HYBRID VEHICLE FORMED BY CONVERTING A CONVENTIONAL IC ENGINE POWERED VEHICLE AND METHOD OF SUCH CONVERSION
First Claim
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1. The method of converting an internal combustion engine powered vehicle having a drive train comprising a plurality of the serial elements, including a transmission, into a hybrid vehicle, comprising:
- removing an element of the drive train connecting the output of the internal combustion engine to the input of the transmission;
providing an electric motor having a rotor and stator disposed in the area previously occupied by the removed element, the rotor of the electric motor being connected to the input of the transmission;
providing a switchable connection between said electric motor and an electric power storage system;
providing an electronic controller operatively connected to said internal combustion engine aid said switchable connection to said electric motor, in order to control the state of energization of said internal combustion engine and said electric motor;
whereby the electric motor may be connected to the electric power storage system to provide driving power to said vehicle through said drive train.
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Abstract
A method of modifying a conventional internal combustion powered vehicle to hybrid electrical form involving modifying the drive train so that the rotor of a motor generator may be connected to the input of the drive train. This may be accomplished by removing an element and substituting a transfer case having driving inputs from both the engine and motor-generator, or by connecting the rotor of the motor generator to an input to the drive train.
137 Citations
23 Claims
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1. The method of converting an internal combustion engine powered vehicle having a drive train comprising a plurality of the serial elements, including a transmission, into a hybrid vehicle, comprising:
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removing an element of the drive train connecting the output of the internal combustion engine to the input of the transmission; providing an electric motor having a rotor and stator disposed in the area previously occupied by the removed element, the rotor of the electric motor being connected to the input of the transmission; providing a switchable connection between said electric motor and an electric power storage system; providing an electronic controller operatively connected to said internal combustion engine aid said switchable connection to said electric motor, in order to control the state of energization of said internal combustion engine and said electric motor; whereby the electric motor may be connected to the electric power storage system to provide driving power to said vehicle through said drive train. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A hybrid powered vehicle comprising:
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an internal combustion engine; a drive train comprising a plurality of serial elements connecting the output of the internal combustion engine to the driving wheels of the vehicle; an auxiliary power connection to one of said serial elements allowing the introduction of mechanical power derived from an auxiliary motor power element into the drive train and the removal of mechanical power from said drive train; a motor/generator having a mechanical connection to said auxiliary power connection to allow mechanical power from the motor to be introduced into the drive train to allow mechanical power from said drive train to drive the generator; an electric storage system for the internal combustion engine; a switchable connection between said electric motor and said electric storage system; and an electronic controller operative to sense vehicle conditions and operative to control the state of said internal combustion engine and the motor/generator system to control the operation of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. The method of converting an internal combustion engine powered vehicle having a drive train comprising a plurality of serial elements connected between the engine and the wheels of the engine into a hybrid vehicle, comprising:
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inserting a transfer case as a serial element in said drive train, said transfer case including an input shaft connected to those drive train elements connected to the internal combustion engine and, an output shaft connected to those drive train elements connected to the driving wheels of the vehicle, a clutch for selectively engaging and disengaging said input shaft to said output shaft, and an auxiliary power shaft connected to said output shaft; connecting a motor/generator shaft to said auxiliary shaft; providing a high-energy electric power storage system connected to the engine; providing a switching connection between the electrical connection of the motor/generator and the electrical storage system; providing an electronic controller having inputs that are functions of the brake and accelerator pedal positions of the internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine speed and vehicle speed and having outputs drivingly connected through the switching system between the motor/generator and the power storage source, internal combustion engine, and the clutch; and providing an auxiliary fluid pump powered by the electric storage system for providing fluid power to a vehicle braking system at such time as the clutch is deenergized. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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- 21. The method of converting an internal combustion engine powered vehicle into a hybrid vehicle, the vehicle having a drive train comprising a plurality of serial elements interconnecting the mechanical output of the internal combustion engine to the drive wheels of the vehicle, and having a frame, including spaced pair of longitudinal elements disposed on opposite sides of the engine.
Specification