Abstract:
A hydrokinetic generator apparatus that includes a liquid reservoir having an outlet port and an inlet port that is disposed over the outlet port; an outflow valve that is disposed at the outlet port of the liquid reservoir; at least one generator module coupled from the liquid reservoir and including at least one fill pipe for receiving liquid expelled from the liquid reservoir, and at least one outlet port; at least one surge generator disposed in the fill pipe; and an outflow valve at a base of the generator module. The outlet port of the generator module is coupled to the inlet port of the liquid reservoir. The apparatus further includes a battery pack; an electrical controller responsive to a voltage across the battery pack for controlling said valves; and an electrical charging hub responsive to the surge generator for re-charging the battery pack.

Description:
RELATED CASE 
     Priority for this application is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to commonly owned U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/824,438 which was filed on May 17, 2013 which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates in general to a hydrokinetic generator system and pertains also to a system that is the primary power source for an electric vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     There presently exists several different types of hybrid vehicles. The typical hybrid vehicle is a hybrid of gasoline and electric. It is an object of the present invention to provide a primary power source by means of a hydrokinetic generator whereby the hydrokinetic generator is used to recharge battery packs mounted in the vehicle. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a hydrokinetic generator device and system that is efficient in operation, that can be manufactured relatively inexpensively and that provides a low cost way of recharging battery packs. 
     To accomplish the foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention there is provided a hydrokinetic generator apparatus comprising: 
     a liquid reservoir having an outlet port and an inlet port that is disposed over the outlet port; 
     an outflow valve that is disposed at the outlet port of the liquid reservoir; 
     at least one generator module coupled from the liquid reservoir and including at least one fill pipe for receiving liquid expelled from the liquid reservoir, and at least one outlet port; 
     at least one surge generator disposed in the fill pipe; 
     an outflow valve at a base of the generator module; 
     means for coupling the outlet port of the generator module to the inlet port of the liquid reservoir; 
     a battery pack; 
     an electrical controller responsive to a voltage across the battery pack for controlling said valves; and 
     an electrical charging hub responsive to the surge generator for re-charging the battery pack. 
     In accordance with other aspects of the present invention the liquid reservoir also includes a drop valve adjacent to the inlet port, the liquid reservoir may be or either a rectangular shape or inverted bottle shape; the generator module includes a pair of fill pipes; there is defined between the pair of fill pipes an air chamber; further including a bellows disposed in the air chamber; further including fixed and movable plates supported at opposite ends of the bellows; the top plate has a plurality of inflow/outflow air vents; the generator module includes a base portion and a neck portion; including a plurality of generator modules that are interconnected in series between the outlet port and the inlet port of the liquid reservoir; including a drop valve disposed at the inlet port of the liquid reservoir; a pair of drop valves at respective fill pipes; wherein the outflow valve at a base of the generator module is comprised of a pair of retractable disc valves; and a disc valve at an input to the air chamber. 
     In another version of the present invention there is provided a hydrokinetic generator apparatus comprising: 
     a liquid reservoir having an outlet port and an inlet port that is disposed over the outlet port; 
     at least one generator module coupled from the liquid reservoir and including at least one fill pipe for receiving liquid expelled from the liquid reservoir, and at least one outlet port; at least one surge generator disposed in the fill pipe; 
     an electrical controller for controlling said valves; 
     a battery pack; and 
     an electrical charging hub. 
     In accordance with still other aspects of the present invention the generator module includes a pair of fill pipes, and wherein there is defined between the pair of fill pipes an air chamber; a bellows is disposed in the air chamber, fixed and movable plates supported at opposite ends of the bellows, and wherein the top plate has a plurality of inflow/outflow air vents; the generator module includes a base portion and a neck portion, including a plurality of generator modules that are interconnected in series between the outlet port and the inlet port of the liquid reservoir, a drop valve disposed at the inlet port of the liquid reservoir; a pair of drop valves at respective fill pipes; wherein the outflow valve at a base of the generator module is comprised of a pair of retractable disc valves; and a disc valve at an input to the air chamber. 
