Hybrid vehicle with integral generator for auxiliary loads

• US 20050109550A1
• Filed: 05/05/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Davis, Robert L., Schroeder, Del C., Reed, Richard G. Jr., Lee, Kathi S., Lucas, Glenn E., Doolittle, William W. III, Buglione, Arthur J., Malcolm, Robert G., Cilibraise, Gerald, Hartwig, Kenneth, Eanes, Lewis Charles Sr., Tworkowski, Edmund, Moore, Thomas S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,231,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.250
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/006 to power outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/02 peculiar to engines driving vehicles; peculiar to engines driving variable pitch propellers
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/06 peculiar to engines driving electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/04 the motors being associated with current generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine coupled to a combined starter/motor/generator which is, in turn, coupled to a transmission of the vehicle. The starter/motor/generator is coupled to a high voltage battery pack via an inverter and to a deployable power output panel for serving loads external to the vehicle. Whenever external loads are to be powered, a control unit automatically places the vehicle in PARK, or alternatively activates an electrical parking brake system to hold the vehicle stationary.

Claims

1. A hybrid vehicle comprising:

an internal combustion engine having a power output;

a transmission system having an input and an output;

a combined starter/motor/generator coupled for receipt of drive power from the internal combustion engine;

a supplemental DC power source;

a motor inverter coupled between the supplemental DC power source and the combined starter/motor/generator for powering the combined starter/motor/generator in a motor mode for furnishing at least a portion of drive power;

at least one electrical outlet coupled for receipt of electric power generated by the combined starter/motor/generator operating in a generation mode; and

a hybrid control module for determining an operating mode of the hybrid vehicle.

2. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1 wherein the operating mode is one of a stealth mode wherein all drive power is supplied by the combined starter/motor/generator, an engine-only mode wherein all drive power is supplied by the internal combustion engine, a combined engine-motor mode wherein drive power is supplied by both the internal combustion engine and the combined starter/motor/generator, and a power generation mode for at least one auxiliary load.

3. The hybrid vehicle of claim 2 wherein during the power generation mode for at least one auxiliary load external to the vehicle, the vehicle is held stationary by placing the transmission system in a parking gear to drive the combined starter/motor/generator in the generation mode for supplying electric power to the at least one outlet.

4. The hybrid vehicle of claim 2 further comprising a power transfer unit for selectively coupling drive power from the transmission system output to a forward drive train and a rear drive train, and wherein during the power generation mode for loads external to the vehicle, the vehicle is held stationary, the power transfer unit is placed in neutral so as to supply no drive power to the front and rear drive trains, and the transmission system is placed in a preselected drive gear to drive the combined starter/motor/generator in the generation mode for supplying electric power to the at least one outlet.

5. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1 further comprising an inverter coupled between the supplemental DC power source and the at least one electrical outlet, the inverter operative to deliver electric power derived from the supplemental DC power source.

6. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a clutch coupled between the power output of the internal combustion engine and the combined starter/motor/generator.

7. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a torque converter coupled between the combined starter/motor/generator and the input of the transmission system.

8. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1 wherein the transmission system comprises an automatic transmission system.

9. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a power conditioning circuit coupled between the combined starter/motor/generator and the at least one electrical outlet.

10. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1 wherein the at least one electrical outlet is located on a power outlet panel which is deployable between a stowed position and an accessible position.

11. The hybrid vehicle of claim 10 wherein the power outlet panel generates an activation signal to the hybrid control module whenever the power outlet panel is deployed from the stowed position.

12. The hybrid vehicle of claim 11 wherein, upon receipt of the activation signal, the hybrid control module places the vehicle in an operating mode appropriate for supplying electric power to the at least one electrical outlet of the deployable power outlet panel.

13. The hybrid vehicle of claim 12 wherein the operating mode appropriate for supplying electric power to the at least one electrical outlet comprises holding the vehicle stationary by placing the transmission system in a parking gear to drive the combined starter/motor/generator in a generation mode.

14. The hybrid vehicle of claim 12 further comprising a power transfer unit for selectively coupling drive power from the transmission system output to a forward drive train and a rear drive train, and wherein the operating mode appropriate for supplying electric power to the at least one electrical outlet comprises holding the vehicle stationary, placing the power transfer unit in neutral, and placing the transmission system in a preselected drive gear to drive the combined starter/motor/generator in a generation mode.

15. The hybrid vehicle of claim 14 further comprising an electric parking brake system coupled to the hybrid control module and actuated by the hybrid control module upon receipt of the activation signal to assist in holding the vehicle stationary.

30. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a remote transmitter unit adapted to communicate with the hybrid control module for requesting an operating mode of the hybrid vehicle suitable for supplying electric power to at least one auxiliary load.

31. The hybrid vehicle of claim 30 wherein the at least one auxiliary load is external to the vehicle.

32. The hybrid vehicle of claim 30 wherein the remote transmitter unit further comprises a receiver adapted to receive at least one status signal from the hybrid control module and an indicator for providing an indication of the at least one status signal.

33. The hybrid vehicle of claim 32 wherein the indicator comprises a visual display.

16. A vehicle power distribution unit for supplying electrical power to at least one load, the power distribution unit comprising:

a panel adapted to be associated with a portion of a body of the vehicle and mounting a plurality of power outlets, each adapted to be coupled to a power source internal to the vehicle, the panel being deployable from a stowed position, wherein the power outlets are inaccessible to the at least one load to an actuated position, wherein the power outlets are accessible to the at least one load.

17. The vehicle power distribution unit of claim 16 wherein the at least one load is external to the vehicle.

18. The vehicle power distribution unit of claim 16 wherein the power distribution unit is operative to generate an activation signal whenever the panel is placed in the actuated position.

19. The vehicle power distribution unit of claim 16 wherein the power distribution unit panel is adapted to be mounted behind a side surface of the vehicle in the stowed position, the panel adapted to be moved to a position beneath the side surface in the actuated position.

20. The vehicle power distribution unit of claim 16 wherein the power distribution unit is adapted for placement inside a tool box carried by the vehicle and having a movable cover, the power distribution unit adapted to be mounted to the movable cover such that whenever the movable cover is opened, the panel is deployed in the actuated position, and whenever the movable cover is closed, the panel is deployed in the stowed position.

21. The vehicle power distribution unit of claim 16 wherein the power distribution unit panel is adapted for placement within a side surface of the vehicle, the panel facing an opening in the side surface having a movable cover such that whenever the movable cover is opened the panel is placed in the activated position, and whenever the movable cover is closed, the panel is placed in the stowed position.

22. The vehicle power distribution unit of claim 16 wherein the plurality of power outlets are selected from the group consisting of DC, one phase AC, two phase AC and three phase AC outlets.

23. The vehicle power distribution unit of claim 16 wherein at least one of the plurality of power outlets is equipped with ground fault protection.

24. The vehicle power distribution unit of claim 16 wherein at least one of the plurality of power outlets is equipped with a circuit breaker.

25. The vehicle power distribution unit of claim 16 further comprising a normal output voltage indicator mounted to the panel.

26. The vehicle power distribution unit of claim 16 further comprising a low output voltage indicator mounted to the panel.

27. The vehicle power distribution unit of claim 16 further comprising a low fuel indicator mounted to the panel.

28. The vehicle power distribution unit of claim 16 further comprising a low battery indicator mounted to the panel.

29. The vehicle power distribution unit of claim 16 further comprising an engine run time indicator mounted to the panel.

34. In a vehicle having a deployable power distribution unit for furnishing electrical power to at least one load external to the vehicle, an automated electric brake system for holding the vehicle stationary, the brake system comprising:

a control module; and

a parking brake actuator coupled to the control module and including a movable member adapted to actuate at least one braking element when moving in a first direction and to release the at least one braking element when moving in a second direction;

wherein the control module is operative to cause the actuator to actuate the at least one braking element and to place the vehicle in an operative state suitable for delivering electrical power to the power distribution unit upon recognition of deployment of the power distribution unit.

35. The brake system of claim 34 wherein the operative state comprises an internal combustion engine running in a preselected drive gear for driving an electrical generator and drive power decoupled from a vehicle drive train.

36. The brake system of claim 34 wherein the parking brake actuator further comprises at least one brake actuator cable adapted to be coupled between the at least one braking element and the movable member.

37. The brake system of claim 34 wherein the parking brake actuator comprises a motor assembly having a rotor capable of rotating in the first and second directions.

38. In a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, an electrical generator adapted for coupling to the engine, a transmission and a deployable power distribution unit coupled to the electrical generator for furnishing electrical power to at least one load external to the vehicle, a method for placing the vehicle in an operative state suitable for supplying electrical power to the at least one external load, the method comprising:

recognizing movement of the power distribution unit to a deployable state;

holding the vehicle stationary; and

placing the transmission in a preselected gear for powering the electrical generator.

39. The method of claim 38 further comprising delaying transfer of electrical power from the generator to the power distribution unit until the engine has reached a preselected rotational speed.

40. The method of claim 38 where the transmission comprises an automatic transmission and the preselected gear is PARK.

41. The method of claim 38 wherein the vehicle further comprises a mechanical power transfer unit for selectively coupling drive power from the transmission to at least one drive train of the vehicle, and wherein the method further comprises actuating a parking brake system to hold the vehicle stationary and placing the mechanical power transfer unit in a neutral state wherein drive power is decoupled from the at least one drive train prior to placing the transmission in a preselected gear.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the preselected gear comprises a drive gear.