Compressed air propulsion system for a vehicle
US4596119A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 29, 1983 |
| Grant date | Jun 24, 1986 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 29, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF01B29/10
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A compressed air propulsion system is provided to be adapted for use with a vehicle, and comprises a transaxle mechanism adapted to be mounted to and driven by the vehicle wheels, and an air compressor coupled to the output shaft of the transaxle mechanism to be driven thereby. The air compressor supplies a flow of compressed air to an air distributor system connected to the vehicle engine. The air distributor system comprises a plurality of solenoids connected to the air lines leading to the engine cylinders, and a respective plurality of microswitches are electrically connected to the solenoids to sequentially operate the solenoids for sequentially supplying compressed air to the engine cylinders. The microswitches are sequentially actuated mechanically by a rotor secured to the distributor shaft, which is coupled to the vehicle crankshaft. An accelerator is also provided for controllably varying the flow rate of compressed air to the air distributor system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.