Vehicle and Power Unit For It

• US 20120004800A1
• Filed: 09/15/2011
• Published: 01/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IceCure Medical Ltd., E-Traction Europe B.V. (Saietta Group Plc)
• Original Assignee: Adrianus Johannes Heinen
• Inventors: Heinen, Adrianus Johannes
• Granted Patent: US 9,533,582 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/02 to electric heating circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/425 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0061 relating to electrical machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/00 Electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A vehicle includes at least one electromotor for driving the vehicle, an actuator for controlling the supply of electric power to the electromotor, and a power system for providing electric power to the electromotor. The power system includes an energy storage, an energy meter for measuring the energy condition of the energy storage, a power generator for generating electric power, and a computer system. The energy storage supplies power to the electromotor. The power generator supplies energy to the energy storage. The computer system controls the power supplied by the power generator so that the energy storage is able to provide the electromotor with the power the electromotor needs for driving the vehicle.

Claims

1. Vehicle comprising:

at least one electromotor for driving the vehicle;

an actuator for controlling the supply of electric power to the electromotor and

a power system for providing electric power to the electromotor drive of the vehicle, which power system is provided with;

first energy storage means for storing a quantity of energy and having a power discharge capacity;

first measuring means for measuring the energy condition of the first energy storage means;

first power generating means for generating electric power;

a computer system, operationally connected to the actuator for receiving a power demand, to the first measuring means for receiving a first energy condition value, and to the first power generating means,

wherein the first energy storage means are operationally connected to the electromotor for supplying power thereto, the first power generating means are operationally connected to the first energy storage means for supplying energy thereto, and the computer system controls the power supplied by the first power generating means so that the energy storage means are able to provide the electromotor drive with the power the electric drive needs for driving the vehicle.

2. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the computer system controls the power supplied by the first power generating means in order for the first energy condition value not to drop below a set first threshold value.

3. Vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the computer system is adapted for adjusting the set first threshold value during the ride.

4. Vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the computer system has historical power data and/or energy data of the vehicle at its disposal, and is adapted for adjusting the threshold value on the basis of said historical power data and/or energy data.

5. Vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the computer system has a set ride duration at its disposal, and is adapted for adjusting the threshold value on the basis of the set ride duration.

6. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first energy storage means comprise at least one battery.

7. Vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising second energy storage means, preferably capacitors, preferably comprising several capacitors each having a capacity of at least 800 F and having an energy storage capacity of at least 2 KJ, wherein the second energy storage means are operationally connected to the first energy storage means for receiving electric power therefrom or supplying electric power thereto.

8. Vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising second energy storage means, preferably capacitors, preferably comprising several capacitors, each having a capacity of at least 800 F and an energy storage capacity of at least 2 KJ, wherein the second energy storage means are operationally connected via the actuator to the electric drive for discharging electric power thereto.

9. Vehicle according to claim 7, further comprising a charging device connected between the first power generating means and the first energy storage means.

10. Vehicle according to claim 9, further comprising a control device, connected to the first energy storage means and the charging device.

11. Vehicle according to claim 1, comprising several first energy storage means, parallel interconnected.

12. Vehicle according to claim 11, comprising several second energy storage means, each second energy storage means being connected to one of the first energy storage means.

13. Vehicle according to claim 11, wherein each first energy storage means comprises its own charging device and its own control device.

14. Vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the first power generating means are parallel connected to the first energy storage means.

15. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first energy storage means or the several energy storage means are each connected via a converter with a solar panel.

16. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the electromotor is a synchronous motor having permanent magnets, provided with a control system for controlling the operation of the electromotor and accommodated in the electromotor.

17. Vehicle according to claim 1, furthermore provided with at least one wheel that is directly driven by means of the electromotor, the electromotor provided in the wheel, which is provided with liquid cooling and a control system for the electromotor accommodated in said electromotor, and with the liquid cooling the cooling of windings and the control system.

18. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first power generating means comprise a generator provided with a combustion engine.

19. Vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising second measuring means for measuring the power condition of the first power generating means, and wherein the computer system is further operationally connected to the second measuring means for receiving a second power condition value, and the computer system further sets the power supplied by the first power generating means while using the second power condition value.

20. Vehicle comprising:

at least one electromotor for driving the vehicle;

an actuator for controlling the supply of electric power to the electromotor and

a power system for providing electric power to the electromotor drive of the vehicle, which power system is provided with;

a first energy storage for storing a quantity of energy and having an electric power discharge capacity;

a first energy meter for measuring an energy condition of the first energy storage;

a first power generating unit for generating electric power;

a computer system, operationally connected to the actuator for receiving a power demand, to the first energy meter for receiving a first energy condition value therefrom, and connected to the first power generating unit,

wherein the first energy storage is operationally connected to the electromotor for supplying power thereto, the first power generating unit is operationally connected to the energy storage for supplying power thereto for supplementing the energy, and the computer system controls the power supplied by the first power generating unit so that the energy storage is able to provide the electromotor drive with sufficient power for driving the vehicle.

21-34. -34. (canceled)