Sunday, May 15, 2005

Say hello to Bill Gates future nemesis...

I was listening to America's Car Show on XM radio a few minutes ago and a gentleman named Thomas Kasmer was on the show. Thomas Kasmer has invented a device called the Hydristor. I dig cars which is why I was listening and the things that Kasmer's Hydristor can do is unbelievable, but very real.

Here's why Kasmer is going to be filthy rich.

Hybrid cars don't work. Why? Because I don't live in a big city and needless to say, there are many like me. Hybrid cars are built to go slowly in stop and go traffic, but once you get above 20-25 miles per hour the car has to work harder. So if you drive 30 mph or higher, your gas mileage will still be good, but not much better than the current high gas mileage cars like the Toyota Camry. And I've known several Geo Metro's that got over 45 miles per gallon.

Now, the reason why our current vehicles get such poor gas mileage is because while the engines are becoming very efficient, the process that the power generated by the engine has to go through to get to the ground and make the car go isn't efficient. You're transmission absorbs over 40 percent of the power generated by your car's engine.

Thomas Kasmer's Hydristor absorbs about 3% of the engine's power. That's 97 percent efficient power transfer. Kasmer also stated on the Car Show that the Hydristor can also stop the vehicle by itself and it can store all of the energy from the stopping process in a hydraulic storage tank. I can't begin to explain how this thing works, but it's pretty much a simplified automatic transmission with no gears.

The example he gave was that you could be driving 70 mph and come to a complete stop at a light. Then you could shut off the engine and still accelerate from 0-to-60 in 3 seconds from the stored energy from stopping.

He is currently working with Ford Motor Company to fit a Hydristor on a Ford Expedition. For those of you who don't know, an Expedition is one of the largest vehicles on the market today with a huge V-8 that weighs about 7,000 pounds. His Hydristor will supposedly double this vehicle's gas mileage which is probably about 16-20 miles per gallon in a vacuum. That's Honda 4-cylinder mileage out of a 5.4 liter chunk of American V-8 iron.

With the automotive industry being decades from putting together a vehicle that can satisfy our love of power with our hatred of high gas prices and geeky cars, Kasmer has created a device that could be installed on our current vehicles so we don't have to give up our beloved gas guzzling cars and trucks. He stated that his Hydristor could increase the world's average gas mileage from 20 miles per gallon to around 40-45 mpg. And on top of that, we could out-accelerate a Corvette Z06.

That is unless it has a Hydristor as well.

40 comments:

Anonymous said...

This guy Kasmer seems to have the moxie to get this thing to market and his attention to detail in the design of the hydristor (based on his patents) will make the world a better place.

Anonymous said...

to: etryer, what is the matter with you, whoever you are!

I respect your right of free speech, but your entry has no place being associated with my 15 year journey to save the future for the children. I will see what I can do to have your inappropriate entry removed from this blog! keep this kind of thing up and somebody will pass laws which restrict actual free speech on the web. Shame on you. Take it elsewhere!

Anonymous said...

I think he'll go missing before it hits the market.

Anonymous said...

lol damn porn peddlers!

Anonymous said...

You can listen to the show & view videos yourself on Hydristor.com.

Anonymous said...

I doubt seriously that there is a rubber compound that could provide the grip necessary to allow a 7,000 pound vehicle to accelerate to 60 in less than 3 seconds.

Dietrich said...

There is not a transmission on this earth that absorbes 40% of the power. the most lossy AWD transmissions tkae 30% tops.

Anonymous said...

First, Hybrid cars DO work. Talk to Prius owners and they'll tell you that their real world mileage is actually better than the EPA estimates.

Second, I challenge you to show me a car with 40% less power at the wheels (as measured by a dyno) than the engine BHP. While there IS a loss of power due to the transmission, friction, etc. it is nowhere near 40%.

That said, I am interested to learn more about this hydristor. Thanks for calling attention to it.

Anonymous said...

Here's a better idea. How about you Americans fix your consumption culture so you don't all feel the need to drive gas guzzling vehicles all the time.

