Generator and electrical motor for multi-axle vehicles

• US 10,150,358 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2016
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Erik Orlando Soto
• Original Assignee: Erik Orlando Soto
• Inventors: Soto, Erik Orlando
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver, II, James A
• Assistant Examiner(s): CLEMMONS, STEVE M
• Application Number:
  US15/380,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20170174067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/10 concerning gas-producing plants
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/24 characterised by the combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/40 characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/28 Trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/36 Vehicles designed to transport cargo, e.g. trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/42 with use of more than one motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/10 Dynamic electric regenerative braking B60L7/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/145 Semi-trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/148 Semi-trailers, articulated vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/92 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/905 : Combustion engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/906 : Motor or generator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/907 : Electricity storage, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/951 : Assembly or relative location of components

Abstract

The generator and electrical motor system for multi-axle vehicles uses a generator to power electric motors which propel a multi-axle vehicle. The system includes a hybrid powertrain, a primary battery bank, and a primary generator. The hybrid powertrain uses electric motors to provide the drive power for the vehicle. To that end, the hybrid powertrain has a drive axle, an electric motor, a powertrain battery, and a power management unit. The drive axle is rotated by the electric motor and rotates the wheels of a vehicle. The primary battery bank and the powertrain battery are rechargeable electrical energy storage devices that store the power supplied by the generator. Additionally, the primary battery bank and the powertrain battery supply electrical power to the electric motor. Finally, the power management unit is a power conditioning system that regulates current and voltage being distributed to the electrical components of the system.

Claims

1. A system for multi-axle vehicles comprises:

a hybrid powertrain;

a primary battery bank;

a primary generator;

the hybrid powertrain comprises at least one drive axle, at least one electric motor, a powertrain battery, and a power management unit;

the at least one electric motor being operatively coupled to the at least one drive axle, wherein the at least one electric motor is used to rotate the at least one drive axle, and the at least one electric motor being operatively coupled to the primary generator, such that the primary generator provides current to operate the at least one electric motor;

the primary battery bank and the powertrain battery being electrically connected to the at least one electric motor;

the primary generator being electrically connected to the primary battery bank and the powertrain battery, and the primary battery bank, the powertrain battery, the electric motor, and the primary generator being electrically connected to the power management unit;

a secondary idle axle;

a secondary battery bank electrically connected to the power management unit;

a secondary generator operatively coupled to the secondary idle axle, such that the secondary idle axle turns the secondary generator, which produces a current;

the secondary generator being electrically connected to the primary battery bank, and the secondary battery bank such that the current produced by secondary generator charges the primary battery bank, and the secondary battery bank;

the secondary generator being electrically connected to the at least one electric motor;

wherein the power management unit is configured to detect when the stored charge in the powertrain battery and the primary battery bank reach a predefined threshold, the primary generator is deactivated, and the at least one electric motor operates based on the current from the secondary generator.

2. The system for multi-axle vehicles as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the hybrid powertrain further comprises an internal combustion (IC) engine and a hybrid-vehicle drivetrain;

an output of the IC engine being torsionally coupled to a first input of the hybrid vehicle drivetrain, and

an output for each of the at least one electric motor being torsionally coupled to a second input of the hybrid-vehicle drivetrain.

3. The system for multi-axle vehicles as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

a vehicle-drive unit, and

the hybrid powertrain, the primary battery bank, and the primary generator being mounted onto the vehicle-drive unit.

4. The system for multi-axle vehicles as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

at least one vehicle-storage unit; and

the secondary battery bank being positioned within the at least one vehicle-storage unit.

5. The system for multi-axle vehicles as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

at least one vehicle-storage unit.

6. The system for multi-axle vehicles as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one secondary generator is a regenerative brake.

7. The system for multi-axle vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the primary generator is a compressed natural gas generator.

8. The system for multi-axle vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein an input of the primary generator is torsionally connected to the at least one drive axle.

9. A system for multi-axle vehicles comprises:

a hybrid powertrain;

a primary battery bank;

a primary generator;

an internal combustion (IC) engine;

a hybrid-vehicle drivetrain;

the hybrid powertrain comprises at least one drive axle, at least one electric motor, a powertrain battery, and a power management unit;

the at least one electric motor being operatively coupled to the at least one drive axle, wherein the at least one electric motor is used to rotate the at least one drive axle, and the at least one electric motor being operatively coupled to the primary generator, such that the primary generator provides current to operate the at least one electric motor;

the primary battery bank and the powertrain battery being electrically connected to the at least one electric motor;

the primary generator being electrically connected to the primary battery bank and the powertrain battery;

the primary battery bank, the powertrain battery, the electric motor, and the primary generator being electrically connected to the power management unit;

a secondary idle axle;

a secondary battery bank electrically connected to the power management unit;

a secondary generator operatively coupled to the secondary idle axle, such that the secondary idle axle turns the secondary generator, which produces a current;

the secondary generator being electrically connected to the primary battery bank, and the secondary battery bank such that the current produced by secondary generator charges the primary battery bank, and the secondary battery bank;

the secondary generator being electrically connected to the at least one electric motor;

wherein the power management unit is configured to detect when the stored charge in the powertrain battery and the primary battery bank reach a predefined threshold, the primary generator is deactivated, and the at least one electric motor operates based on the current from the secondary generator;

an output of the IC engine being torsionally coupled to a first input of the hybrid vehicle drivetrain, and an output for each of the at least one electric motor being torsionally coupled to a second input of the hybrid-vehicle drivetrain.

10. The system for multi-axle vehicles as claimed in claim 9 comprises:

a vehicle-drive unit, and the hybrid powertrain, the primary battery bank, and the primary generator being mounted onto the vehicle-drive unit.

11. The system for multi-axle vehicles as claimed in claim 9 comprises:

at least one vehicle-storage unit;

and the secondary battery bank being positioned within the at least one vehicle-storage unit.

12. The system for multi-axle vehicles as claimed in claim 9 comprises:

at least one vehicle-storage unit.

13. The system for multi-axle vehicles as claimed in claim 12, wherein the at least one secondary generator is a regenerative brake.

14. The system for multi-axle vehicles as claimed in claim 9, wherein the IC engine is a compressed natural gas engine.

15. The system for multi-axle vehicles as claimed in claim 9, wherein an input of the primary generator is torsionally connected to the at least one drive axle.

16. A system for multi-axle vehicles comprises:

a hybrid powertrain;

a primary battery bank;

a primary generator;

an internal combustion (IC) engine;

a hybrid-vehicle drivetrain;

a vehicle-drive unit;

the hybrid powertrain comprises at least one drive axle, at least one electric motor, a powertrain battery, and a power management unit;

the at least one electric motor being operatively coupled to the at least one drive axle, wherein the at least one electric motor is used to rotate the at least one drive axle, and the at least one electric motor being operatively coupled to the primary generator, such that the primary generator provides current to operate the at least one electric motor;

the primary battery bank and the powertrain battery being electrically connected to the at least one electric motor;

the primary generator being electrically connected to the primary battery bank and the powertrain battery;

the primary battery bank, the powertrain battery, the electric motor, and the primary generator being electrically connected to the power management unit;

an output of the IC engine being torsionally coupled to a first input of the hybrid vehicle drivetrain;

a secondary idle axle;

a secondary battery bank electrically connected to the power management unit;

a secondary generator operatively coupled to the secondary idle axle, such that the secondary idle axle turns the secondary generator, which produces a current;

the secondary generator being electrically connected to the primary battery bank, and the secondary battery bank such that the current produced by secondary generator charges the primary battery bank, and the secondary battery bank;

the secondary generator being electrically connected to the at least one electric motor;

wherein the power management unit is configured to detect when the stored charge in the powertrain battery and the primary battery bank reach a predefined threshold, the primary generator is deactivated, and the at least one electric motor operates based on the current from the secondary generator;

an output for each of the at least one electric motor being torsionally coupled to a second input of the hybrid-vehicle drivetrain, and the hybrid powertrain, the primary battery bank, and the primary generator being mounted onto the vehicle-drive unit.

17. The generator and electrical motor for multi-axle vehicles as claimed in claim 16 comprises:

a vehicle-drive unit, and

the hybrid powertrain, the primary battery bank, and the primary generator being mounted onto the vehicle-drive unit.

18. The system for multi-axle vehicles as claimed in claim 16 comprises:

at least one vehicle-storage unit;

and the secondary battery bank being positioned within the at least one vehicle-storage unit.

19. The system for multi-axle vehicles as claimed in claim 16 comprises:

at least one vehicle-storage unit.

20. The system for multi-axle vehicles as claimed in claim 16, wherein the IC engine is a compressed natural gas engine.