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US 2016/0243776 A1Published application
Compression Tires and Tire Systems
AssigneeMichel Energy, Inc.
InventorChuck Michel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Air compressing tires on a vehicle can utilize tire deformation during vehicle motion to compress a gas. The compressed gas can be discharged from the tire to a pressure regulating vessel on the vehicle. The compressed gas can be stored or used for power generation on board the vehicle. In some cases, the power generated can be used to extend battery power and/or range of an electric vehicle.
Claims27
An air compressing system onboard a vehicle, comprising:
- (a) a tire comprising:
- (i) a rim;
- (ii) a compressing bladder circumscribing at least a portion of said rim;
- (iii) a compression chamber circumscribing at least a portion of said compressing bladder, wherein said compression chamber is configured to generate compressed air by a force from the vehicle that is transmitted to the compression chamber by the compressing bladder;
- and
- (b) a fluid flow path in fluid communication with said compression chamber, wherein said fluid flow path is for transferring air from the compression chamber to the vehicle during motion of said vehicle.
3 more elements
A power generation system onboard a vehicle, comprising:
- (a) a vehicle tire comprising (i) a rim, (ii) a compressing bladder circumscribing at least a portion of said rim, and (iii) a compression chamber circumscribing at least a portion of said compressing bladder, wherein rotation of said vehicle tire generates a periodic force that is directed to said compression chamber through said compressing bladder, which force compresses fluid in said compression chamber;
- (b) a fluid flow path in fluid communication with said compression chamber, wherein said fluid flow path is adapted to direct compressed fluid out of said compression chamber;
- and
- (c) a power generation system that is in fluid communication with said compression chamber through said fluid flow path, wherein said power generation system is adapted to generate power upon fluid flow through said fluid flow path, which fluid flow is generated upon compression of fluid in said compression chamber upon rotation of said vehicle tire.
1 more element
A method for generating power onboard a vehicle, comprising:
- providing a vehicle comprising at least one tire including (i) a rim, (ii) a compressing bladder circumscribing at least a portion of said rim, (iii) a compression chamber circumscribing at least a portion of said compressing bladder, and (iv) a fluid flow path in fluid communication with said compression chamber and a power generation system, which power generation system generates power upon fluid flow through said fluid flow path;
- effecting rotation of said tire to effect the compression of said compressing bladder against said rim, thereby displacing fluid from the compression chamber into said fluid flow path;
- and
- directing said fluid displaced from the compression chamber to said power generation system through said fluid flow path, to generate power upon said rotation of said tire.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.