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Old 12-23-2009, 01:53 PM   #9 (permalink)
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The engine would weigh about 200 pounds total for a compact car (2200 pounds), and it would be positioned within the front cross member that locates the suspension. Like it was enclosed in a very strong "cake pan" that served as the structural component of the front suspension, where the suspension parts were anchored.

This provides a scatter shield in case of a catastrophic failure. The bottom of the cross member would be bolted on to provide access for removal.

In less than 1 hour it could removed and totally disassembled, from the bottom, without having to take anything else apart.

The weight of the engine would be determined by the amount of energy you wanted to store and the weight of the vehicle itself. With no cylinder head, or induction system, a single injector, and no valve train, or cooling system other than the lubrication system with thermostatically controlled cooling for the lubricating oil.

If increased weight was desired (for more energy storage) it could be done by simply adding bands of steel to the outside perimeter of the rotating portion of the engine "block" since the greatest mass at the perimeter is the most efficient flywheel. Not a high speed flywheel, max combustion RPM would be about 4000, max regenerate (no fuel consumption) would be 6-7000 RPM.

In the INNAS (previously linked design) the engine only operated 12% ( fuel consuming stroked mode) of the time, so cooling requirements would be minimal. The bypass for the recycled lubricant-coolant fluid would be used to provide passenger compartment heat in cold weather.

The rest of the power train would be CVT and conventional differential to the front wheels, unless you used the IVT power train design. Then the engine would drive a pump which would charge an accumulator with individual IVT units located in each wheel, replacing the conventional brakes on an equal weight exchange.

Accumulator sizes would vary depending on total vehicle weight, probably about 5 gallons for a small car and 10-20 gallons as the cars weight progressed beyond 3000 pounds. Accumulator storage would be sufficient for one 0-70 rapid acceleration event with no help from the engine. Horsepower seconds of storage would range from 500 to 1500 depending on vehicle weight.

On sustained climbs of significant distance where accumulator or flywheel storage was depleted the engine could bypass the accumulator and drive the vehicle directly.

regards
Mech
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