Title of Invention

A MULTI-FUEL VEHICLE

Abstract This invention relates to a multi-fuel vehicle which has provision to run on any of the fuels selected from solar energy, electricity, petrol and LPG. Additionally the vehicle can also be used to function as a power generator when the vehicle is at rest. The multi-fuel vehicle comprises solar cell panel (1) mounted on the external surface of the car and connected to a battery (3) through a charging controller (2), a DC motor (7) operated by the battery (3), a clutch gear (11) rotatable by either of the two sliding gears (10, 12). The sliding gears (10, 12) are fixed by gear fixers (9, 9). The sliding gear (10) is connected to DC motor (7) through a motor shaft (8). The sliding gear (12) is connected to petrol engine (19) through a crank shaft (13). The clutch gear (11) is connected to wheel (18) of the vehicle through a clutch drum (15), gear box (16) and a differential (17). A gear operating lever (14) selects between the sliding gears (10, 12) thereby enabling changing the mode of operation between DC motor (7) and engine (19). The car is primarily run on solar energy. When there is no sun light it can be run on battery operated DC motor (7). When solar and electrical source of energy are not available, the vehicle can be run on either petrol or LPG as per availability.
Full Text FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970 (39 of 1970)
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (Section 10; rule 13)
TITLE
"A Multi-Fuel Vehicle"
APPLICANT
LAKHAN LAL KUMAWAT
Surya Homeo Clinic, Court Square, Barwani, Distt. Barwani,
Madhya Pradesh-451551, India
An Indian National.
The following specification particularly describes the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:

FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a multi-fuel vehicle, specifically but without implying any limitation thereto, to a small three seater car which has provision to run on any of the fuels selected from solar energy, electricity, petrol and LPG. The car can primarily be run on solar energy .When there is no sunlight, car can be run on electricity by means of an electrically or solar charged battery. When both solar and electric sources of energy are exhausted, petrol or LPG can be used as per availability. When the car is at rest, and the car engine is off, it's solar or electrically charged battery of the vehicle can be used to produce electric power of 800 VA and the production of power can be further enhanced to 1200 VA by keeping the car engine 'ON' and providing an additional inverter.
PRIOR ART
Alternate sources of energy for powering of vehicles are being investigated world over due to depleting availability of world oil sources and the increasing pollution being caused by the petrol and diesel vehicles. Such investigations have mainly been focussed on battery operated vehicles due to ready availability of electricity and its non-polluting nature. Solar powered vehicle or combination of electric and solar powered vehicles embodying combination of solar energy and electric energy are also known wherein solar energy panels are used to charge/recharge the electric battery. However such vehicles known in the art not in common use due to high cost and several other drawbacks.
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US patent No. 6,991,051 of January 31, 2006 reports a battery powered multi-speed four-wheeled vehicle capable of carrying passengers over longer distances. The drive system for the motor vehicle includes two DC electric series motors coupled mechanically to rotate together and coupled mechanically to the drive wheels of the motor vehicle. In one mode, when the two motors are connected in series by two power leads, the vehicle operates in low speed range. In another mode, when the two motors are connected in parallel by the two leads, the vehicle operates in a higher speed range.
US patent No. 4,592,436 reports of an electric powered vehicle wherein solar radiation is utilized to generate the electricity needed to power the vehicle. The solar radiation is converted by a solar panel to electrical energy which is used to charge storage battery which provides electricity for energizing the electric motor of the vehicle. The solar panel means may be mounted on the external surface of the vehicle such as roof, hood, and/or trunk or rear deck of the vehicle.
US patent No. 6,991,052 of January 31, 2006 discloses a hybrid car which uses a combination of an engine and electric motors. The power generated by the engine is converted to an electrical energy directly or through a generator while the electrical energy is converted into the mechanical energy by a motor or is stored in a battery. The configuration disclosed in the patent is claimed to provide a superior driving performance.
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A major drawback with the solar powered vehicles known in the art is that these vehicles have limited utility during rains, night and fog when sunlight is not available.
Another drawback of the solar powered or electric powered vehicles known in the art is that these vehicles can be used for limited distances. Thereafter, the battery requires recharging which may take several hours during which the vehicle remains non-operational.
Still another drawback of the known solar and electric vehicles is that the battery may become discharged at any time and at any place where recharging facility may not be available or there may be power cut/failure thereby necessitating the towing of the vehicle to an alternative place and thus causing much inconvenience to the user.
Further drawback of the known electric or solar vehicles is that these vehicles do not have gear due to which driving these vehicles in hilly areas is difficult.
OBJETCS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-fuel vehicle, specifically a three seater car which has provision to run on any of the fuels selected from petrol, LPG, electricity and solar energy.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-fuel vehicle which when run on electricity or solar energy can travel over longer
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distances than known in the art, by switching over to other alternative forms of energy provided in the car such as LPG and Petrol.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-fuel vehicle which has 4 speed gears which enable driving of the vehicle in hilly areas as against the known electric vehicles which do not have gear.
Further object of the present invention is to provide a multi-fuel vehicle which causes less pollution.
Yet further object of the present invention is to provide a multi-fuel vehicle which uses 1.5 HP, 4 stroke engine which gives an average of 50 km.
Still further object of the present invention is to provide a multi-fuel vehicle which can easily negotiate tough heights by simultaneous use of petrol engine and battery operated DC motor.
Yet further object of the present invention is to provide a multi-fuel vehicle which, when at rest, can provide electric power of 800 VA by solar or electricity charged battery. The power generation can further be enhanced to 1200 VA by keeping the engine 'ON' and providing additional inverter.
STATEMENT OF INVENTION
According to this invention, there is provided a multi-fuel vehicle which has provision for running on any of the fuels selected from solar energy, electricity, petrol and LPG, wherein the said multi-fuel vehicle comprises:
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(a) solar cells panel mounted on substantially horizontal and exterior surface of the vehicle and electrically connected to a battery through a charging controller ; the said battery being alternately chargeable by AC means through step-down transformer and said charging controller being adapted to control charging, protect battery from overcharging, converting AC to DC and sending information to an indicator board capable of displaying information about speed, charge of the said battery, gas status, petrol and mode of fuel currently in use during running of the vehicle; (b) a DC motor operated by said battery through on/ off/ forward/ reverse switch and speed regulator ; (c) a clutch gear rotatable by either of two sliding gears fixed by gear fixers , one of the sliding gear being connected to said DC motor through motor shaft and the other sliding gear being connected to petrol engine through crank shaft, the said clutch gear being further connected to wheel of the vehicle through clutch drum , gear box and a differential; and wherein further the said engine is provided with a self start switch cum lock, self starting motor, carburettor, petrol tank, LPG tank, a fuel selection switch, a vaporiser which is adapted to regulate gas supply and is connected between said LPG tank and said carburettor; and (d) a gear operating lever adapted to select between the said two sliding gears thereby enabling changing the mode of operation of the vehicle between said DC motor and engine.
DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
The invention will now be illustrated with accompanying drawings which are intended to illustrate an embodiment of the present invention. The drawings are not intended to be taken restrictively to imply any limitation on
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the scope of the invention. It is to be understood that the concepts and features of the present invention can be embodied in numerous variant embodiments by those skilled in the art. Such variant embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1: Shows the overall configuration of the multi-fuel vehicle of the
present invention
Fig.2: Shows the solar charging mode of the vehicle
Fig.3: Shows the electric charging mode of the vehicle
Fig.4: Shows the battery operated mode of the vehicle
Fig.5: Shows the petrol/LPG operated mode of the vehicle wherein
engine is connected to clutch gear & DC motor is disconnected
Fig.6: Shows the double power mode for hilly areas when both petrol
engine and battery driven DC motor are connected to clutch gear.
Fig.7: Shows the solar power generator mode
Fig.8: Shows the gas/ petrol power generator mode
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Fig.9: Shows the detailed construction of a sub-assembly of sliding
gear, crank shaft, gear fixer and gear selector.
DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION W.R.T. DRAWINGS
Referring to Fig.l, there is illustrated the construction of the multi-fuel vehicle in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The vehicle is provided with solar cells panel (1) which converts incident solar radiation into the electrical energy, which in turn is used to charge the storage battery(3). The said solar panel is mounted on any convenient, substantially horizontal, exterior surface of the vehicle, preferably on the exterior surface of the roof of the vehicle, to receive unobstructed solar radiations. The said solar panel is electrically connected to the storage battery (3) via a charging controller (2) which controls charging, protects battery from over charging, converts AC to DC and sends information to indicator board (6). The battery (3) can alternately be charged by AC means (29) via a step down transformer (28).
A DC motor (7) which propels the vehicle in electric mode of the vehicle, is operated by battery (3) and is controlled by an on/off forward/reverse switch (4) and a speed regulator (5). An indicator board (6) displays all information about speed, charge of battery, petrol, gas status and the mode of fuel usage. The said DC motor is connected to clutch gear (11) though motor shaft (8). The said clutch gear is rotated by either of the two sliding gears (10, 12). The sliding gear (10) is a 5 cm sliding gear which is connected to the said DC motor. The said sliding gear (12) is a 4cm sliding gear which is connected to petrol engine (19) through crank shaft (13). The sliding gears
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(10, 12) are fixed by gear fixers (9, 9). Both the gears (10, 12) can be used in turn by a Gear Selector (14) which is Gear Operating Lever. The clutch gear (11) is connected to the wheel (18) of the vehicle via clutch drum (15), gear box (16) and a differential shaft (17). The clutch gear (11) can be double powered in hilly areas by using both DC motor (7) and engine (19) through both the gears (10, 12).
The Petrol engine (19) is a 4 stroke 1.5 HP air cooled engine. It is started by a self start switch cum lock (22) and a self starting motor (21). It is provided with a carburettor (23), a petrol tank (25) preferably 2 litre tank and a LPG tank (26) preferably 2 kg tank. These fuel tanks can be selected by a fuel selection switch (24). The gas supply is regulated by vaporiser (27) connected between gas tank (26) and carburettor (23). The engine (19) rotates clutch gear (11) via crank shaft (13) and sliding gear (12).
When the vehicle of the present invention is at rest, its solar or electrically charged battery (3) can be used to generate electric power of 800 V.A., via a change over on/off switch (30) and a step up unit (31). When battery is discharged or more power is required, then engine (19) can be started and will provide 1200 V.A. power by connecting to extra invertors (34). The engine can be started by either LPG or petrol. The engine will rotate DC motor (7) through gear (12) to gear (11) and to gear (10). The motor(7) being permanent magnet DC motor, will work as dynamo and will generate DC current via change over on/off switch (30), step unit (31) and DC poll (33). From the step up unit (31), direct 800 VA power will be obtained and from the poll (33) 1200 VA power can be obtained by connecting it to extra invertors (34).
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Referring to Fig. 2, in the solar charging mode, the solar panel (1) receives the incoming solar radiations and converts solar energy to electrical energy which charges the storage battery(3) through the charging controller(2). The charging of the battery through solar radiations takes 7-8 hours. The indicator board (6) displays information about charge, speed, petrol, gas and the type of fuel in current usage at the time when the vehicle is in motion. In the electric charging mode illustrated by Fig.3, the battery (3) is charged by domestic AC supply (28) through the charging controller (2). The charger can charge the battery in 7-8 hours from the domestic AC supply.
In the battery operated mode illustrated by Fig. 4 wherein the battery has been charged either by solar cell panel (1) or alternately by domestic AC supply, the battery(3) drives DC motor(7) through the said switch (4) and speed regulator (5). DC motor (7), through the motor shaft (8) and the sliding gear (10) runs the clutch gear (11). The sliding gear (12) will be disconnected from clutch gear (11) by gear selector (14). The clutch gear (11) will rotate the wheel (18) of the vehicle. The indicator board (6) displays the charging status of the battery. The solar mode is best for 3 persons. The fully charged battery is sufficient for 70 to 80 km of journey. If sunlight is available during the journey so that battery is continuously charged during the journey, the vehicle can travel extra 20-25 km. The indicator board (6) displays the charging status of the battery. The solar mode is best for 3 persons. The fully charged battery is sufficient for 70 to 80 km of journey. When the vehicle is run in solar mode exclusively and if sunlight is available during the journey so that battery is continuously charged during the journey, the vehicle can travel extra 20-25 km.
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Referring to Fig. 5 which illustrates the petrol/gas operated mode of the vehicle, the petrol engine (19) is operated either by petrol (25) or LPG (26), through carburettor (24). The desired fuel is selected by the divider (24) which selects either petrol or LPG, as desired. The LPG supply is controlled by the vaporiser (27) which regulates the gas supply by means of an adjustment screw and a diaphragm. The engine rotates clutch gear (11) via sliding gear (12). The gear (10) is disconnected from clutch gear (11) by the gear selector (14).
