Traction drive fuel cell pump
AssigneeSuperTurbo Technologies, Inc.
InventorsTom Waldron, Jared William Brown
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is an air pump for a fuel cell that utilizes a speed-reduction traction drive so that a low speed electric motor can be used to drive a high-speed rotodynamic compressor. The rotodynamic compressor is an efficient air pump, but operates at high speeds that would require a specialized high-speed electric motor. The speed-reduction traction drive couples to the compressor and provides a low-speed output that is connected to a lower speed electric motor.
Claims16
An air pump for a fuel cell comprising:
- a rotodynamic compressor that pressurizes intake air for said fuel cell;
- a high-speed shaft attached to said rotodynamic compressor;
- a speed-reduction traction drive that interfaces with said high-speed shaft;
- an electric motor that is attached to a low-speed output of said speed-reduction traction drive that drives said rotodynamic compressor through said speed-reduction traction drive.
A method of pumping air to create a source of pressurized air for a fuel cell, comprising:
- rotating a low speed shaft with an electric motor, said low speed shaft connected to a roller;
- rotating a high speed shaft with said roller using a traction drive that is formed from an interface between a surface of said roller and a surface of said high speed shaft;
- driving a rotodynamic compressor with said high speed shaft to create said source of pressurized air;
- applying said source of pressurized air to said fuel cell.
A method of pumping air to create a source of pressurized air for a fuel cell comprising:
- rotating a low speed shaft with an electric motor;
- driving a traction drive with said low speed shaft;
- driving a high speed shaft with said traction drive;
- driving a rotodynamic compressor with said high speed shaft to create said source of pressurized air to said fuel cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.