Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
A SHIP LIQUID AIR / PNEUMATIC POWER SYSTEM
by CRAIG ANTROBUS
Antrobus Consulting Ltd.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0001] Not applicable.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
[0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
material that is
subject to copyright protection by the author thereof. The copyright owner has
no
objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or
patent
disclosure for the purposes of referencing as patent prior art, as it appears
in the Patent
and Trademark Office, patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all
copyright rights
whatsoever.
BACKGROUND OF THE RELEVANT PRIOR ART
[0003] One or more embodiments of the invention generally relate to a
power
system. More particularly, certain embodiments of the invention relate to a
marine vessel
ship power system.
[0004] The following background information may present examples of
specific
aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or
common wisdom)
that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to
additional aspects of
the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or
any embodiments
thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.
[0005] Typically, conventional Ship power may be powered by combustion.
Conventional combustion motors may include a combustible liquid such as
diesel,
wherein an expansive force from heating the liquid may cause a piston of the
engine to
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move, and thus creating work. This work may prorogate through a multiplicity
of gears
and axels, typically known as a drivetrain, to a propeller shaft and may
deliver the work
to the shaft in a form of torque which may cause the shaft to turn. Some other
conventional ship may be powered by electricity. Conventional electric motors
may
include current supplied to a stator from a battery, wherein the stator may
then become
energized to create a rotating magnetic flux. The flux may generate a magnetic
field
which may result in a current being produce in a rotor position within the
stator. The
rotating flux and the current may produce a force wherein that force may
propagate
torque to a coupled wheel. The following is an example of a specific aspect in
the prior
art that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to
additional aspects
of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or
any
embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred
thereupon. By
way of educational background, another aspect of the prior art generally
useful to be
aware of is that with conventional combustion motors, an exhaust, after a
combustible
liquid has gone through combustion, may need to be expelled. Typically, the
exhaust
may be expelled into the atmosphere. Furthermore, much of the power created by
the
combustion may be used to move moving parts of the drivetrain before torque
may be
delivered to a coupled shaft. With conventional electric motors, a cost to
produce such a
system may typically be more expensive than the conventional combustion motor.
Moreover, the battery which supplies current to the electric motor may only be
recharged
by plugging the battery into a power supplying station.
[0006] In view of the foregoing, it is clear that these traditional
techniques are not
perfect and leave room for more optimal approaches.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not
by way of
limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like
reference
numerals refer to similar elements and in which:
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[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a liquid air /
pneumatic
power systems architecture of a marine ship, in accordance with an embodiment
of the
present invention
[0009] FIG. 2 illustrates operational component diagrams of an exemplary
liquid
air / pneumatic power systems, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention, wherein FIG. 2 illustrates operational air flow components, in
accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates operational component diagrams of an exemplary
liquid
air / pneumatic power systems, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention, wherein FIG. 3 illustrates operational electric flow components, in
accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary method embodiment of using an
exemplary
liquid air / pneumatic power system vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment
of the
present invention.
Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily
drawn to scale.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS
[0012] The present invention is best understood by reference to the
detailed figures
and description set forth herein.
[0013] Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference
to the
Figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the
detailed
description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory
purposes as the
invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. For example, it should be
appreciated that those skilled in the art will, in light of the teachings of
the present
invention, recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches,
depending upon
the needs of the particular application, to implement the functionality of any
given detail
described herein, beyond the particular implementation choices in the
following
embodiments described and shown. That is, there are modifications and
variations of the
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invention that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit within the scope
of the
invention. Also, singular words should be read as plural and vice versa and
masculine as
feminine and vice versa, where appropriate, and alternative embodiments do not
necessarily imply that the two are mutually exclusive.
[0014] It is to be further understood that the present invention is not
limited to the
particular methodology, compounds, materials, manufacturing techniques, uses,
and
applications, described herein, as these may vary. It is also to be understood
that the
terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular
embodiments
only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must
be noted that
as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and
"the" include
the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for
example, a
reference to "an element" is a reference to one or more elements and includes
equivalents
thereof known to those skilled in the art. Similarly, for another example, a
reference to "a
step" or "a means" is a reference to one or more steps or means and may
include sub-
steps and subservient means. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the
most
inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word "or" should be understood as having
the
definition of a logical "or" rather than that of a logical "exclusive or"
unless the context
clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be
understood also to
refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be
construed to
express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly
dictates
otherwise.
[0015] All words of approximation as used in the present disclosure and
claims
should be construed to mean "approximate," rather than "perfect," and may
accordingly
be employed as a meaningful modifier to any other word, specified parameter,
quantity,
quality, or concept. Words of approximation, include, yet are not limited to
terms such
as "substantial", "nearly", "almost", "about", "generally", "largely",
"essentially",
"closely approximate", etc.
[0016] As will be established in some detail below, it is well settle
law, as early as
1939, that words of approximation are not indefinite in the claims even when
such limits
are not defined or specified in the specification.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-11
[0017] For example, a court said "The examiner has held that most of the
claims are
inaccurate because apparently the laminar film will not be entirely
eliminated. The claims
specify that the film is "substantially" eliminated and for the intended
purpose, it is
believed that the slight portion of the film which may remain is negligible.
We are of the
view, therefore, that the claims may be regarded as sufficiently accurate."
[0018] Note that claims need only "reasonably apprise those skilled in
the art" as to
their scope to satisfy the definiteness requirement. In addition, the use of
modifiers in the
claim, like "generally" and "substantial," does not by itself render the
claims indefinite.
[0019] Moreover, the ordinary and customary meaning of terms like
"substantially"
includes "reasonably close to: nearly, almost, about", connoting a term of
approximation.
Depending on its usage, the word "substantially" can denote either language of
approximation or language of magnitude. When referring to the "substantially
halfway"
limitation, the Specification uses the word "approximately" as a substitute
for the word
"substantially". The ordinary meaning of "substantially halfway" is thus
reasonably close
to or nearly at the midpoint between the forwardmost point of the upper or
outsole and
the rearward most point of the upper or outsole.
[0020] Similarly, the term 'substantially' is well recognized in case
law to have the
dual ordinary meaning of connoting a term of approximation or a term of
magnitude.
The term "substantially" is commonly used by claim drafters to indicate
approximation.
[0021] It should also be noted that such words of approximation as
contemplated in
the foregoing clearly limits the scope of claims such as saying 'generally
parallel' such
that the adverb 'generally' does not broaden the meaning of parallel.
Accordingly, it is
well settled that such words of approximation as contemplated in the foregoing
(e.g., like
the phrase 'generally parallel') envisions some amount of deviation from
perfection (e.g.,
not exactly parallel), and that such words of approximation as contemplated in
the
foregoing are descriptive terms commonly used in patent claims to avoid a
strict
numerical boundary to the specified parameter. To the extent that the plain
language of
the claims relying on such words of approximation as contemplated in the
foregoing are
clear and uncontradicted by anything in the written description herein or the
figures
thereof, it is improper to rely upon the present written description, the
figures, or the
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-11
prosecution history to add limitations to any of the claim of the present
invention with
respect to such words of approximation as contemplated in the foregoing. That
is, under
such circumstances, relying on the written description and prosecution history
to reject
the ordinary and customary meanings of the words themselves is impermissible.
The
plain language of phrase 2 requires a "substantial helical flow." The term
"substantial" is
a meaningful modifier implying "approximate,- rather than "perfect."
[0022] The reader should appreciate that case law generally recognizes a
dual
ordinary meaning of such words of approximation, as connoting a term of
approximation
or a term of magnitude; where a court was asked to construe the meaning of the
term
"substantially" in a patent claim. In conducting their analysis, the court
instructed to
begin with the ordinary meaning of the claim terms to one of ordinary skill in
the art.
Reference to dictionaries and our cases indicates that the term
"substantially" has
numerous ordinary meanings. As the district court stated, "substantially" can
mean
"significantly" or "considerably." The term "substantially" can also mean
"largely" or
"essentially." Webster's New 20th Century Dictionary 1817 (1983).
[0023] Words of approximation, as contemplated in the foregoing, may
also be
used in phrases establishing approximate ranges or limits, where the end
points are
inclusive and approximate, not perfect, where it where a court said We
conclude that the
ordinary meaning of the phrase "up to about 10%" includes the "about 10%"
endpoint.
Because we have here a numerical limit ¨ "about 10%" ¨ the ordinary meaning is
that
that endpoint is included.
[0024] In the present specification and claims, a goal of employment of
such words
of approximation, as contemplated in the foregoing, is to avoid a strict
numerical
boundary to the modified specified parameter. It is well established that when
the term
"substantially" serves reasonably to describe the subject matter so that its
scope would be
understood by persons in the field of the invention, and to distinguish the
claimed subject
matter from the prior art, it is not indefinite." Expressions such as
"substantially" are
used in patent documents when warranted by the nature of the invention, in
order to
accommodate the minor variations that may be appropriate to secure the
invention.
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[0025] Similarly, other courts have noted that like the term "about,"
the term
"substantially" is a descriptive term commonly used in patent claims to "avoid
a strict
numerical boundary to the specified parameter. Noting that terms such as
"approach each
other," "close to," "substantially equal," and "closely approximate" are
ubiquitously used
in patent claims and that such usages, when serving reasonably to describe the
claimed
subject matter to those of skill in the field of the invention, and to
distinguish the claimed
subject matter from the prior art, have been accepted in patent examination
and upheld by
the courts. In this case, "substantially" avoids the strict 100% nonuniformity
boundary.
[0026] Indeed, the foregoing sanctioning of such words of approximation,
as
contemplated in the foregoing, has been established as early as 1939, where,
for example,
a court said "the claims specify that the film is "substantially" eliminated
and for the
intended purpose, it is believed that the slight portion of the film which may
remain is
negligible. We are of the view, therefore, that the claims may be regarded as
sufficiently
accurate."
