Abstract:
A compressed air propulsion system supplies air utilized by a pair of opposing cylinders and their associated pistons and push/pull rods to cause a pair of sprockets to rotate clockwise in a controlled manner. The two pistons are acted upon by the cycling of various valves which introduces and/or vents compressed air as directed by a computer using a downloaded program through wireless interfaces. One of the two sprockets in turn, through additional sprockets/chain/axle devices, is utilized to supply drive torque to a vehicle transmission. The other axle which is connected to the remaining sprocket and through an additional chain/sprocket/axle device operates a direct current generator which produces electricity for charging a battery.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. Ser. No. 14/256,754 filed Apr. 18, 2014 for THE CAR OF THE FUTURE POWERED BY COMPRESSED AIR. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a propulsion system, and in particular to a propulsion system using compressed air in which supplies drive torque to a vehicle transmission as well as drive torque to an electronic generator for charging a battery. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The proposed invention can be related to providing propulsion of a vehicle in a more efficient and less expensive manner, meanwhile reducing the amount of pollution being released into the atmosphere. The current method is not only wasteful and inefficient but is prone to producing vast amount of pollutants into the atmosphere on a daily basis while not doing useful work at the same time. This vast amount of pollution is believed to be contributing to the global warming of the earth and all of the ills that are attendant with it, like flooding of lower coastal regions etc. The basic reason, as concerns motor vehicles, is the ever increasing congestion on all of the nations roadways whether city streets; state highways or federal freeways. This massive congestion results in prolonged delay of vehicles of all types in trying to reach their destinations. The impressive gas mileages that all of the automobile manufacturing companies extol are meaningless when all of the vehicles during the rush hour spend long periods of time stalled and idling in traffic. Although the electric car is subject to the same traffic delays as all of the other vehicles propelled by a different method such as gas or diesel engine, still the electric car is in the off mode when not in motion. Yet the problem with the electric car and hybrid car, even though to a lesser degree, is the limited amount of storage of electricity available with the current technology in battery manufacturing. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The compressed air propulsion system of the present invention includes a compressed air tank. First and second identical opposing cylinders have a piston connected to a piston rod. Each piston divides the cylinder into two chambers and each chamber is connected to inlet and outlet valves with the inlet valves connected to the compressed air tank. First and second sprockets joined by a common chain are mounted on corresponding first and second axles. The piston rods of the first and second cylinders are connected to corresponding first and second sprockets at a pivot point. Each axle has a fixed disc mounted adjacent to the sprocket. The fixed disc includes plural light beam emitter/receptor devices that send signals to an electronic control unit for controlling the opening and closing of the inlet and outlet valves based on the position of interrupters mounted to each sprocket. The first axle connected to the first sprocket supplies drive torque to a vehicle transmission and the second axle connected to the second sprocket supplies drive torque to an electronic generator which charges a battery. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an end view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a view taken along line B-B of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the drive shaft and its housing. 
         FIG. 7  shows five brackets affixed to fixed disc  502 . 
         FIG. 8  shows 4 brackets affixed to fixed disc  604 . 
         FIG. 9  is a listing that depicts all of the various modes of the two cylinders for one cycle of the sprockets. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Many of the details of the present invention are shown in  FIGS. 1 through 5  including a compressed air tank  436  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ). First  202  and second  214  identical opposing cylinders include a piston connected to a piston rod. First cylinder  202  has piston  204  connected to piston rod  206  while second cylinder  214  has piston  216  connected to piston rod  218 . 
     Each piston is divided into two chambers. As shown in  FIG. 1  first cylinder  202  has chambers  231  and  233  while second cylinder  214  has chambers  235  and  237 . 