What if one of the Hydristors were installed on a vehicle that gets 40mpg out of the factory? You'd end up with a vehicle that gets 80mpg. Which is still twice what an Expedition would get with a Hydristor.

So do the world one better and stop producing rediculously and unnecessarily large vehicles and use a hydristor on reasonably sized vehicles.

Anonymous said...

That thing has been around for years.

Anonymous said...

Since when is 16-20 MPG Honda 4-cylinder efficiency? At last check, the Honda Civic gets 32/38 (EPA figures). That's almost 4 times the fuel economy of the Excursion. Imagine a Civic with a Hydristor...

Additionally, even if the Hydristor lives up to the hype, aerodynamic losses for the Excursion will eliminate much of the gained fuel efficiency, not to mention losses from tires, unsprung weight, etc.

There is a lot more to this equasion. The Hydristor, if effective, is a good start but is not a panicea.

-Aaron-

MajorDad said...

I'd be tickled to death to get 16/20 mpg out of my Expedition...

Anonymous said...

also, this guy have never really built one or put one on a viable car

Unknown said...

I seem to get a contstant 58 - 62 mpg in my Insight.

Anonymous said...

>His Hydristor will supposedly double this vehicle's gas mileage which is probably about 16-20 miles per gallon in a vacuum. That's Honda 4-cylinder mileage out of a 5.4 liter chunk of American V-8 iron.

>> Since when is 16-20 MPG Honda 4-cylinder efficiency? At last check, the Honda Civic gets 32/38 (EPA figures).

he said AFTER it's doubled, it's near honda v4 efficiency. >_<

Anonymous said...

Hmm, and why does this make him Bill Gates nemesis? Wouldn't that be Steve Jobs?
Bad title, but interesting article.

Anonymous said...

and still it is funny how a third world african can laugh at the ridiculousness of a first world american. the only reason we don't get bombed is because we are the ones that are doing the bombing. long live freedom. long live o'reily, because that is who you really are. linus included. a hi-tech laughing-stock. yes indeed, hate is alive and well in the fourth world. eat that you pussies.

Anonymous said...

I am tired of people telling me what kind of car I should drive and that I should feel guilty driving a large vehicle. I drive 150 miles a day and will not spend those 3 hours in a tin can, no matter the mileage.

Anonymous said...

>Here's a better idea. How about you
>Americans fix your consumption
>culture so you don't all feel the
>need to drive gas guzzling vehicles >all the time.

you americans spend too much...
you americans waste too much...
you americans...AHHH!! we're being attacked!! someone call the americans to bail us out AGAIN.....

Anonymous said...

>First, Hybrid cars DO work. Talk to Prius owners (dorks) and they'll (froth at )tell you (etc) mileage (etc) better than the EPA estimates.

Crackhead, they get worse in the city since they still accelerate normally and don't brake properly either!
Hybrids are crap, underperforming and designed so light that they are structurally unsafe. I would buy a Volvo S60R disel any day converted to veggie/fryeroil over a hybrid. You couldn't pay me to drive a tin can Prius.

Anonymous said...

the euro can suck it

Anonymous said...

Jeff its cuz ur a fag. I don't have anything against fags cuz they are a clean people and they have been ever since they came to this country from france.

BRATCH said...

What I meant about the Honda 4-cylinder mileage part was that after you doubled the 16-20 mpg of the Expedition you would then have the Honda 4-cylinder mileage which would be 32-40 mpg.

And you would be getting the mileage of tha 4 cylinder with the power of a large V-8.

Anonymous said...

Hybrid cars are built to go slowly in stop and go traffic, but once you get above 20-25 miles per hour the car has to work harder. So if you drive 30 mph or higher, your gas mileage will still be good, but not much better than the current high gas mileage cars like the Toyota Camry.

This is incorrect. Gasoline engines are terrific at maintaining speed, but inefficient at acceleration. Electric motors are terrific at acceleration, but not so efficient at maintaining speed. Hybrid cars use the electric motor to assist the gasoline engine with acceleration. It doesn't really matter what speed. Most people in this country live in areas with sufficient population density that they can't maintain one speed for the length of a trip. Most people would see better mileage from a hybrid than a standard gasoline engine.

