Optimized gas-based transmission

An optimized gas-based transmission, which comprises:

• a compressor having an input drive shaft that is connected to a rotatable drive shaft of an engine such that when the rotatable drive shaft turns the input drive shaft of said compressor, air is drawn into the input of the compressor, conducted through the compressor, and pushed through the output of the compressor;
• a high-pressure reservoir, the input of which high-pressure reservoir is connected to the output of the compressor so that when the rotatable drive shaft turns the input drive shaft of the compressor, the air from the output of the compressor is forced into the input of the high-pressure reservoir;
• a first pressure regulator, the input of which first pressure regulator is attached to the output of the high-pressure reservoir;
• a variable-pressure reservoir, the input of which variable-pressure reservoir is attached to the output of the first pressure regulator to receive the air from the high-pressure reservoir when the first pressure regulator permits such gas to flow from its input to its output;
• a gas-operated drive motor, the input of which gas-operated drive motor is connected to the output of the variable-pressure reservoir so that when sufficient pressure exists within the variable-pressure reservoir, the air will enter the input of the gas-operated drive motor, cause the drive shaft of the gas-operated drive motor to rotate, and exit the gas-operated drive motor through the output of the gas-operated drive motor;
• a throttle sensor that measures a throttle setting for the engine;
• and
• a computer, having in its memory a desired engine power that corresponds to any given throttle setting as well as a power curve for the engine, said computer being connected to the first pressure regulator and also to the throttle sensor permitting said computer to determine, and direct the first pressure regulator to adjust, the pressure within the high-pressure reservoir to achieve a lowest engine speed which can produce the desired engine power.

An optimized gas-based transmission, which comprises:

• a compressor having an input drive shaft that is connected to a rotatable drive shaft of an engine such that when the rotatable drive shaft turns the input drive shaft of said compressor, air is drawn into the input of the compressor, conducted through the compressor, and pushed through the output of the compressor;
• a high-pressure reservoir, the input of which high-pressure reservoir is connected to the output of the compressor so that when the rotatable drive shaft turns the input drive shaft of the compressor, the air from the output of the compressor is forced into the input of the high-pressure reservoir;
• a first pressure regulator, the input of which first pressure regulator is attached to the output of the high-pressure reservoir and which first pressure regulator is set to maintain one appropriate value for pressure in the high-pressure reservoir that creates an approximate linear relationship which exists between engine power and engine speed in the power curve for the engine between a first point of minimum engine power and a point of maximum engine power;
• a variable-pressure reservoir, the input of which variable-pressure reservoir is attached to the output of the first pressure regulator to receive the air from the high-pressure reservoir when the first pressure regulator permits such gas to flow from its input to its output;
• and
• a gas-operated drive motor, the input of which gas-operated drive motor is connected to the output of the variable-pressure reservoir so that when sufficient pressure exists within the variable-pressure reservoir, the air will enter the input of the gas-operated drive motor, cause the drive shaft of the gas-operated drive motor to rotate, and exit the gas-operated drive motor through the output of the gas-operated drive motor.

A process for transmitting power from an engine that has a rotatable drive shaft, which comprises:

• having an input drive shaft of a compressor connected to the rotatable drive shaft of the engine so that when the rotatable drive shaft rotates, it turns the input drive shaft of the compressor causing air to be drawn into the input of the compressor, conducted through the compressor, and pushed through the output of the compressor;
• receiving into the input of a high-pressure reservoir, the input of which high-pressure reservoir is connected to the output of the compressor, the air from the output of the compressor when the rotatable drive shaft of the engine turns the input drive shaft of the compressor;
• using a first pressure regulator to control the passage of gas from the output of the high-pressure reservoir to the input of a variable-pressure reservoir;
• receiving into the variable-pressure reservoir gas from the high-pressure reservoir when the first pressure regulator permits such gas to flow from the output of said first pressure regulator;
• and
• receiving into the input of a gas-operated drive motor the gas from the output of the variable-pressure reservoir when sufficient pressure exists within the variable-pressure reservoir to force the gas to enter the input of the gas-operated drive motor, to have such gas rotate the drive shaft of the gas-operated drive motor, and to have such gas then exit the gas-operated drive motor through the output of the gas-operated drive motor.