     Each chamber has inlet valves and outlet or vent valves. Left chamber  231  of first cylinder  202  is provided with inlet valve  230  and vent or outlet valve  232  and pressure gauge  246 . Right chamber  233  of first cylinder  202  is provided with inlet valve  236  and vent or outlet valve  234  and pressure gauge  248 . Likewise left chamber  235  of second cylinder  214  is provided with inlet valve  238  and vent or outlet valve  240  and pressure gauge  252 . Right chamber  237  of second cylinder  214  is provided with inlet valve  244  and vent or outlet valve  242  and pressure gauge  250 . 
     The cylinder chambers are connected to the compressed air tank  436  via inlet valves. As shown in  FIG. 3  inlet line  431  connects tank  436  with first cylinder  202  via inlet valves  230  and  236  while inlet line  433  connects tank  436  with second cylinder  214  via inlet valves  238  and  244 . 
     First sprocket  226  and second sprocket  228  are joined by common chain  229 . First sprocket  226  is mounted on first axle  241  and second sprocket  228  is mounted on second axle  243 . 
     The piston rods of the first and second cylinders are connected to a corresponding one of the first and second sprockets at a pivot point. As shown in  FIG. 1 , piston rod  206  of first cylinder  202  is connected to first sprocket  226  at pivot point  212  via joint  208  and push rod  210  while piston rod  218  is connected to second sprocket  228  at pivot point  224  via joint  220  and push rod  222 . Since pivot  212  is at 90° and pivot point  224  is at +1-180° the pivot points are 90° out of phase. 
     Each axle has a fixed disc mounted adjacent to the sprocket. As shown in  FIG. 4 , first axle  241  has fixed disc  502  mounted adjacent to first sprocket  226 . In  FIG. 5  second axle  243  has a fixed disc  604  mounted adjacent to second sprocket  228 . 
     Each fixed disc  502  and  604  includes plural light beam emitter/receptor devices  530  ( FIG. 4) and 630  ( FIG. 5 ) that send signals to an electronic control unit  435  for controlling the opening and closing of the inlet valves  230   236 ,  238 ,  244  and outlet valves  232 ,  234 ,  240 ,  242  based on the position of interrupts  518  and  602  mounted to each sprocket  226  and  228 . 
     The first axle  241  is connected to the first sprocket  226  supplying drive torque to a vehicle transmission ( FIG. 3 ); and the second axle  243  is connected to the second sprocket  228  supplying drive torque to an electronic generator ( FIG. 3 ) which charges a battery. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3  the electronic control unit  435  includes a computer  430 , a master wireless interface device  430 . 1  and a monitor  432 . Various wireless interface devices (WID) serve as the wireless link with the master wireless interface device  430 . 1  which enables the computer  430  to command the opening and closing of inlet and/or outlet valves in a preprogrammed order. 
       FIG. 1  shows first cylinder  202  having WID  230 . 1  associated with inlet valve  230 , WID  232 . 1  associated with outlet valve  232 , WID  234 . 1  associated with outlet valve  234 , WID  236 . 1  associated with inlet valve  236 , WID  246 . 1  associated pressure gauge  246 , and WID  248 . 1  associated with pressure gauge  248 . Likewise, second cylinder  214  had WID  238 . 1  associated with inlet valve  238 , WID  240 . 1  associated with outlet valve  240 , WID  242 . 1  associated with outlet valve  242 , WID  244 . 1  associated with outlet valve  244 , WID  250 . 1  associated with pressure gauge  250 , and WID  252 . 1  associated with pressure gauge  252 . 
     The master wireless interface device  430 . 1  is the link between the computer  430  and the various switches, pressure gauges and emitter/receptor devices. 
     The opening and closing of the various switches are dependent on which light beam has been intercepted or blocked by the light beam interrupter. For cylinder  202  that would be  518  from  FIG. 4  and for cylinder  214  that would be light beam interrupter  602  of  FIG. 5 . 
     Each light beam that is blocked informs the computer to command a particular inlet valve to change to the open or closed mode or for a particular vent valve to change to the open or closed mode. 
