which can be programmed to sense the position • the actual pedals, and thus release the maxipower when the pedals are placed vertically and the minipower when the pedals are placed horizontally. Similarly, when the power generating means 40 is provided in the form of foot pumps 50, hand pumps 52, or rowing machine 54 mentioned above, the controller 74 may be programmed to sense the actual positions of the • 10 mechanical components and release energy when maxipower is required. Since the miniand maxipower positions can vary from one operator to another with different positions, these positions can be programmed in an adjustable way in the controller 74. 15 Figure .3, provides an example of the logic of the program that can be used the controller 74 to release energy from the medium • energy storage 44. As shown in said Figure, step 76 requires the programming of controller 74 to store the range of motion of the human operator in the memory 78 and controller 74. By carrying out step 76, the maxienergy release of the energy storage means 44 is further involved in the relevant positions during the actual operation of the power generating means 40. During the actual operation of the vehicle for human 20, positions of the power generation means 40 are continuously monitored by the sensors 80, which in turn direct signals from the controller 74 as indicated in step 82. The sensor 80 used to provide power supply in the position of any powered by human, could be in many forms including the following: An encoder (either absolute or incremental with a touch dial); a reducer; a potentiometer; a Hall effect sensor; or any other rotary or linear position sensor that meets the needs of a position sensing apparatus to achieve the potentisation step of the present invention. It will be obvious to experts in the art of designing and programming microprocessor-based controls (as well as simpler analog controls), that once the "position" is available in the form of power for the microprocessor, it is very possible enhance the load in the energy storage medium, through the power controller, in any way that is required to obtain the highest overall efficiency. It will also be obvious that the drivers of any vehicle driven (or assisted) by human, can have different driving positions depending on the physical size, resistance, seating positions, etc. Therefore, it will be possible to modify the potentialization to suit each individual driver, by modifying the various parameters used to establish said potentialization. This could also be achieved by a mechanical phase adjustment. Similarly, a simple analog controller could be used to implement position potentiation without departing from the scope of the present invention. • Subsequently, the controller 74 could calculate the power demand based on the actual perceived location of the power generation means 40, and compare it with the power stored in the memory 78 of the controller 74. As indicated in step 84 , then the controller 74 calculates the energy that will be released, and said energy is subsequently released as indicated in step 86. An expert in the art will also readily recognize the power generation means 40, the transmission train medium. of energy 42 and the complete energy storage medium 44, could be manufactured in the form of portable units to have the capacity to exchange with several vehicles 20. Therefore, the The same apparatus could be used both in a human-powered wheel-based vehicle, as in a human-powered watercraft and a human-powered aircraft. In Figure 4, an example of a possible system representing the present invention is shown, wherein a electronic transmission using a microprocessor 74 to program the synchronization and amount of power dispersed from the energy storage means 44. As described above, this is done by receiving signals from the position sensors 80, so that the controller 74 know the relative positions of the pedals 48. At the moment that the position sensors 80 indicate to the controller 74 that the pedals 48 are horizontal, the controller 74 will in turn direct the energy storage means 44 to release the minimum amount of power of it, to help the operator. However, when the position sensors 80 indicate that the pedals 48 are positioned vertically, and therefore the operator is generating the minimum power, the controller 74 will in turn turn to the energy storage means 44 to release the maximum power to help the operator. The controller 74 may use a pulse width modulated control algorithm or other change control algorithm to control this cyclic power release. In other words, as the pedals 48 move from the vertical position to the horizontal position, the controller 74 proportionally decreases the amount of power released from the energy storage means 44. Conversely, as the pedals 48 move from the horizontal position to the vertical position, the controller 74 causes the energy storage means 44 to proportionally increase the power released from it. Therefore, it should be understood to one skilled in the art that the present invention could be conveniently employed in a human-powered vehicle, or a partially human-powered vehicle, to allow the vehicle to have access to the additional energy pulse. when said energy is more important. For example, when a land vehicle 22 is going through a mountain descent or a flat surface, a • part of the generated power could be used to charge the energy storage means 44, while a part of the generated power could be used to actually drive the vehicle. The energy stored in the energy storage means 44 could subsequently be requested when the land vehicle 22 is about to ascend a mountain. This could help the human operator in the ascent of the mountain, and in the • 10 final result in a longer range for the vehicle, which means that the energy output required by the human operator, would be balanced with time. In addition, energy can continue to be generated even when the vehicle is stopped, directing all energy to the energy storage medium 44. If the vehicle 20 is a bicycle or another two-wheeled vehicle, a support or guide wheels could be added to facilitate said operation. Similarly, with the operation of a watercraft 24, for example a hydrofoil 36, an energy demand is required larger to cause the hydrofoil 36 to rise out of the water and in a plane formed between the skis of the hydrofoil and the surface of the water. Once the hydralamin is substantially out of water, only the impeller 70 remains in the water and therefore the decreased energy is required to move the hydrofoil due to this reduced drag.

