Abstract:
The system and device of the present invention is designed for the purpose of providing a charging apparatus to charge the drive system battery or batteries and a service system battery in electrically powered vehicles while the vehicle is operated, thereby extending the driving range of such vehicle. Though spent energy can not be totally replace, a considerable portion of the spent energy from the batteries can be replaced while the vehicle is operated.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    Though the development of electrically powered vehicles has progressed steadily, the driving range of such vehicles is still restricted due to the depletion of energy in the drive system battery or batteries of the vehicle and the lack of reliable and constant charging devices. The use of solar energy is limited by weather conditions and the size of solar panels, required to supply sufficient energy replacement to the battery or batteries. In contrast to the so called “hybrid” vehicles, using small conventional engines to assist, which are being produced on a limited basis, the charging system and device of the present invention does not require the assist as used in these vehicles. The present invention is designed to increase the driving range of electrically powered vehicles to approach or even exceed that of conventionally powered vehicles.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention provides a power spring driven main gear, main friction wheel, main pulley, main sprocket or, as illustrated on drawings  4 ,  5  and  6 , a power spring driven main wheel. The main gear, main friction wheel, main pulley, main sprocket or main wheel drive a set of gears, friction wheels, pulleys, sprockets or, as illustrated in the second design, as illustrated on drawings  4 , 5 , and  6 , a gear type power transmission. Other types of suitable power transmission devices may also be used, as long as sufficient RPM, required for the generators or alternators to charge the batteries, are achieved while the vehicle is operated, thus increasing the driving range of the vehicle.  
           [0003]    The main gear, main friction wheel, main pulley or main sprocket, as illustrated on drawings  1 ,  2  and  3  and the main wheel as illustrated in the second design shown on drawings  4 ,  5  and  6 , are powered by a power spring. The outer end of the power spring is attached to the main gear, main friction wheel, main pulley, main sprocket or, using a power transmission design as illustrated on drawings  4 ,  5  and  6 , to the main wheel. The inner end of the power spring is attached to the ratchet wheel or the ratchet wheel shaft or axle. Other types of restrictive devices may be used instead of the ratchet wheel and ratchet pawl. When signaled by a power spring tension sensor to wind the power spring, a switch operates the power spring winding motor with speed reducer to wind the power spring. The electricity to the power spring winding motor is supplied by the service system battery which also supplies the electric power to the lights, windshield wiper, windows etc. A ratchet pawl prevents the ratchet from turning and thereby the power spring from unwinding immediately upon completion of the winding operation. An electromagnetic or other type of brake, simultaneously with the start of the power spring winding operation, stops the main gear, main friction wheel, main pulley, main sprocket or, in a power transmission device, as for axample, illustrated on drawings  4 ,  5  and  6 , from turning with the winding of the power spring.  
         DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       FIG.  1   
         [0004]    [0004] 1 ) Power spring  
           [0005]    [0005] 2 ) Ratchet wheel  
           [0006]    [0006] 3 ) Ratchet pawl  
           [0007]    [0007] 4 ) Ratchet wheel shaft or axle  
           [0008]    [0008] 5 ) Power spring winding motor with speed reducer  
           [0009]    [0009] 6 ) Switch  
           [0010]    [0010] 7 ) Coupling  
           [0011]    [0011] 8 ) Power spring tension sensor  
           [0012]    [0012] 9 ) Electro-magnetic or other type brake  
           [0013]    [0013] 10 ) Main gear, main friction wheel, main pulley or main sprocket  
           [0014]    [0014] 11 ) Small gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  
           [0015]    [0015] 12 ) Axle  
           [0016]    [0016] 13 ) Large gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  
           [0017]    [0017] 14 ) Small gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  
           [0018]    [0018] 15 ) Axle  
