# US 11,299,054 B2 · Methods and apparatus for powering a vehicle

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- Number: US 11,299,054 B2
- Document ID: US11299054B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/035,488
- Filed: 2020-09-28
- Published: 2021-01-28
- Granted: 2022-04-12
- Earliest claimed: 2019-06-07
- Applicants: Anthony Macaluso
- Inventors: Anthony Macaluso
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299054B2

## CPC

- B60L 53/16: Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
- B60K 1/04: of the electric storage means for propulsion
- B60K 25/08: from a ground wheel, e.g. engaging the wheel tread or rim
- B60L 8/00: Electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind
- B60L 50/30: using propulsion power stored mechanically, e.g. in fly-wheels
- B60L 50/40: using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
- B60L 50/62: charged by low-power generators primarily intended to support the batteries, e.g. range extenders
- B60L 50/90: using propulsion power supplied by specific means not covered by groups B60L50/10 - B60L50/50, e.g. by direct conversion of thermal nuclear energy into electricity
- B60L 53/18: Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
- B60L 53/22: Constructional details or arrangements of charging converters specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
- B60L 53/24: Using the vehicle's propulsion converter for charging
- B60L 53/32: {by charging in short intervals along the itinerary, e.g. during short stops}
- F03G 3/08: using flywheels
- F16D 41/00: Freewheels or freewheel clutches (cycle brakes controlled by back-pedalling B62L5/00 {; one-way linear clutches F16B7/16})
- B60K 2001/0461: {from the side}
- F16D 2300/0212: Air cooling
- Y02T 10/62: Hybrid vehicles
- Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
- Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
- Y02T 90/14: Plug-in electric vehicles
- B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- F03G: SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (arrangements in connection with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60K16/00; electric propulsion with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60L8/00)
- F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

This application is directed to an apparatus for providing electrical charge to a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a driven mass, a generator, a charger, a hardware controller, and a communication circuit. The driven mass rotates in response to a kinetic energy of the vehicle and is coupled to a shaft such that rotation of the driven mass causes the shaft to rotate. The driven mass exists in one of (1) an extended position and (2) a retracted position. The generator generates an electrical output based on a mechanical input coupled to the shaft such that rotation of the shaft causes the mechanical input to rotate. The charger is electrically coupled to the generator and: receives the electrical output, generates a charge output based on the electrical output, and conveys the charge output to the vehicle. The controller controls whether the driven mass is in the extended position or the retracted position in response to a signal received from the communication circuit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for providing electrical charge to a vehicle, comprising:
a first driven mass configured to rotate in response to a kinetic energy of the vehicle, the first driven mass coupled to a first shaft such that rotation of the first driven mass causes the first shaft to rotate, wherein the first driven mass exists in one of (1) a first extended position in which the kinetic energy of the vehicle causes the first driven mass to rotate and (2) a first retracted position in which the kinetic energy of the vehicle does not cause the first driven mass to rotate;
a second driven mass configured to rotate in response to the kinetic energy of the vehicle, the second driven mass coupled to a second shaft such that rotation of the second driven mass causes the second shaft to rotate, wherein the second driven mass exists in one of (1) a second extended position in which the kinetic energy of the vehicle causes the second driven mass to rotate and (2) a second retracted position in which the kinetic energy of the vehicle does not cause the second driven mass to rotate;
a charger configured to:
generate a charge output when the first driven mass or the second driven mass rotates in response to the kinetic energy of the vehicle, and
convey the charge output to one of an energy storage component or an electric motor of the vehicle; and
a hardware controller configured to control whether the first driven mass is in the first extended position or the first retracted position and whether the second driven mass is in the second extended position or the second retracted position in response to a signal received from a communication circuit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first driven mass comprises a first wheel and wherein the second driven mass comprises a second wheel and wherein the first extended position and the second extended position comprise the first and second wheels, respectively, positioned in contact with a ground surface on which the vehicle travels.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the charger comprises a charging cable coupled to a charging port of the vehicle and wherein the charge output is conveyed to the vehicle via the charging cable and the charging port.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a generator configured to convert the rotation of at least one of the first driven mass or the second driven mass to generate the electrical output and a circuit element positioned in series with the generator and the charger, wherein the circuit element creates an open circuit between the generator and the charging port of the vehicle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a filtering circuit configured to filter the electrical output from the generator before the electrical output from the generator is received by the charger, wherein filtering the electrical output includes one or more of filtering, cleaning, matching, converting, and conditioning the electrical output to reduce risk of damage to the charger by the electrical output.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a first generator configured to generate the electrical output based on a first mechanical input, the first mechanical input mechanically coupled to the first shaft such that rotation of the first shaft causes the mechanical input to rotate; and
a second generator configured to generate the electrical output based on a second mechanical input, the second mechanical input mechanically coupled to the second shaft such that rotation of the second shaft causes the mechanical input to rotate.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first mechanical input is mechanically coupled to the first shaft by one or more of a first chain, a first belt, a first gearing system, and a first pulley system and wherein the second mechanical input is mechanically coupled to the second shaft by one or more of a second chain, a second belt, a second gearing system, and a second pulley system.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an energy storage device configured to store any excess portion of the charge conveyed to the vehicle when a vehicle battery or a vehicle motor is unable to accept all portions of the charge output conveyed from the charger.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the energy storage device is further configured to convey the excess portion of the charge to the vehicle energy storage device or to the vehicle motor on demand.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a battery storage device and a capacitor storage device, wherein the capacitor storage device is configured to:
receive at least a portion of the charge output,
store at least the portion of the charge output, and
convey at least the portion of the charge output to the battery storage device in one or more bursts based on a charge level of the battery storage device dropping below a threshold value.

### Claim 11

A method of providing electrical charge to a vehicle, comprising:
rotating a first driven mass in response to a kinetic energy of the vehicle, the first driven mass coupled to a first shaft such that rotation of the first driven mass causes the first shaft to rotate, wherein the first driven mass exists in (1) a first extended position in which the kinetic energy of the vehicle causes the first driven mass to rotate and (2) a first retracted position in which the kinetic energy of the vehicle does not cause the first driven mass to rotate;
rotating a second driven mass in response to the kinetic energy of the vehicle, the second driven mass coupled to a second shaft such that rotation of the second driven mass causes the second shaft to rotate, wherein the second driven mass exists in (1) a second extended position in which the kinetic energy of the vehicle causes the second driven mass to rotate and (2) a second retracted position in which the kinetic energy of the vehicle does not cause the second driven mass to rotate;
generating a charge output when the first driven mass or the second driven mass rotates in response to the kinetic energy of the vehicle;
conveying the charge output to one of an energy storage component or an electric motor of the vehicle; and
controlling whether the first driven mass is in the extended position or the retracted position and whether the first driven mass is in the extended position or the retracted position in response to a signal received from a vehicle controller.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the first driven mass comprises a first wheel and wherein the second driven mass comprises a second wheel, and wherein the first extended position and the second extended position comprise the first and second wheels, respectively, positioned in contact with a ground surface on which the vehicle travels.

### Claim 13

An apparatus for providing electrical charge to a vehicle, comprising:
a first driven mass configured to rotate in response to a kinetic energy of the vehicle, the first driven mass coupled to a first shaft such that rotation of the first driven mass causes the first shaft to rotate;
a second driven mass configured to rotate in response to the kinetic energy of the vehicle, the second driven mass coupled to a second shaft such that rotation of the second driven mass causes the second shaft to rotate;
a capacitor module configured to:
receive a first portion of an electrical output generated in response to the rotation of the first driven mass or the second driven mass,
store the first portion of the electrical output as a first energy in the capacitor module, and
convey the first energy to a load of the vehicle on demand;
a battery module configured to:
receive a second portion of the electrical output,
store the second portion of the electrical output as a second energy in the battery module, and
convey the second energy to the load of the vehicle on demand; and
a hardware controller configured to control whether the capacitor module, the battery module, or a combination of the capacitor module and the battery module is coupled to the electrical output in response to a received signal.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first driven mass comprises a first wheel and wherein the second driven mass comprises a second wheel and wherein the first driven mass and the second driven mass rotate when positioned in contact with a ground surface on which the vehicle travels.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:
a first generator configured to generate the electrical output based on a first mechanical input, the first mechanical input mechanically coupled to the first shaft such that rotation of the first shaft causes the mechanical input to rotate; and
a second generator configured to generate the electrical output based on a second mechanical input, the second mechanical input mechanically coupled to the second shaft such that rotation of the second shaft causes the mechanical input to rotate.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first mechanical input is mechanically coupled to the first shaft by one or more of a first chain, a first belt, a first gearing system, and a first pulley system and wherein the second mechanical input is mechanically coupled to the second shaft by one or more of a second chain, a second belt, a second gearing system, and a second pulley system.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the capacitor module is further configured to receive and store the first portion of the electrical output when the battery module or a vehicle motor is unable to accept the second portion of the electrical output.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the capacitor module is further configured to convey the first energy to the battery module or to the vehicle motor on demand.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first driven mass and the second driven mass rotating generate a larger electrical output as compared to either the first driven mass or the second driven mass rotating alone.