     In still another version of the present invention there is provided a hydrokinetic generator system comprising: 
     a liquid reservoir having an outlet port and an inlet port that is disposed over the outlet port; 
     a plurality of generator modules that each include an input port and an output port; 
     said plurality of generator modules coupled in series between the outlet port of the liquid reservoir and the inlet port of the liquid reservoir; 
     said plurality of generator modules being inter-coupled for liquid flow therebetween so that the output port of one generator module connects with the input port of an adjacent generator module; 
     each said generator module including a pair of fill pipes for receiving liquid expelled from the liquid reservoir; 
     at least one surge generator disposed in each fill pipe; 
     an electrical controller; 
     a battery pack; and 
     an electrical charging hub. 
     In accordance with further aspects of the present invention there is defined between the pair of fill pipes an air chamber and further including a bellows disposed in the air chamber; fixed and movable plates are supported at opposite ends of the bellows, and wherein the top plate has a plurality of inflow/outflow air vents; the generator module includes a base portion and a neck portion, including a plurality of generator modules that are interconnected in series between the outlet port and the inlet port of the liquid reservoir, an outflow valve that is disposed at the outlet port of the liquid reservoir; an outflow valve at a base of the generator module; a drop valve disposed at the inlet port of the liquid reservoir; a pair of drop valves at respective fill pipes; wherein the outflow valve at a base of the generator module is comprised of a pair of retractable disc valves; and a disc valve at an input to the air chamber; and valve means are for controlling the flow or water through the fill pipes, wherein the electrical controller is responsive to a voltage across the battery pack for controlling said valve means; and wherein the electrical charging hub is responsive to the surge generator for re-charging the battery pack. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       It should be understood that the drawings are provided for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to define the limits of the disclosure. The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the embodiments described herein will become apparent with reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of a system of the present invention usable in powering a vehicle; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic representation of one embodiment of the present invention employing a substantially rectangular liquid reservoir and multiple generator modules; and 
         FIG. 3  is a more detailed diagram of the liquid reservoir and one of the generator modules also and showing connection to a second generator module. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In accordance with the present invention there is illustrated a primary power source for an electric vehicle that contains several battery packs that may be placed at strategic locations in the vehicle. The primary power source comprises a reservoir and one or more generator modules that are intercoupled between an outlet port and an inlet port of the liquid reservoir. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram that illustrates the main components of the present invention. These components provide at least partial recharging of a battery pack, although, the battery pack itself may also be recharged by an external power source. In  FIG. 1  the components include a liquid reservoir  10 , generator modules  20  associated with the liquid reservoir and a series of surge generators  40  coupled from the generator modules  20 . An electrical controller  60  is also employed for sensing signals from the battery pack  50  for initiating action of the generator system.  FIG. 1  also illustrates an external source  55  capable of periodically recharging the battery pack  50 . The output from the surge generators  40  coupled by way of a central distributor or hub  70  to the battery pack for recharging thereof. 
     When the combined total output of a 12 volt battery pack is reduced by a certain amount such as to 11 volts, the electrical controller  60  senses this condition and enables operation of the generator apparatus of the present invention. The 12 volt battery pack may actually be comprised of a series of series-connected or parallel-connected individual packs. Each battery pack may be comprised of 24 lithium batteries. As indicated previously, when the electrical controller  60  senses a low voltage condition, this initiates the hydrokinetic apparatus and initiates the process of recharging the battery pack. This process is continuous, both while the vehicle is in use travelling and even when the vehicle is parked. 
     In accordance with the present invention, there may be provided two separate liquid reservoirs and each of these liquid reservoirs, such as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , may be comprised also of three hydrokinetic generator modules. The liquid reservoir is shown at  10  in  FIG. 2  while the generator modules are schematically depicted connected in series between an outlet port of the liquid reservoir and an inlet port of the liquid reservoir. These generator modules are identified in  FIG. 2  as modules  20 A,  20 B and  20 C. Reference is made hereinafter to the more detailed diagram of  FIG. 3  for showing more specific details in particular of the generator module itself. 