           [0019]    [0019] 16 ) Large gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  
           [0020]    [0020] 17 ) Small gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  
           [0021]    [0021] 18 ) Pulley  
           [0022]    [0022] 19 ) Axle  
         DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       FIG.  2   
         [0023]    [0023] 15 ) Axle  
           [0024]    [0024] 16 ) Large gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  
           [0025]    [0025] 17 ) Small gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  
           [0026]    [0026] 18 ) Pulley  
           [0027]    [0027] 19 ) Axle  
           [0028]    [0028] 20 ) Belt  
           [0029]    [0029] 21 ) Double pulley  
           [0030]    [0030] 22 ) Belt  
           [0031]    [0031] 23 ) Pulley  
           [0032]    [0032] 24 ) Drive system battery charging generator or alternator  
           [0033]    [0033] 25 ) Service system battery charging generator or alternator  
         DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       FIG.  3   
         [0034]    [0034] 26 ) Base  
           [0035]    [0035] 27 ) Supports for main gear, main friction wheel, main pulley or main sprocket axle  
           [0036]    [0036] 28 ) Supports for axle  12   
           [0037]    [0037] 29 ) Supports for axle  15   
           [0038]    [0038] 30 ) Supports for axle  19   
           [0039]    [0039] 31 ) Mount and support for power spring winding motor with speed reducer  
         DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       FIG.  4   
         [0040]    [0040] 1 ) Power spring  
           [0041]    [0041] 2 ) Ratchet wheel  
           [0042]    [0042] 3 ) Ratchet pawl  
           [0043]    [0043] 4 ) Ratchet wheel shaft or axle  
           [0044]    [0044] 5 ) Power spring winding motor with speed reducer  
           [0045]    [0045] 6 ) Switch  
           [0046]    [0046] 7 ) Coupling  
           [0047]    [0047] 8 ) Power spring tension sensor  
           [0048]    [0048] 9 ) Electro-magnetic or other type brake  
           [0049]    [0049] 34 ) Large gear  
         DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       FIG.  5   
         [0050]    [0050] 18 ) Pulley  
           [0051]    [0051] 20 ) Belt  
           [0052]    [0052] 21 ) Double pulley  
           [0053]    [0053] 22 ) Belt  
           [0054]    [0054] 23 ) Pulley  
           [0055]    [0055] 24 ) Drive system battery charging generator or alternator  
           [0056]    [0056] 25 ) Service system battery charging generator or alternator  
           [0057]    [0057] 32 ) Main wheel  
           [0058]    [0058] 33 ) Shaft or axle  
           [0059]    [0059] 34 ) Large gear  
           [0060]    [0060] 35 ) Small gear  
           [0061]    [0061] 36 ) Shaft or axle  
           [0062]    [0062] 37 ) Small gear  
           [0063]    [0063] 38 ) Large gear  
           [0064]    [0064] 39 ) Shaft or axle  
           [0065]    [0065] 40 ) Large gear  
           [0066]    [0066] 41 ) Small gear  
           [0067]    [0067] 42 ) Shaft or axle  
           [0068]    [0068] 43 ) Small gear  
           [0069]    [0069] 44 ) Large gear  
           [0070]    [0070] 45 ) Shaft or axle  
         DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       FIG.  6   
         [0071]    [0071] 18 ) Pulley  
           [0072]    [0072] 32 ) Main wheel  
           [0073]    [0073] 33 ) Shaft or axle  
           [0074]    [0074] 34 ) Large gear  
           [0075]    [0075] 35 ) Small gear  
           [0076]    [0076] 36 ) Shaft or axle  
           [0077]    [0077] 37 ) Small gear  
           [0078]    [0078] 38 ) Large gear  
           [0079]    [0079] 39 ) Shaft or axle  
           [0080]    [0080] 40 ) Large gear  
           [0081]    [0081] 41 ) Small gear  
           [0082]    [0082] 42 ) Shaft or axle  
           [0083]    [0083] 43 ) Small gear  
           [0084]    [0084] 44 ) Large gear  
           [0085]    [0085] 45 ) Shaft or axle  
           [0086]    [0086] 46 ) Transmission housing  
           [0087]    [0087] 47 ) Front cover with bearing  
           [0088]    [0088] 48 ) Rear cover with bearing  
           [0089]    [0089] 49 ) Support web with bearing  
           [0090]    [0090] 50 ) Support web with bearing  
           [0091]    [0091] 51 ) Support web with bearing  
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0092]    The present invention provides a system and device to charge the drive system battery or batteries and a service system battery during operation of an electrically powered vehicle, thereby increasing the operating range of the vehicle.  
