Patent ID: 6202782
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: B60K,B60L,B60W,F01K,F02C,Y02T

Abstract:
A method of driving a vehicle including a heat engine for generating a first power output and discharging hot exhaust, an expansion turbine coupled to said heat engine via an output shaft for generating a second power output, a heat recovery unit including thermal storage means for recovering and storing heat of said hot exhaust to produce motive gases, and a control unit for controlling the operation of said heat engine, comprising the steps of:operating said heat engine to produce said first power output;supplying said hot exhaust to said heat recovery unit for thereby recovering and storing heat of said hot exhaust by said thermal storage means to produce said motive gases;applying said motive gases to said expansion turbine to generate said second power output;controlling the operation of said heat engine in an on/off mode to intermittently supply said hot exhaust to said thermal storage means; anddriving said vehicle with the use of at least one of said first and second power outputs.