However, since such exorbitant amounts of energy are required to cause the hydrofoil to achieve this position of • Reduced drag, the human operator often does not have the ability to sustain the position of the hydrofoil and therefore the range of the vehicle is severely limited. However, through the use of the present invention, the energy stored in the medium 44 could be requested to assist the human operator in lifting the hydrofoam until it is in the reduced traction plane and the human operator could have more capacity to hold the movement of the hydrofoil. Finally, with any vehicle driven by humans, the efficient use of energy is important. The present invention not only provides a means to store energy for later use during critical points of locomotion, but that the present invention also utilizes a controller based on a microprocessor which allows the efficient distribution of energy during various positions of human operation. In other words, energy is released when it is most needed given the particular generation means employed, and therefore releases relatively little or no energy during periods of generator operation, when little or no energy is required. An energy potentisation modality described above can be better understood with reference to the Figure . As can be seen from this graphic illustration, since the angular displacement of the human driving element such as a pedal, etc. , as described above, transits • through its range of motion as illustrated in curve 100, the energy potentiation varies the energy extracted in relation to the position based at least in part on the availability of torque that will be supplied by the human. Specifically, as the pedal moves from its vertical top position as illustrated in time to, the controller varies the pulse width during which the generator operated by the pedals, is coupled to an electric charge. This electrical charge, as described above, may be the energy storage apparatus or the vehicular transmission engine, depending on the particular implemenon. As the position of the pedal moves from t0 to t-i, the human capacity to produce more torque. Therefore, the controller increases the heavy cycle of the pulse width modulated connection to the electric load, to utilize this increased torsional availability to generate an increased output from the generator driven by the pedal. This is illustrated in curve 102 of Figure 5, which illustrates the variation of pulse width modulation, in the form of a time function or angular position of the pedal, and therefore the ability of the driver to produce power . The curve 103 illustrates this increase and cyclic decrease of the heavy cycle of the connection modulated pulse width, to better illustrate the point. As expected, the pulse width modulated connection to an electric load varies the torque supply required for the generator, and is maximized to maximize the efficiency of the conductor supply for the driver's ability to produce an output. Although the heavy cycle profile illustrated in curve 103, generally cyclic, one skilled in the art will recognize that this curve can be differentially potentialized for different conductors based on their physical capacities to generate torque through the position cycle of the operating mechanism of food. For example, drivers with physical disabilities, such as knee replacements or other prostheses, may have the ability to generate torque in a very different configuration than that illustrated in Figure 5. However, the controller of the present invention allows that this specific torsion profile of the driver is used to optimize the efficiency of the generation of power, adapting the profile of the pulse width modulated connection of the generator, to extract the maximum energy based on a maximum torque capacity, and minimize the torque output requirement when the driver has less capacity to supply it. It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art based on the teachings that such a potentiation may vary the instantaneous strike speed against the position of the pedal, allowing a driver to move quickly through the less available area of torque production. based on the virtual disconnection of the electric generator from an electric charge, allowing a suitably reduced torsion, required for the • Feeding, and therefore a shorter amount of time during the torsional production periods of these cyclic pedaling cycles. fifteen twenty

Claims (26)

1. CLAIMS Having described the present invention, it is considered as • novelty and, therefore, property is claimed as contained in the following CLAIMS: 5 1 .- A system of generation and transmission of energy driven by human, which comprises: a feeding mechanism adapted to be energized by a human operator , for the creation of • 10 mechanical energy; an electric generation mechanism, connected to the feeding mechanism and adapted to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy; an energy storage mechanism connected to the electrical generation mechanism and adapted to retain the electrical energy converted by the generator; a position sensing mechanism connected to the feeding mechanism driven by a human, to sense the position and feeding mechanism operated by human; a controller connected to the electric generation mechanism, to the position perception mechanism, and to the energy storage mechanism, and adapted to control the charge in the electric generation mechanism to maximize the efficiency of the power output by human; and • an output mechanism connected to the feed mechanism and the energy storage mechanism, and adapted to control the conversion of electrical power to obtain the desired type and levels of voltage and current.
2. 2. - The human-powered energy generation and transmission system as described in Claim 1, • 10 characterized further because the energy storage mechanism is an ultracapacitor.
3. 3. - The human-powered power generation and transmission system as described in Claim 1, characterized further in that the energy storage mechanism is a thin metal film battery.
4. 4. - The system for generation and transmission of human-powered energy as described in claim 1, characterized in that the energy storage mechanism is a flywheel with a motor / generator incorporated to feed and draw energy, respectively.
5. 5. - The system of generation and transmission of energy 25 driven by a human as described in Claim 1, further characterized in that it is used in a human-powered boat. •
6. 6. - The system of generation and transmission of energy 5 driven by human as described in Claim 5, further characterized in that the boat includes planning helmets, the energy storage mechanism being large enough for the boat to find a plane and the planning helmets being adapted to maintain the boat in a plane with • 10 powered by human and without assistance of the energy storage mechanism.
