Pneumatic mechanical power source

Abstract

An mechanical power system provides torque without using a heat engine where fossil-fuel engines have conventionally been used, by replacing the fossil-fuel burning engine with a rotary pneumatic motor and feeding pressure-regulated compressed gas to the rotary pneumatic motor. The rotary pneumatic motor can be used anywhere, and requires preferably compressed nitrogen in a non-liquid state. Automotive, marine and electrical generating applications are adaptable, and auxiliary power is available for emergencies where a supply of compressed gas has been exhausted. A screw-type compressor can be electrically powered to supply compressed gas to the pneumatic motor where tanks of compressed gas have been exhausted. An electrical generating power plant includes an array of solar panels for generating direct current (DC) and a DC/AC converter for converting the DC to alternating current (AC) and outputting a portion of the AC via a power plant output port to supply an AC load.

I claim: 
     
       1. A pneumatic-powered locomoting transporter device comprising:
 a housing; 
 at least one rotary pneumatic motor (RPM) for generating pneumatic power; 
 a storage tank assembly of one or more refillable or replaceable storage tanks each having a supply of compressed substantially pure high pressure gas, which is not in liquid form and is free of water vapor, and said storage tank assembly comprises one or more user-replaceable, or user re-fillable gas storage containers that are arranged within said housing, 
 means for withdrawing said high pressure working fluid of said compressed gas from said storage tank assembly; 
 means for reducing the high pressure of said working fluid from said storage tank assembly to a lower operating pressure in the range of about 90 PSI to about 150 PSI without the application of heat to said supply of compressed substantially pure gas; 
 a separate throttle control for delivering under controlled conditions said working fluid at the lower operating pressure without the application of heat to a pneumatic motor to produce a shaft torque output to operate a transmission propelling respective axle wheels on an axle, to move said pneumatic powered locomoting transporter device; 
 wherein said pneumatic motor is connected to said compressed gas storage containers by conduits having at least one gas pressure regulator in gaseous flow connection between said containers and said pneumatic motor; 
 at least one auxiliary power source for energizing an auxiliary engine; 
 at least one electric generating device for generating electric current; and 
 at least one electrically powered screw-type compressor for compressing gas, the compressor electrically connected with said at least one electric generating device and—in and in fluid communication with said gas storage containers; 
 wherein said at least one rotary pneumatic motor (RPM) feeds said generated pneumatic power to said locomoting transporter device. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1  wherein said pneumatic-powered locomoting transporter comprises a user-operable motor vehicle drivable on public highways and comprising all customary conventional automotive components and dimensions required for fitness to operate upon public highways. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 2  wherein said motor vehicle comprises a member of the group comprising automobiles, trucks, buses, construction equipment, heavy vehicular equipment and recreational vehicles. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 2  wherein said pneumatic-powered locomoting transporter comprises any of the group consisting of: a floating marine vehicle and a railroad locomotive. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein interposed between said compressor and said gas pressure regulator comprises a humidifier dehumidifier air drier capable of removing water vapor from the supply of said compressed gas. 
     
     
       6. The pneumatic powered locomoting transporter device as in  claim 1  wherein said auxiliary engine is a fossil fuel powered engine. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 6 , wherein said pneumatic motor delivers power to a vehicular drive train. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1  in which said auxiliary power source is a rechargeable battery array. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1 , in which said auxiliary power source is an internal combustion engine. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 1 , in which said auxiliary power source includes means for switching between an internal combustion engine and a battery array. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 10  wherein said separate source of electricity is a rechargeable battery pack. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a power takeoff mechanically coupled to said shaft torque output for driving an auxiliary electric generator. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said compressor is a rotary screw type compressor. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said pneumatic motor drives a main electric generator for producing electric power for auxiliary accessories. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 14  wherein said at least one rotary pneumatic engine and automotive transmission are crankshaft-connected to said electrical traction motor, which said electrical traction motor is connected to said electrical generator powering the auxiliary accessories. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 15 , wherein said electric motor comprises a braking motor-generator for dynamic braking capture of vehicular kinetic energy as electrical energy and wherein said locomoting transporter comprises at least one array of lithium-ion batteries connected to said motor generator for capturing electrical energy resulting from said dynamic braking of said locomoting transporter to supplement said electrical generator. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 16 , wherein said locomoting transporter device further comprises a stationary electric traction motor engine optionally powering said transmission wherein the power of said stationary engine is consumed in a stationary application. 
     
     
       18. The pneumatic-powered locomoting transporter device as in  claim 1  wherein said compressed gas is nitrogen. 
     
     
       19. The pneumatic powered locomoting transporter device as in  claim 18  wherein said auxiliary engine is a an auxiliary compressor for delivering compressed air as a supplementary source of pressurized to supplement said pressurized gaseous nitrogen to said pneumatic motor when said pressurized gaseous nitrogen is not available from said storage tank assembly; and
 an auxiliary power source for driving said auxiliary compressor. 
 
     
     
       20. The device of  claim 18 , in which said pressurized gaseous nitrogen is reduced in pressure to a range from about 150 PSI to about 90 PSI working pressure. 
     
     
       21. The pneumatic-powered locomoting transporter as in  claim 1  wherein said compressed gas is air, said pneumatic-powered locomoting transporter further comprises a dehumidifier for removing water and water vapor from said compressed air before said compressed air powers said rotary pneumatic motor. 
     
     
       22. A pneumatic-powered locomoting transporter device comprising:
 a housing;   a rotary pneumatic motor (RPM) for generating pneumatic power;   a storage tank assembly of one or more refillable or replaceable storage tanks each having a supply of compressed substantially pure high-pressure gas, which is not in liquid form and is free of water vapor, and arranged within said housing;   means for withdrawing said high pressure working fluid of said compressed gas from said storage tank assembly;   means for reducing the high pressure of said working fluid of said compressed gas from said storage tank assembly to a lower operating pressure in the range of about 90 PSI to about 150 PSI without the application of heat;   a throttle control, for delivering under controlled conditions, said working fluid of said compressed gas at the lower operating pressure to the rotary pneumatic motor (RPM) to produce a shaft torque output to operate a transmission propelling respective axle wheels on an axle, to move said pneumatic powered locomoting transporter device;   wherein said rotary pneumatic motor (RPM) is connected to said refillable or replaceable storage tanks by conduits that have at least one gas pressure regulator in gaseous flow connection between said containers and said rotary pneumatic motor (RPM) and wherein said rotary pneumatic motor (RPM) feeds said generated pneumatic power to said locomoting transporter device;   an auxiliary fossil fuel for energizing an auxiliary fossil fuel engine;   an auxiliary electric generating device for generating electric current; and   an electrically powered screw-type compressor for compressing gas, the compressor electrically connected with said auxiliary electric generating device and in fluid communication with said gas storage tanks;   a main electric generator driven by said rotary pneumatic motor ('RPM) for generating electric power;   an electric traction motor using said electric power to produce motive power for a vehicle; and   a dynamic regenerative braking system which when applied causes said electric traction motor to operate as a generator feeding current back to an on-board lithium ion battery array for powering accessories.   
     
     
       23. The transporter device of claim 22 in which said electric traction motor provides traction for wheels of said vehicle. 
     
     
       24. A vehicle comprising:
 a single prime mover comprising a main electric traction motor for providing an uninterrupted source of motive power during operation of the vehicle and a non-fossil fuel source for providing electric power for said main electric traction motor:   an electric battery array connected to and providing electric power to said prime mover;   an auxiliary electrical generator;   an auxiliary fossil fuel engine connected to and driving the auxiliary electrical generator: an auxiliary fuel tank serving the auxiliary fossil fuel engine; and   a braking system which when applied causes said main electric traction motor to operate as a generator feeding current to said electric battery array, to charge said electric battery array.   
     
     
       25. The vehicle as in claim 24, wherein said main electric traction motor receiving electric power from said electric battery array for driving a power train of said vehicle. 
     
     
       26. The vehicle as in claim 24, wherein said auxiliary electrical generator operates with a DC/AC converter. 
     
     
       27. The vehicle as in claim 26, wherein said auxiliary electrical generator is an inverter/charger. 
     
     
       28. The vehicle as in claim 25, wherein said auxiliary electrical generator is connected to and charges the electric battery. 
     
     
       29. The vehicle as in claim 25, wherein said auxiliary electric generator is connected to and provides electric power to said prime mover. 
     
     
       30. The vehicle as in claim 24, wherein said electric battery array includes any of the group consisting of: at least one 12 volt battery; at least one lithium ion battery and a combination of at least one 12 volt battery and at least one lithium ion battery. 
     
     
       31. An automobile, comprising:
 a single prime mover comprising a main electric traction motor providing an uninterrupted motive source of power during operation of said automobile, for generating a primary shaft power output;   a main electric generator driven by shaft power output provided by a non-fossil fuel source;   an electric battery array:   an auxiliary fossil fuel engine connected to an auxiliary electrical generator for generating electrical power on demand: an auxiliary fuel tank serving the auxiliary fossil fuel auxiliary engine;   a secondary shaft power output, arranged between the main electric traction motor and an automotive transmission:   wherein said electric battery array is electrically connected to an auxiliary electric generator operated by the secondary shaft power output, for maintaining said electric battery array in a normal state of full electric charge.   
     
     
       32. The automobile as in claim 31, further comprising a DC/AC converter. 
     
     
       33. The automobile in claim 31, wherein said DC/AC converter is an inverter/charger. 
     
     
       34. The automobile as in claim 31, wherein said prime mover is main electric traction motor and wherein auxiliary electrical generator is connected to and supplies electrical power to the prime mover. 
     
     
       35. The automobile as in claim 31, wherein said electric battery array may comprise any of the group consisting of: at least one 12 volt battery; at least one lithium ion battery and a combination of at least one 12 volt battery and at least one lithium ion battery. 
     
     
       36. The automobile as in claim 31, wherein said prime mover is a main electric traction motor receiving electric power from said electric battery array for driving a power train of said vehicle and for generating the primary shaft power output. 
     
     
       37. A vehicle comprising:
 a prime mover comprising a rotary pneumatic motor for providing a source of motive power for the vehicle using a main electric generator for powering a main electric traction motor;   an electric battery array connected to and providing electric power to a compressor for supplying air to said pneumatic motor;   an auxiliary electrical generator:   an auxiliary fossil fuel engine connected to and driving the auxiliary electrical generator: an auxiliary fuel tank serving the auxiliary fossil fuel engine; and   a braking system which when applied causes said main electric traction motor to operate as a generator feeding current to said electric battery array, to charge said electric battery array.   
     
     
       38. An automobile, comprising:
 a prime mover comprising a rotary pneumatic motor for providing a motive source of power, for generating a primary shaft power output;   a main electric generator driven by said shaft power output;   an electric battery array;   an auxiliary fossil fuel engine connected to an auxiliary electrical generator for generating electrical power on demand; an auxiliary fuel tank serving the auxiliary fossil fuel auxiliary engine;   a secondary shaft power output, arranged between the main electric traction motor and an automotive transmission;   wherein said electric battery array is electrically connected to said auxiliary electric generator operated by the secondary shaft power output, for maintaining said electric battery array in a normal state of full electric charge.   
     
     
       39. The vehicle as in claim 37, further comprising a screw-type compressor, wherein said auxiliary electrical generator generates and provides electrical power to the screw type compressor associated with said rotary pneumatic motor.