[0027] Hence, for at least the forgoing reason, Applicants submit that
it is improper
for any examiner to hold as indefinite any claims of the present patent that
employ any
words of approximation.
[0028] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used
herein have
the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art
to which
this invention belongs. Preferred methods, techniques, devices, and materials
are
described, although any methods, techniques, devices, or materials similar or
equivalent
to those described herein may be used in the practice or testing of the
present invention.
Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional
equivalents of
such structures. The present invention will be described in detail below with
reference to
embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0029] References to a "device," an "apparatus," a "system," etc., in
the preamble of
a claim should be construed broadly to mean "any structure meeting the claim
terms"
exempt for any specific structure(s)/type(s) that has/(have) been explicitly
disavowed or
excluded or admitted/implied as prior art in the present specification or
incapable of
enabling an object/aspect/goal of the invention. Furthermore, where the
present
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specification discloses an object, aspect, function, goal, result, or
advantage of the
invention that a specific prior art structure and/or method step is similarly
capable of
performing yet in a very different way, the present invention disclosure is
intended to and
shall also implicitly include and cover additional corresponding alternative
embodiments
that are otherwise identical to that explicitly disclosed except that they
exclude such prior
art structure(s)/step(s), and shall accordingly be deemed as providing
sufficient disclosure
to support a corresponding negative limitation in a claim claiming such
alternative
embodiment(s), which exclude such very different prior art
structure(s)/step(s) way(s).
[0030] From reading the present disclosure, other variations and
modifications will
be apparent to persons skilled in the art. Such variations and modifications
may involve
equivalent and other features which are already known in the art, and which
may be used
instead of or in addition to features already described herein.
[0031] Although Claims have been formulated in this Application to
particular
combinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of the
disclosure of the
present invention also includes any novel feature or any novel combination of
features
disclosed herein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalization
thereof, whether or
not it relates to the same invention as presently claimed in any Claim and
whether or not
it mitigates any or all of the same technical problems as does the present
invention.
[0032] Features which are described in the context of separate
embodiments may
also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various
features
which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may
also be
provided separately or in any suitable subcombination. The Applicants hereby
give notice
that new Claims may be formulated to such features and/or combinations of such
features
during the prosecution of the present Application or of any further
Application derived
therefrom.
[0033] References to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "example
embodiment," "various embodiments," "some embodiments," "embodiments of the
invention," etc., may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so
described may
include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every
possible
embodiment of the invention necessarily includes the particular feature,
structure, or
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characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase "in one embodiment," or
"in an
exemplary embodiment," "an embodiment," do not necessarily refer to the same
embodiment, although they may. Moreover, any use of phrases like "embodiments"
in
connection with "the invention" are never meant to characterize that all
embodiments of
the invention must include the particular feature, structure, or
characteristic, and should
instead be understood to mean "at least some embodiments of the invention-
includes the
stated particular feature, structure, or characteristic.
[0034] References to "user", or any similar term, as used herein, may
mean a
human or non-human user thereof Moreover, "user", or any similar term, as used
herein,
unless expressly stipulated otherwise, is contemplated to mean users at any
stage of the
usage process, to include, without limitation, direct user(s), intermediate
user(s), indirect
user(s), and end user(s). The meaning of "user", or any similar term, as used
herein,
should not be otherwise inferred or induced by any pattern(s) of description,
embodiments, examples, or referenced prior-art that may (or may not) be
provided in the
present patent.
[0035] References to "end user", or any similar term, as used herein, is
generally
intended to mean late stage user(s) as opposed to early stage user(s). Hence,
it is
contemplated that there may be a multiplicity of different types of "end user"
near the end
stage of the usage process. Where applicable, especially with respect to
distribution
channels of embodiments of the invention comprising consumed retail
products/services
thereof (as opposed to sellers/vendors or Original Equipment Manufacturers),
examples
of an "end user" may include, without limitation, a "consumer", "buyer",
"customer",
"purchaser", "shopper", "enjoyer", "viewer", or individual person or non-human
thing
benefiting in any way, directly or indirectly, from use of. or interaction,
with some aspect
of the present invention.
[0036] In some situations, some embodiments of the present invention may
provide
beneficial usage to more than one stage or type of usage in the foregoing
usage process.
In such cases where multiple embodiments targeting various stages of the usage
process
are described, references to "end user", or any similar term, as used therein,
are generally
intended to not include the user that is the furthest removed, in the
foregoing usage
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process, from the final user therein of an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0037] Where applicable, especially with respect to retail distribution
channels of
embodiments of the invention, intermediate user(s) may include, without
limitation, any
individual person or non-human thing benefiting in any way, directly or
indirectly, from
use of, or interaction with, some aspect of the present invention with respect
to selling,
vending, Original Equipment Manufacturing, marketing, merchandising,
distributing,
service providing, and the like thereof.
