Electric drive system for vehicle, electric control system for vehicle, electric drive method for vehicle

• US 20060086547A1
• Filed: 12/09/2005
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kazuhiro Imaie, Keizo Shimada, Naoshi Sugawara, Shintarou Oku, Takashi Yagyu, Yasuhiro Kiyofuji
• Original Assignee: Kazuhiro Imaie, Keizo Shimada, Naoshi Sugawara, Shintarou Oku, Takashi Yagyu, Yasuhiro Kiyofuji
• Inventors: Sugawara, Naoshi, Shimada, Keizo, Imaie, Kazuhiro, Yagyu, Takashi, Kiyofuji, Yasuhiro, Oku, Shintarou
• Application Number:
  US11/297,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20060086547A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.245
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/20 AC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/22 Dynamic electric resistor braking, combined with dynamic electric regenerative braking
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/947 Characterized by control of braking, e.g. blending of regeneration, friction braking

Abstract

In an electric drive system for a vehicle, an alternator is driven by an engine to generate electric power which is used to drive a motor to generate a driving force. During a retardation of the vehicle, the motor is operated as an alternator to convert kinetic energy to electric energy which is used to retard the vehicle. A retard resistor is provided for absorbing electric energy generated during the retardation state. The retard resistor is cooled down by an AC blower.

Claims

1. An electric drive system for a vehicle, comprising:

an alternator driven by power of an engine of said vehicle to generate electric power;

a rectifier for rectifying the electric power outputted by said alternator;

a converter for converting an output of said rectifier to an alternating current;

a motor driven by an output of said converter and rotated by wheels of said vehicle mechanically coupled to said motor to generate electric power;

a resistor for converting the electric power generated by said motor to thermal energy; and

a blower for cooling said resistor.

2. An electric drive system for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a second alternator driven by the power of said engine to generate electric power, wherein said blower is driven by electric power generated by said second alternator.

3. An electric drive system for a vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising a second converter for converting the output of said second alternator, wherein said second converter has an output connected to said blower.

4. An electric drive system for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said second alternator is controlled to generate a constant voltage independently of an engine rotation speed.

5. An electric drive system for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said alternator and said second alternator are coaxially connected to an output shaft of said engine.

6. An electric drive system for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a transformer for transforming the output of said alternator, wherein said blower is driven by an output of said transformer.

7. An electric drive system for a vehicle according to claim 6, further comprising a second converter for converting the output of said transformer, wherein said second converter has an output connected to said blower.

8. An electric drive system for a vehicle according to claim 6, further comprising a switch for connecting the output of said transformer to said blower.

9. An electric drive system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a driving force is provided for said wheels by connecting a rotating force of said motor to said wheels through gears, or directly connecting to said wheels.

10. An electric drive system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said motor is connected to said resistor through said switch when said motor is driven by said wheels to generate electric power.

11. An electric drive system for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a second motor for cooling down said resistor, said second motor being driven with the electric power generated by said motor.

12. An electric drive system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said system determines whether or not said vehicle is in retard, and cools said resistor when said vehicle is in retard.

13. An electric drive system for a vehicle according to claim 12, wherein said system determines whether or not said resistor is cooled down, and determines whether or not said vehicle is in retard after waiting for a predetermined time when said resistor is cooled down.

14. An electric drive system for a vehicle according to claim 13, wherein said system determines whether or not said vehicle is in acceleration, and determines whether or not said vehicle is in retard when said vehicle is in acceleration.

17. An electric drive system according to claim 1, further comprising wheels mechanically coupled to said motor.

15. An electric control system for a vehicle for controlling electric power generated by an alternator driven by power of an engine, and controlling a conversion of a rectified version of the electric power output, wherein a torque of wheels driven by a motor is controlled by the converted electric power by controlling the conversion of the electric power, said motor is controlled to generate electric power which acts as a mechanical load on rotations of the wheels, and said system controls to cool down thermal energy generated by electric power generated by said motor.

16. An electric drive method for a vehicle comprising the steps of:

rectifying electric power generated by an alternator driven by an engine;

converting the rectified output to an alternate current by a converter;

driving a motor with the converted output to rotate wheels;

driving said motor to generate electric power which acts as a mechanical load on rotations of the wheels; and

converting the electric power generated by said motor to thermal energy to dissipate the heat.