Oh, and the Toyota Camry gets crappy gas mileage. There's really no excuse for a sub 30 mpg sedan.

Anonymous said...

My 12 cylinder bimmer goes an entire month on about 18 gallons of gas...

And it weighs about 4,800 pounds..

Anonymous said...

i need to take a shit

Anonymous said...

He said that Kamer is Bill Gates nemesis because he will become filthy rich. Like him and Bill Gates duking it out for richest man...the person who wrote the article wasn't talking about Microsoft and Apple.

Anonymous said...

The goverment is so fucking anal about raping us on taxes no way will it pass. I wish it wasn't so but I agree with the person that said he will probably end up missing before it hits the market. Just wait and see. We wont hear about it for another 80 years.

Anonymous said...

"So your cool with 7000 lb "common use" vehicles that get 8 miles to the fu**ing gallon? when we have an avg gas price of $2.50/gal nationally.

No, the euro is dead on. We are a nation of hogs. It's embarrassing really."

Then move you goddamn hippie

Anonymous said...

It's nice to see how arrogant American have become. Why don't you go show your families what you just wrote online? I bet you they'd be appalled that you are acting like a spoiled child who thinks only of themselves. It's really embarrassing to have to live in a country with all the people who call themselves "American" and "Patriotic" but do nothing that follows those ideals. Why don't you do something to help the world out, or at least think of your children and their children. Some of you anonymous assholes need to get over your conceited anal retentive superstitions and learn that there are other ideas out there besides your own.

Anonymous said...

Europeans are fags, their women are ugly and smell like armpit.

Anonymous said...

"What if one of the Hydristors were installed on a vehicle that gets 40mpg out of the factory? You'd end up with a vehicle that gets 80mpg. Which is still twice what an Expedition would get with a Hydristor.

So do the world one better and stop producing rediculously and unnecessarily large vehicles and use a hydristor on reasonably sized vehicles".

This guy is obviously a euro, will not even duplicate himself so will support mass imigration of Arabs to their country's so there are workers to support their social programs when they all get old.

This device needs to get produced in the USA and implemented in the USA. Let the euros stay on Arab oil. Hell I say let them all convert to islam and their countries can go to hell in a handbasket.

I want a Big (fuel efficent)SUV to transport my huge family.

Anonymous said...

Bill Gates Iz A Big Fag!

Anonymous said...

Killa

Inglewood.

I think Bill Gates Is Gay.
I Saw Him With Another Man Last Week.

And He Tryed Tu Touch Me In My Rectal Area.

Anonymous said...

They hydristor is something like a hydraulic cvt. The only problem with current cvt trannies is that it cannot handle big power and the belt slips a bit so you see them in cars like the prius and the insight. This hydristor is something like a hydraulic cvt and a hydraulic hybrid in one which is pretty cool. From what I read how it operates is that if you want to accelerate it uses the most effective way to accelerate which is at the high rpms which the hydristor would be "at a lower gears think passing gear" and when being easy on the gas it would overdrive it at real low rpms like 1000 to 2000 rpms. For the guy who is measuring power with a dyno thinking that is efficiency thats partly correct. I know where you are coming from because I got a 2004 subaru impreza sti and get less than 240hp to the wheels but If I actually was chasing mpg which most of the time i am not I shift to 6th and cruise ctrl it at 70 and get like 24mpg. If I gun it I get 18mpg becuase I am redlining it. With a dual clutch system I probably get much better gas mileage. Funny thing about a dual clutch system is that it is 20lbs heavier but gets better 1/4 mile times and better gas I think that if the dude gets this working good we might have less rotational weight and more "gears" which means better accel and mpg.

Anonymous said...