     Once again, there are preferably two liquid reservoirs  10  with three hydrokinetic modules  20 . The hydrokinetic modules are preferably mounted on stabilizing gimbals (not shown) to ensure continuous operation under any and all terrain and weather conditions. These components may be mounted on or near the vehicle firewall. The power packs may be interconnected to be configured in different manners. They may be connected in tandem or in groups depending upon the power requirement or the stress conditions that are encountered. As mentioned previously, these packs are preferably of small lithium batteries of 12 volts or possibly more than 12 volts each with at least 24 batteries in each pack. In addition to mounting on the firewall, these components may also be mounted throughout the engine compartment and in a vehicle where a gas tank is no longer needed, these components can be mounted in the area previously allocated to the gas tank. 
     In  FIGS. 2 and 3 , two separate types of reservoirs are employed. Each with an inlet port P1 and an outlet port P2.  FIG. 2  shows a rectangular shaped reservoir that may also be tilted slightly to the left.  FIG. 2  shows the inlet port at P1 and the outlet port at P2. The diagram of  FIG. 3  shows an inverted bottle-shaped reservoir  10  but may also be tilted slightly to the left. Each of these reservoirs preferably has screw-type fill cap  15  with a rounded protective plastic cover. The reservoirs are meant to be filled from the top and the circulation out of each reservoir is from the bottom. In each of these reservoirs there is a retractable disc. type outflow valve  12 . In the bottle-shaped reservoir of  FIG. 3 , the circulation is back to a port P1 that is approximately ¾ of the way up the right side of the reservoir as clearly illustrated in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  also shows a drop valve  14  at the inflow opening port P1. At the very bottom of the reservoir at the lower neck contains the retractable disc valve  12 . 
     With respect to the rectangular-shaped reservoir of  FIG. 2 , this also empties through a retractable disc valve  12  at the bottom left hand end of the reservoir. In this embodiment the refilling at the port P1 may be at a location about ⅓ of the way up the right hand side of the reservoir. This embodiment also includes a drop valve  14  associated with the port P1. All of these various valves are for controlling the opening and closing of their respective ports. In connection with both types of reservoirs, they always retain some level of liquid in their contents. The reservoirs only empty out about ⅞ of their content. This facilitates more rapid refilling and assists in the stabilization of the system. When emptying occurs, the retractable disc valve opens at the bottom of the reservoir and the inflow drop valve  14  closes. When emptying is completed, the retractable disc valve  12  closes and the inflow drop valve opens. When needed, additional liquid can also be added to the reservoir by way of the screw cap  15 . 
     In the embodiments described herein, the generator modules are considered as being of a bottle-shaped configuration. These are illustrated in particular in  FIG. 3  by the generator module having a substantially cylindrical base section  22  and a tapered neck section  21 . The dimensions of the particular components may be varied so as to preferably facilitate a semicircular configuration of the total system. 
     With respect to  FIG. 2 , the generator modules  20 A,  20 B and  20 C are shown somewhat schematically, it being understood that each of these modules may be of the configuration more specifically illustrated in  FIG. 3 . IN  FIG. 2  the first module  20 A is disposed in a neck-up position. The second module  20 B is positioned so as to allow the fill pipes thereof to connect with the base of the first module  20 A. Preferably the module  20 B is mounted in a substantially horizontal position. The third module  20 C is preferably mounted relatively close to the liquid reservoir to allow smooth, rapid transfer of liquid, but not should be so far removed from the second module  20 B to cause a slowing of the liquid velocity. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , this third module  20 C is mounted with the neck down and may be slanted slightly to the left. The module  20 C is mounted close to the reservoir inflow vent at port P1, flexible tubing  16  is used for the connection between the generator module  20 C and the liquid reservoir  10  at port P1. Also illustrated in  FIG. 2  is a pump  17  that is coupled in the tubing  16  and is usable for assuring that there is a continuous circulation of water back into the liquid reservoir. The system of the present invention may function at least partially in accordance with gravity, particularly at the outlet of the liquid reservoir whereas at the inlet to the liquid reservoir some pumping force is advisable. 