[0038] References to "person", "individual", "human", "a party",
"animal",
"creature", or any similar term, as used herein, even if the context or
particular
embodiment implies living user, maker, or participant, it should be understood
that such
characterizations are sole by way of example, and not limitation, in that it
is contemplated
that any such usage, making, or participation by a living entity in connection
with
making, using, and/or participating, in any way, with embodiments of the
present
invention may be substituted by such similar performed by a suitably
configured non-
living entity, to include, without limitation, automated machines, robots,
humanoids,
computational systems, information processing systems, artificially
intelligent systems,
and the like. It is further contemplated that those skilled in the art will
readily recognize
the practical situations where such living makers, users, and/or participants
with
embodiments of the present invention may be in whole, or in part, replaced
with such
non-living makers, users, and/or participants with embodiments of the present
invention.
Likewise, when those skilled in the art identify such practical situations
where such living
makers, users, and/or participants with embodiments of the present invention
may be in
whole, or in part, replaced with such non-living makers, it will be readily
apparent in
light of the teachings of the present invention how to adapt the described
embodiments to
be suitable for such non-living makers, users, and/or participants with
embodiments of
the present invention. Thus, the invention is thus to also cover all such
modifications,
equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of such
adaptations and
modifications, at least in part, for such non-living entities.
[0039] Headings provided herein are for convenience and are not to be
taken as
limiting the disclosure in any way.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-11
[0040] The enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of
the items
are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise.
[0041] It is understood that the use of specific component, device
and/or parameter
names are for example only and not meant to imply any limitations on the
invention. The
invention may thus be implemented with different nomenclature/terminology
utilized to
describe the mechanisms/units/structures/components/devices/parameters herein,
without
limitation. Each term utilized herein is to be given its broadest
interpretation given the
context in which that term is utilized.
[0042] Terminology. The following paragraphs provide definitions and/or
context
for terms found in this disclosure (including the appended claims):
[0043] "Comprising." This term is open-ended. As used in the appended
claims,
this term does not foreclose additional structure or steps. Consider a claim
that recites: "A
memory controller comprising a system cache. . . . " Such a claim does not
foreclose the
memory controller from including additional components (e.g., a memory channel
unit, a
switch).
[0044] "Configured To." Various units, circuits, or other components may
be
described or claimed as "configured to'' perform a task or tasks. In such
contexts,
"configured to" or "operable for" is used to connote structure by indicating
that the
mechanisms/units/circuits/components include structure (e.g., circuitry and/or
mechanisms) that performs the task or tasks during operation. As such, the
mechanisms/unit/circuit/component can be said to be configured to (or be
operable) for
perform(ing) the task even when the specified
mechanisms/unit/circuit/component is not
currently operational (e.g., is not on). The
mechanisms/units/circuits/components used
with the "configured to" or "operable for" language include hardware--for
example,
mechanisms, structures, electronics, circuits, memory storing program
instructions
executable to implement the operation, etc. Reciting that a
mechanism/unit/circuit/component is "configured to" or "operable for"
perform(ing) one
or more tasks is expressly intended for that mechanism/unit/circuit/component.
"Configured to" may also include adapting a manufacturing process to fabricate
devices
or components that are adapted to implement or perform one or more tasks.
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[0045] "Based On." As used herein, this term is used to describe one or
more
factors that affect a determination. This term does not foreclose additional
factors that
may affect a determination. That is, a determination may be solely based on
those factors
or based, at least in part, on those factors. Consider the phrase "determine A
based on B."
While B may be a factor that affects the determination of A, such a phrase
does not
foreclose the determination of A from also being based on C. In other
instances, A may
be determined based solely on B.
[0046] The terms "a", "an" and "the" mean "one or more", unless
expressly
specified otherwise.
[0047] Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing conditions,
concentrations, dimensions, and so forth used in the specification and claims
are to be
understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about."
Accordingly, unless
indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the following
specification
and attached claims are approximations that may vary depending at least upon a
specific
analytical technique.
[0048] The term "comprising," which is synonymous with "including,"
"containing," or "characterized by" is inclusive or open-ended and does not
exclude
additional, unrecited elements or method steps. "Comprising" is a term of art
used in
claim language which means that the named claim elements are essential, but
other claim
elements may be added and still form a construct within the scope of the
claim.
[0049] As used herein, the phase "consisting of' excludes any element,
step, or
ingredient not specified in the claim. When the phrase "consists of" (or
variations thereof)
appears in a clause of the body of a claim, rather than immediately following
the
preamble, it limits only the element set forth in that clause; other elements
are not
excluded from the claim as a whole. As used herein, the phase "consisting
essentially of"
and "consisting of" limits the scope of a claim to the specified elements or
method steps,
plus those that do not materially affect the basis and novel characteristic(s)
of the claimed
subject matter. Moreover, for any claim of the present invention which claims
an
embodiment "consisting essentially of" or "consisting of' a certain set of
elements of any
herein described embodiment it shall be understood as obvious by those skilled
in the art
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that the present invention also covers all possible varying scope variants of
any described
embodiment(s) that are each exclusively (i.e., "consisting essentially of')
functional
subsets or functional combination thereof such that each of these plurality of
exclusive
varying scope variants each consists essentially of any functional subset(s)
and/or
functional combination(s) of any set of elements of any described
embodiment(s) to the
exclusion of any others not set forth therein. That is, it is contemplated
that it will be
obvious to those skilled how to create a multiplicity of alternate embodiments
of the
present invention that simply consisting essentially of a certain functional
combination of
elements of any described embodiment(s) to the exclusion of any others not set
forth
therein, and the invention thus covers all such exclusive embodiments as if
they were
each described herein.
