1-17. (canceled)
18. A driver-operated vehicle regenerative (regen) deceleration actuator system, the system comprising:
an independent, driver-operated regeneration mode actuator device configured for mounting in a vehicle at a location accessible by a driver, the driver-operated regeneration mode actuator device having at least one output lead configured for connection to an electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle to initiate regenerative slowing of the vehicle;
and
an indicator control module having a first input connected to the driver-operated regeneration mode actuator device and configured to turn ON a vehicle slowing indicator light at the rear of the vehicle on detection of predetermined regen-only slowing conditions, the predetermined regen-only slowing conditions comprising at least detection of driver initiation of a regeneration mode using the driver-operated regeneration mode actuator device without application of conventional friction brakes.
19. (canceled)
20. The system of claim 18, further comprising a vehicle deceleration detection module configured to monitor deceleration of the vehicle, the vehicle deceleration detection module having an output comprising a detected deceleration G-force output signal, the indicator control module having a second input connected to the output of the vehicle deceleration detection module, and being configured to actuate the vehicle slowing indicator light when the driver-operated regeneration mode actuator device is actuated to initiate a regeneration mode and predetermined regen slowing conditions are detected, the predetermined regen slowing conditions further comprising at least a detected deceleration G-force at the second input greater than GMAX, wherein GMAX is a predetermined maximum G-force which is greater than a vehicle coasting G-force corresponding to coasting of the vehicle.
21. (canceled)
22. The system of claim 18, wherein the indicator control module includes a timer and is configured to cycle the vehicle slowing indicator light ON and OFF at predetermined time intervals while the predetermined regen slowing conditions are present.
23. The system of claim 22, wherein the vehicle slowing indicator light is ON for a predetermined time period no greater than six seconds while the predetermined regen slowing conditions are present.
24. A method of initiating regenerative (regen-only) slowing of an electric or hybrid vehicle without application of the conventional vehicle friction brakes of the vehicle, comprising:
monitoring an output of a driver-operated regeneration mode actuator switch located at a driver accessible position in an electric or hybrid vehicle;
and
turning ON a vehicle slowing indicator on the rear of the electric or hybrid vehicle if the driver-operated regeneration mode actuator switch is actuated and a detected vehicle deceleration exceeds a predetermined G-force of GMAX which is greater than a vehicle coasting G-force without application of the conventional vehicle friction brakes.
25. The method of claim 24, further comprising turning OFF the vehicle slowing indicator after expiry of a predetermined time interval, continuing to monitor for deceleration greater than GMAX while the vehicle is operating in a regeneration mode, turning ON the vehicle slowing indicator again if GMAX is exceeded, and repeating the cycle of turning the vehicle slowing indicator ON and OFF repeatedly while the detected vehicle deceleration is greater than GMAX and the conventional brakes are not applied.
26. (canceled)
27. (canceled)
28. (canceled)
29. The method of claim 24, wherein GMAX is in the range from 0.05 to 0.1 G.
30. The method of claim 29 wherein GMAX is 0.07 G.
31. The system of claim 20, further comprising a vehicle braking module configured to detect application of the conventional vehicle friction brakes and having a third output, the indicator control module having a third input connected to the third output, wherein the indicator control module is further configured to turn ON the vehicle slowing indicator light if the vehicle is in the regeneration mode when the detected deceleration output signal exceeds the predetermined deceleration level corresponding to GMAX, and the conventional vehicle friction brakes are not applied.
32. The system of claim 20, wherein GMAX is in the range from 0.05 to 0.1 G.
33. The system of claim 32, wherein GMAX is 0.07 G.
34. The system of claim 19, wherein the driver-operated regeneration mode actuator device comprises a hand-operated ON-OFF switch mounted in the vehicle at a location selected from the group consisting of the steering wheel, the gear lever, and the driver control panel, whereby a driver can initiate regenerative braking independently from other systems of the vehicle.
35. The system of claim 20, wherein the vehicle deceleration detection module comprises an accelerometer configured to sense deceleration levels up to at least 1 G.
