Hybrid turbine-electric motor system

Abstract

An improved hybrid turbine-electrical motor system (10) that is designed to replace conventional internal combustion piston engines. The system (10) is disclosed in two design configurations: a first basic design which includes a fuel source (12), a turbine (14), an alternator (16), a motor speed controller (18), a drive motor (20) and a load (22) and a second design which includes additional elements that enhance the operation of the system (10). These other elements include a gear reduction transmission (24) that reduces the shaft speed of the turbine, a speed regulator (19) that remotely controls the operation of the motor speed controller (18), a plurality of leak detectors (26) which alert an operator that there is an accumulation of gas, a heater (60) which utilizes the hot exhaust gases from the turbine (14) to heat the interior of a vehicle, and an auxiliary power unit (APU) (30) that functions in combination with an APU activating circuit (40). The APU (30) is activated to enhance the operation of the turbine (14) when the load requirements of the turbine (14) have been exceeded.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.