[0050] With respect to the terms "comprising," "consisting of," and
"consisting
essentially of," where one of these three terms is used herein, the presently
disclosed and
claimed subject matter may include the use of either of the other two terms.
Thus in some
embodiments not otherwise explicitly recited, any instance of "comprising" may
be
replaced by "consisting of' or, alternatively, by "consisting essentially of",
and thus, for
the purposes of claim support and construction for "consisting of' format
claims, such
replacements operate to create yet other alternative embodiments "consisting
essentially
of" only the elements recited in the original "comprising" embodiment to the
exclusion of
all other elements.
[0051] Devices or system modules that are in at least general
communication with
each other need not be in continuous communication with each other, unless
expressly
specified otherwise. In addition, devices or system modules that are in at
least general
communication with each other may communicate directly or indirectly through
one or
more intermediaries.
[0052] A description of an embodiment with several components in
communication
with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the
contrary a
variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of
possible
embodiments of the present invention.
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[0053] As is well known to those skilled in the art many careful
considerations and
compromises typically must be made when designing for the optimal manufacture
of a
commercial implementation any system, and in particular, the embodiments of
the
present invention. A commercial implementation in accordance with the spirit
and
teachings of the present invention may configured according to the needs of
the particular
application, whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s), result(s),
component(s),
approach(es), or step(s) of the teachings related to any described embodiment
of the
present invention may be suitably omitted, included, adapted, mixed and
matched, or
improved and/or optimized by those skilled in the art, using their average
skills and
known techniques, to achieve the desired implementation that addresses the
needs of the
particular application.
[0054] In the following description and claims, the terms "coupled" and
"connected," along with their derivatives, may be used. It should be
understood that these
terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. Rather, in particular
embodiments,
"connected" may be used to indicate that two or more elements are in direct
physical or
electrical contact with each other. "Coupled" may mean that two or more
elements are in
direct physical or electrical contact. However, "coupled" may also mean that
two or more
elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still cooperate or
interact with
each other.
[0055] It is to be understood that any exact measurements/dimensions or
particular
construction materials indicated herein are solely provided as examples of
suitable
configurations and are not intended to be limiting in any way. Depending on
the needs of
the particular application, those skilled in the art will readily recognize,
in light of the
following teachings, a multiplicity of suitable alternative implementation
details.
[0056] Numerous conventional teachings for marine ships and related
systems have
been generally provided above. They may differ from many embodiments of the
present
invention in that they may not teach a liquid air ¨ pneumatic power system for
a marine
ship, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention of which will
be
described in some detail below.
14
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-11
[0057] It is to be understood that any exact measurements/dimensions or
particular
construction materials indicated herein are solely provided as examples of
suitable
configurations and are not intended to be limiting in any way. Depending on
the needs of
the particular application, those skilled in the art will readily recognize,
in light of the
following teachings, a multiplicity of suitable alternative implementation
details.
[0058] In some embodiments, the liquid air / pneumatic power system may
also
work in conjunction with a generator. The generator may provide electricity to
components used in the liquid air / pneumatic power system. This feedback
functionality
may make the liquid air / pneumatic powering system more efficient and thus
the cost of
travel may be quite inexpensive as compared to conventional passenger
vehicles.
[0059] It may be contemplated that in many embodiments, a cost to
manufacture,
use, and maintain a marine ship in accordance with an embodiment of the
present
invention, may be far less than conventional combustion marine ships. In many
embodiments, greenhouse gas emissions will be far less than with combustion
marine
ships. In many embodiments, the liquid air / pneumatic power system may be
much safer
than conventional combustion marine ships.
[0060] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a pneumatic power
systems
architecture of a marine ship, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
In the present embodiment, the pneumatic power system architecture may include
a
refueling attachment 100, a Liquid air storage device 101, a liquid air pump
102, an air
storage tank 103, an ignition switch 104, an acceleration device 106, main air
flow valve
108, pressure reducing regulator device 110, a forward motion multi
directional air flow
manifold 112, forward motion supply airflow valve 116, reverse motion return
airflow
valve 118, reverse motion supply airflow manifold valve 120, forward motion
return air
flow valve 122, multiple pneumatic motors 124, a reverse motion
multidirectional air
flow manifold 126, an exhaust motor generator 128, a power invertor 130,
batteries 132,
heating lines 133 and 134, cooling coil 136, a heating element 138, multiple
shaft
propellers 142, a forward and reverse switch 144, air intake valve 148 and a
pressure
relief valve 152.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-11
[0061] In many embodiments the pneumatic power system may be, for
example,
and without limitation, a compressed air power system, wherein the air storage
device
103 may be configured to store compressed air. Furthermore, in the present
embodiment,
liquid air storage device 101 may be operably coupled to a liquid air station,
such that,
the liquid air storage device may be connected to a liquid air pump and filled
with liquid
air. In some exemplary alternative embodiments, the liquid air storage device
may
include a multiplicity of operably coupled tanks, wherein each tank may be in
a range of
particular sizes, volumes, shapes, and structures. Liquid air storage tanks
may be
insulated steel cryogenic tanks of a size applicable to the size required for
the size of the
marine ship.
