ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE HYBRID VEHICLE
First Claim
1. A hybrid vehicle comprising:
- a vehicle frame having a pair of rails disposed in spaced relation relative to each other and defining a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, a pair of axles spaced longitudinally from on another and extending substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis, each with a pair of wheels operatively mounted thereto for rolling engagement with a surface;
an internal combustion engine mounted for driving engagement of one pair of said wheels through one of said axles and an electric motor mounted for driving engagement of the said other pair of wheels through said other axle;
a controller coupled to said electric motor for selectively actuating said electric motor for driving said other pair of wheels during periods of increased horsepower and tractive demands.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid vehicle is provided including an internal combustion engine mounted in a forward portion of the vehicle for driving engagement of a pair of wheels attached to a front axle. An electric motor is mounted in a rear portion of the vehicle for driving engagement of another pair of wheels through a rear axle. A set of batteries for powering the electric motor are stored in the trunk of the vehicle or beneath the trunk floor. A controller is used for controlling the driving engagement of the pair of axles by the electric motor and the internal combustion engine. More particularly, the electric motor is automatically operated to drive the rear wheels when increased horsepower is demanded such as during heavy acceleration or high speed cruising or when enhanced traction is required due to a slip condition.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A hybrid vehicle comprising:
-
a vehicle frame having a pair of rails disposed in spaced relation relative to each other and defining a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, a pair of axles spaced longitudinally from on another and extending substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis, each with a pair of wheels operatively mounted thereto for rolling engagement with a surface;
an internal combustion engine mounted for driving engagement of one pair of said wheels through one of said axles and an electric motor mounted for driving engagement of the said other pair of wheels through said other axle;
a controller coupled to said electric motor for selectively actuating said electric motor for driving said other pair of wheels during periods of increased horsepower and tractive demands. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A hybrid vehicle comprising:
-
a vehicle frame having a pair of rails disposed in spaced relationship relative to one another and defining a longitudinal axis of said vehicle, a front axle and a rear axle spaced longitudinally from one another and extending substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis of said vehicle, each of said front and rear axles including a pair of wheels operatively mounted thereto for rolling engagement with a surface;
an internal combustion engine mounted for driving engagement of said pair of wheels mounted to said front axle and an electric motor mounted for driving engagement of said pair of wheels mounted to said rear axle; and
a controller operatively connected to said internal combustion engine and said electric motor for determining when said wheels mounted to said rear axle slip and activating said electric motor to drive said wheels mounted on said front axle in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A hybrid vehicle comprising:
-
a vehicle frame having a pair of rails disposed in spaced relation relative to each other and defining a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, a front axle and a rear axle spaced longitudinally from one another and extending substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis, each of said front and rear axles having a pair of wheels operatively mounted thereto for rolling engagement with a surface;
an internal combustion engine mounted for driving engagement of said pair of wheels mounted to said front axle and an electric motor mounted for driving engagement of said wheels mounted to said front axle; and
a controller operatively connected to said internal combustion engine and said electric motor for determining when increased horsepower is required and activating said electric motor to drive said wheels mounted on said front axle in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification