DESC:TECHINCAL FIELD
Embodiments of disclosure generally relates to a regenerative system. Particularly, but not exclusively relates to a regenerative system for generating electric energy from a suspension of a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE AND PRIOR ARTS
Heavy commercial vehicles use multi-axles to improve load bearing capabilities. The multi-axles arrangement is supported by bogie suspension system at the rear axles as shown in Figure 1. Bogie suspension system is essentially a rear axle leaf spring suspension system interconnecting live and dead axle leaf spring through a bell crank mechanism. Both live axle and dead axle is attached to the chassis through leaf springs and U-bolt joinery. The leaf spring pivot eyes are in-turn connected to spring hanger brackets mounted on chassis-long member on one end and the other end is connected to bell crank mechanism through shackle as shown in in Figure 2 where the tandem axles are in flat position. During vehicle operation Bump and Rebound (as shown in Figures 3 and 4), the vertical suspension motion is partly dampened by leaf spring and rest of motion is seamlessly transferred from live axle to dead axle and vice versa. During this bogie suspension action the link rod has a displacement in X or -X direction. The motion transferred from the live axle to the dead axle is lost without regenerating the energy to usable form of energy.

One way of regenerative system in vehicle is provided in patent publication No. WO9517313 (hereafter referred as Pat’313). The system in Pat ’313 is non-active regenerative system which regenerates energy by taking energy from relative motion of members and using it later to accomplish overall improved performance and eliminates the need for an active source to provide assisting forces. The non-active regenerative system includes an energy transformer element interconnecting a first member and a second member which converts relative motion to an energy in storable form, and an energy management element which channels the flow of energy to and from an energy storage element to produce assisting forces. The energy management element is commanded by a controller which is responsive to sensors which provide signals indicative of the system condition. Power is supplied to the energy management, sensors and controller, only if required, by power source. However, no active power source is needed to drive the transformer element.
The pat ’313 focuses on regenerative isolation system which store energy from relative movement of bodies and release it at a later time to do useful work. Hydraulic piston is used as energy transformer for converting kinetic energy between first and second member to energy in the storable form. The first and second member may be vehicle frame and axle or engine and support member or vehicle seat and seat support respectively. However, the pat ’313 comprises more number of components which are required for regenerating the energy occurred due to relative movement of the bodies of the vehicle.

In view of the above limitations, there is a need to provide a regenerative device and system for a vehicle which would convert or regenerate the energy of linear motion of link rods into a usable form of energy and thereafter storing the same for future use.

OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

An object of the present disclosure is to regenerate or convert the energy of linear motion of the link rods into a usable form of energy and thereby storing the same for future use.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through the provision of the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the disclosure.

In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, a regenerative suspension device for a vehicle is provided. The regenerative suspension device comprising housing mounted onto a chassis member of the vehicle, a plurality of electromagnets configured around a link rod of a rear dead axle spring; and a plurality of coils configured around the electromagnets. An assembly of the link rod and the plurality of electromagnets is slidable inside the plurality of coils due to movement of the link rod during tandem axle bump or rebound conditions.

In one embodiment, the link rod is connected to the rear dead axle spring and the rear live axle spring using a bell crank mechanism.

In one embodiment, a battery is connected to the plurality of coils for storing energy generated due to tandem axle bump or rebound conditions.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides for a regenerative suspension system for a vehicle. The regenerative suspension system comprising housing mounted onto a chassis member of the vehicle. The housing comprising a plurality of electromagnets configured around a link rod of a rear dead axle spring; and a plurality of coils configured around the electromagnets, a battery connected to the plurality of coils for storing energy generated; wherein an assembly of the link rod and the plurality of electromagnets is slidable inside the plurality of coils due to movement of the link rod during tandem axle bump or rebound conditions.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides for a vehicle comprising a regenerative suspension system. The regenerative suspension system comprising housing mounted onto a chassis member of the vehicle. The housing comprising a plurality of electromagnets configured around a link rod of a rear dead axle spring; and a plurality of coils configured around the electromagnets, a battery connected to the plurality of coils for storing energy generated; wherein an assembly of the link rod and the plurality of electromagnets is slidable inside the plurality of coils due to movement of the link rod during tandem axle bump or rebound conditions.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides for a method of assembling a regenerative suspension system in a vehicle, the method comprising act of mounting a housing onto a chassis member of the vehicle, said housing is configured with plurality of electromagnets around a link rod of a rear dead axle spring; and a plurality of coils around the electromagnets such that an assembly of the link rod and the plurality of electromagnets is slidable inside the plurality of coils to generate electric flux in the plurality of coils due to tandem axle bump or rebound conditions.