[0062] In the present embodiment the air storage device 103 may also be
operably
coupled to regulator device 110. In some embodiments the regulator device may
include
a pressure regulator such as, without limitation, a single stage pressure
regulator or a
double stage pressure regulator. In the present embodiment, the regulator
device may
reduce an air flow pressure output from the air storage device to an optimal
operating
pressure.
[0063] In the present embodiment the liquid air storage device 101 may
be operably
coupled to liquid air pump 102 which pumps liquid air to the air storage
device 103. In
the present embodiment the air storage device may have heating lines 133
wrapped
around the device to maintain a device temperature and lines around all air
supply lines
between air storage device 103 and air motors 124. In the present embodiment
the air
storage device 103 may have a heating element 134 inside it to increase the
devices air
temperature.
[0064] In the present embodiment, the regulator device may further be
operably
coupled to a main air flow valve 108, which opens when pressure is applied to
the
acceleration device 106 thereby allowing air to flow through air valves to
multi
directional air flow valves 112 or 126. In the present embodiment as the
pressure on the
acceleration device 106 is increased the main air flow valve 108 allows more
air to flow
through it. In the present embodiment when the pressure is removed from the
acceleration device 106 main air flow valve 108 closes and air intake valve
148 opens to
16
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-11
allow outside air to flow to the multi directional air flow valves 112 or 126.
In the
present embodiment, the heating lines 133 and 134 may utilize an electric
charge from
the power invertor 130 to maintain an optimum operation temperature.
[0065] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, air may be directed from
the air
storage device 103 into, operably coupled, multidirectional air flow valves
112 or 126,
wherein the multidirectional air flow valves may include at least one input
port for
receiving air from the air storage device 103, and may further include at
least four output
ports for directing the air to the four pneumatic motors 124.
[0066] In some exemplary alternative embodiments, the four pneumatic
motors
124, may include, for example, and without limitation, compound engine motors,
multi-
stage expansion motors, a four-stage expansion motor, rotary vane motors, a
turbine or
any combination thereof, wherein compressed air may travel through stages of
the motors
and impart energy, and thus expand, to move a multiplicity of pistons and a
central shaft
throughout the stages. Furthermore, downstream stages may use exhaust from
upstream
stages, such that a final exhaust may be of a lower energy state (expanded and
cooler)
than an initial energy state (compressed and warmer). In the present
embodiment,
respective central shafts of the four pneumatic motors 124, may be directly
connected to
respective ship shaft propellers 142 and thus power may be transmitted
directly to the
propellers as opposed to possibly having to propagate through a multiplicity
of
powertrain elements as with conventional vehicles. It may be contemplated that
the
direct connection may greatly improve efficiency as it may eliminate a
substantial
amount of mechanical friction losses associated with moving the multiplicity
of
powertrain elements.
[0067] When air may be expanded with a large expansion ratio,
temperature of the
air may reduce dramatically, furthermore, if there may be any moisture in the
air, it may
cause freezing which affects the above described pneumatic motor operation. In
order to
possibly avoid this problem, this system requires heat addition before
expansion.
Increasing air temperature before entering the pneumatic motors may increase
system
work potential and may directly improve system efficiency.
17
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-11
[0068] Air from the air storage device 103 will flow to multidirectional
valve 112
for forward movement or to multidirectional valve 126 for reverse direction
movement of
the ship. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the pneumatic motors each
may be
operably coupled to multidirectional valves 112 or 126, wherein used air from
the four
pneumatic motors 124, may be directed to the multidirectional valves 112 or
126. The
multidirectional valves 112 or 126 may include at least four input ports for
receiving air
from each of the pneumatic motors and may further include at least one output
port for
directing the air to the exhaust motor generator 128 and then to the cooling
coil 136.
[0069] The multidirectional valve 112 or 126 may also be operably
coupled to
exhaust motor generator 128 wherein the exhaust motor generator may be for
example,
and without limitation, an air turbine generator also be operably coupled to
the cooling
coil 136 or to container cooling systems.