         [0093]    The system and device of the present invention is described in two designs, using different power transmission devices, though any suitable power transmission design may be used, as long as sufficient RPM of the generators or alternators are achieved to charge the batteries.  
         [0094]    The first design of the present invention is illustrated on drawings  1 ,  2  and  3  in which the outer end of the power spring  1  is attached to the main gear, main friction wheel, main pulley or main sprocket  10  and the inner end of the power spring  1  is attached to the ratchet wheel  2  or, as illustrated, to the ratchet wheel shaft  4 . An electric motor with speed reducer  5  winds the power spring  1  when contacts are closed in switch  6  upon a signal from the power spring tension sensor  8  to switch  6 . The power spring tension sensor  8  may be of a laser type, light sensor, photocell, toggle switch or other suitable type. Simultaneously with the signal from the power spring tension sensor  8  to switch  6 , a signal is also send to an electro-magnetic or other suitable type brake  9  which engages the main gear, main friction wheel, main pulley or main sprocket  10  to momentarily prevent same from turning with the winding or the power spring  1 . When the power spring tension sensor  8  signals the switch  6  to interrupt the current to the power spring winding motor with speed speed reducer  5 , upon completion of the winding operation, it also interrupts the current to the electromagnetic or other type brake  9 , thereby releasing same.  
         [0095]    The electromagnetic or other type brake  9  is equipped with a spring which retracts the brake  9  to release same. When the tension of the power spring  1  is reduced to a point when winding is required, the power spring tension sensor  8  signals the switch  6  to close contacts and start the power spring winding motor with speed reducer  5  to wind the power spring  1  by turning the ratchet wheel  2  which is engaged by the ratchet pawl  3  to prevent unwinding of the power spring  1  during the winding operation and to hold the inner end of the power spring  1  fast while same unwinds during the turning of the main gear, main friction wheel, main pulley or main sprocket  10 . The gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  13  turns a gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  14  of reduced diameter or pitch circle, which is mounted on a common shaft or axle  15  with gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  16  with a diameter or pitch circle greater than that of gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  13 . The gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  16  turns a gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  17  of reduced diameter. A pulley  18  is mounted on the common shaft or axle  19  with the gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  17 . In the case of pulley or sprocket, belts or roller chain would be used respectively. The pulley  18  is mounted on shaft or axle  19 , but is located outside the support  30  to facilitate changing the belt  20  without removal of shaft or axle  19 . A belt  20  connects pulley  18  with a double pulley  21  of the drive system battery charging generator or alternator  24 , thus turning same. A second belt  22  connects the double pulley  21  with the pulley  23  of the service system battery charging generator or alternator  25 , thus turning same. Preferably, the pulleys  18 ,  21  and  23  should be of the same diameter or pitch circle as gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  17 . In case of the use of generators, the appropriate voltage regulators have to be used. The generators or alternators  24  and  25  may be located so that the system and device of the present invention requires the least amount of space, either in line with gears, friction wheels, pulleys or sprockets  16  and  17 , or above or below of same. Other types of power transmission devices may be used, as long as it is driven by a power spring device per the present invention and as long as the required RPM of the generators or alternators are achieved to assure sufficient charging of the batteries.  
         [0096]    The supports  28  and  29  are staggered or offset to allow for clearance of the shaft or axle of the previous gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket. The power spring winding motor with speed reducer support  31  is situated in line with the supports  27  of the main gear, main friction wheel, main pulley or main sprocket  10 . The supports are mounted or are attached to a common base  26 . The main gear, main friction wheel, main pulley or main sprocket  10  turns in supports  27  and the other gears, friction wheels, pulleys or sprockets turn in supports  28 ,  29  and  30  respectively with the use of bearing bushings or bearings.  