7. 7. - The system for generation and transmission of human-powered energy as described in Claim 5, 15 further characterized because the canister includes hydrofoils, and wherein the energy storage mechanism is • Large enough for the boat to find the hydrofoils, and where the hydrofoils have adjustable contours to modify the lift / drag ratio, improving on this 20 mode energy efficiency in general for the boat with a wide range of power supplies, loads and speeds.
8. 8. - The system for generating and transmitting human-powered energy as described in Claim 1, 25 further characterized in that it further includes an operator interface apparatus for displaying operation information to the human operator.
9. 9. - A human-powered vehicle, comprising: a human-powered feeding mechanism, adapted to move between minimum and maximum power generation positions; at least one generator connected to the power mechanism driven by human, and adapted to convert • 10 the mechanical energy created by the power mechanism driven by human to electrical energy; an energy storage means connected to the generator and adapted to store electrical energy; at least one output mechanism connected to the 15 feeding mechanism and energy storage means, and adapted to provide locomotion to the vehicle; • and a controller adapted to release the maximum energy from the energy storage means to the output mechanism, when the supply mechanism is in the minimum power generation position, and minimum energy when the supply mechanism is in the position of maximum power generation.
10. 10. - The human-powered vehicle as described in Claim 9, further characterized by the mechanism
11. • Human-powered power produces energy along a cyclic profile, and the controller releases energy in a reverse range 5 to the cyclic profile of the feed mechanism. 1 .- The human-powered vehicle as described in claim 10, further characterized in that each output mechanism includes a motor adapted to convert the • 10 electrical energy in mechanical energy to operate the wheels of the vehicle.
12. 12. - The human-powered vehicle as described in Claim 10, further characterized in that each generator is directly coupled to a feed mechanism and each motor is directly coupled to a wheel • vehicle.
13. 13. - A method to at least partially energize a 20 human-powered vehicle, comprising the steps of: potentiating the movement of the human operator to determine the positions of maximum mechanical advantage and minimum mechanical advantage; generate mechanical energy through the movement of the human operator; use at least a part of the mechanical energy to provide locomotion to the vehicle; and releasing energy from a storage source in a controlled manner so that maximum energy is released when the human operator is in a position of minimum mechanical advantage, and minimal energy is released when the human operator is in a position of maximum mechanical advantage.
14. 14. - The method as described in Claim 13, • 10 characterized further because it includes the step of storing at least a part of the mechanical energy generated in the form of electrical energy in the storage source.
15. 15. - The method as described in Claim 13, 15 further characterized by additionally including the step of releasing maximum energy from the storage source, when the • vehicle has a maximum need for energy.
16. 16. - The method as described in Claim 13, 20 further characterized in that the potentisation step is performed using a position perception mechanism.
17. 17. - A vehicle that at least partially is driven by a human, which comprises: a feeding mechanism adapted to receive power and generate mechanical energy; • at least one generator adapted to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy; 5 an energy storage means adapted to store electrical energy; at least one output mechanism adapted to use mechanical energy to operate the vehicle, and to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy to operate • 10 the vehicle; and a controller adapted to direct the maximum energy from the supply, and the energy storage means for the output.
18. 18. The vehicle as described in claim 17, further characterized in that it additionally includes a module of • operator interface in communication with the controller, and adapted to display information to the operator, as well as to allow the operator to adjust the parameters.
19. 19. The vehicle as described in Claim 17, further characterized in that at least one output mechanism includes a high efficiency motor and the vehicle includes exterior surfaces with reduced drag, to improve the overall efficiency 25 of the vehicle.
20. 20. - The vehicle as described in claim 17, further characterized in that it additionally includes means for perceiving the position of the feed powered by human, and wherein the controller is adapted to enhance the movement of the powered by human and release energy of the energy storage medium, based on the position of the feed mechanism relative to the profile.
21. 21. The vehicle as described in Claim 17, • 10 further characterized in that the feed mechanism is further adapted to move between minimum and maximum energy positions, and the controller is further adapted to release maximum energy from the energy storage means when the feed mechanism is in the position of minimum energy, and minimum energy when the feeding mechanism is in the maximum energy position. •
22. 22. - The vehicle as described in Claim 21, further characterized in that the feed mechanism produces energy along a cyclic profile, and the controller releases energy in inverse range for the cyclic profile of the feed mechanism.
23. 23. - The vehicle as described in Claim 22, 25 further characterized in that each output mechanism includes a motor adapted to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy to operate the wheels of the vehicle. • The vehicle as described in claim 22, further characterized in that each generator is directly coupled to a feed mechanism, and each engine is directly coupled to a wheel of the vehicle. 25. The vehicle as described in Claim 17, further characterized in that the vehicle is a boat having planning cubes and wherein the energy storage means is 10 of sufficient size for the boat to find a plane, and the planning helmets are adapted to keep the boat in plane with power driven by human and without assistance of the energy storage mechanism. 26. The vehicle as described in Claim 17, 15 further characterized in that the vehicle is a boat having hydrofoils and wherein the energy storage means is of sufficient size to be the boat (On the hydrofoils)