     In  FIG. 3  the neck portion  21  of the generator module  20  defines a continuos fill pipes  24 . A pair of fill pipes that are spacedly disposed are illustrated in  FIG. 3  and define therebetween, an air chamber  25  that has a predetermined volume. Located within the air chamber  25  are a pair of pressure plates  26  and  27 . Pressure plate  26  is movable in the direction of arrows  37  toward the fixed plate  27 . The plate  26 , or the bottom of the air chamber  25 , is preferably provided with a further disc valve  30 . The pressure plate  27  is provided with dual operating inflow/outflow vents  39  and also is provided with a centrally disposed center contact  28 . The plate  27  and contact  28  is fixed to the lower end of the bottle neck where the sections  21  and  22  are joined. 
     Within the generator module  20  there is also illustrated a bellows  33 . The bellows  33  is attached at opposite ends to the respective plates  26  and  27 . As the plate  26  is a movable plate, when water pressure causes this plate to move upwardly in the direction of arrows  37 , there is a compression of the bellows until the lower plate  26  contacts the upper fixed plate  27 . 
     As indicated previously, the action of the reservoir and generator modules is initiated by way of the controller  60  upon the sensing of a reduction in voltage at one or more of the battery packs. This causes the controller  60  to control the various valves that are shown between opened and closed positions and as now described in further detail. When the reservoir receives a signal from a battery pack, the outflow retractable disc. valve  12  at the bottom of the reservoir opens to expel the liquid. Previous to that time the reservoir is in a full condition and the fill pipes  24  are emptied. At the same time that the retractable disc. valve  12  opens, the retractable disc valve at the bottom of the module, namely valve or valves  34 , close. Also, the inflow drop valves  32  are opened. This enables a path for liquid in the direction of arrows  43 . From this way the water is dispersed into the two fill pipes  24  that are located on either side of the module. As the water passes the surge generators  40 , this initiates action of these surge generators. The space within the module fills with water or a liquid from the bottom forcing the plate  26  in an upward direction as indicated by the arrows  37  in  FIG. 3 . As the liquid rises, it forces the plate  26  upwardly forcing the bellows to deflate or compress. The expelled air is forced into the air chamber  25  through the dual vents  39  in the contact plate  27 . 
     Thus the plate  26  moves upwardly, it eventually will contact the plate  27 . This condition is sensed at the sensor  28  and the following actions occur under control of the electrical control  60 . The drop valves  32  close and the retractable disc. valves  34  open. Air is expanded via the dual purpose vents  39  and the bellows is reinflated. The liquid is expelled to the next module. After the liquid is expelled, the retractable disc valve  34  closes and the inflow drop valves  32  open. 
     Each of the generator modules preferably has four tidal surge generators  40 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , each fill pipe  24  is provided with two spaced apart surge generators  40 . Each of these surge generators includes a mechanical portion that may be in the form of an impeller connecting to a generator for converting to electrical energy. These surge generators  40  are preferably placed as close as possible to the top of the bottle neck. This placement allows for the receipt of the maximum surge power from the liquid expelled from the liquid reservoir. 
     When the module empties, the inflow drop valves  32  open and the retractable disc outflow valve closes. When the outflow from a module occurs, this outflow is coupled to the fill pipes of a module therebelow. This is illustrated in  FIG. 3  by a further set of fill pipes  24  indicated at  35  which represents the top neck portion of an adjacent module.  FIG. 3  also illustrates the pairs of surge generators  40  within these respective fill pipes  44 . The diameters of the fill pipes in the reservoir inflow hose can be varied and in particular, can be reduced in size in order to provide a more rapid flow of the liquid. 
     The process of the present invention can be practiced with a variety of different forms of liquid reservoir and generator modules of different configuration. Each time that a cycle begins, there may be a momentary hesitation as the action takes place. These actions occur quite rapidly so as to be indiscernible by anyone other than a trained technician. The energy that is generated from the surge generators, as illustrated in the block diagram of  FIG. 1 , is coupled directly to the central distributor  70 . From there the energy is distributed to the various battery packs illustrated at  50  in  FIG. 1 . 
     As also previously mentioned, an external source  55  is usable to recharge batteries  50  on a periodic basis. 
     Having now described a limited number of embodiments of the present invention, it should now be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous other embodiments and modifications thereof are contemplated as falling within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims. For example, the foregoing description has mentioned the use of water that is used in the system. However, it is understood that other fluids or liquids may be employed. In colder weather in particular, the water would be supplemented by an antifreeze product.