a generator having an output coupled to the external combustion engine, the generator for converting the mechanical energy produced by the external combustion engine to electrical energy that is provided at the output to the assembly; iii. The marketing success of hybrid vehicles significantly depends on the selection, integration and cost of the energy systems. The personal vehicle may have balancing capability on lateral and foe-aft places defined by the support. In another embodiment of the invention a personal vehicle for transporting a user over a surface includes a support for supporting the user, a ground contacting module having at least one ground contacting member and a drive arrangement for causing locomotion of the support, ground contacting module and user over a surface. In alternative embodiments, the personal vehicle is configured such that the vehicle lacks inherent stability at least a portion of the time with respect to a vertical in a fore-aft plane but is relatively stable with respect to a vertical in the lateral plane. The joint action of power sources and energy storage systems for energizing the vehicle improves the vehicle's fuel economy while reducing its pollutant emissions and noise levels, challenging automotive designers to optimize vehicle's cost, weight and control. Digital Trends Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites. hybrid propulsion systems comprising electric motors and internal combustion engines ; Control systems therefor, i.e. NEW POWER CONCEPTS LLC, NEW HAMPSHIRE, Free format text: Unlike steam engines which utilizea similar principal, the Stirling engine has an internal regenerative heat exchanger that keeps the hot and cold air at the correct temperature. This document is focused in the application of Stirling engines as the power source for automobile propulsion. 1. Hybrid Vehicles have gained momentum in the automotive industry. As described above, the optimal fuel-air ratio of the fuel-air mixture decreases as the temperature of the preheated air increases. MacDowell also redesigned the Stirling engine to have the dimensions and appearance of a standard four-cylinder engine, making it compatible with existing automobiles. 3,940,933 to Nystrom and U.S. Pat. The joint action of power sources and energy storage systems for energizing the vehicle improves the vehicle's fuel economy while reducing its pollutant emissions and noise levels, challenging automotive designers to optimize vehicle's cost, weight and control. generators driven by combustion engines, Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle using propulsion power supplied by engine-driven generators, e.g. Within the specification and the following claims, the term combustion axis shall refer to the direction of predominant fluid flow upon combustion of the fluid. The result is a hybrid electric car so efficient that you never have to stop to recharge, reports Houstons KHOU11. Once proven and tested, MacDowell believes his idea will revolutionize the hybrid engine industry leading to the eventual end of the internal combustion engine. This item is part of a JSTOR Collection. systems controlling two or more prime movers, or controlling one of these prime movers and any of the transmission, drive or drive units Informative references: mechanical gearings with secondary electric drive F16H3/72; arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with the dynamo-electric machine H02K7/00; machines comprising structurally interrelated motor and generator parts H02K51/00; dynamo-electric machines not otherwise provided for in H02K see H02K99/00, Arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion, e.g. As more air is added to the fuel, the emissions of CO, HC and NOx decrease until the amount of air is large enough that the flame becomes unstable. The thermal energy produced by the external combustion engine may be used to provide heat to an area surrounding the personal vehicle. These dynamically stabilized personal vehicles include a control system that actively maintains the stability of the personal vehicle while the vehicle is operating. The analysis of the simulation results can be employed to identify the critical features of the Stirling-powered vehicle. The closed-cycle air engine uses the expansion of hot air and the compression of cold air to generate the power needed to drive an engine. As a result, the optimal fuel-air ratio decreases as the temperature of the preheated air increases during the warmup phase of the engine. a drive motor coupled to the energy storage device and the assembly, the drive motor powered entirely by the locomotive power provided by the energy storage device; and. How much is Apple Music, and how can you get it for free? Once the flame is stabilized, and the temperature of the combustion chamber of the burner reaches the desired warmup temperature, the fuel-air ratio is then controlled based on the air preheat temperature and the fuel type. hybrid propulsion systems comprising electric motors and internal combustion engines ; Control systems therefor, i.e. batteries or capacitors, Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle, Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle using propulsion power supplied by engine-driven generators, e.g. Using this thermopile technology, aStirling-powered vehiclecan drive at highway speeds without having to recharge. A Stirling cycle engine produces both mechanical energy and heat energy appropriate for space heating. MacDowell borrowed one of these Stirling engines from NASA and began experimenting with it to see if he could use the regenerative engine with 21st-century automotive know-how. The history of Stirling cycle engines is described in detail in Walker. His idea was so brilliant that Texas A&M University became involved in the project, providing MacDowell with technical expertise and a testing environment to aid in the development of the engine. Prior attempts to increase the responsiveness of a Stirling cycle engine provided a variable dead space for the working fluid as described in U.S. Pat. Owner name: In response to energy and environmental issues and concerns, hybrid electric vehicles, such as buses and cars, have been developed in an attempt to provide efficient, low emission vehicles. 