Autonomous portable range extender
First Claim
1. A portable range extender system capable of supplying energy to a vehicle, the system comprising:
- an internal combustion engine;
a dynamoelectric machine having a rotor coupled to the engine by a shaft, the dynamoelectric machine connectable to a power source for driving the shaft during a starting mode of the engine and for being driven by the engine via the shaft during a running mode of the engine;
a controller for operation of the dynamoelectric machine and engine; and
a portable enclosure containing the engine, dynamoelectric machine and controller, the enclosure containing a partition that divides the enclosure into two sections, a first section housing the dynamoelectric machine and the second section housing the engine;
wherein the dynamoelectric machine operates as a motor to drive the engine during a warm-up period of the engine and the dynamoelectric machine operates as a generator driven by the engine during a running mode of the engine.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable range extender can be used to supply electrical power to an electric vehicle operable by an electric traction motor. The portable range extender includes an engine, a dynamoelectric machine coupled to the engine by a shaft, an autonomous range extender controller for controlling operations of the range extender independently of a controller for the vehicle, and circuitry associated with the engine and machine. The range extender and its controlling circuitry are self contained within an enclosure. The enclosure is partitioned to form two sections, a first section housing the dynamoelectric machine and the second section housing the engine. Windows in the enclosure provide a path for air cooling of the range extender components. Air cooling is facilitated by a first set of cooling fins mounted on the rotor of the dynamoelectric machine at an end proximate an air inlet window, a second set of cooling fins mounted on the rotor of the dynamoelectric machine in the vicinity of an opening in the partition, and a third set of cooling fins mounted on the engine at the opposite side of the partition opening.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A portable range extender system capable of supplying energy to a vehicle, the system comprising:
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an internal combustion engine;
a dynamoelectric machine having a rotor coupled to the engine by a shaft, the dynamoelectric machine connectable to a power source for driving the shaft during a starting mode of the engine and for being driven by the engine via the shaft during a running mode of the engine;
a controller for operation of the dynamoelectric machine and engine; and
a portable enclosure containing the engine, dynamoelectric machine and controller, the enclosure containing a partition that divides the enclosure into two sections, a first section housing the dynamoelectric machine and the second section housing the engine;
wherein the dynamoelectric machine operates as a motor to drive the engine during a warm-up period of the engine and the dynamoelectric machine operates as a generator driven by the engine during a running mode of the engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A range extender system capable of supplying energy to a vehicle, the system comprising:
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an internal combustion engine;
a dynamoelectric machine having a rotor coupled to the engine by a shaft and a stator radially surrounding the rotor by a radial air gap, the stator comprising a plurality of ferromagnetically isolated separate core segments, the stator connectable to a power source for driving the shaft during a starting mode of the engine and the rotor being driven by the engine via the shaft during a running mode of the engine; and
a controller for operation of the dynamoelectric machine and engine;
wherein the dynamoelectric machine operates as a motor to drive the engine during a warm-up period of the engine and the dynamoelectric machine operates as a generator driven by the engine during a running mode of the engine. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification