Patent ID: 7765961
Filing Date: 2010-08-03
Classification: B60K,B60L,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A vehicle hydrogen generation retrofit kit functionally installed, as an aftermarket product, on an internal combustion engine vehicle configured for operating utilizing fuels selected from the group consisting of fossil fuels and bio-diesel fuels, said retrofit kit comprising: a generator/alternator for generating electricity, said generator/alternator being structurally configured and so installed such that it is capable of engaging said an energy conversion member of said internal combustion engine vehicle for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy such that energy resulting from braking of said internal combustion engine vehicle is transferred to and utilized by said generator/alternator to generate electricity; an electrolyzer capable of being connected to said generator/alternator to utilize said electricity generated by said generator/alternator to generate hydrogen; a storage tank capable of being connected to said electrolyzer to receive and store said hydrogen generated by said electrolyzer; a fuel mixture control member capable of being so installed and structurally configured such that it regulates the mixture of said hydrogen produced by said electrolyzer with said fossil or bio-diesel fuel to form a hydrogen/fuel mixture, and such that it regulates hydrogen/fuel composition of said mixture; and a hydrogen delivery member capable of being connected to said storage tank to provide said hydrogen stored therein to said fuel mixture control member, wherein, when said generator/alternator, said electrolyzer, said storage tank, said fuel mixture control member, and said hydrogen delivery member are so configured and so installed, in combination as said aftermarket retrofit kit, on said internal combustion engine vehicle, said generator/alternator is coupled to said energy conversion member of said internal combustion engine vehicle for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy such that energy resulting from braking of said internal combustion engine vehicle is transferred from said energy conversion member of said internal combustion engine vehicle to said generator/alternator which utilizes said energy to generate electricity, said electricity generated by said generator/alternator is then provided to said electrolyzer which utilizes said electricity to generate hydrogen, said hydrogen is then stored in said storage tank, said stored hydrogen is then provided, by said hydrogen delivery member, to said fuel mixture control member for mixing with fossil or bio-diesel fuel and said hydrogen enriched fossil or bio-diesel fuel which is then provided to chambers of said internal combustion engine vehicle during operation, whereby increased fuel efficiency of said internal combustion engine vehicle is thereby achieved.