In one embodiment, the housing is mounted onto the chassis member using fasteners or welding process.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:

Figure 1 shows typical vehicle system arrangement for Heavy Commercial Vehicles (HCV) according to the prior art.
Figure 2 shows tandem axle flat position of the HCV of the figure 1 according to the prior art.
Figure 3 shows tandem axle bump condition of the HCV of the figure 1 according to the prior art.
Figure 4 shows tandem axle rebound condition of the HCV of the figure 1 according to the prior art.
Figure 5 shows a regenerative suspension device for a vehicle configured to generate electrical energy according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 6 shows a regenerative suspension device incorporated in a chassis member of a vehicle or HCV when tandem axle is in flat position according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 7 shows a regenerative suspension device incorporated in a chassis member of a vehicle or HCV when tandem axle is in bump condition according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 8 shows a regenerative suspension device incorporated in a chassis member of a vehicle or HCV when tandem axle is in rebound condition according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 9 shows a regenerative suspension system for a vehicle configured to generate electrical energy according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
The foregoing has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.

It is to be noted at this point that all of the above described components, whether alone or in any combination, are claimed as being essential to the disclosure, in particular the details depicted in the drawings and reference numerals in the drawings are as given below.

Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, same numerals will be used to refer to the same or like parts.

Referral Numerals
Referral Numerals Description
1 Rear Axles
2 Cab
3 Rear -Live Axle
4 Rear -Dead Axle
5 Bogie Suspension System
6 Front Axle
7 Spring Hanger Brackets
8 Chassis member or Long member
9 Live Axle Spring
10 Shackle
11 Bell Crank mechanism
13 U- Bolt
14 Shackle Pivot Bush
15 Dead Axle Spring
16 Housing
18 Coils in the housing
19 Electromagnet
20 Link rod
21 Battery
100 Regenerative suspension device
200 Regenerative suspension system

Figure 5 illustrates a regenerative suspension device (100) for a vehicle configured to generate electrical energy according to one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure. The housing (16) comprises a plurality of electromagnets (19) configured around a link rod (20) of a rear dead axle spring (15) and a plurality of coils (18) configured around the electromagnets (19). An assembly of the link rod (20) and the plurality of electromagnets (19) is slidable inside the plurality of coils (18) due to movement of the link rod (20) during tandem axle bump or rebound conditions. In one embodiment, the link rod (20) is connected to the rear dead axle spring (15) and the rear live axle spring (9) using a bell crank mechanism (11).

In one embodiment, the housing (16) is nothing but a linear alternator which is configured as a regenerative suspension device. The linear alternator is essentially a linear motor used as an electrical generator. An alternator is a device which converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. The linear alternator works by the principle of electromagnetic induction. The linear alternators work with linear motion (i.e. motion in a straight line). When a permanent electromagnet (19) moves in relation to coil (18), this changes the magnetic flux passing through the coil (18), and thus induces the flow of an electric current, which can be used to do work or to store the energy in a storing means such as battery. In the linear alternator, linear motion or in other words back-and-forth motion of the link rod (20) is converted directly into electrical energy.

Figure 6 shows a regenerative suspension device (100) incorporated in a chassis member (8) of a vehicle or Heavy Commercial Vehicles (HCV) when tandem axle is in flat position according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the regenerative suspension device (100) is mounted onto the chassis member (8) by any method such as but not limited to a fabrication process such as welding or a suitable fastener.

Bogie suspension system in the HCV comprises a rear axle leaf spring or live axle spring (9) and dead axle leaf spring (15). The live axle spring (9) and the dead axle spring (15) are connected through a bell crank mechanism (11). Both live axle (3) and dead axle (4) are attached to the chassis member (8) through the leaf springs (9 and 15) and U-bolt (13) joinery. The leaf spring pivot eyes are in-turn connected to spring hanger brackets (7) which are mounted on chassis member (8) on one end and the other end is connected to bell crank mechanism (11) through a shackle (10). During the tandem axle flat position, there is no linear movement of link rod (20) and thereby there is no relative movement between the electromagnets (19) connected to link rod (20) and the plurality of coils (18). Therefore, no energy is generated.

Figure 7 shows a regenerative suspension device (100) as shown in Figure 6 when tandem axle is in bump condition according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. During the vehicle bump condition, the vertical suspension motion is partly dampened by leaf spring and rest motion is seamless transferred from the live axle (3) to the dead axle (4). During this action, the link rod (20) is displaced in a direction X and thereby the electromagnets (19) connected to the link rod (20) are also displaced in the direction X. The movement of the electromagnets (19) linearly creates or regenerates current in the coils (18) which can further be stored in the battery (21) (shown in Figure 9).