2001 SAE International PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 12TH YEAR, LARGE ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M1553); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY. The response time of an internal combustion engine, on the other hand, is very short because the combustion gas is the working fluid and can be directly controlled by the fuel flow rate. Hybrid Vehicles have gained momentum in the automotive industry. The optimal fuel-air ratio first decreases linearly from a start fuel-air ratio for room temperature air to a run fuel-air ratio, for warmed up preheated air temperature. MacDowell coupled the engine with existing hybrid technology, creating a system that will deliver 58 miles per gallon to a Ford F-150 and at least 100 miles per gallon in a smaller SUV. For example, the ignition temperature for propane is 490 C. In a preferred embodiment, where the fuel is propane, the start fuel-air ratio is 0.052 grams fuel to gram air, which results in approximately 4% oxygen in the exhaust of the engine. The use and method of manufacture of heat transfer pins is described in copending U.S. Pat. He took a Stirling engine, a type of engine developed 200 years ago, and added some 21st-century technology to it. Stirling cycle type engines, Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants of closed-cycle type the engine being operated by expansion and contraction of a mass of working gas which is heated and cooled in one of a plurality of constantly communicating expansible chambers, e.g. The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. The personal vehicle includes a controller for controlling a total power load placed on the external combustion engine providing short term regulation of external combustion engine parameters. 5,755,100 to Lamos. Accordingly, the fuel-air ratio is first controlled by the controller (shown in, A given fuel will only ignite over a limited range of fuel-air ratios. The foregoing references are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 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Stay tuned. systems controlling two or more prime movers, or controlling one of these prime movers and any of the transmission, drive or drive units Informative references: mechanical gearings with secondary electric drive F16H3/72; arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with the dynamo-electric machine H02K7/00; machines comprising structurally interrelated motor and generator parts H02K51/00; dynamo-electric machines not otherwise provided for in H02K see H02K99/00 the prime-movers consisting of electric motors and internal combustion engines, e.g. failures within the drive train, Detecting, eliminating, remedying or compensating for drive train abnormalities, e.g. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). The LBO will increase as the temperature of the incoming air (i.e., the preheated air) increases. Typical components of the burner and preheater assemblies, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, are described with reference to, The overall efficiency of a thermal engine is dependent in part on the efficiency of heat transfer between the combustion gases and the working fluid of the engine. However, both these approaches tend to increase the complexity, size, and weight of the engine design. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:KAMEN, DEAN L.;LANGENFELD, CHRISTOPHER C.;NORRIS, MICHAEL;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:014256/0946;SIGNING DATES FROM 20030501 TO 20030701, Free format text: The invention may be implemented in a wide range of embodiments. HEVs characterised by the architecture of the hybrid electric vehicle, PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES, Electric devices on electrically-propelled vehicles for safety purposes; Monitoring operating variables, e.g. The CO and HC emissions will continue to increase as more air is added to the fuel-air mixture until the flame extinguishes at a Lean Blow-Out limit (LBO). HEVs characterised by apparatus, components or means specially adapted for HEVs, Arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion, e.g. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, low emissions and high efficiency may be provided by producing a pre-mixed flame even in the presence of air heated above the auto-ignition temperature of the fuel, and additionally, by minimizing the pressure drop between the air inlet and the flame region thereby minimizing blower power consumption. speed, deceleration or energy consumption, Detecting, eliminating, remedying or compensating for drive train abnormalities, e.g. For example, Stirling cycle engines generally make poor traction motors due to poor throttle response and limited power in comparison to an internal combustion. All such variations and modifications are intended to be within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. No. A personal vehicle for transporting a user over a surface, the personal vehicle comprising: b. a ground contacting module having at least one ground contacting member to which the support is mounted, the ground contacting module for suspending the user in the support over the surface, the support and ground contacting module being components of an assembly; c. a drive arrangement coupled to the assembly for causing locomotion of the assembly and the user over the surface, the drive arrangement comprising: i. an external combustion engine for generating mechanical energy and thermal energy; ii. NASA even experimented with the engine in the early 1980s, and was able to achieve 54 miles per gallon, but the Space Agency never went any further with the technology. As used in this description and the following claims, a fuel-air ratio is the ratio of the mass of the fuel to the mass of the air flowing into the combustion chamber of the burner. Typically, the combustion engine is an