Towing device for electric vehicle

• US 20090078521A1
• Filed: 09/11/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Original Assignee: Fuji Heavy Industries Limited (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: Ohtomo, Yosuke
• Granted Patent: US 7,712,760 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 191/12.R
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/185 comprising a cable or chain winding device B60D1/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03197 Systems for exchanging data
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/38 with automatic control
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/28 Trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/20 AC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0092 with use of redundant elements for safety purposes
• 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 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• 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 20/50 Control strategies for responding to system failures, e.g. for fault diagnosis, failsafe operation or limp mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/65 Data transmitted between vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/02 Ensuring safety in case of control system failures, e.g. by diagnosing, circumventing or fixing failures
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0205 Diagnosing or detecting failures; Failure detection models
• 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: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

When the electric vehicle is to be towed by a towing vehicle, the two vehicles are connected by a connection tool, and a drive motor prioritization control unit is connected to the communication network by a communication cable. Power from a battery is then supplied to the low voltage line by a power supply cable, and the inverter is controlled by a signal from the drive motor prioritization control unit of the towing vehicle.

Claims

1. A towing device for an electric vehicle, which uses a towing vehicle to tow the electric vehicle having a high voltage line for supplying power from a storage device to a drive motor via an inverter, a storage device control unit for controlling said storage device, a vehicle control unit for controlling said drive motor and said high voltage line, a low voltage line for supplying power to said inverter, said storage device control unit, and said vehicle control unit, and a communication network for transmitting a signal between said vehicle control unit, said inverter, and said storage device control unit,

said towing device comprising:

a connection tool that is mounted between said electric vehicle and said towing vehicle and transmits a towing force of said towing vehicle to said electric vehicle;

a communication cable that is connected detachably to a connection terminal connected to said communication network and connects a drive motor prioritization control unit provided in said towing vehicle to said vehicle control unit; and

a power supply cable that is connected detachably to a power supply terminal connected to said low voltage line and connects a power source provided in said towing vehicle to said low voltage line.

2. The towing device for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein, when said electric vehicle is towed by said towing vehicle, said towing force is transmitted to said electric vehicle by a tension of said connection tool, and said towing force is not transmitted to said communication cable and said power supply cable.

3. The towing device for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said connection tool comprises tension detecting means for detecting said tension applied to said connection tool during towing and outputting a detection signal to said drive motor prioritization control unit, and when said tension of said connection tool is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, said drive motor prioritization control unit provides notification of a tension abnormality.

4. The towing device for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said drive motor prioritization control unit causes notifying means provided in said towing vehicle to provide notification that towing is impossible when said communication network is determined to be broken.

5. The towing device for an electric vehicle according to claim 4, wherein, when said vehicle control unit is determined to be broken by said drive motor prioritization control unit, said drive motor prioritization control unit diagnoses whether or not said inverter and said high voltage line are broken, and when said vehicle control unit is determined to be normal by said drive motor prioritization control unit, said vehicle control unit self-diagnoses whether or not said inverter and said high voltage line are broken.

6. The towing device for an electric vehicle according to claim 5, wherein, when at least one of said inverter and said high voltage line is diagnosed as being broken, notification that towing is impossible is provided on at least one of second notifying means provided in said electric vehicle and said notifying means of said towing vehicle, and when both said inverter and said high voltage line are diagnosed as being normal, notification that towing is possible is provided on at least one of said notifying means and second notifying means.