Fig.6 illustrates the double power mode suitable for hilly areas. In this mode, the battery operated DC motor (7) and petrol engine (19) are both connected to clutch gear (11) and both the sliding gears (10, 12) are also connected to the said clutch gear.
Referring to Fig.7 which illustrates the solar power generator mode, the battery (3) charged by solar panel (1) through charging controller (2) produces AC current at terminal(32 ) via a step up unit (31) and on/off change over switch (30).
Fig.8 illustrates petrol/LPG power generator mode wherein the engine is run either by petrol (25) or by LPG (26). The petrol engine (19) rotates the DC motor (7) via sliding gear (12) to clutch gear (11) and then to sliding gear (10). The DC motor (7) works as dynamo and produces DC current which is received at step-up unit (31) and at extra DC poll (33) via change over switch (30).
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Fig. 9 illustrates the detailed construction of the sub-assembly comprising crank shaft (13), sliding gear (12), gear fixer (9) and sliding gear selector (14) which is the gear operating lever. In the known art, gears in the
different vehicles are fixed to either motor or engine shaft. In the present invention, gear operating lever (14) enables selection between the sliding gear (10) and sliding gear (12). When the sliding gear (10) is selected by the gear operating lever (14), the clutch gear (11) which imparts motion to
wheel (18), is connected to the DC motor (7) through gear fixer (9) and motor shaft (8). When the sliding gear (12) is selected by the gear operating lever (14), the clutch gear (11) is connected to the engine (19) through crank shaft (13) and another gear fixer (9). Thus by means of gear selector (14), clutch gear (11) can be changeably connected to either motor or engine. The sliding gear (12) is mounted on crank shaft (13) and is attached to gear fixer (9). The said gear fixer has cylindrical hollow structure which has sliding gear (12) connected to crank shaft (13) at one end and gear operating lever (14) at other end. The gear operating lever (14) operates by pushing. When it is pushed, the sliding gear (12) is moved on to the shaft (13) and kept pressed in same position. When the sliding gear (12) is not in use, the operating lever (14), when pulled, moves the sliding gear (12) away from the shaft.
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I CLAIM:
1. A multi-fuel vehicle which has provision for running on any of the fuels selected from solar energy, electricity, petrol and LPG, wherein the said multi-fuel vehicle comprises:
(a) a solar cells panel (1) mounted on substantially horizontal and exterior surface of the vehicle and electrically connected to a battery (3) through a charging controller (2); the said battery being alternately chargeable by AC means (29) through step-down transformer (28) and said charging controller being adapted to control charging, protect battery from overcharging, converting AC to DC and sending information to an indicator board (6) capable of displaying information about speed, charge of the said battery, gas status, petrol and mode of fuel currently in use during running of the vehicle;
(b) a DC motor (7) operated by said battery through on/ off/ forward/ reverse switch (4) and speed regulator (5);
(c) a clutch gear (11) rotatable by either of two sliding gears
(10,12) fixed by gear fixers (9,9), the sliding gear (10) being
connected to said DC motor through motor shaft (8) and the
sliding gear (12) being connected to petrol engine (19) through
crank shaft (13), the said clutch gear being further connected to
wheel (18) of the vehicle through clutch drum (15), gear box
(16) and a differential (17); and wherein further the said engine
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is provided with a self start switch cum lock (22), self starting motor (21), carburettor (23), petrol tank (25), LPG tank (26), a fuel selection switch(24), a vaporiser (27) which is adapted to regulate gas supply and is connected between said LPG tank and said carburettor; and
(d) a gear operating lever (14) adapted to select between the said sliding gear(10) and the said sliding gear (12) thereby enabling changing the mode of operation of the vehicle between said DC motor (7) and engine (19).
2. A multi-fuel vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said petrol tank is a 2 litre tank.
3. A multi-fuel vehicle as claimed in claim 2 wherein the said LPG tank is a 2 litre tank.
4. A multi-fuel vehicle as claimed in claim 3 wherein said engine is a 4 stroke 1.5 HP air cooled petrol engine which is started by said self start switch and said self starting motor.
5. A multi-fuel vehicle as claimed in claim 4 wherein said sliding gear (10) is a 5 cm gear.
6. A multi-fuel vehicle as claimed in claim 5 wherein said sliding gear (12) is a 4 cm gear.
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7. A multi-fuel vehicle as claimed in claim 6 wherein said solar panel is
capable of charging the said battery through incoming solar radiations
in 7-8 hours.
8. A multi-fuel vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein its DC motor can be disconnected from the said battery thereby the vehicle can function as power generator for producing 800 VA power at step up unit (31) through said change over on/off switch and the production of power can be further enhanced to 1200 VA power at DC poll (33) by keeping the petrol engine 'ON' and connecting extra inverter (34) to said DC poll.
9. A multi-fuel vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said gear fixers (9,9) are cylindrical hollow structures with sliding gear (10) at one end of the one of the said gear fixer and the sliding gear (12) at one end of the said other gear fixer.
10. A multi-fuel vehicle as substantially described and illustrated herein
with the accompanying drawings
Dated: 31Stdayof March, 2006
(VAS DEV GULWANI)
APPLICANT'S AGENT
DUA ASSOCIATES
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ABSTRACT
A Multi-Fuel Vehicle
This invention relates to a multi-fuel vehicle which has provision to run on any of the fuels selected from solar energy, electricity, petrol and LPG. Additionally the vehicle can also be used to function as a power generator when the vehicle is at rest. The multi-fuel vehicle comprises solar cell panel (1) mounted on the external surface of the car and connected to a battery (3) through a charging controller (2), a DC motor (7) operated by the battery (3), a clutch gear (11) rotatable by either of the two sliding gears (10, 12). The sliding gears (10, 12) are fixed by gear fixers (9, 9). The sliding gear (10) is connected to DC motor (7) through a motor shaft (8). The sliding gear (12) is connected to petrol engine (19) through a crank shaft (13). The clutch gear (11) is connected to wheel (18) of the vehicle through a clutch drum (15), gear box (16) and a differential (17). A gear operating lever (14) selects between the sliding gears (10, 12) thereby enabling changing the mode of operation between DC motor (7) and engine (19). The car is primarily run on solar energy. When there is no sun light it can be run on battery operated DC motor (7). When solar and electrical source of energy are not available, the vehicle can be run on either petrol or LPG as per availability.

Documents:

540-MUM-2006-ABSTRACT(30-12-2009).pdf

540-mum-2006-abstract(granted)-(1-7-2010).pdf

540-mum-2006-abstract-1.jpg

540-mum-2006-abstract.pdf

540-MUM-2006-CLAIMS(AMENDED)-(30-12-2009).pdf

540-MUM-2006-CLAIMS(AMENDED)-(8-4-2010).pdf

540-MUM-2006-CLAIMS(CANCELLED)-(30-12-2009).pdf

540-mum-2006-claims(granted)-(1-7-2010).pdf

540-mum-2006-claims.pdf

540-MUM-2006-COPY OF COMPARATIVE STATEMENT(30-12-2009).pdf

540-MUM-2006-CORRESPONDENCE(17-3-2010).pdf

540-mum-2006-correspondence(4-10-2006).pdf

540-mum-2006-correspondence(8-4-2010).pdf

540-mum-2006-correspondence(ipo)-(1-7-2010).pdf

540-MUM-2006-CORRESPONDENCE(IPO)-(30-12-2009).pdf

540-mum-2006-correspondence-po.pdf

540-mum-2006-correspondence-received.pdf

540-mum-2006-description (complete).pdf

540-mum-2006-description(granted)-(1-7-2010).pdf

540-MUM-2006-DRAWING(30-12-2009).pdf

540-mum-2006-drawing(7-4-2006).pdf

540-mum-2006-drawing(granted)-(1-7-2010).pdf

540-mum-2006-form 18(4-10-2006).pdf

540-mum-2006-form 2(granted)-(1-7-2010).pdf

540-mum-2006-form 2(title page)-(granted)-(1-7-2010).pdf

540-mum-2006-form 26(31-3-2006).pdf

540-MUM-2006-FORM 26(8-4-2010).pdf

540-mum-2006-form-1.pdf

540-mum-2006-form-2.doc

540-mum-2006-form-2.pdf

540-mum-2006-form-3.pdf

540-MUM-2006-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT(30-12-2009).pdf

540-MUM-2006-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT(8-4-2010).pdf

540-mum-2006-specification(amanded)-(8-4-2010).pdf

540-MUM-2006-SPECIFICATION(AMENDED)-(8-4-2010).pdf


Patent Number 241407
Indian Patent Application Number 540/MUM/2006
PG Journal Number 28/2010
Publication Date 09-Jul-2010
Grant Date 01-Jul-2010
Date of Filing 07-Apr-2006
Name of Patentee LAKHAN LAL KUMAWAT
Applicant Address SURYA HOMEO CLINIC, COURT SQUARE, BARWANI, DISTT. BARWANI, MADHYA PRADESH-451551,
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 LAKHAN LAL KUMAWAT SURYA HOMEO CLINIC, COURT SQUARE, BARWANI, DISTT. BARWANI, MADHYA PRADESH-451551,
PCT International Classification Number F02M43/00,F02D13/00
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 NA