[0070] In the present embodiment, generator 128 may be operably coupled
to
power invertor 130 and at least battery 132, wherein the battery may receive
the charge
produced by each generator. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, battery
132 may
be an advanced rechargeable Li-Ion battery with 0.875 MJ/kg total charge, 2
MJ/1 energy
density, and 90% charge discharge efficiency. In some embodiments, the battery
may be
used until the charge depletes to 20% of the total charge. Available battery
storage may
be of 0.7 MJ for 1 kg of battery. In some embodiments, an optimum battery may
be 125
kg with a capacity of 24 kWh and a battery volume of 75 1. In the present
embodiment,
battery 132 may include plug-in charging system 150.
[0071] In many embodiments, heat trace lines may include cables
comprising high
resistance wire in physical contact with air storage device 103 and air piping
wherein
current applied to the heat trace lines may increase the temperature of the
heat trace lines
and thus increase the surface temperature of the air storage device 103.
[0072] In the present embodiment battery 132 may also be operably
coupled to the
power invertor 130 to supply power to the heat element 138, wherein the heat
element
pump may be configured to heat incoming outside air to flow to the vehicle
cabins.
18
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-11
[0073] In the present embodiment exhaust air from the exhaust motor
generator 128
may be operably coupled to the cooling coil 136 to cool recirculated air to
the ship cabin
for air conditioning or direct cool air to ship compartments.
[0074] In the present embodiment, battery 132 may be operably coupled to
the
exhaust motor generator 128, auxiliary heating element 138, and a charging
station via
the plug-in charging system 150, as described above.
[0075] In many alternative embodiments, a liquid air / pneumatic power
system
may include a switching device which may be operably coupled to a power
invertor 130,
heating lines 133 and heating element 134, a heat element 138, generator 128,
and
batteries 132 wherein the switch device may be configured with executable
instructions
to direct electricity to particular components for the needs of particular
applications, such
as, and without limitation, recharging the battery, powering the heating
units, and/or
receiving electricity from the generators. Furthermore, in some alternative
embodiments, the switching device may be configured to be a processor such as,
without
limitation, a microprocessor, programmable intelligent computer (PICTM) chip,
a
PlCmicroTM chip, a programmable logic controller (PLC), a programmable logic
relay
(PLR), a PLC on a ChipTM, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or any
combination
thereof. In some alternative embodiments, at least one of the three
generators, and any
combination thereof may be operably coupled to the power invertor 130,
batteries 132.
Furthermore, the electricity may be directly provided when a power saving mode
may be
switched on. In some alternative embodiments an operator may trigger buttons
to drive
electricity to or away from particular components operably connected to a
switching
device. In some other alternative embodiments driving electricity to or away
from
particular components may be automatically triggered by an on-board processor
receiving
data from temperature and pressure sensors installed throughout a vehicle. In
yet another
alternative embodiment, driving electricity to or away from particular
components may
be automatically triggered by a remote processor in wireless communication
with an on-
board processor, wherein temperature and pressure sensors installed throughout
the
vehicle may communicate data to the on-board computer. In some other
alternative
embodiments, a switching device may be configured to process sensed feedback
from a
device operably coupled to the switching device.
19
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-11
[0076] FIG. 2 illustrates operation component diagrams of an exemplary
liquid air /
pneumatic power systems 200, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention, wherein FIG. 2 illustrates operational air flow components, in
accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, and with
reference
to FIG. 1, a liquid air refueling attachment 100 may be configured to inject
and fill a
liquid air storage device 101 with liquid air, wherein a liquid air refueling
station may be
a large size specialized station used for fast filling of the liquid air
storage device with
clean, liquid air. In the present embodiment the liquid air storage device 101
may be
coupled to a liquid air pump 102 which pumps liquid air into the air storage
device 103 to
maintain a constant air pressure in the air storage device 103. In the present
embodiment
if the pressure in the air storage device 103 increases above the set desired
pressure then
the pressure reducing valve 152 opens to allow the excess air pressure to vent
to the
outside atmosphere. During acceleration, the air in the air storage device 103
may travel
to regulator device 110, wherein the regulator device may be configured to
reduce the
pressure to the operating pressure which can be varied by the operating
system. The
reduced pressure air may then pass through the main air flow valve 108. The
air may then
travel to multidirectional output valve 112 or 126 wherein, the
multidirectional output
valve may be configured to evenly distribute the air and further may direct
the distributed
air toward four pneumatic motors 124. Air flow valves 116, 118, 120 and 122
direct the
air to the pneumatic motors so that the vehicle can travel in the forward
direction or
reverse direction as directed by the forward and reverse switch 144. Exhaust
(exiting air
sent through the pneumatic motors) from each of the pneumatic motors may be
combined
together in the multidirectional valve 112 or 126, wherein the
multidirectional valve may
be further configured to pass the combined air back to the exhaust motor
generator 128.
The heating lines are attached to all air piping and the air storage device
103 to allow
heating of the air. The exhaust motor generator 128 may be configured to have
the heated
air pass through the exhaust motor and further be configured to possibly
produce
electrical output.
