Regenerative energy system

A regenerative energy storage system usable with a vehicle having a drivetrain, the regenerative energy storage system comprising:

• a rotatable shaft engageable with the drivetrain;
• a storage device receiving a rotational input from the rotatable shaft and providing a rotational output to the rotatable shaft;
• a first gear set connecting the rotatable shaft to the storage device, the first gear set driven by the rotatable shaft, and the first gear set driving the storage device;
• a windup clutch selectively engaging the rotatable shaft with the first gear set, the rotatable shaft selectively winding the storage device through the windup clutch and the first gear set;
• a second gear set driven by the storage device;
• an output clutch selectively connecting the second gear set with the rotatable shaft, the storage device selectively rotating the rotatable shaft through the second gear set and the output clutch.

A regenerative energy storage system for storing and using energy through an axle of a vehicle that has an engine that propels the vehicle, the regenerative energy storage system comprising:

• a compressor driven by the axle to compress a fluid;
• a storage canister receiving the fluid;
• a motor that rotates in reaction to selective delivery of the fluid from the storage canister to the motor, the motor selectively rotating the axle;
• the axle adapted to rotate the compressor, the axle adapted to be rotated by the motor;
• and
• wherein the engine has an exhaust system and the fluid is heated by the exhaust system prior to delivery to the motor.

A regenerative energy storage system comprising:

• a first shaft;
• a second shaft;
• a windup clutch driven by the first shaft and selectively actuated to engage the first shaft with the second shaft;
• a ball screw unit driven by the second shaft, the ball screw unit having a third shaft, a ball nut assembly disposed on the third shaft, a stop disposed on the third shaft opposite the ball nut assembly, and a compression element disposed between the ball nut assembly and the stop, the second shaft engageable with the first shaft and driving the ball nut assembly toward the stop to compress the compression element;
• a holding clutch engaged with the second shaft selectively preventing rotation of the second and third shafts, maintaining compression of the compression element;
• an output clutch driven by the third shaft and selectively actuated to engage the third shaft with the first shaft, the third shaft driving the first shaft through the output clutch when the holding clutch is opened.