All wheel drive electric vehicle power assist drive system
First Claim
1. An electric vehicle drive system, comprising:
- a primary drive system, comprising;
a primary electric motor, said primary electric motor mechanically coupled to at least one wheel of a first vehicle axle, wherein said primary electric motor provides propulsion power to said at least one wheel of said first vehicle axle;
a primary inverter electrically connected to said primary electric motor; and
a primary power control module electrically connected to said primary inverter;
an assist drive system, comprising;
an assist electric motor, said assist electric motor mechanically coupled to at least one wheel of a second vehicle axle, wherein said assist electric motor provides propulsion power to said at least one wheel of said second vehicle axle; and
a secondary inverter electrically connected to said assist electric motor;
a secondary power control module electrically connected to said secondary inverter; and
an electrical energy storage system (ESS) electrically connected to said primary inverter via said primary power control module and electrically connected to said secondary inverter via said secondary power control module; and
a central power control module coupled to said primary and secondary power control modules, wherein said central power control module provides control signals to said primary and secondary power control modules.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for an all-electric vehicle using a primary drive system and a secondary drive system is provided. The primary drive system and the secondary drive system each utilize a single electric motor. In one configuration, a single electrical energy storage system (ESS) is used to supply power to both drive systems. A DC/DC converter can be used so that the two drive systems can utilize different DC bus voltage ranges. In another configuration, each drive system is coupled to a different electrical ESS. A bi-directional DC/DC converter can be used to provide an electrical path between each motor'"'"'s inverter and the electrical ESS of the other drive system. An energy transfer control module connected to the bi-directional DC/DC converter and one or more sensors can be used to control the use of the bi-directional DC/DC converter.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An electric vehicle drive system, comprising:
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a primary drive system, comprising; a primary electric motor, said primary electric motor mechanically coupled to at least one wheel of a first vehicle axle, wherein said primary electric motor provides propulsion power to said at least one wheel of said first vehicle axle; a primary inverter electrically connected to said primary electric motor; and a primary power control module electrically connected to said primary inverter; an assist drive system, comprising; an assist electric motor, said assist electric motor mechanically coupled to at least one wheel of a second vehicle axle, wherein said assist electric motor provides propulsion power to said at least one wheel of said second vehicle axle; and a secondary inverter electrically connected to said assist electric motor; a secondary power control module electrically connected to said secondary inverter; and an electrical energy storage system (ESS) electrically connected to said primary inverter via said primary power control module and electrically connected to said secondary inverter via said secondary power control module; and a central power control module coupled to said primary and secondary power control modules, wherein said central power control module provides control signals to said primary and secondary power control modules. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An electric vehicle drive system, comprising:
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a primary drive system, comprising; a primary electric motor, said primary electric motor mechanically coupled to at least one wheel of a first vehicle axle, wherein said primary electric motor provides propulsion power to said at least one wheel of said first vehicle axle; a primary inverter electrically connected to said primary electric motor; a primary power control module electrically connected to said primary inverter; and a primary electrical energy storage system (ESS) electrically connected to said primary power control module; an assist drive system, comprising; an assist electric motor, said assist electric motor mechanically coupled to at least one wheel of a second vehicle axle, wherein said assist electric motor provides propulsion power to said at least one wheel of said second vehicle axle; a secondary inverter electrically connected to said assist electric motor; a secondary power control module electrically connected to said secondary inverter; and a secondary electrical ESS electrically connected to said secondary power control module; and a central power control module coupled to said primary and secondary power control modules, wherein said central power control module provides control signals to said primary and secondary power control modules. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An electric vehicle drive system, comprising:
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a primary drive system, comprising; a primary electric motor, said primary electric motor mechanically coupled to at least one wheel of a first vehicle axle, wherein said primary electric motor provides propulsion power to said at least one wheel of said first vehicle axle; a primary inverter electrically connected to said primary electric motor; a primary power control module electrically connected to said primary inverter; a primary electrical energy storage system (ESS) electrically connected to said primary power control module; and at least one primary ESS condition sensor coupled to said primary electrical ESS; an assist drive system, comprising; an assist electric motor, said assist electric motor mechanically coupled to at least one wheel of a second vehicle axle, wherein said assist electric motor provides propulsion power to said at least one wheel of said second vehicle axle; a secondary inverter electrically connected to said assist electric motor; a secondary power control module electrically connected to said secondary inverter; a secondary electrical ESS electrically connected to said secondary power control module; and at least one secondary ESS condition sensor coupled to said secondary electrical ESS; a bi-directional DC/DC converter electrically connected to said primary drive system and to said assist drive system, wherein said bi-directional DC/DC converter provides a first electrical path connecting said secondary electrical ESS to said primary inverter via said primary power control module, and wherein said bi-directional DC/DC converter provides a second electrical path connecting said primary electrical ESS to said secondary inverter via said secondary power control module; and an energy transfer control module electrically connected to said bi-directional DC/DC converter and to said at least one primary ESS condition sensor and to said at least one secondary ESS condition sensor, wherein said energy transfer control module sends control signals to said bi-directional DC/DC converter based on output from said at least one primary ESS condition sensor and said at least one secondary ESS condition sensor.
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20. A method of operating an electric vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) monitoring a first performance parameter associated with a primary electrical ESS, said primary electrical ESS supplying electrical energy to a first drive system, said first drive system comprised of a primary electric motor mechanically coupled to at least one wheel of a first axle of the electric vehicle, a primary inverter electrically connected to said primary electric motor, and a primary power control module electrically connected to, and interposed between, said primary inverter and said primary electrical ESS; b) transmitting a first output signal corresponding to said monitored first performance parameter to an energy transfer control module; c) monitoring a second performance parameter associated with a secondary electrical ESS, said secondary electrical ESS supplying electrical energy to a second drive system, said second drive system comprised of an assist electric motor mechanically coupled to at least one wheel of a second axle of the electric vehicle, a secondary inverter electrically connected to said assist electric motor, and a secondary power control module electrically connected to, and interposed between, said secondary inverter and said secondary electrical ESS; d) transmitting a second output signal corresponding to said monitored second performance parameter to said energy transfer control module; e) transmitting a control signal from said energy transfer control module to a bi-directional DC/DC converter in response to said first and second output signals; f) transferring energy between said primary electrical ESS, said secondary electrical ESS, said first drive system and said second drive system via said bi-directional DC/DC converter in response to said control signal; and g) repeating steps a)-f) at a first frequency throughout operation of said electric vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification