Methods, systems and apparatus for powering a vehicle
This application is directed to methods and systems for providing electrical charge to a vehicle. The system can include a generator configured to generate an electrical output based on a mechanical input responsive to a rotation of a driven mass. The system can include an ultracapacitor module configured to receive energy from the generator. The system can include an energy retainer configured to receive energy from the ultracapacitor module or from the generator. The system can include a traction motor configured to receive energy from the energy retainer or from the ultracapacitor module.
1. A system for providing power to a vehicle, the system comprising:
a driven mass configured to rotate in response to a kinetic energy of the vehicle, the driven mass coupled to a shaft such that rotation of the driven mass causes the shaft to rotate;
a generator configured to generate an electrical output at a generator output terminal based on a mechanical input, the mechanical input mechanically coupled to the shaft such that rotation of the shaft causes the mechanical input to rotate;
a dashboard comprising a first selector and a second selector configured to be operable by a user; and
a hypercapacitor comprising:
an ultracapacitor module electrically coupled to the generator output terminal and wherein the ultracapacitor module comprises a first group of ultracapacitors and a second group of ultracapacitors, and wherein the ultracapacitor module is configured to:
receive, simultaneously at the first and second groups of ultracapacitors, the electrical output from the generator;
store, at the first and second groups of ultracapacitors, the electrical output from the generator as a first energy as an electric field of the ultracapacitor module, wherein the first group of ultracapacitors is configured to store more than 100 volts of the first energy as the electric field of the ultracapacitor module;
transition to a first storage configuration in response to selection of the first selector by the user to prevent the first group of ultracapacitors from providing energy to an energy retainer when in the first storage configuration; and
transition to a second storage configuration in response to selection of the second selector by the user to prevent the second group of ultracapacitors from providing energy to the energy retainer when in the second storage configuration; and
wherein the energy retainer is electrically coupled to the ultracapacitor module and is configured to:
receive a first outbound energy conveyed from the first group of ultracapacitors in response to a voltage level of the energy retainer dropping below a low threshold value when the ultracapacitor module is not in the first storage configuration, wherein the energy retainer is configured to receive the outbound energy via one or more diodes biased toward the energy retainer;
store said first outbound energy as a second energy of the energy retainer; and
convey the second energy to a traction motor of the vehicle, wherein the traction motor is configured to receive a second outbound energy from the second group of ultracapacitors based on at least the selection of the second selector by the user.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first group of ultracapacitors is configured to alternate between receiving the electrical output from the generator and conveying the first energy to the energy retainer, and wherein the second group of ultracapacitors is configured to alternate between receiving the electrical output from the generator and conveying the first energy to the energy retainer.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the energy retainer comprises a plurality of batteries and wherein each of the ultracapacitors of the first and second groups of ultracapacitors is electrically coupled to each of the batteries of the plurality of batteries.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the energy retainer is electrically coupled to the generator output terminal and configured to receive the electrical output from the generator at a same time as the first and second groups of ultracapacitors receive the electrical output from the generator.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the energy retainer is further configured to receive the outbound energy from the first and second group of ultracapacitors simultaneously.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the energy retainer is further configured to receive the outbound energy from the first and second group of ultracapacitors sequentially.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ultracapacitor module is further configured to convey at least a portion of the first energy to the traction motor of the vehicle.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ultracapacitor module is further configured to receive the electrical output from the generator via one or more inbound diodes biased toward the ultracapacitor module.
9. A method for providing power to a vehicle, the method comprising:
rotating a driven mass in response to a kinetic energy of the vehicle, wherein the driven mass is coupled to a shaft such that rotation of the driven mass causes the shaft to rotate;
generating an electrical output at a generator based on a rotation of the shaft;
conveying the electrical output from the generator to an ultracapacitor module electrically coupled to the generator, wherein the ultracapacitor module comprises a first group of ultracapacitors and a second group of ultracapacitors;
receiving, simultaneously at the first and second groups of ultracapacitors, the electrical output from the generator;
storing, at the first and second groups of ultracapacitors, the electrical output from the generator as a first energy of the ultracapacitor module, wherein the first group of ultracapacitors is configured to store more than 100 volts of the first energy as the electric field of the ultracapacitor module;
responsive to selection of a first selector by a user via the dashboard, transitioning the ultracapacitor module to a first storage configuration to prevent the first group of ultracapacitors from providing energy to an energy retainer when in the first storage configuration;
responsive to selection of a second selector by a user via a dashboard, transitioning the ultracapacitor module to a second storage configuration to prevent the second group of ultracapacitors from providing energy to the energy retainer when in the second storage configuration;
when the ultracapacitor module is not in the first storage configuration, conveying a portion of the first energy from the first group of ultracapacitors to the energy retainer via one or more diodes biased toward the energy retainer in response to a voltage level of the energy retainer dropping below a low threshold value;
storing the portion of the first energy from the first group of ultracapacitors as a second energy of the energy retainer;
conveying the second energy to a traction motor of the vehicle; and
when the ultracapacitor module is not in the second storage configuration, conveying another portion of the first energy from the second group of ultracapacitors to the traction motor.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising alternating the first group of ultracapacitors between receiving the electrical output from the generator and conveying the at least the portion of the first energy to the energy retainer, and alternating the second group of ultracapacitors between receiving the electrical output from the generator and conveying the at least the portion of the first energy to the energy retainer.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the energy retainer comprises a plurality of batteries and wherein each of the ultracapacitors of the first and second groups of ultracapacitors is electrically coupled to each of the batteries of the plurality of batteries.
12. The method of claim 9 further comprising conveying the electrical output from the generator to the energy retainer.
13. The method of claim 9 further comprising conveying the at least the portion of the first energy from the first and second group of ultracapacitors to the energy retainer simultaneously.
14. The method of claim 9 further comprising conveying the at least the portion of the first energy from the first and second group of ultracapacitors to the energy retainer sequentially.
15. The method of claim 9 further comprising conveying at least another portion of the first energy from the ultracapacitor module to the traction motor of the vehicle.
16. The method of claim 9 further comprising conveying the electrical output from the generator to the ultracapacitor module via one or more inbound diodes biased toward the ultracapacitor module.
17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first selector comprises a mechanically actuated switch or button.
18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second selector comprises an electronically actuated touchscreen.
19. The method of claim 9 further comprising receiving selection of the first selector via a mechanically actuated switch or button.
20. The method of claim 9 further comprising receiving selection of the second selector via an electronically actuated touchscreen.