36. The system of claim 35, wherein the accelerometer is a solid state device having at least 0.01 G sensitivity.
37. A driver-operated vehicle regenerative (regen) deceleration actuator system, the system comprising:
a driver-operated regeneration mode actuator switch configured for mounting in an electric or hybrid vehicle at a location accessible by a driver seated in a driver seat of the electric or hybrid vehicle, the driver-operated regeneration mode actuator switch having at least one output lead connected to an electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle to initiate regenerative slowing of the vehicle;
at least one vehicle slowing or braking indicator configured for mounting on the rear of the electric or hybrid vehicle; and
an indicator control module connected to the driver-operated regeneration mode actuator switch, and being configured to turn ON the vehicle slowing or braking indicator at least on detection of predetermined regen-only conditions, the predetermined regen-only conditions comprising at least detection of driver initiation of a regeneration mode using the driver-operated regeneration mode actuator switch.
38. The system of claim 37, further comprising a vehicle deceleration detection module configured to monitor deceleration of the vehicle, the vehicle deceleration detection module having a detected deceleration output signal connected to an input of the indicator control module; wherein the predetermined regen-only conditions for turning ON the vehicle slowing or braking indicator further comprise a detection of a deceleration G-force greater than GMAX, where GMAX is a predetermined maximum G-force greater than a coasting G-force of the vehicle, the coasting G-force corresponding to coasting of the vehicle.
39. The system of claim 38, wherein the indicator control module is configured to turn OFF the vehicle slowing or deceleration indicator at least on detection of any one of turning OFF of the driver-operated regeneration mode actuator switch and detection of a deceleration G-force less than GMAX.
40. The system of claim 38, further comprising a conventional vehicle braking indicator separate from the vehicle slowing or deceleration indicator.
41. The system of claim 37, wherein the predetermined regen-only conditions further comprise detection of driver initiation of the regeneration mode using the driver-operated regeneration mode actuator switch when the conventional vehicle brakes are not applied.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
I claim:
1. In a method for fixing a first fluid within a second fluid comprising the steps of mixing said first and second fluids together; the improvement comprising the steps of passing said fluid between two electrodes, a first one of said electrodes (105, 110, 115) being formed of a metallic material having a dielectric covering (106, 111, 116) thereon, a second one of said electrodes (107, 112, 117) being formed of a metallic material and being grounded; and applying a DC voltage (2) to said first one of said electrodes (105, 110, 115).
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of passing said fluids between two electrodes comprises the step of passing said first and second fluids spirally through a treatment zone where said fluids are subjected to an electric field from said DC voltage.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein said first fluid is a gas.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein said second fluid is a liquid.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein said first fluid is oxygen and said second fluid is water.
6. The method of claim 2 wherein said electric field has a voltage of at least 10 kV.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein said first fluid is a gas and said second fluid is a gas.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein said first fluid is a liquid and said second fluid is a liquid.
9. The method of claim 2 wherein said fluid is for human consumption.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein said first fluid is oxygen and said second fluid is a fruit juice.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein said first fluid is oxygen and said second fluid is milk.
12. The method of claim 2 wherein said first fluid is oxygen and said second fluid is a flowable resin.
13. In an apparatus for fixing a first fluid in a second fluid, the apparatus having:
an outer elongated conduit (108, 114, 118);
an inner coaxial conduit (105, 110, 115), said inner coaxial conduit being of a metallic material and having a dielectric material (106, 111, 116) coated thereon;
a fluid passageway defined intermediate -the outer elongated conduit and inner coaxial conduit;
means for introducing a first and second fluid into said fluid passageway;
spirally arranged baffle means (107, 112, 117) within said fluid passageway to cause fluids passing therethrough to circulate in a spiral configuration;
a plurality of electrode needles (308) in electrical communication with the outer conduit and extending inwardly towards the inner coaxial conduit; the improvement comprising;
a conical section (114) formed between opposed ends of said inner and outer conduits, said conical section having a decreasing cross sectional area in the direction of fluid flow; and
means (2) for applying a DC voltage to said inner conduit; said baffle means being electrically grounded.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said spirally arranged baffle means including a spirally configured member (303) having an inwardly extending edge which has a tapered configuration.
15. Water having oxygen fixed therein, said oxygen being present in an amount in excess of 50 ppm and further characterized in that said oxygen remains fixed for a period in excess of 3 months.