ELECTRIC AUTOMOBILE

• US 3,616,872 A
• Filed: 08/11/1969
• Issued: 11/02/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frank A. Taylor
• Original Assignee: Frank A. Taylor
• Inventors: Taylor, Frank A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friaglia, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Milton L.
• Application Number:
  US04/848,795
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65,68.5,60 105/49,50,51 296/31P
• US Class Current: 180/55
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/46 Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/18 of two or more battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 23/005 with integrated chassis in the whole shell, e.g. meshwork, tubes, or the like B62D33/044 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 31/003 compact cars, e.g. city cars
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A motor vehicle driven by one or more electric motors supplied with power from a plurality of rechargeable energy cells which are permanently encased within the body structure. An auxiliary source of power is provided to recharge one of the energy cells while another energy cell is supplying power to the electric motor.

Claims

1. An electrically operated automobile comprising a lightweight body constructed of plywood and molded fiber glass and including an enclosed battery-containing compartment having a bottom deck, said compartment being provided with an access opening;

a plurality of ground-engaging wheels supporting said body, means for steering said automobile, at least one reversible electrically operated motor carried by said body, a plurality of selectively usable rechargeable energy cells permanently encased in said body in a battery casing including top, side and end walls integrally connected to each other and to said bottom deck which comprises the bottom wall of said casing, means controlling the flow of energy from said cells to said reversible motor, and means for selectively recharging said energy cells.

2. An electrically operated automobile as set forth in claim 1 where the side and end walls of said battery casing are of substantially greater strength than the bottom wall thereof.

3. An electrically operated vehicle comprising a lightweight body constructed of rigid and moldable materials, a plurality of ground-engaging wheels supporting said body, at least one seat disposed within said body, means for steering said vehicle, an electrically operated reversible motor carried by said body, a plurality of selectively usable rechargeable energy cells permanently encased by the moldable material of said body, a plurality of contact posts projecting outwardly of said energy cells, means selectively connecting said motor to certain of said contact posts, an auxiliary source of power carried by said body, electrical energy-generating means driven by said auxiliary source of power, and means connecting said generating means to other contact posts, whereby said energy cells will be nonremovably mounted in said body and certain of said cells can be recharged while other cells are discharging electrical energy to operAte said motor, said body including a rigid frame of tubular construction welded together as an integral unit, said frame including a longitudinally disposed tubing member, a vertically disposed tubing member, and a transversely disposed tubing member, said longitudinally disposed tubing member having means for introducing air under pressure therein and means for discharging air under pressure therefrom, said vertically disposed tubing member having inlet and outlet means and providing a reservoir for distilled water which can be supplied to said energy cells.