internal combustion engine. Terms of Use and Privacy Statement, Future Transportation Technology Conference & Exposition. At this point, pockets of the fuel-air mixture will pass through the burner without complete combustion. In a preferred embodiment, the battery is a lead-acid battery. In another embodiment, the personal vehicle includes a power output coupled to the energy storage device for providing power to an external load. The external combustion engine and the generator may be housed in a hermetically sealed pressure vessel. The present invention pertains to hybrid electric vehicles utilizing an external combustion engine and in particular, a Stirling cycle engine. Hybrid electric vehicles using a stirling engine. HEVs characterised by apparatus, components or means specially adapted for HEVs characterised by the combustion engines, Arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion, e.g. The internal combustion engine, dominant of the vehicle market, has been the "option of choice" for auxiliary power unit of the hybrid vehicle, although other power sources as fuel cells, Stirling engines and gas turbines have been employed as well [1]. The Stirling cycle engine and generator combination. batteries, Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors, Quantum Industrial Development Corporation, Stig G. Carlqvist Motor Consultant (C.M.C.) generators driven by combustion engines using AC generators and AC motors, Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle using propulsion power supplied by engine-driven generators, e.g. transmissions for hybrid motorcycles, Motorcycles characterised by position of motor or engine, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING, COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS, INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL, Adaptations of engines for driving vehicles or for driving propellers; Combinations of engines with gearing, Adaptations of engines for driving vehicles or for driving propellers; Combinations of engines with gearing for driving cycles, HOT GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT ENGINE PLANTS; USE OF WASTE HEAT OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants, Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants of closed-cycle type, Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants of closed-cycle type the engine being operated by expansion and contraction of a mass of working gas which is heated and cooled in one of a plurality of constantly communicating expansible chambers, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR, Other domestic- or space-heating systems using heat pumps, Indexing codes relating to the type of vehicle, Input parameters relating to a particular sub-units, Energy storage means for electrical energy, Output or target parameters relating to a particular sub-units, INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY, CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDE-CARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE, Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor, Stirling type engines having closed regenerative thermodynamic cycles with flow controlled by volume changes, Stirling type engines having closed regenerative thermodynamic cycles with flow controlled by volume changes having their pistons and displacers each in separate cylinders, FLUID HEATERS, e.g. The hybrid Stirling engine/generator as described herein has the benefits of a Stirling engine such as low emissions, long life and quiet operation. The response time of a Stirling cycle engine is limited by the heat transfer rates between the external combustion gases and the internal working fluid of the engine and may be on the order of 30 seconds. The described embodiments of the invention are intended to be merely exemplary and numerous variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The vehicle may include an inverter coupled to the energy storage device so that alternating current power may be derive for an external load. Some hybrid electric vehicles have been developed using external combustion engines, such as a Stirling engine. systems controlling two or more prime movers, or controlling one of these prime movers and any of the transmission, drive or drive units Informative references: mechanical gearings with secondary electric drive F16H3/72; arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with the dynamo-electric machine H02K7/00; machines comprising structurally interrelated motor and generator parts H02K51/00; dynamo-electric machines not otherwise provided for in H02K see H02K99/00 the prime-movers consisting of electric motors and internal combustion engines, e.g. 2, 2000, which application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. The vehicle further includes a power output coupled to the energy storage device for providing power to an external load, while the vehicle is stationary. SAE International's charitable arm is the SAE Foundation, which supports many programs, including A World In Motion and the Collegiate Design Series. series hybrid electric vehicles, Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles, Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles for monitoring or controlling batteries, Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles for monitoring or controlling batteries responding to state of charge [SoC], Conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, Conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function including control of propulsion units, Conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function including control of propulsion units including control of combustion engines, LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS, RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR SINGLE-TRACK CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES, Transmissions characterised by use of other elements; Other transmissions, Transmissions characterised by use of other elements; Other transmissions characterised by the use of two or more dissimilar sources of power, e.g.