Abstract:
A vehicle propulsion system particularly adaptable for use in connection with golf carts which are driven over a charge station having a pair of elongated slots such that electrical pickups are lowered from the golf cart into engagement with electrically charged contact bars disposed within the slots thereby causing activation of a flywheel assembly to power the golf cart wheels.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to increase the pace of play, golf carts are used to quickly transport golfers around the course during the course of playing a typical round of 18 holes. Many of the golf carts utilize gasoline motors which naturally are an undesirable source of pollution. Battery-powered golf carts are also well known but suffer from the problem of the golf cart losing power during the course of a round of golf, thereby causing the player to be stranded usually a considerable distance from the clubhouse. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a propulsion system for vehicles which travel from point to point within a confined area and make periodic stops at fixed points along a given path of travel. Such vehicles include public transportation vehicles, personnel shuttle cars, tramcars, mail carts, golf carts and the like. By this invention, a vehicle propulsion system includes a charge station having contact bars disposed therein to transmit power to a vehicle disposed thereabove in order to rotate a flywheel. The flywheel is mounted on an axle shaft within a housing and by which power is transmitted through a transmission/differential to the vehicle wheels. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  1 C and  1 D show the basic elements of the vehicle propulsion system according to this invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the flywheel assembly; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the vehicle drive assembly; 
         FIG. 5A  is a top view of the vehicle charge station; 
         FIG. 5B  is a view taken along the line  5 B- 5 B in  FIG. 5A ; 
         FIG. 5C  is a view taken along the line  5 C- 5 C in  FIG. 5A ; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view of the vehicle wiring system; 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram of the vehicle control assembly; 
         FIG. 8  is an overall view of the vehicle propulsion system used on a typical golf course; and 
         FIG. 9  is an elevational view showing the auxiliary power source according to this invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With respect to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the propulsion system includes flywheel assembly  1 , control assembly  2 , control handle  3 , drive assembly  4 , pickup operator  5 , electrical pickups  6 , charge station  7 , slots  8 , contact bars  9 , slot covers  10 , supply conductors  11 , power supply  12  and auxiliary power receptacle  13 . 
     Flywheel assembly  1 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , includes flywheel  100  which, along with magnet assembly  102 , is rigidly mounted on axle shaft  101  and is supported by bearings  103  all of which are enclosed in housing  104 . Flywheel assembly  1  also includes coil assembly  105  and multiple coil leads  106 . In certain embodiments of the invention, housing  104  may be atmospherically sealed with a vacuum created therein. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , magnet assembly  102  includes two or more magnet segments of opposite polarity wherein the magnetic field generated by the magnets is of sufficient strength to penetrate housing  104  and coil assembly  105 . This enables placement of coil assembly  105  outside housing  104  which removes the requirement for the penetration of housing  104  by coil leads  106  along with the requirement for associated seals between housing  104  and coil leads  106  if a vacuum is created in housing  104 . 
       FIG. 4  depicts the elements which comprise drive assembly  4 . More specifically, motor  116  drives transmission/differential  115  which transmits driving power through axles  117  to wheels  118 . In other embodiments, motor  116  may be of such design that it is connected respectively in pairs directly to wheels  118 . 
       FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C show charge station  7  which includes ground pad  119  and has elongated slots  8  formed therein with contact bars  9  disposed on the bottom of generally U-shaped slots  8  and with slot covers  10  overlying slots  8 . Slot covers  10  preclude human or animal contact with contact bars  9 . Slot covers  10  are forcibly parted along slits  10   a  when electrical pickups  6  are moved over and into contact with contact bars  9 . Conductors  11  transmit power from power supply  12  to contact bars  9  in known fashion. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the wiring arrangement which connects the separate elements of the propulsion system wherein multiple strand harness  107  is provided with a pair of connecting wires for each coil assembly  105 . In the system, two-wire harness  108  connects auxiliary power receptacle  13  to control assembly  2 . Two-wire harness  109  connects electrical pickups  6  to control assembly  2  and two-wire harness  110  connects drive assembly  4  to control assembly  2 . Finally, supply conductors  11  connect power supply  12 , respectively, to contact bars  9 . 
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram which shows elements of control assembly  2  and the interconnections between these elements and the other components of the propulsion system. All elements of control assembly  2  are commercially available products and are well known in the industry. Particular versions and sizes of these elements are selected to suit the desired embodiment of the invention. 
     More specifically, motor/generator control element  114  connects coil assemblies  105  for advantageous use of flywheel assembly  1  as a motor or as a generator. Motor/generator control element  114  also connects pickups  6  and auxiliary power receptacle  13  inputs to flywheel assembly  1 . Auxiliary power control  113  modulates and controls the flow of power from auxiliary supply  121  to flywheel assembly  1 . Travel control  111  supplies a forward, stop and reverse control signal to drive motor control  112 , as selected by the positioning of control handle  3 . Power level meter  120  is a tachometer which thereby indicates the rotational speed of flywheel  100  which indicates the energy level of flywheel  100  and the useful power available for propulsion of the vehicle. 
     In  FIG. 8 , the application of the invention as a propulsion system for a golf cart is shown. Charge stations  7  are located on a golf course at advantageous positions in close proximity to tee areas. Underground electrical conductors  11  transmit power from power supply  12  to charge stations  7 . 
       FIG. 9  depicts an auxiliary power source  21  which, in this example, is a portable generator mounted on a service vehicle. Power is transmitted from auxiliary power source  21  to auxiliary power receptacle  13  by means of electrical cable  20 . 
     In operation, flywheel  100  is rotated by magnet assembly  102  when coil assembly  105  is configured as a motor. Power is supplied to control assembly  2  from charge station  7  or auxiliary power receptacle  13 . From control assembly  2 , power is supplied to coil assembly  102  through multiple strand harness  107 . Flywheel  100  is rotated to a speed sufficient to propel the vehicle for the required length of travel and as indicated by power level meter  120 . As the vehicle traverses the course of travel, flywheel assembly  1  furnishes power to motor  116  and then wheels  118 . During the course of travel, power is depleted from flywheel assembly  1  and power level meter  120  indicates the level of power remaining. If the power level is reduced to the degree that vehicle propulsion is not possible, auxiliary power source  21  is employed to restore the system to an operating condition. 
     In the actual use of the golf cart propulsion system, the operator would position the vehicle on charge station  7  at the first tee and then engage pickup operator  5  thereby lowering pickups  6  to communicate with contact bars  9  causing an increase in rotational speed of flywheel  100 . Elements of the propulsion system are sized to allow sufficient power storage during the interval of travel between tee boxes. The operator then proceeds to the green, stopping the vehicle along the way, as required. When the vehicle is stopped, flywheel  100  will only loose power due to frictional forces in the rotational mechanism, such as bearing friction and aerodynamic drag. The process if then repeated for the remaining holes. 
     Therefore, by this invention, a vehicle propulsion system is provided which is energy efficient and environmentally desirable.