초록 ▼

A scooter powered by a hydrogen powered internal combustion engine fueled by a throttled stream of air into which a controlled amount of hydrogen is injected. A hydrogen fuel control system is used to control the amount of hydrogen injected into the throttled air stream using multiple parameters. Th

A scooter powered by a hydrogen powered internal combustion engine fueled by a throttled stream of air into which a controlled amount of hydrogen is injected. A hydrogen fuel control system is used to control the amount of hydrogen injected into the throttled air stream using multiple parameters. The amount of hydrogen present in the hydrogen storage unit is monitored using an on-board hydrogen fuel measurement system utilizing a microcontroller and multiple sensors.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A hydrogen powered scooter comprising:a hydrogen powered internal combustion engine operatively connected to said hydrogen powered scooter, whereby said hydrogen powered internal combustion engine propels said hydrogen powered scooter; a fuel induction system for controlling the amount of hydroge

1. A hydrogen powered scooter comprising:a hydrogen powered internal combustion engine operatively connected to said hydrogen powered scooter, whereby said hydrogen powered internal combustion engine propels said hydrogen powered scooter; a fuel induction system for controlling the amount of hydrogen supplied to said hydrogen powered internal combustion engine; an ignition system for combusting the hydrogen inside said hydrogen powered internal combustion engine; and an on-board hydrogen storage unit in gaseous communication with said hydrogen powered internal combustion engine, said on-board hydrogen storage unit including an on-board hydrogen fuel gauge for measuring and displaying the amount of hydrogen stored in said on-board hydrogen storage unit, said on-board hydrogen fuel gauge comprising an on-board microcontroller, a visual indicator showing the amount of hydrogen present in said on-board hydrogen storage unit, and a hydrogen gas flow metering system for tracking the amount of hydrogen input into said hydrogen storage unit. 2. The scooter according to claim 1, wherein said hydrogen powered internal combustion engine comprises at least one cylinder supplied with a throttled air stream.3. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 2, wherein said fuel induction system comprises a hydrogen fuel control system, at least one hydrogen fuel injector, and a hydrogen fuel pressure regulator.4. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 3, wherein said hydrogen fuel control system is configured to provide a hydrogen fuel control signal having a hydrogen fuel injector pulse width to said hydrogen fuel injector.5. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 4, therein said hydrogen fuel control signal is based upon engine speed, manifold absolute pressure, and throttle position.6. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 4, wherein said hydrogen fuel control signal is based upon engine speed, manifold absolute pressure, throttle position, temperature of said throttled stream of air, and amount of oxygen present in exhaust from said hydrogen powered internal combustion engine.7. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 4, wherein said hydrogen fuel control signal controls the amount of hydrogen injected by said hydrogen fuel injector into said throttled air stream.8. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 7, wherein said hydrogen fuel injector comprises a feed tube positioned within said throttled air stream.9. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 7, wherein said hydrogen fuel injector comprises a boost venturi positioned within said throttled air stream.10. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 7, wherein said throttled air stream has a λ value between 1 and 10.11. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 10, wherein said throttled air stream has a λ value between 2 and 5.12. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 11, wherein said throttled air stream has a λ value between 3 and 4.13. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 3, wherein said hydrogen fuel pressure regulator controls the pressure of the hydrogen gas at said hydrogen fuel injector.14. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 1, wherein said ignition system comprises a multiple spark discharge ignition controller, a spark plug, and a spark trigger.15. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 14, wherein said multiple spark discharge ignition controller is triggered off of a camshaft.16. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 15, wherein said camshaft utilizes a sensor allowing said spark plug to fire only on a compression stroke.17. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 15, wherein said ignition system further comprises a programmable ignition control system.18. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 17, wherein said programmable ignition control system causes said spark plug to fire at a specific crank angle at a given speed.19. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 1, wherein said on-board hydrogen storage unit comprises at least one metal hydride storage unit at least partially filled with a hydrogen storage alloy.20. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 19, wherein said metal hydride storage unit is in thermal contact with a heat source.21. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 20, wherein said heat source is an exhaust stream from said hydrogen powered internal combustion engine.22. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 20, wherein said heat source is an engine cooling stream.23. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 19, wherein at least one gas filtration/distribution tube is longitudinally disposed in said metal hydride storage unit.24. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 23, wherein hydrogen enters and exits said metal hydride storage unit via said gas filtration/distribution tube.25. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 24, wherein said gas filtratoin/distribution tube is wrapped with a stainless steel wire cloth.26. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 19, wherein said metal hydride storage unit is laterally divided into a plurality of compartments with at least one heat conductive segmental plate.27. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 19, wherein a metal wool pad in positioned at the top and bottom of said metal hydride storage unit.28. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 19, wherein paid metal hydride storage units are thermally connected via a plurality of heat conductive fins each having a plurality of L-ledged holes.29. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 28, wherein said metal hydride storage units are inserted through said L-ledged poles.30. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 1, wherein said on-board hydrogen fuel gauge further comprises an orifice plate fuel measurement system.31. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 30, wherein said orifice plate fuel measurement system comprises an orifice plate positioned between said hydrogen fuel pressure regulator and said hydrogen fuel injector and a plurality of sensors.32. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 31, wherein said plurality of sensors measure a group of parameters comprising:(A)hydrogen gas pressure before said orifice plate, (B)hydrogen gas pressure drop across said orifice plate, and (C)temperature of said hydrogen gas at said orifice plate. 33. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 32, wherein said on-board microcontroller calculates an instantaneous flow rate of hydrogen gas using said group of parameters.34. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 33, wherein said instantaneous flow rate of hydrogen gas is decremented from a known amount of hydrogen contained inside said hydrogen storage unit prior to discharge to calculate a value indicative of the actual amount of hydrogen present in said hydrogen storage unit.35. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 34, wherein said known amount of hydrogen contained inside said hydrogen storage unit is calculated using a value input into said microcontroller representing an amount of hydrogen input into said hydrogen storage unit upon refueling.36. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 1, wherein said hydrogen gas flow metering system further comprises a fuel injector pulse width flow measurement system for calculating a fuel injector pulse width.37. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 36, wherein said hydrogen fuel injector pulse width is directly input into an A/D input channel of said microcontroller.38. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 37, wherein said microcontroller calculates a volumetric flow rate of hydrogen consumed over time based on said hydrogen fuel injector pulse width and manifold absolute pressure.39. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 38, wherein said volumetric flow rate of hydrogen consumed over time is decremented from a known amount of hydrogen contained inside said hydrogen storage unit prior to discharge to calculate a value indicative of the actual amount of hydrogen present in said hydrogen storage unit.40. The hydrogen powered scooter according to claim 39, wherein said known amount of hydrogen contained inside said hydrogen storage unit is calculated using a value input into said microcontroller representing an amount of hydrogen input into said hydrogen storage unit upon refueling.