MOTOR VEHICLE ACCESSORY TO INCREASE POWER SUPPLY AND REDUCE FUEL REQUIREMENTS

• US 20160318406A1
• Filed: 05/02/2016
• Published: 11/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyliion Inc. (Hyliion Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyliion Inc. (Hyliion Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Healy, Thomas Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 9,694,712 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/00 Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00; electric transmission arrangements B60K17/12; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles per se B60L; current-collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/356 having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel B60K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/001 one motor mounted on a propulsion axle for rotating right and left wheels of this axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/02 to electric heating circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2018 for braking on a slope
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/28 Trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/10 Vehicle control parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/642 Slope of road
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/24 Coasting mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/50 using propulsion power supplied by batteries or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/53 in combination with an external power supply, e.g. from overhead contact lines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/60 using power supplied by batteries in combination with fuel cells B60L50/75
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/10 for monitoring or controlling batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/10 Dynamic electric regenerative braking B60L7/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/18 Controlling the braking effect B60L7/12, B60L7/14, B60L7/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/148 : Semi-trailers, articulated vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/91 : Electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/181 : Hill climbing or descending
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/18125 : Regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/182 : Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/52 : Engine fuel consumption
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/60 : Control of electric machines, e.g. problems related to electric motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/216 : by solar panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/301 : for position or displacement
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/304 : Acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/61 : Arrangements of controllers for electric machines, e.g. inverters
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 59/04 : driven from propulsion unit on trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 63/08 : Component parts or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• 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 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A power control system may include at least one of batteries, a motor, and a data logic analyzer that can interpret certain variable conditions of a transport, such as a tractor trailer, moving along a road or highway. The data can be used to determine when to apply supplemental power to the wheels of a trailer to reduce fuel usage. One example device may include at least one of: a power creation module that generates electrical power, a battery which store the electrical power, a motor affixed to a trailer axle of a trailer which provides a turning force to the trailer axle when enabled to operate from the stored electrical power of the battery, and a motor controller configured to initiate the motor to operate according to a predefined sensor condition.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a power creation module configured to generate electrical power;

a battery configured to store the electrical power;

a motor affixed to an axle of a trailer and configured to provide a turning force to the axle when enabled to operate from the stored electrical power of the battery; and

a motor controller configured to initiate the motor to operate according to a predefined sensor condition.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predefined sensor condition is a change in at least one of:

a brake status of the trailer, an accelerometer position, a global positioning system indicator, an acceleration status of the trailer, a velocity status of the trailer, a measured incline of the trailer, a gyroscope reading, a microphone reading, driver behavior, and a currently operating engine status.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein fuel usage of an engine used to power the trailer decreases when the motor operates.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical power is generated from at least one of:

a rotation of the axle, a movement of a trailer suspension, and solar power of a solar panel affixed to the trailer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a trailer controller configured to;

receive sensor data from at least one sensor; and

determine whether the sensor data triggers the predefined sensor condition.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the predefined sensor condition comprises a threshold sensor condition being exceeded.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising at least one of:

a weight sensor;

a global positioning system;

a terrain map;

a remote signal;

an altimeter;

a brake sensor;

a gyroscope;

an inclinometer;

a speed sensor; and

an accelerometer.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the trailer controller receives the sensor data from at least one of:

the weight sensor, the global positioning system, the terrain map, the remote signal, the altimeter, the brake sensor, the gyroscope, the inclinometer, the speed sensor and the accelerometer.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motor controller is further configured to stop the motor operation according to another predefined sensor condition.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motor affixed to the axle further comprises a plurality of motors affixed to a respective plurality of axles and configured to provide turning forces to each of the axles when enabled to operate from the motor controller.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a battery configured to store electrical power generated from movement of a trailer;

a motor affixed to an axle of the trailer and configured to provide a turning force to the axle when enabled to operate from the stored electrical power of the battery; and

a motor controller configured to initiate the motor to operate according to a predefined sensor condition.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the predefined sensor condition is a change in at least one of:

a brake status of the trailer, an accelerometer position, a terrain map, a remote signal, a global positioning system indicator, an acceleration status of the trailer, a velocity status of the trailer, a measured incline of the trailer, an altitude reading, a gyroscope reading, a microphone reading, and a currently operating engine status.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein fuel usage of a fuel-consuming engine of a tractor to which the trailer is coupled decreases when the motor operates.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electrical power is generated from at least one of:

a rotation of the axle, a movement of a trailer suspension, and solar power of a solar panel affixed to the trailer.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a trailer controller configured to;

receive sensor data from at least one sensor; and

determine whether the sensor data triggers the predefined sensor condition.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the predefined sensor condition comprises a threshold sensor condition being exceeded.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising at least one of:

a weight sensor;

a global positioning system;

a terrain map;

a remote signal;

an altimeter;

a brake sensor;

a gyroscope;

an inclinometer;

a speed sensor; and

an accelerometer.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the trailer controller receives the sensor data from at least one of:

the weight sensor, the brake sensor, the gyroscope, the inclinometer, the speed sensor and the accelerometer.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the motor controller is further configured to stop the motor operation according to another predefined sensor condition.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a power creation module configured to generate the electrical power.