         [0097]    As an example, the following is a demonstration of the RPM generated by the system and device of the present invention: Assuming a main gear, main friction wheel, main pulley or main Sprocket  10  with a diameter or pitch circle of 18 inches; a gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  11  with a diameter or pitch circle of 3 inches; a gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  13  with a diameter or pitch circle of 21 inches; a gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  14  with a diameter or pitch circle of 3 inches; a gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  16  with a diameter or pitch circle of 24 inches; a gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  17  with a diameter or pitch circle of 3 inches and pulleys  18 ,  21  and  23  with a diameter of 3 inches.  
         [0098]    As the main gear, main friction wheel, main pulley or main sprocket  10  turns 1 time, the gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  11  turns 6 times. Therefore, gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  13  turns 6 times. With every revolution of gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  13 , gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  14  turns 7 times. Therefore, gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  16  turns 7 times. With every revolution of gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  16 , gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  17 , and therefore pulleys  18 ,  21  and  23  turn 8 times.  
         [0099]    Therefore, the RPM of pulleys  18 ,  21  and  23  and the generators or alternators  24  and  25  are calculated as follows: 
         18″÷3″=6 
         21″÷3″=7 
         24″÷3″=8 
         1×6=6×7=42×8=336 
         [0100]    Therefore, with every revolution of the power spring  1  driven main gear, main friction wheel, main pulley or main sprocket  10 , the gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  17 , as well as pulleys  18 ,  21  and  23  turn 336 times. If the main gear, main friction wheel, main pulley or main sprocket turns only, for example, at 10 RPM, the gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  17  and the pulleys  18 ,  21  and  23  turn at 3360 RPM.  
         [0101]    The diameter or pitch circle of the main gear, main friction wheel, main pulley or main sprocket  10  may be selected to be 12 inches, the gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  11  to be 2 inches, the gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  13  to be 14 inches, the gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  14  to be 2 inches, the gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  16  to be 16 inches, the gear, friction wheel, pulley or sprocket  17  to be 2 inches, and the pulleys  18 ,  21  and  23  to be 2 inches. The RPM generated would be identical to the above example. However, this selection would result in a smaller system and device of the present invention, thereby requiring less space. The generated RPM can also simply be changed, up or down, by changing the diameter of the pulleys  18 ,  21  and  23 .  
         [0102]    The power spring  1  may be selected to provide tension to either increase or decrease the RPM of the system and device of the present invention as required to provide the maximum and most efficient charging rate of the generators or alternators  24  and  25  as is needed to keep the batteries charged as fully as possible.  
         [0103]    The alternative and preferable design of a system and device of the present invention, as illustrated on drawings  4 ,  5  and  6 , utilizes a more compact power transmission device, though any suitable power transmission may be used as long as the result is sufficient RPM of the generators or alternators to charge the batteries when the vehicle is operated.  
         [0104]    In this design of the present invention the outer end of the power spring  1  is attached to a main wheel  32 . The inner end of the power spring  1  is attached to the ratchet wheel  2  or, preferably to the ratchet wheel shaft or axle  4 . An electric motor with speed reducer  5  winds the power spring  1  when contacts are closed in switch  6  upon a signal from the power spring tension sensor  8  to switch  6 . The power spring tension sensor  8  may be of a laser type, light sensor, photocell, toggle switch or other suitable type. Simultaneously with the signal from the power spring tension sensor  8  to switch  6 , a signal is also send to an electromagnetic or other type brake  9  which engages the main wheel  32  to momentarily prevent same from turning with the winding of the power spring  1 . When the power spring tension sensor  8  signals the switch  6  to interrupt the current to the power spring winding motor with speed reducer  5 , upon completion of the winding operation, it also releases the electromagnetic or other type brake  9 .  
