DRIVING APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING VEHICLE FUEL EFFICIENCY

• US 20100286854A1
• Filed: 05/07/2009
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ten-Lee Chang, Tien-Li Chen
• Original Assignee: Ten-Lee Chang, Tien-Li Chen
• Inventors: CHANG, Ten-Lee, CHEN, Tien-Li
• Application Number:
  US12/437,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20100286854A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3211 for increasing the efficiency of a vehicle refrigeration cycle
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3292 Compressor drive is electric only
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state

Abstract

A driving apparatus for improving fuel efficiency of vehicle is provided. The driving apparatus includes an engine connected to a transmission system of the vehicle; a clutch connected to the engine for power engaging or disengaging with the engine; a generator connected to the clutch for power engaging or disengaging with the clutch; a control circuit electrically connected to the clutch and the generator; and a battery electrically connected to the control circuit, wherein when the engine is operating, the control circuit receives a signal to allow the battery to provide power to drive the generator; when the rotation speed of the generator reaches a threshold, the control circuit is activated to drive the clutch to engage the engine and the generator, interrupt power provided to drive the generator so that the generator is operated by the engine, and the generated power is stored through the control circuit to the battery.

Claims

1. A driving apparatus for improving fuel efficiency of a vehicle, comprising:

an engine, connected to a transmission system of the vehicle;

a clutch, connected to the engine, for power engaging or disengaging with the engine;

a generator, connected to the clutch, for power engaging or disengaging with the clutch;

a control circuit, electrically connected to the clutch and the generator; and

a battery, electrically connected to the control circuit;

wherein when the engine is operating, the control circuit receives a signal to allow the battery to provide power to drive the generator;

when the rotation speed of the generator reaches a threshold, the control circuit is activated to drive the clutch to engage the engine and the generator, interrupt power provided to drive the generator so that the generator is operated by the engine, and the generated power is stored through the control circuit to the battery.

2. The driving apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an air-conditioning system with a compressor; and

a motor, connected to the compressor, the motor being electrically connected to the control circuit;

wherein the control circuit enables the battery to provide power to drive the motor so that the compressor rotates to activate the air-conditioning system.

3. The driving apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the threshold of the rotation speed for the generator is when angular speed of rotor of the generator is close to or the same as angular speed of the engine.

4. The driving apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the threshold of the rotation speed for the generator is when angular speed of rotor of the generator is close to or the same as angular speed of the engine.

5. The driving apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the control circuit detects a signal indicating that the power stored in the battery is lower than a threshold, the control circuit enables the battery to provide power to operate the generator.

6. The driving apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein when the control circuit detects a signal indicating that the power stored in the battery is lower than a threshold, the control circuit enables the battery to provide power to operate the generator.

7. The driving apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

a first cooling fan motor, electrically connected to the control circuit, the first cooling fan motor further comprising a first cooling fan;

a second cooling fan motor, electrically connected to the control circuit, the second cooling fan motor further comprising a second cooling fan;

an engine cooling water tank system having a first temperature sensor, the first temperature sensor electrically connected to the control circuit; and

a compressor cooling system having a second temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor electrically connected to the control circuit;

wherein when the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor senses respectively the temperature of the engine cooling water tank system and temperature of the compressor cooling system being lower than a threshold, the control circuit does not activate the first cooling fan motor or the second cooling fan motor;

otherwise, the control circuit activates the first cooling fan motor or the second cooling fan motor.

8. The driving apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the rotation speed of the first cooling fan motor or the second cooling fan motor after activation can be configured to be adjustable according to the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor or the second temperature sensor.