Transportation device with reciprocating part and kinetic storage

An energy converting and storing apparatus comprising:

• (a) a motion converter having:
• (a1) a multi-directionally movable first member that is movable in a first direction by a corresponding first directed driving force applied thereto and is movable in an opposed second direction by a corresponding second directed driving force applied thereto, the second direction being substantially opposite to the first direction;
• (a2) a movable second member that is rotatable in a predetermined first rotational direction;
• and
• (a3) a mechanical diode-action type and/or smart switching type coupling system operatively intercoupled between the movable first and second members and configured to substantially couple the first directed driving force applied to the first member as corresponding first rotary force applied to the second member in correspondence with the predetermined first rotational direction and to substantially not couple the second directed driving force as a corresponding second rotary force applied to the second movable member in correspondence with a second rotational direction that is opposite to the predetermined first rotational direction;
• and
• (b) an energy storing mechanism operatively coupled to the second member so as to receive therefrom energy arising from the first directed rotary force being applied over distance to the second member, the energy storing mechanism including at least a first flywheel mass configured to kinetically store at least part of a received-as-first-flywheel stored kinetic energy and to function as part of an electrical generator, the energy storing mechanism being structured to accumulatively store at least part of the received energy or the first flywheel stored kinetic energy as one or more of electrical energy, electrochemical energy or other potential energy.

A method of operating a transport vehicle that obtains at least part of a propulsion energy of the vehicle from manual energy input thereto, the method comprising:

• (a) applying to a movable first member on the vehicle a substantially non-rotary and manually derived first force;
• (b) converting the substantially non-rotary first force into a rotary second force that is applied to a rotatably drivable second member on the vehicle, the application of the second force being a substantially one way application that causes the second member to rotate in a predefined first rotary direction but not in an opposed second rotary direction;
• (c) coupling the substantially one way, second force from the second member to a faster and also one-way rotating first flywheel mass;
• (d) coupling energy from the first flywheel mass to a first combination electrical motor and generator (motor/generator), where at least a portion of the first motor/generator defines at least a portion of said first flywheel mass;
• and
• (e) coupling electrical energy from the first motor/generator to a propulsion producing member of the vehicle.

A variable inductance system comprising:

• (a) a first plurality of magnetic yokes;
• (b) a second plurality of magnetic yokes movable relative to the first plurality of magnetic yokes;
• (c) a plurality of tapered roller bearings interposed between the first and second magnetic yokes and disposed so as to make and break substantially closed magnetic flux conducting loops formed by the first and second magnetic yokes and the roller bearings when relative movement occurs between the first and second magnetic yokes;
• and
• (d) a control circuit electromagnetically coupled to at least one magnetic flux conducting member among the plural first and second magnetic yokes and roller bearings and configured to drive an electrical current through a coupling coil by way of which the control circuit electromagnetically couples to the at least one magnetic flux conducting member, control circuit including a phase sensing portion that receives a signal indicating when a making or breaking of the substantially closed magnetic flux conducting loops is about to occur.