[0077] Furthermore, FIG 3, illustrates operational electricity flow
components, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and with further
reference to
FIG 1, plug-in charging system 150 may be configured to be plug into an outlet
at an
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-11
electricity fueling station. In return, the electricity fueling station may be
configured to
provide electrical charge to the plug-in charging system. The plug-in charging
system
may be configured to provide electric charge to battery 132. In a case that
the heating
lines 133 may be receiving electrical charge, it may keep the air storage
device 103 and
all air piping warm during cold weather so that the ship may be started
easily. In the
present embodiment the heating element 134 may receive electrical charge to
heat the air
inside the air storage device 103. Furthermore, the battery 132 may be
configured to
receive additional electric charge from the generator 128 the battery 132 may
be further
configured to provide electricity to the ship power invertor 130 and for on-
board power
needs. In the present embodiment, battery 132 may further be configured to
send
electrical charge to the heat element 138.
[0078] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary method embodiment 400 of using an
exemplary liquid air / pneumatic power system vehicle, in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, and with
reference to
FIG. 1, an operator may start a vehicle, in a step 405, wherein the ship may
be configured
with an exemplary, and without limitation, liquid air / pneumatic power system
as
illustrated in FIG.1. Next, the operator may apply pressure to an acceleration
lever of the
ship. In response to pressure possibly being applied to the acceleration lever
106, air
flow valve 108 opens allowing air to flow from air storage device 103 and
operates pump
102 to allow liquid air to flow into air storage device 103 to replenish air
flowing from
the air storage device 103, in a step 410. After the compressed air may travel
through
regulator device 110, a main air flow valve 108, and multidirectional valves
112 or 126,
the compressed air may travel through each of pneumatic motors 124, which may
cause
the ship to accelerate, in a step 415. While the ship may be accelerating, the
pneumatic
motors may output exhaust air to the exhaust motor generator 128, via
multidirectional
valves 112 or 126 The exhaust gas may cause the exhaust motor generator to
produce
electrical charge for battery 132 and power invertor 130. While the ship may
be
traveling, and/or while pressure may be applied to the acceleration lever 106,
the battery
may continue to be charged via generator 128. When pressure is removed from
acceleration device 106 main air flow valve 108 closes and air intake valve
148 opens
allowing outside air to flow to multidirectional output valves 112 or 126.
Processing may
21
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-11
continue back to step 410 and the process may be repeated until the operator
may have
reached a desired destination, may need to refuel in step 425 or may have
decided to stop.
[0079] Those skilled in the art will readily recognize, in light of and
in accordance
with the teachings of the present invention, that any of the foregoing steps
may be
suitably replaced, reordered, removed and additional steps may be inserted
depending
upon the needs of the particular application. Moreover, the prescribed method
steps of
the foregoing embodiments may be implemented using any physical and/or
hardware
system that those skilled in the art will readily know is suitable in light of
the foregoing
teachings. For any method steps described in the present application that can
be carried
out on a computing machine, a typical computer system can, when appropriately
configured or designed, serve as a computer system in which those aspects of
the
invention may be embodied.
[0080] All the features disclosed in this specification, including any
accompanying
abstract and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the
same,
equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless
expressly
stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic
series of
equivalent or similar features.
[0081] Having fully described at least one embodiment of the present
invention,
other equivalent or alternative methods of implementing a pneumatic powering
system
according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the
art. Various
aspects of the invention have been described above by way of illustration, and
the
specific embodiments disclosed are not intended to limit the invention to the
particular
forms disclosed. The particular implementation of the liquid air / pneumatic
powering
system may vary depending upon the particular context or application. By way
of
example, and not limitation, the liquid air / pneumatic powering system
described in the
foregoing were principally directed to providing a liquid air / pneumatic air
and direct
powertrain powering system to a ship implementation; however, similar
techniques may
instead be applied to providing a similar direct powertrain powering system to
motorcycles, boats, airplanes, and trains, which implementations of the
present invention
are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention. The invention
is thus to
22
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-11
cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the
spirit and scope of
the following claims. It is to be further understood that not all of the
disclosed
embodiments in the foregoing specification will necessarily satisfy or achieve
each of the
objects, advantages, or improvements described in the foregoing specification.
[0082] Claim elements and steps herein may have been numbered and/or
lettered
solely as an aid in readability and understanding. Any such numbering and
lettering in
itself is not intended to and should not be taken to indicate the ordering of
elements
and/or steps in the claims.
[0083] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of
all means
or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any
structure,
material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed
elements
as specifically claimed.
[0084] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of
all means
or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any
structure,
material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed
elements
as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been
presented for
purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive
or limited to
the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be
apparent
to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and
spirit of the
invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain
the
principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable
others of ordinary
skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with
various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
[0085] The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. Section 1.72(b)
requiring
an abstract that will allow the reader to ascertain the nature and gist of the
technical
disclosure. That is, the Abstract is provided merely to introduce certain
concepts and not
to identify any key or essential features of the claimed subject matter. It is
submitted
with the understanding that it will not be used to limit or interpret the
scope or meaning
of the claims.
23
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-11
