DRIVE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECOVERING WASTE ENERGY FROM A VEHICLE
A drive system, including a torque converter with a housing arranged for connection to a combustion engine for a vehicle; and an air-operated motor, connected to the housing, for providing torque to the housing for the torque converter; or an air compressor, connected to the housing, for using torque from the housing to compress air. In one embodiment, the system includes a compressed air accumulator for providing compressed air to the air-operated motor; and a heat exchanger for transferring heat energy to compressed air provided to the air-operated motor from the accumulator. A drive system, including a combustion engine with a crankshaft; a plurality of pistons and cylinders for combusting fuel; and a cylinder and piston, the piston connected to the crankshaft. The system also includes a compressed gas accumulator for supplying compressed gas to the cylinder to operate the first piston to provide torque to the crankshaft.
1 . A drive system, comprising:
a torque converter with a housing arranged for connection to a combustion engine for a vehicle; and,
an air-operated motor, connected to the housing, for providing torque to the housing for the torque converter; or,
an air compressor, connected to the housing, for using torque from the housing to compress air.
2 . The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a compressed air accumulator, in fluid communication with the air compressor, for providing compressed air to the air-operated motor; and,
a heat exchanger for transferring heat energy to compressed air provided to the air-operated motor from the accumulator.
3 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a compressed air accumulator for providing compressed air to the air-operated motor, wherein during deceleration of the combustion engine the air-operated motor is for using torque from the housing for the torque converter to compress air for storage in the accumulator.
4 . The system of claim 3 further comprising:
a heat exchanger for transferring heat energy to compressed air provided to the air-operated motor from the accumulator; and,
a control valve in fluid communication with the heat exchanger, the air compressor, and the air-operated motor; wherein in a first mode the valve enables flow from the accumulator through the heat exchanger to the air-operated motor and wherein during deceleration, the valve blocks flow from the heat exchanger to the air-operated motor and enables flow from the air-operated motor to the accumulator.
5 . A drive system, comprising:
a torque converter with a housing arranged for connection to a combustion engine for a vehicle;
a compressed air accumulator;
an air-operated device connected to the housing for the torque converter, wherein in a first mode the air-operated device is for receiving compressed air from the accumulator to provide torque to the housing for the torque converter and wherein in a second mode the combustion engine is decelerating and the air-operated device is for compressing air for storage in the accumulator.
6 . The system of claim 5 further comprising a heat exchanger for transferring heat energy from an exhaust system for the combustion engine to compressed air provided to the air-operated device from the accumulator.
7 . The system of claim 6 further comprising a control valve connected to the heat exchanger, the air compressor, and the air-operated device, wherein in the first mode the valve enables flow from the accumulator through the heat exchanger to the air-operated device and wherein during deceleration, the valve blocks flow from the heat exchanger to the air-operated motor and enables flow from the air-operated motor to the accumulator.
8 . A drive system, comprising:
a combustion engine with:
a crankshaft;
a plurality of respective pistons and cylinders for combusting fuel, the respective pistons connected to the crankshaft; and,
a first cylinder and piston, the first piston connected to the crankshaft; and,
a compressed gas accumulator for supplying compressed gas to the first cylinder to operate the first piston to provide torque to the crankshaft.
9 . The system of claim 8 further comprising a heat exchanger for transferring heat energy to compressed gas provided to the first cylinder from the accumulator.
10 . The system of claim 8 wherein during deceleration of the combustion engine the first cylinder and piston are for using torque from the crankshaft to compress air for storage in the accumulator.
11 . The system of claim 8 wherein the combustion engine includes a second cylinder and piston, the second piston connected to the crankshaft, for using torque from the crankshaft to compress gas for storage in the accumulator.
12 . The system of claim 8 wherein the plurality of cylinders and pistons are for using torque from the crankshaft to compress gas for storage in the accumulator.
13 . A method of operating a torque converter for a vehicle, comprising:
connecting an air-operated motor to a housing for the torque converter, the housing arranged for connection to a combustion engine for a vehicle in which the torque converter is disposed; and,
flowing compressed air from an accumulator to the air-operated motor so that the air-operated motor supplies torque to the housing; or,
connecting an air compressor to the housing;
compressing, using the air compressor, air in response to torque from the housing; and,
flowing compressed air from the air compressor to the accumulator.
14 . The method of claim 13 further comprising:
flowing exhaust heat from the combustion engine through a heat exchanger; and,
transferring heat energy from the heat exchanger to compressed air flowed to the air-operated motor from the accumulator.
15 . The method of claim 13 further comprising:
decelerating the engine;
compressing, using the air-operated motor, air in response to torque from the housing; and,
flowing compressed air from the air-operated motor to the accumulator.
16 . The method of claim 13 further comprising:
flowing exhaust heat from the combustion engine through a heat exchanger;
in a first mode, operating a valve to flow compressed air from the accumulator through the heat exchanger to the air-operated motor and to block flow from the air compressor into the valve; and,
during deceleration of the engine:
operating the valve to block air flow from the accumulator to the air-operated motor;
compressing air in the air-operated motor; and,
flowing compressed air from the air-operated motor to the accumulator.
17 . A method of operating a torque converter for a vehicle, comprising:
storing compressed gas in a compressed gas accumulator;
flowing compressed gas from the accumulator to a cylinder for a combustion engine; and,
displacing a piston within the cylinder to transfer torque to the crankshaft.
18 . The method of claim 17 further comprising:
flowing exhaust heat from the combustion engine through a heat exchanger; and,
transferring heat energy from the heat exchanger to compressed gas flowed to the cylinder from the accumulator.
19 . The method of claim 17 further comprising:
decelerating the engine;
displacing, using torque from the crankshaft, the piston within the cylinder;
compressing gas within the cylinder; and,
flowing the compressed gas from the cylinder to the accumulator.