Electric hybrid vehicle

• US 20020179349A1
• Filed: 07/12/2002
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1992
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Field Hybrids LLC
• Original Assignee: Field Hybrids LLC
• Inventors: Field, Bruce F.
• Granted Patent: US 6,668,954 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/40 characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/442 Series-parallel switching type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/28 Four wheel or all wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/62 charged by low-power generators primarily intended to support the batteries, e.g. range extenders
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/081 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/081 : Speed
• 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: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/951 : Assembly or relative location of components

Abstract

A vehicle having an electric hybrid power system is provided. The vehicle includes an electric motor and an engine, both of which are drivably connectable to propel the vehicle. The vehicle further includes a battery for powering the electric motor and a single generator continuously coupled to the engine for providing a charging power output to the battery whenever the engine is running. A voltage reducer is coupled to both the single generator and the battery and has an accessory voltage output, which has a lower voltage than the charging power output of the single generator.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

an electric motor;

a liquid fueled engine;

a first electrical energy storage device connected to the electric motor for selectively powering the electric motor;

an electrical energy generator continuously connected to the liquid fueled engine and coupled to the first electrical energy storage device for providing a first charging voltage when the liquid fueled engine is operating and when both the liquid fueled engine is operating and the electric motor is powered;

a voltage reducer coupled to the electrical energy generator and having a vehicle accessory voltage output, which is lower than the first charging voltage;

a connection between the electric motor and the liquid fueled engine; and

at least one ground engaging drive wheel, which is rotatable by the liquid fueled engine and the electric motor.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 and further comprising:

a motor controller for rotating and controlling the rotational speed of the electric motor;

a process controller to control the liquid fueled engine, the process controller controlling the liquid fueled engine to vary a rotational speed of the liquid fueled engine so as to be substantially synchronized with the speed of the electric motor; and

a mechanical connection for connecting the liquid fueled engine to drive at least one ground engaging drive wheel when the liquid fueled engine speed is substantially synchronized with the electric motor speed.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein said motor is switchable to a generator mode, said process controller being connected to the motor controller to selectively switch the electric motor to the generator mode for charging the electrical energy storage device when the liquid fueled engine is connected to drive the ground engaging drive wheel.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 and further comprising:

a second electrical energy storage device on the vehicle, which is coupled to the vehicle accessory voltage output.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the voltage reducer has a voltage input, which is connected to both the electrical energy generator and the first electrical energy storage device.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the connection between the liquid fueled engine and the electric motor is mechanically releasable.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 and further comprising a drive shaft, which is coupled to the liquid fueled engine.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the drive shaft is selectively coupled to the liquid fueled engine.

9. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the drive shaft is also coupled to the electric motor.

10. A hybrid vehicle comprising:

an electric motor and an engine, both of which are drivably connectable to propel the vehicle;

a first battery on the vehicle for powering the electric motor;

a single generator continuously coupled to the engine for providing a charging power output to the first battery whenever the engine is running;

a second battery on the vehicle for providing power to vehicle accessories at a lower voltage than the first battery; and

a voltage reducer having an input coupled to both the single generator and the first battery and having an output coupled to the second battery to provide charging power at the lower voltage to the second battery.

11. The hybrid vehicle of claim 10 wherein the electric motor is operable as a generator when the engine is propelling the vehicle to provide charging power, the single generator and the electric motor being the sole sources for charging power on the vehicle.

12. The hybrid vehicle of claim 10 and further comprising:

a motor controller for rotating and controlling the rotational speed of the electric motor;

a process controller coupled to the engine for varying a rotational speed of the engine so as to be substantially synchronized with the speed of the electric motor; and

a mechanical connection for connecting the engine to drive at least one ground engaging drive wheel when the engine speed is substantially synchronized with the electric motor speed.

13. The hybrid vehicle of claim 12, wherein the electric motor is switchable to a generator mode, wherein the process controller is connected to the motor controller to selectively switch the electric motor to the generator mode for charging the electrical energy storage device when the engine is connected to drive the ground engaging drive wheel.

14. The hybrid vehicle of claim 10 and further comprising a connection between the engine and the electric motor, which is mechanically releasable.

15. The hybrid vehicle of claim 10 and further comprising a drive shaft, which is coupled to the engine.

16. The hybrid vehicle of claim 15, wherein the drive shaft is selectively coupled to the engine.

17. The hybrid vehicle of claim 15, wherein the drive shaft is also coupled to the electric motor.

18. The hybrid vehicle of claim 10 and further comprising at least one ground engaging drive wheel, which is rotatable by the engine and the electric motor.