Regenerative Breaking System: Utilizing a Nitinol Spring
D. Balcome, C. League, J. Wang
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved regenerative breaking system incorporated into a vehicle that utilizes friction between itself and the ground, converting kinetic energy into elastic potential energy.
The device consists of three parts: the interface, the transmission, and energy storage. Teh interface consists of an idler device that will engage the brake rotor in conjunction with the brake pads in a disk break system. The idler device can either be toothed or utilize friction. The transmission will act in both directions, helping to regulate the torque delivery from the wheel to the spring and vise versa. This will allow for less waste in the conversion of energy types. The wheel to spring side will consist of a simple transmission that outputs high torque into the spring. The input side of the transmission is connected to the spring but not the shaft. The spring is then connected to the shaft which is alternatively connected to the output side. The output side has a clutch and a continuously variable transmission in series. The transmission can then provide power at a number of places including the drive shaft, the differential, and the wheels themselves. The energy storage device, the spring, is made of a nickel titanium alloy trade named nitinol. The hyperelasticity of the alloy prevents deformation under constant stress.
