Motor vehicle with electric boost motor

• US 20070284164A1
• Filed: 05/18/2007
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Net 7 Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Net 7 Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Hamstra, George, Gehrs, Mel
• Application Number:
  US11/804,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20070284164A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.265
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for operating a motor vehicle having an electric motor and a hydrocarbon fueled engine. The method includes the steps of moving the vehicle using the electric motor and the engine when the vehicle is below a first predetermined speed wherein an instantaneous respective torque contribution of the electric motor and engine is based upon a detected engine load and a vehicle velocity and moving the vehicle using the engine alone when the vehicle is above the first predetermined speed.

Claims

1. A method of operating a motor vehicle having an electric motor and a hydrocarbon fueled engine comprising:

moving the vehicle using the electric motor and the engine when the vehicle is below a first predetermined speed wherein an instantaneous torque contribution of the electric motor is based upon a detected engine load and a vehicle velocity; and

moving the vehicle using the engine alone when the vehicle is above the first predetermined speed.

2. The method as in claim 1 wherein the predetermined speed further comprises a speed greater than 30 miles per hour.

3. The method as in claim 1 further comprising measuring a speed of the vehicle and deactivating the motor when the speed exceeds the first predetermined speed.

4. The method as in claim 3 further comprising moving the vehicle using the engine from a standing stop to a second predetermined speed to eliminate electric motor stall current.

5. The method as in claim 4 wherein the second predetermined speed further comprises less than one mile per hour.

6. The method as in claim 5 further comprising determining an electric motor control signal by summing a set of values including the measured speed, a throttle position and an engine load and scaling the summed set of values.

7. The method as in claim 6 further comprising retrieving the set of values from a preexisting on-board diagnostics connector on the motor vehicle.

8. The method as in claim 1 further comprising disabling the electric motor based upon a condition of vehicle backup, brake, low battery voltage, high electric motor current, high electric motor temperature or high motor controller temperature.

9. The method as in claim 1 further comprising a user configuring a maximum allowable electric motor current.

10. The method as in claim 1 further comprising retrieving a plurality of electric motor and engine parameters and storing the plurality of parameters on a removable memory card.

11. The method as in claim 1 wherein the step of moving the vehicle using a combination of the electric motor and the engine further comprises adjusting the relative contribution of electric motor torque and engine output or torque to optimize gas mileage.

12. The method as in claim 1 further comprising detecting the engine load through a preexisting on-board diagnostic computer connection.

13. The method as in claim 1 further comprising integrating a rotor of the electric motor with a drive shaft of the hybrid vehicle.

14. The method as in claim 13 further comprising enclosing the rotor with a stator of the electric motor and rotatably supporting the stator on opposing ends with the drive shaft.

15. The method as in claim 14 further comprising connecting a coupler between the stator and a body of the hybrid vehicle to prevents rotation of the stator relative to the body.

16. A method of operating a motor vehicle having an electric motor and a hydrocarbon fueled engine comprising:

moving the vehicle using the electric motor and the engine when the vehicle is below a first predetermined speed wherein an instantaneous torque contribution of the electric motor is based upon a set of engine parameters received through an OBD connector; and

moving the vehicle using the engine alone when the vehicle is above the first predetermined speed.

17. The method as in claim 16 wherein the predetermined set of engine parameters further comprise absolute throttle position.

18. The method as in claim 16 wherein the predetermined set of engine parameters further comprise engine load.

19. The method as in claim 16 wherein the predetermined set of engine parameters further comprise vehicle speed.

20. The method as in claim 16 wherein the predetermined speed further comprises a speed greater than 30 miles per hour.

21. The method as in claim 16 further comprising measuring a speed of the vehicle and deactivating the motor when the speed exceeds the first predetermined speed.

22. The method as in claim 16 further comprising determining an electric motor control signal by summing a set of values including the measured speed, a throttle position and an engine load and scaling the summed set of values.

23. The method as in claim 16 further comprising determining a status of the vehicle braking or reverse gear from existing vehicle signal functions.

24. An apparatus for operating a motor vehicle having an electric motor and a hydrocarbon fueled engine comprising:

an OBD connector that provides a plurality of operating parameters of an engine of the vehicle;

the electric motor coupled to a drive shaft of the vehicle; and

a processor that applies power to the electric motor when the vehicle is below a first predetermined speed, wherein an instantaneous torque contribution of the electric motor is based upon the plurality of operating parameters and wherein the processor deactivates the electric motor when the vehicle is above the first predetermined speed.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the predetermined speed further comprises a speed greater than 30 miles per hour.

26. The apparatus of claim 24 further comprising determining an electric motor control signal by summing a set of values including the measured speed, an absolute throttle position and an engine load and scaling the summed set of values.

27. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the processor deactivates the electric motor based upon a presence of an indicator signal from a vehicle brake light.

28. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the processor deactivates the electric motor based upon a detection of an indicator signal from a vehicle reverse light.

29. The apparatus of claim 24 further comprising a rotor of the electric motor integral with a drive shaft of the hybrid vehicle.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 further comprising a stator that encloses the rotor and is rotatably supported on opposing ends by the drive shaft.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising a coupler connected between the stator and a body of the hybrid vehicle to prevent rotation of the stator relative to the body.

32. A motor vehicle having an electric motor and a hydrocarbon fueled engine comprising:

a rotor of the electric motor that is integral with a drive shaft of the vehicle;

a stator of the electric motor enclosing the rotor and rotatably supported on opposing ends by the drive shaft; and

a coupler connected between the stator and a body of the vehicle that prevents rotation of the stator relative to the body.

33. The motor vehicle as in claim 32 wherein a rotor of the electric motor is clamped around the drive shaft.