Figure 8 shows a regenerative suspension device (100) incorporated in a chassis member (8) of a vehicle or HCV when tandem axle is in rebound condition according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. During the vehicle bump rebound, the vertical suspension motion is partly dampened by leaf spring and rest motion is seamless transferred from live axle (3) to the dead axle (4). During this action, the link rod (20) is displaced in a direction -X or direction opposite to the direction of X and thereby the electromagnets (19) connected to the link rod (20) are also displaced in the direction -X. The movement of the electromagnets (19) linearly creates or regenerates current in the coils (18) which can further be stored in the battery (21) (shown in Figure 9). In one embodiment, continuous displacement of the link rod (20) in X/-X direction generates continuous energy and stored into the battery (21) connected to the regenerative suspension device (100).

Figure 9 shows a regenerative suspension system (200) for a vehicle configured to generate electrical energy according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The regenerative suspension system (200) comprises a housing (16) mounted onto a chassis member (8) of the vehicle. The housing (16) comprising a plurality of electromagnets (19) configured around a link rod (20) of a rear dead axle spring (15); a plurality of coils (18) configured around the electromagnets (19); a battery (21) connected to the plurality of coils (18) for storing energy generated, wherein an assembly of the link rod (20) and the plurality of electromagnets (19) is slidable inside the plurality of coils (18) due to movement of the link rod (20) during tandem axle bump or rebound conditions. In one embodiment, the link rod (20) is connected to the rear dead axle spring (15) and a rear live axle spring (9) using a bell crank mechanism (11).

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle comprising a regenerative suspension system (200) is provided. The vehicle can be a Heavy Commercial Vehicle.

In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the present disclosure provides for a method of assembling a regenerative suspension system (100) in a vehicle. The method comprising act of mounting a housing (16) onto a chassis member (8) of the vehicle, said housing is configured with plurality of electromagnets (19) around a link rod (20) of a rear dead axle spring (15); and a plurality of coils (18) around the electromagnets (19) such that an assembly of the link rod (20) and the plurality of electromagnets (19) is slidable inside the plurality of coils (18) to generate electric flux in the plurality of coils (18) due to tandem axle bump or rebound conditions.

It is to be understood by a person of ordinary skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure covers such modifications and variations provided they come within the ambit of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Advantages
In one embodiment, the regenerative suspension device and system as disclosed in the present disclosure is retrofittable to the existing tandem axle of a vehicle.

In one embodiment, the regenerative suspension device and system as disclosed in the present disclosure is cost effective and economical in nature.

In one embodiment, the regenerative suspension device and system as disclosed in the present disclosure is simple in construction.

In one embodiment, the regenerative suspension device and system as disclosed in the present disclosure improves fuel efficiency by reducing load on conventional engine driven alternators.

Equivalents
With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

,CLAIMS:We claim:
1. A regenerative suspension device (100) for a vehicle, comprising:
housing (16) mounted onto a chassis member (8) of the vehicle, the housing (16) comprising:
a plurality of electromagnets (19) configured around a link rod (20) of a rear dead axle spring (15); and
a plurality of coils (18) configured around the electromagnets (19),
wherein an assembly of the link rod (20) and the plurality of electromagnets (19) is slidable inside the plurality of coils (18) due to movement of the link rod (20) during tandem axle bump or rebound conditions.

2. The regenerative suspension device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the link rod (20) is connected to the rear dead axle spring (15) and the rear live axle spring (9) using a bell crank mechanism (11).

3. The regenerative suspension device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a battery (21) is connected to the plurality of coils (18) for storing energy generated due to tandem axle bump or rebound conditions.

4. A regenerative suspension system (200) for a vehicle, comprising:
housing (16) mounted onto a chassis member (8) of the vehicle, the housing (16) comprising:
a plurality of electromagnets (19) configured around a link rod (20) of a rear dead axle spring (15);
a plurality of coils (18) configured around the electromagnets (19);
a battery (21) connected to the plurality of coils (18) for storing energy generated,
wherein an assembly of the link rod (20) and the plurality of electromagnets (19) is slidable inside the plurality of coils (18) due to movement of the link rod (20) during tandem axle bump or rebound conditions.

5. The regenerative suspension system (200) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the link rod (20) is connected to the rear dead axle spring (15) and a rear live axle spring (9) using a bell crank mechanism (11).

6. A vehicle comprising a regenerative suspension system (200) as claimed in claim 4.

7. A method of assembling a regenerative suspension system (100) in a vehicle, the method comprising act of:
mounting a housing (16) onto a chassis member (8) of the vehicle, said housing is configured with plurality of electromagnets (19) around a link rod (20) of a rear dead axle spring (15); and a plurality of coils (18) around the electromagnets (19) such that an assembly of the link rod (20) and the plurality of electromagnets (19) is slidable inside the plurality of coils (18) to generate electric flux in the plurality of coils (18) due to tandem axle bump or rebound conditions.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the housing (16) is mounted onto the chassis member (8) using fasteners or welding process.

Dated this 25th day of March, 2015
P.H.D.RANGAPPA
IN/PA-1538
OF K & S PARTNERS
AGENT FOR THE APPLICANTS