Hybrid power supply module

• US 20060162973A1
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Airtrax, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Airtrax, Inc.
• Inventors: Amico, Peter, Harris, Donald B.
• Application Number:
  US11/289,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20060162973A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.310
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 5/10 providing for ready detachment of engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/00 Arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion, e.g. hybrid propulsion systems comprising electric motors and internal combustion engines ; Control systems therefor, i.e. systems controlling two or more prime movers, or controlling one of these prime movers and any of the transmission, drive or drive units arrangement or mounting in vehicles of electrical gearing, in which an electrical machine serves only as reduction gearing and not as the prime mover and in which no electrical storing means are used B60K17/12; control and regulation of purely electrical prime movers B60L; prime-movers comprising electrical and internal combustion motors in a common engine block or housing per se F02B65/00; electric motors or motor-generators used for starting the combustion engine F02N11/04; electric motors for synchronising gearing F16H3/12 Informative references: mechanical gearings with secondary electric drive F16H3/72; arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with the dynamo-electric machine H02K7/00; machines comprising structurally interrelated motor and generator parts H02K51/00; dynamo-electric machines not otherwise provided for in H02K see H02K99/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/24 characterised by the combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/32 characterised by the fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/405 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/42 Fork lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/40 related to technical updates when adding new parts or software
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/10 using propulsion power supplied by engine-driven generators, e.g. generators driven by combustion engines
• 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 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/71 Arrangement of fuel cells within vehicles specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/06 Combustion engines, Gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/15 : Fork lift trucks, Industrial trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/06 : movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks vehicle aspects B60 - B62; vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading or unloading B60P1/00; low-lift hand trucks for transporting goods B62B3/06
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07531 : Battery compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07572 : Propulsion arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07595 : Cooling arrangements for device or operator
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 : Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/003 : of fuel cells with other electrochemical devices, e.g. capacitors, electrolysers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/202 : Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04298 : Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04365 : of other components of a fuel cell or fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04395 : of cathode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04567 : of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04589 : of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0491 : of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04917 : of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 : Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/60 : Electric or hybrid propulsion means for production processes
• 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 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

An hybrid power supply module is disclosed. The hybrid power supply module is configured for placement in a battery compartment of an electrically powered machine and includes a housing that contains a battery, an electrical generator or fuel cell, and control electronics. The housing is sized to fit in the host electrically-powered machine'"'"'s battery compartment. The battery and electrical power generator or fuel cell are coupled electrically to the electronic controls. A method of replacing a battery.in an electric powered machine with a renewable power source is also disclosed. The method includes uncoupling the battery from the machine, removing the battery from a battery compartment of the machine, placing the hybrid power supply module in the battery compartment, and coupling the hybrid power supply module to the machine.

Claims

1. A removable power source, comprising:

a housing;

a battery disposed within said housing;

an electrical power generator disposed within said housing; and

a power control module disposed within said housing and coupled to said battery and said electrical power generator and arranged to supply power to a machine from either said battery or said generator.

2. The power source of claim 1, wherein said electrical power generator further comprises:

an internal combustion engine; and

an electrical generator coupled to said internal combustion engine.

3. The power source of claim 1, wherein said electrical power generator further comprises a fuel cell.

4. The power source of claim 1, wherein said housing is sized to fit in a compartment for holding a battery of said machine.

5. The power source of claim 4, wherein said housing is removable from the compartment for holding a battery.

6. The power source of claim 2, wherein said internal combustion engine is a spark ignition engine.

7. The power source of claim 2, wherein said internal combustion engine is a compression ignition engine.

8. The power source of claim 2, wherein said internal combustion engine is a rotary engine.

9. The power source of claim 2, wherein said internal combustion engine is a reciprocating engine.

16. The power source of claim 1, wherein said electrical power generator further comprises:

an external combustion engine; and

an electrical generator coupled to said external combustion engine.

17. The power source of claim 16, wherein said external combustion engine is a gas turbine.

10. A method of replacing a battery in an electric powered machine with a rapidly renewable power source, comprising:

uncoupling the battery from the machine;

removing the battery from the battery compartment of the machine;

placing a rapidly renewable power source in the battery compartment; and

coupling the rapidly renewable power source to the machine.

11. A method for converting a battery-powered machine to a hybrid powered machine comprising the steps:

uncoupling the battery from the machine;

removing the battery from the machine;

placing a hybrid power source in the battery compartment of the machine; and

coupling the hybrid power source to the machine.

12. A vehicle, comprising:

a chassis;

a wheel rotatably attached to said chassis;

an electric motor coupled to said chassis and to said wheel; and

a power source electrically coupled to said electric motor, said power source comprising;

a housing,

a battery disposed within said housing,

a power control module disposed within said housing and coupled to said battery, and

an electrical power generator disposed within said housing and coupled to said power control module.

13. The vehicle disclosed in claim 12 wherein said vehicle is a forklift further comprising

a lifting mechanism coupled to said chassis.

14. The vehicle disclosed in claim 12 wherein said vehicle is a work platform further comprising a scissor type lifting mechanism coupled to said chassis.

15. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein said housing is removable as a unit.