ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN VEHICLE

• US 3,556,239 A
• Filed: 09/23/1968
• Issued: 01/19/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph W. Spahn
• Original Assignee: Joseph W. Spahn
• Inventors: Spahn, Joseph W.
• Application Number:
  US04/761,560
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.25
• 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 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/063 Arrangement of tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/02 characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of clutch
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/04 characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of gearing electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/60 using power supplied by batteries in combination with fuel cells B60L50/75
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/006 Converting flow of air into electric energy, e.g. by using wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/32 on moving objects, e.g. vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/941 which is a land vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 Onshore wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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 10/90 Energy harvesting concepts as power supply for auxiliaries' energy consumption, e.g. photovoltaic sun-roof

Abstract

A battery powered automobile includes an air operated turbine fed by front and side air scoops for providing both charging current to the batteries and driving power for the automobile. An auxiliary internal combustion engine is included for use when necessary. Deceleration and wind sensitive controls operate door structure on the front air scoop so that it opens, increasing drag, only under predetermined conditions. Braking energy is utilized to help charge the batteries.

Claims

1. An electrically driven vehicle comprising:

a. a mobile frame having wheels mounted thereon rolling movement along the ground;

b. an electric motor on said frame and operably connected to said wheels for driving said vehicle;

c. a storage battery on said frame and connected to said motor for driving said motor;

d. an air powered turbine on said frame, an air scoop on said frame and connected with said turbine for driving said motor, means selectively mechanically connecting said air turbine to said motor;

e. an auxiliary internal combustion engine mounted on said frame;

f. voltage sensing means associated with said battery and operably connected between said engine and said wheels; and

g. said last named means being operable to start said engine and connect said engine to said wheels when said battery is discharged to a predetermined condition.

2. An elEctrically driven vehicle comprising:

a. a mobile frame having wheels mounted thereon for rolling movement along the ground;

b. an electric motor on said frame and operably connected to said wheels for driving said vehicle;

c. a storage battery on said frame and connected to said motor for driving said motor;

d. an air powered turbine on said frame, an air scoop on said frame and communicating with said turbine for driving said motor, means selectively mechanically connecting said air turbine to said motor;

e. said air scoop being forwardly directed, and including; and

f. doors adapted to block said air scoop to reduce air resistance when said motor is driving said vehicle, said doors including air speed sensing means adapted to maintain said doors closed below a predetermined air speed.

3. An electrically driven vehicle comprising:

a. a mobile frame having wheels mounted thereon for rolling movement along the ground;

b. an electric motor on said frame and operably connected to said wheels for driving said vehicle;

c. a storage battery on said frame and connected to said motor for driving said motor;

d. an air powered turbine on said frame, an air scoop on said frame and communicating with said turbine for driving said motor, means selectively mechanically connecting said air turbine to said motor;

e. said air scoop being forwardly directed, and including;

f. doors adapted to block said air scoop to reduce air resistance when said motor is driving said vehicle; and

g. said doors including means sensitive to the reduction of driving energy to said vehicle to operate said doors.

4. The vehicle as set forth in claim 3 wherein said air scoop comprises:

a. laterally directed air scoops adapted to receive crosswind energy for powering said turbine.