I am a truck driver, and since I own my own rig I pay for my own fuel. I do everything I can to increase my mileage, and have brought it to a 7.25 MPG avg. This is great for a truck. However, with the Hydristor, I could get 14. That would leave 10,000 gallons of fuel in surplus and save me $27,500 a year. I think this is a great idea and would buy one in a heartbeat to retrofit my truck. With 300,000+ trucks on the road, we could reduce American fuel consumption by 3,000,000,000 gallons a year. That's 3 BILLION gallons. You folks need to look past your petty fights over what you should and shouldn't drive to work and look at the big picture. BTW, last time I checked, Americans were free to spend their money in any way they wanted, even on gas for their "big" SUV.

Anonymous said...

The use of hydrostatic drive systems has been with us for some time current designs can provide continuously variable ratios via variable displacement piston pumps and motors. A swash plate varies the piston stroke for both the pump and the motor. This gives high torque for acceleration without overloading the engine. It does this by low stroking the pump and long stroking the motor. At high speed the pump is fully stroked moving lots of oil through the motor at low stroke. High rpm results. Dynamic braking into accumulators is also not difficult to incorporate. Tom Kasmers Hydristor design is displayed as doing exactly that, but with some novel improvements. The system is close coupled eliminating most of the usual parasitic losses from hoses and fittings. The adoption of a variable displacement vane pump and vane motor will hopefully provide a more efficiency than piston designs, some of which also quote surprisingly high efficiencies.
The forseeable problems for long term use boil down to sealing the vanes especially in the motor. If the concentric band and any other innovations achieve this the transport industry including all private motorists stand to gain a lot. I will be interested in trying one when it becomes available. Other retrofittable energy recycling transmissions are at advanced stages of development for instance the device being developed by Diamler / Chrysler, BMW and GM as a joint venture. Try wikipedia for a look.

Anonymous said...

I consider myself a fellow inventor of helpful ways to increase fuel economy. (search Blenn under inventor name at uspto, for a patent pending engine.) I can agree with the last comment that similar has been tried before, in fact available for decades. Limited by cost, weight, complexity,operating efficiency which wouldn't be much different here. Though of course this MIGHT be better in some way I see no reason that it would be any more efficient than present variable displacement pumps/motors.

Having just started the calcs for a hydrostatic car, it takes a LOT of oil at a LOT of pressure to move a car - you would need BIG machinery and BIG piping to accelerate a heavy vehicle to 60 in 3 seconds - machinery which you must pay for and then pay to carry around until your next bout of insanity. A VERY wasteful idea! Need I mention wasteful Americans again....


Let's be practical and reasonable here. The flexible bands will likely be susceptible to distortion in the WRONG ways, heat up, die of fatigue, etc. On the surface, (I looked at but didn't read the patent) I see no especially good provision for bearings for the band to rotate in (claimed to rotate with the vanes). These bearings will be highly loaded, likely require their own hydraulic pistons to operate, and as drawn at a higher pressure than the main system. Add another system??? Looks like too much complication. Also sealing / leakage will be problematic.

While I wish them luck, they are not likely to revolutionize the world.

Anonymous said...

agreed with above.

I can see this being used in small vehicles, just like current CVT systems, but i'm not sure how well it will work in larger vehicles.

All i see is high pressures, flexible surfaces, and complex fluid pumping systems that have to eliminate friction. Don't forget about sealing the chambers. Not only is this Wankel Rotary engine style seals (90 degree corners) but on a flexible surface as well (You actually have multiple seals, from the flexible surface as well as the vanes...). Vains moving back and forth with high momentums against the rotar (providing plenty of friction).

All I see is plenty of points of failure.

However, i love the idea of being able to dynamically store pressure from braking. I would imagine that with this system you could actually dynamically choose correct ratios for pumping the pressure at any given breaking power and speed (unlike current hybrids, where the regenerating brakes are most effective at specific rpms etc)

Will have to wait and see.

Anonymous said...

I find it humorous and equally pathetic how the ones who are jealous of others who have more than themselves feel the need to belittle those who can afford to have nicer things such as bigger cars. I am not in the least bit jealous of those who have exotic or luxury cars, or even mansions or private planes. If I should become one of the financially wealthy, I look forward to staying modest because I wouldn't want to attract attention. I would be the richest person to dress in cheap clothes.