Electric or hybrid vehicle with a spare electric motor power source

• US 20060076836A1
• Filed: 06/03/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul J. Plishner
• Original Assignee: Paul J. Plishner
• Inventors: Plishner, Paul J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,475,747 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/66
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/043 Transmission unit disposed in on near the vehicle wheel, or between the differential gear unit and the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0444 Arrangement on a trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/28 Trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/30 Trolleys
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/46 Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/40 related to technical updates when adding new parts or software
• 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 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/147 Trailers, e.g. full trailers or caravans
• 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 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/905 Combustion engine

Abstract

A secondary electric power source (19) for a motor vehicle having one or more electric motors (12) for driving respective wheels (10a) of the motor vehicle and having a main electric power source (14) for providing power to electric motors (12) driving the wheels (10a), and a selector (17) for selecting power from either the main electric power source (14) or the secondary electric power source (19) or both.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a secondary electric power source for generating secondary electric power for a vehicle having an electric power source for providing main electric power to an electric motor used to provide drive power for at least one wheel of the vehicle; and

means for selecting the secondary electric power either in replacement of or in addition to the main electric power, for use in powering the electric motor.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the secondary electric power source is a motor-generator set including an electric generator and a motor for turning the electric generator.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the electric generator includes a winding for providing auxiliary power.

4. An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein the winding provides auxiliary power at 115 volts and 60 Hz.

5. An apparatus as in claim 2, further comprising a fuel coupler including a fuel pump for coupling to a fuel tank included in the vehicle, for drawing fuel from the fuel tank for powering the motor used to turn the electric generator.

6. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the secondary electric power source is a fuel cell.

7. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the secondary electric power source is carried by a tag-along vehicle coupled to the vehicle.

8. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the secondary electric power source is attached to a side of the vehicle.

9. A system, comprising:

an apparatus as in claim 1;

the motor vehicle; and

means for at least mechanically and electrically coupling the secondary electric power source of the apparatus to the motor vehicle.

10. A method, comprising:

a step of providing secondary electric power for a vehicle having an electric power source for providing main electric power to an electric motor used to provide drive power for at least one wheel of the vehicle; and

a step of selecting the secondary electric power either in replacement of or in addition to the main electric power for use in powering the electric motor.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein the secondary electric power source is a motor-generator set including an electric generator and a motor for turning the electric generator.

12. A method as in claim 11, wherein the electric generator includes a winding for providing auxiliary power.

13. A method as in claim 12, wherein the winding provides auxiliary power at 115 volts and 60 Hz.

14. A method as in claim 11, further comprising a step of coupling to a fuel tank included in the vehicle, for drawing fuel from the fuel tank for powering the motor used to turn the electric generator.

15. A method as in claim 10, wherein the secondary electric power source is a fuel cell.

16. A method as in claim 10, wherein the secondary electric power source is carried by a tag-along vehicle coupled to the vehicle.

17. A method as in claim 10, wherein the secondary electric power source is attached to a side of the vehicle.