# US 11,999,250 B2 · Methods and apparatus for powering a vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,999,250 B2 - Document ID: US11999250B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/069,785 - Filed: 2022-12-21 - Published: 2023-04-27 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-07 - Applicants: Anthony Macaluso - Inventors: Anthony Macaluso - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11999250B2 ## 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 A system for providing energy to a vehicle to power the vehicle, the system comprising: an energy source disposed within a housing of a vehicle, the energy source comprising a generator configured to generate energy in response to a kinetic energy of the vehicle; a first energy storage device disposed within the housing of the vehicle and configured to receive energy from the energy source to store as a first energy in the first energy storage device; a second energy storage device disposed within the housing of the vehicle and configured to store a second energy, wherein the second energy storage device has a greater energy density than the first energy storage device, wherein the second energy storage device has a smaller power density than the first energy storage device, wherein the first energy storage device is further configured to: provide at least a portion of the first energy to the second energy storage device; and provide at least a portion of the first energy to an electrical load of the vehicle; and a cut-off switch located within the vehicle to be accessed by an operator of the vehicle, the cut-off switch configured to open a contactor electrically coupled to the energy source to electrically disconnect the energy source from the first energy storage device or the second energy storage device, the cut-off switch configured to open the contactor in response to actuation of the cut-off switch by the operator of the vehicle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller electrically coupled to the first energy storage device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to control an electrical coupling between the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to monitor an energy level of the second energy and an energy demand of the electrical load. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to electrically couple the first energy storage device with the second energy storage device based on at least an energy level of the second energy. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to electrically couple the first energy storage device with the second energy storage device based on at least an energy output of the second energy storage device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the second energy storage device is further configured to: store the at least the portion of the first energy from the first energy storage device as the second energy; and convey at least a portion of the second energy to the electrical load of the vehicle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first energy storage device is further configured to provide the at least the portion of the first energy to the second energy storage device based on at least the second energy of the second energy storage device being discharged from the second energy storage device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first energy storage device is further configured to provide a voltage support to the second energy storage device by providing the at least the portion of the first energy to the second energy storage device to supplement a voltage of the second energy storage device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first energy storage device is further configured to provide the at least the portion of the first energy to the second energy storage device on demand. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first energy storage device is further configured to provide the at least the portion of the first energy to the second energy storage device in response to the second energy of the second energy storage device falling below a threshold. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first energy storage device is further configured to provide the at least the portion of the first energy to the second energy storage device in response to an energy requirement of the electrical load exceeding a threshold. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first energy storage device is further configured to provide the at least the portion of the first energy to the second energy storage device to supplement an output of energy from the second energy storage device to the electrical load. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first energy storage device is a capacitor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the second energy storage device is a battery. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical load is a motor. ### Claim 17 A method for providing energy to a vehicle to power the vehicle, the method comprising: receiving, at a first energy storage device disposed within a housing of the vehicle, energy from an energy source to store as a first energy in the first energy storage device; storing a second energy in a second energy storage device disposed within the housing of the vehicle, wherein the second energy storage device has a greater energy density than the first energy storage device, wherein the second energy storage device has a lesser power density than the first energy storage device, wherein the method further comprises: providing at least a portion of the first energy to the second energy storage device; and providing at least a portion of the first energy to an electrical load of the vehicle; and opening a contactor in response to actuation of a cut-off switch by an operator of the vehicle; and electrically disconnecting the energy source form the first energy storage device or the second energy storage device responsive to opening the contactor. ### Claim 18 An apparatus for providing energy to a vehicle to power the vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a first energy storage device disposed within a housing of the vehicle and having a first energy density and a first power density, wherein the first energy storage device is configured to: receive energy from an energy source to store as a first energy in the first energy storage device; provide at least a portion of the first energy to a second energy storage device disposed within the housing of the vehicle and having a second energy density greater than the first energy density and a second power density less than the first power density; and provide at least a portion of the first energy to an electrical load of the vehicle; and electrically disconnect from the energy source in response to actuation of a cut-off switch by an operator of the vehicle, the cut-off switch accessible by the operator of the vehicle from within the vehicle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising electrically coupling the first energy storage device with the second energy storage device based on at least an energy level of the second energy. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: storing the at least the portion of the first energy from the first energy storage device as the second energy in the second energy storage device; and conveying at least a portion of the second energy from the second energy storage device to the electrical load of the vehicle. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first energy storage device comprises a capacitor. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first energy storage device is further configured to provide the at least the portion of the first energy to the second energy storage device in response to an energy requirement of the electrical load exceeding a threshold.