     The changes by valves of both cylinders are made at the same time. The only difference is that each sprocket has its own light beam interrupter attached to the back of it. And since the two cylinders work together it is required that the particular valves open and close in conformance with instructions that have been programmed in the computer program that has been down loaded on the computer hard drive. 
     The device is intended to work when each piston produces power in sequence, not simultaneously. When one piston is in the push or pull power mode the other piston is in the vent mode. 
     As stated, the device operates in several modes. First is the start up mode in the clockwise direction, then operation mode. This can be of the push or pull mode by either of the pistons. There is also the shut down mode where the device is brought to a halt. These modes apply only to the two cylinders. 
     In  FIG. 2  compressed air from tank  436  goes through inlet line  431  to first cylinder  202  to drive push rod  210  which rotates first sprocket  226  and downstream sprocket  506  on first axle  241 . Then downstream sprocket  506  by means of chain  438  rotates connecting sprocket  722  which connects to a vehicle drive shaft. In the same manner compressed air from tank  436  goes through inlet line  433  to second cylinder  214  to drive push rod  222  which rotates second sprocket  228  and downstream socket  608  on second axle  243 . Then downstream socket  608  by means of chain  440  rotates connecting sprocket  434  which connects to electric generator  424 . The electric generator supplies power to battery pack  422 . 
       FIG. 3  has another mode that involves the valves and pressure gauges that are involved in introducing air under high pressure into the various tanks from one or more external sources. One would be from a filling station of the future or from a compressor located in the owners garage. 
     Electric motor  418  operates air compressor  414  which supplies compressed air via line  417  to tank  436  through valve  412 . Also, station  420  supplies compressed air via line  403  to tank  436  through valve  402  when valve  406  is closed. Pressure within tank  436  should be around 600 psi while the pressure within cylinders  202  and  214  as regulated by the various pressure gauges is between 10-15 psi. 
       FIG. 3  also shows connecting sprocket  434  rotating generator axle to supply electricity to DC generator  424  which goes into battery  422  via line  423 . DC from the battery  422  goes through inverters  426  and  428  to become AC which then goes through electric lines  429  to supply power to all valves, WIDS, pressure gauges and other equipment that require electricity. 
     The lower portion of  FIG. 4  is a larger view of the emitter/receptor assembly, generally indicated  530 , which has a light beam interrupter  518  attached to the back side of first sprocket  226  and bracket  531  attached to fixed disc  502 . Bracket  531  houses light beam emitter  526  and light beam receptor  532  having light beam  533  therebetween. As sprocket  226  is rotated finger  519  of light beam interrupter  518  breaks the light beam  533  between emitter  526  and receptor  532 , the consequences of which will be described later. 
     Supports  504  and  508  on base  524  house first axle  241  which is connected to first sprocket  226  and downstream sprocket  506 . Flange  514  attaches to support  504  and flange  510  attaches to support  508 . Fixed disc  502  is connected to support  504  by bolts  520  and  522 . Brake  534  is on axle  241  and is activated by WID  534 . 1 . 
     The lower portion of  FIG. 5  is a larger view of the emitter/receptor assembly, generally indicated  630 , which has a light beam interrupter  602  attached to the back side of second sprocket  228  and a bracket  631  attached to fixed disc  604 . Bracket  631  houses light beam emitter  632  and light beam receptor  634  having light beam  636  therebetween. As sprocket  228  is rotated finger  603  of light beam interrupter  602  breaks the light beam  636  between emitter  632  and receptor  634 , the consequences of which will be described later. 
     Supports  606  and  610  on base  628  house second axle  243  which is connected to second sprocket  228  and downstream sprocket  608 . Flange  626  attaches to support  606  and flange  624  attaches to support  610 . Fixed disc  604  is connected to support  606  by bolts  614  and  616 . 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 3  wherein supports  720  and  724  hold housing/drive shaft  718  which engages differential  708 . Rotation of sprocket  722  rotates drive shaft  718  which through differential  708  rotates left axle  710  and right axle  716  thereby rotating wheels  702  and  704 . Brake  706  is adjacent wheel  702  while brake  712  is adjacent wheel  704 . 
       FIG. 7  shows brackets  810 ,  812 ,  814  and  816  attached to fixed disc  502  at angles of +45, +135, −135, and −45 respectfully. Bracket  818  at +90 is de-energized in operational mode and is activated during the shut down mode. As described above for  FIG. 4  each bracket houses a light beam emitter and a light beam receptor having a light beam therebetween. WIDs  810 . 1 ,  812 . 1 ,  814 . 1 ,  816 . 1 , and  818 . 1  are associated with their respective brackets. 
       FIG. 8  shows the four brackets on fixed disc  604 . Bracket  902  is attached at +45°, bracket  904  at 45°, bracket  906  at +135°, and bracket  908  at −135°. WIDs  902 . 1 ,  904 . 1 ,  906 . 1  and  908 . 1  are associated with their respective brackets. As described above for  FIG. 5  each bracket houses a light beam emitter and a light beam receptor having a light beam therebetween. 
       FIG. 9  lists the open and closed positions of the inlet and vent valves as the sprockets  226  and  228  complete one operational cycle. This will be explained in detail later on. 
     The invention has two power units consisting of two cylinders that are in opposition. Each cylinder has an enclosed piston which divides the cylinder into two chambers. Each chamber of each cylinder is furnished with an inlet valve and an outlet or vent valve. 
     Each inlet valve allows air under pressure from the internal storage tank(s) to flow into the particular chamber in conformance with instructions previously included in a computer program downloaded on the computer hard drive. This pressured air in turn applies force to a piston. Each piston is connected to a push/pull bar that moves right or left with the piston. Each horizontal push/pull bar in turn is connected to a second push/pull bar that pivots at the connection point with its respective horizontal push/pull bar. 
     Functioning of the individual vent valves is identical to that of any inlet valves. Commands to change from the open or closed mode are transmitted wirelessly through commands from the electronic control unit through electronic pulses. 
     Any one of the four individual pressure gauges serves only to provide a constant readout to the computer wirelessly of the pressure existing in a particular chamber at a particular moment in time. Pressure gauges play no active role in generating force by the power unit. 
     The two sprockets rotate in unison due to a common chain that links them together. Each of the two sprockets is identical in size and shape and functions the same way. 
     Operation of the inlet valves or vent valves in either the open or closed position is determined by instructions from and through the master wireless interface device  430 . 1  to the individual wireless interface devices that are part of each of the inlet or vent valve assemblies. 
     The compressed air propulsion system operates in one of three modes. These modes are startup, operation, and shutdown. 
     Each of the two cylinders operates in one of four modes. The modes are push, vent, pull and vent. These modes are repetitive. When either cylinder is in the push or pull mode the opposite cylinder is in the vent mode. 
     Only one inlet valve of the four inlet valves on the cylinders can be in the open position mode at any time during the operation mode. More than one vent valve in either cylinder may be in the open mode at any one time. 
     Startup Mode 
     When the system is placed in the startup mode on computer command inlet valve  230  is ordered to the open mode. Pivot point  212  rotates between locations +90 and +135 relative to fixed disk  502 . This causes finger  519  of light beam interrupter  518  attached to the back side of sprocket  226  to break light beam  533  housed within bracket  812  at location +135 of fixed disk  502  resulting in inlet valve  230  changing from the open mode to the closed mode. 
     Pivot point  224  has been resting at location +180 relative to fixed disk  604  during the shutdown mode. Pivot point  224  rotates from +180 to location −135. This causes finger  603  of light beam interrupter  602  attached to the back side of sprocket  228  to break the light beam  636  housed within bracket  908  of fixed disk  604  causing inlet valve  244  to change from the off mode to the on mode. Meanwhile vent valve  242  changes from the on mode to the off. 
     The power unit of the invention continues to operate on commands transmitted by wireless pulses to the various valves and switches until the next shutdown operation is reached. 
     Operation Mode 
     For cylinder  202  the push mode occurs when inlet valve  230  is in the open mode, vent valve  232  is in the closed mode and inlet valve  236  is in the closed mode while vent valve  234  is in the open mode. At the same time inlet valve  244  of cylinder  214  is in the closed mode and vent valve  242  in the right chamber of cylinder  214  is in the open mode. Inlet valve  238  is in the closed mode while vent  240  is in the open mode. Air flows into the left chamber of cylinder  202  and out through vent valve  234  of the right chamber. During the same interval in time air flows in or out of either vent valve  240  or  242  as the two sprockets rotate. 
     Cylinder  202  is in either of the two vent modes when both inlet valves  230  and  236  are in the closed mode and the two vent valves  232  and  234  are in the open mode. During the same interval in time inlet valves  238  and  244  of cylinder  214  are in the closed mode. Conversely vent valves  240  and  242  are in the open mode. Air may flow in or out of either chamber depending on the direction the particular piston is moving. 
     Cylinder  202  is in the pull mode when pressure enters chamber  233  through inlet valve  236  which is in the open mode and vent valve  234  located in the same chamber is in the closed mode. Inlet valve  230  is in the closed mode and vent valve  232  is in the open mode. For cylinder  214  both inlet valves  238  and  244  are in the closed mode and vent valves  240  and  242  are in the fully open mode. 
     Cylinder  214  is in the push mode when inlet valve  244  is in the open mode, vent valve  242  is in the closed mode, inlet valve  238  is in the closed mode and vent valve  240  is in the open mode. At the same time both inlet valves  230  and  236  of cylinder  202  are in the closed mode while both vent valves  232  and  234  are in the fully open mode. 
     Cylinder  214  is in either of the two vent modes when inlet valves  238  and  244  are in the closed mode and vent valves  240  and  242  are in the fully open mode. Cylinder  202  is in the either the push mode or the pull mode. 
     Cylinder  214  is in the pull mode when inlet valve  238  is in the open mode, vent valve  240  is in the closed mode, inlet valve  244  is in the closed mode and vent  242  is in the open mode. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , cylinder  202  is also in the push mode when pivot point  212  rotates between +45 and +135 relative to fixed disk  502  ( FIG. 3  &amp;  FIG. 7 ) and in the vent mode when pivot point  212  rotates between +135 and −135. It is in the pull mode when pivot point  212  rotates between −135 and −45. It is in a second vent mode when pivot point  212  rotates between −45 and +45. Any following rotation repeats itself. The rotation of either sprocket depends on direction of rotation of either push/pull bar depending on which is in the power mode. 
     Cylinder  214  is in the push mode when pivot point  224  rotates between −135 and −45 of fixed disk  502 . It is in one of two vent modes when pivot point  224  rotates between −45 and +45. It is in the pull mode when pivot point  224  rotates between +45 and +135. It is in a second vent mode when pivot point  224  rotates between +135 and −135. 
     Opening or closing of any of the four inlet valves of the two cylinders or the vent valves thereof depends on pulses transmitted through wireless interfaces devices (WIDs). The pulses generated by the master wireless interface device  430 . 1  are determined by instructions embedded in the computer program. These pulses are transmitted in a predetermined order to achieve a smooth rotation of the two sprockets. Rotation of the sprockets in turn causes the axles they are mounted on to rotate. One axle  241  serves to provide motion for a vehicle while rotation of a second axle provides rotation of the armature of the DC generator to generate electricity to power the invention. 