         [0105]    The electromagnetic or other type brake is equipped with a spring or other type retraction device to release same. A calliper type brake may also be used. When tension of the power spring  1  is reduced to a point when winding is required, the power spring tension sensor  8  signals the switch  6  to close contacts and start the power spring winding motor with speed reducer  5  to wind the power spring  1  by turning the ratchet wheel  2  and thereby the ratchet wheel shaft or axle  4 . The ratchet wheel  2  is engaged by a ratchet pawl  3  to prevent unwinding of the power spring  1  during the winding operation and to hold the inner end of the power spring  1  fast while same unwinds during the turning of the main wheel  32 .  
         [0106]    The ratchet wheel shaft or axle  4  is attached to the shaft of the power spring winding motor with speed reducer  5  with the use of a coupling  7 . The axle  33  of the main wheel  32  and gear  33  turns either inside or outside of the shaft or axle  4  of the ratchet wheel  2  with the use of a bearing bushing or needle bearing, or other type of bearing.  
         [0107]    The power spring  1  drives the main wheel  32 . With the common shaft or axle  33 , the main wheel  32  drives the gear  33  directly, in contrast to the first described design. The gear  33  drives a gear  35  with a reduced pitch circle, which is mounted on a common shaft or axle  36  with large gear  38 . The large gear  38  turns a gear  37  with a reduced pitch circle. A common shaft or axle  39  connects the small gear  37  with the large gear  40 . The large gear  40  turns a small gear  41 . The shaft or axle  42  of small gear  41  connects same with the large gear  44 . The large gear  44  turns a small gear  43 . A pulley  18  is mounted on the shaft or axle  45  of the small gear  43 . A belt  20  connects with the double pulley  21  of the drive system generator or alternator  24 , thus turning same. The belt  22  connects the double pulley  21  with the pulley  23  of the service system generator or alternator, thus turning same.  
         [0108]    The shaft or axle  33  turns in a bearing which is in the front cover  47  of the transmission housing  46 . The shaft or axle  36  turns in a bearing attached to the support web  49 . The shaft or axle  39  is supported with a bearing in support web  50 . The shaft or axle  42  is supported with a bearing mounted in support  51 . The shaft or axle  45  turns in a bearing mounted in the rear cover  48  of the transmission housing  46 .  
         [0109]    As an example, the following is a demonstration of the RPM generated by the second and preferable design of a system and device of the present invention:  
         [0110]    Assuming a gear  34  with a pitch circle of 4 inches; a gear  35  with a pitch circle of 1 inch; a gear  38  with a pitch circle of 6 inches; a gear  37  with a pitch circle of 1 inch; a gear  40  with a pitch circle of 8 inches; a gear  41  with a pitch circle of 2 inches; a gear  44  with a pitch circle of 8 inches; a gear  43  with a pitch circle of 2 inches.  
         [0111]    As the main wheel  32  turns 1 time, gear  34  turns 1 time. With every revolution of gear  34 , the gear  35  turns 4 times. Therefore, gear  38  turns 4 times. With every revolution of gear  38 , the gear  37  turns 6 times. Since with every revolution of the gear  34  the gear  38  turns 4 times, the gear  37  turns 24 times, which results in gear  40  turning 24 times. With every revolution of gear  40 , the gear  41  turns 4 times, which results in gear  41  turning 96 times. Therefore, gear  44  turns 96 times. With every revolution of gear  44 , the gear  43  turns 4 times and therefore 384 times with every revolution of gear  34 .  
         [0112]    Therefore, the RPM of pulleys  18 ,  21  and  23  and the generators or alternators  24  and  25  can be calculated as follows: 
         4″÷1″=4 
         6″÷1″=6 
         8″÷2″=4 
         8″÷2″=4 
         1×4=4×6=24×4=96×4=384 
         [0113]    Therefore, with every revolution of the power spring driven main wheel  32  and gear  34 , the pulleys  18 ,  21  and  23  turn 384 times. If the main wheel  32  turns only, for example, at 10 RPM, the pulleys  18 ,  21  and  23  and therefore the generators or alternators  24  and  25  turn 3840 times.  
         [0114]    The diameter of pulley  18  may be selected to either increase or decrease the generated RPM.