21. An apparatus for use in a tractor-trailer vehicle configuration as a hybridizing suspension assembly, the apparatus comprising:

a suspension assembly including a frame, suspension, and one or more drive axles, the suspension assembly suitable for attachment beneath a trailer of the tractor-trailer vehicle;

the suspension assembly including at least one electric motor-generator coupled to at least one of the one or more drive axles to provide, in a first mode of operation, a motive rotational force and to provide, in a second mode of operation, a regenerative braking force;

a battery array from which stored energy is supplied to power the motor-generator in the first mode of operation and to which regenerated braking energy is supplied in the second mode of operation; and

a controller operatively coupled between the motor-generator and one or more sensor inputs to transition between the first, the second and at least a third mode of operation based on characterization of an uphill or downhill angle of inclination in a direction of travel over a roadway, during motion of the tractor-trailer vehicle over the roadway, using the one or more sensor inputs.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

an inclinometer, the inclinometer configured to characterize, during motion of the tractor-trailer vehicle over the roadway, the uphill or downhill angle of inclination in the direction of travel over the roadway; and

wherein either or both of the battery array and the inclinometer are fixed to the frame.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

a geopositioning system coupled to the controller to, in connection with terrain information, (i) characterize, during motion of the tractor-trailer vehicle over the roadway, the uphill or downhill angle of inclination in the direction of travel over the roadway and (ii) manage charging and discharging of the battery array in accordance with terrain along a route of predicted travel.

24. The apparatus of claim 21,

wherein the suspension assembly is configured as a retrofit assembly for attachment beneath the trailer as replacement for an existing suspension assembly thereof which lacks a drive axle to boost fuel efficiency of the tractor-trailer vehicle configuration.

25. The apparatus of claim 21,

attached beneath the trailer as at least one suspension assembly thereof and configured with wheels and tires to allow the trailer to roll along the roadway when motivated by a fuel consuming engine of a tractor to which the trailer is mechanically coupled,

wherein the controller is directly or indirectly attached to the trailer and couplable to receive signals from a controller area network bus (CANbus) or electronic control module (ECM) interface of the tractor and responsive to at least some signals received therefrom.

26. The apparatus of claim 25,

wherein, in the third mode of operation, neither the motive rotational nor the regenerative braking forces are applied to the one or more axles of the trailer using the motor-generator, but instead the trailer is motivated over the roadway solely by the fuel consuming engine of the tractor to which it is mechanically coupled.

27. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

at least one additional electric motor-generator operatively coupled to the controller and motively coupled to at least another of the one or more drive axles to provide, in the first mode of operation, the motive rotational force and to provide, in the second mode of operation, the regenerative braking force, wherein the controller further coordinates the motive rotational or regenerative braking forces applied to respective ones of the one or more drive axles.

28. A method comprising:

replacing an existing suspension assembly of a trailer with a hybridizing suspension assembly, wherein the hybridizing suspension assembly includes a frame, suspension, one or more drive axles, and at least one electric motor-generator coupled to at least one of the one or more drive axles to provide, in a first mode of operation, an assistive motive force and, in a second mode of operation, a regenerative braking force, the hybridizing suspension assembly configured with wheels and tires to allow the trailer to roll along a roadway when motivated by a fuel consuming engine of a tractor to which the trailer is mechanically coupled in a tractor-trailer vehicle configuration.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

in the first mode of operation, powering the electric motor-generator from a battery array and thereby providing the assistive motive force so as to reduce fuel consumption of a fuel consuming engine of the tractor in an uphill grade or during acceleration;

in the second mode of operation, capturing regenerative braking energy in a downhill grade or during braking using the motor-generator and storing the captured regenerative braking energy in the battery array;

characterizing an uphill or downhill angle of inclination in a direction of travel over a roadway based on one or more sensor inputs; and

based on the characterizing, transitioning between the first, the second and at least a third mode of operation during motion of the tractor-trailer vehicle over the roadway.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

managing charging and discharging of the battery array in accordance with terrain along a route of predicted travel using a geopositioning system in connection with terrain information.