     In operation starting with cylinder  202  in the push mode with inlet valve  230  in the open mode, vent valve  232  in the closed mode, vent valve  234  in the open mode while inlet valve  236  is in the closed mode. In the same interval of time both inlet valve  238  and  244  of cylinder  214  are in the closed mode and vent valves  240  and  242  are in the open mode. Air under pressure is introduced through inlet valve  230  and flows out of right chamber vent valve  234 . Air that is in the chambers  235  and  237  flows in or out of either chamber depending on the motion of piston  216 . 
     Each sprocket has a light beam interrupter device (LBI) mounted on the reverse side of the sprocket. Sprocket  226  has LBI  518  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) mounted along a radius extending from the center of axle  241  (refer to  FIG. 1 ) vertically to a position opposite to pivot point  212 . LBI  602  (refer to  FIG. 5 ) is mounted along a radius extending from the center of axle  243  (refer to  FIG. 1 ) to a point opposite to pivot point  224 ). 
     The finger  519  of LBI  518  breaks in succession the light beams  533  housed in brackets  818 ,  812 ,  814  and  816  (refer to  FIG. 4  &amp;  FIG. 7 ). 
     Meanwhile the finger  603  of LBI  602  breaks successively through the light beams  636  housed in brackets  902 ,  906 ,  908  and  904  (refer to  FIG. 5  &amp;  FIG. 8 ). 
     For the emitter/receptor assembly  530  mounted on the face of fixed disc  502  (refer to  FIG. 3 ) pulses are generated when the finger  519  of LBI  518  momentarily breaks the light beam existing between the particular emitter/receiver device gap. This also occurs simultaneously when the finger  603  of LBI  602  momentarily breaks the light beam existing between the particular emitter/receptor devices that are mounted on the face of fixed disk  604 . 
     The emitter/receptor housed in bracket  818  is provided with electrical power only during the shutdown mode but is not active in the startup or operational mode. 
     Blockage of the light beam within bracket  810  at location +45 on fixed disk  502  causes the computer through the master wireless interface device  430 . 1  to transmit a pulse or pulses that cause inlet valve  230  to change from the closed mode to the open mode. Another pulse generated at the same time causes vent valve  232  to change from the open mode to the closed mode as cylinder  202  changes from the vent mode to the push mode. Other pulses when LBI  602  breaks the light beam at −45 on fixed disk  604  (refer to  FIG. 8 ) causing inlet valve  244  to change from the open mode to the closed mode and another pulse causes vent valve  242  to change from the closed mode to the open mode as cylinder  214  changes from the push mode to the vent mode. 
     Blockage of the particular light beam of any of the emitter/receptor devices in like manner causes inlet and outlet valves of both cylinders to command the particular inlet or vent valves to open or close as cylinders change from one mode to the next mode. 
     Shutdown Mode 
     When the shutdown activating device (not shown) is in the on mode and on the second rotation of pivot point  212  through location +45 of fixed disk  502  inlet valve  230  is changed to the open condition until pressure gauge  246  by pulse verifies that the design pressure of 10 psi in chamber  231  has been reached. At this time inlet valve  230  is placed in the closed mode. This is imposed on inlet valve  230  so that the pressure in chamber  231  decreases as sprocket  226  continues to rotate and chamber  231  increase in volume causing a decrease in pressure. This preprogrammed decrease in pressure results in a decrease in the force exerted on the face of piston  204 . When LBI  518  breaks the light beam E/R/D within  818  the electric current to E/R/D within  818  is placed in the off mode. At the same instant brake  534  mounted on axle  241  is placed in the engaged mode and the rotation of axle  241  is brought to a halt. In the shutdown mode both cylinders rest in the vent mode where inlet valves  230  and  236  of cylinder  202  rest in the closed mode and vent valves  232  and  234  rest in the open mode. Inlet valves  238  and  244  of cylinder  214  rest in the closed mode while vent valves  240  and  242  rest in the open mode. 
     Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated, such is not intended to limit the invention. Modifications and changes will no doubt become apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is intended that the invention only be limited by the scope of the appended claims.