POWER TRAIN USING MULTIPLE POWER SOURCES

• US 3,732,751 A
• Filed: 03/02/1971
• Issued: 05/15/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Baruch Berman, George Howard Gelb, Neal Allen Richardson, Tsih C. Wang
• Original Assignee: Baruch Berman, George Howard Gelb, Neal Allen Richardson, Tsih C. Wang
• Inventors: Berman, Baruch, Gelb, George Howard, Richardson, Neal Allen, Wang, Tsih C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Myhre, Charles J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perry, Thomas C.
• Application Number:
  US05/120,261
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 74/675,686 60/6 180/65A 290/4C,16,17 318/139
• US Class Current: 475/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/4833 Step up or reduction gearing driving generator, e.g. to operate generator in most efficient speed range
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/007 Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/003 Dynamic electric braking by short circuiting the motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/22 Dynamic electric resistor braking, combined with dynamic electric regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/081 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/0866 Power split variators with distributing differentials, with the output of the CVT connected or connectable to the output shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/088 : Power split variators with summing differentials, with the input of the CVT connected or connectable to the input shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2700/02 : Transmissions, specially for working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/728 : with means to change ratio in the mechanical gearing
• 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: Y10S 903/91 : Orbital, e.g. planetary gears

Abstract

A power train is described which is comprised of a prime mover, two power converters, an epicyclic gear train, an energy storage device and associated control systems. In the preferred embodiment, the prime mover, an internal combustion engine, typically supplies power to the gear train which apportions mechanical power to one of the power converters-an electrical generator-or to the output shaft of the power train. Power from the generator is delivered to either or both the energy storage device, a battery, and the second power converter, an electrical motor-generator which is dynamically coupled to the output shaft. The power train may be operated in one of two modes, in the first, the internal combustion engine runs at constant speed and relatively constant low power. Engine operation of this nature allows the use of small displacement engines burning lean fuelair mixtures, thereby reducing engine exhaust emissions. Engine power output control in the first mode is accomplished by changing the loading of the generator on the engine in a feedback control manner. The motor-generator is controlled by the operator who uses a system which controls the flow of power from the generator and/or battery combination to the motor or the flow of power from the motor-generator to the battery. In the second mode of operation, all engine power is mechanically directed to the output shaft and the engine operates in a variable throttle manner. As in the first mode, output shaft peak power demands are satisfied by drawing power from the battery and therefore the engine throttle excursions are minimized. Excess engine power and regenerative power due to external forces acting on the output shaft can be transformed in the second power converter for storage in the energy storage device. In either mode, it is possible to vary the power settings of the engine slowly to reflect the mean power demand on the power train. Typically the state of battery charge would be used as the control variable.

Claims

1. A power train of the character to transfer energy from a prime mover to an energy receiving means comprising:

a power divider having a power input and two power outputs, the input being operably connectable to the prime mover, and one of said outputs being operably connectable to the energy receiving means, said power divider having means for dividing power from the prime mover between the two power outputs;

an energy converter coupled to the other output of said power divider and operably connectable to the energy receiving means, said energy converter including means for imparting a variable load on the prime mover, means for storing energy transmitted thereto from said power divider, means for transferring energy to the energy receiving means, and means for storing energy transmitted thereto from the energy receiving means;

first control means coupled to the prime mover and to said energy converter for sensing a prime mover operating parameter and in response thereto controlling the loading of the energy converter on the prime mover to maintain the prime mover output power substantially constant; and

second control means coupled to said energy converter, and having a manual power command input, for controlling the transfer of energy to the energy receiving means in response to power commands.

2. The power train of claim 1 further comprising:

an energy dissipator; and

circuit means coupled to said dissipator and to said second control means for directing a portion of energy from the energy receiving means to said dissipator.

3. The power train of claim 1 further comprising:

a sensor coupled to the prime mover having means for generating a signal representative of a preselected operating parameter; and

a power controller coupled to said sensor and the prime mover for changing the prime mover output power from a first to a second substantially constant power condition.

4. The power train of claim 1 further comprising:

a sensor coupled to the energy converter having means for generating a signal representative of a preselected operating parameter; and

a power controller coupled to said sensor and to the prime mover for changing the prime mover output power from a first to a second substantially constant power condition.

5. A power train of the character to transfer energy from a prime mover to an energy receiving means comprising:

a power divider having a power input and two power outputs, the input being operably connectaBle to the prime mover, and one output being operably connectable to the energy receiving means, said power divider having means for dividing power from the prime mover between the two outputs;

a speeder coupled to the other output of said power divider and having means for dynamically loading the prime mover to control the power output thereof;

energy storage means coupled to said speeder;

a torquer coupled to said speeder, to said energy storage means, and operably connected to the energy receiving means;

speeder control means coupled to said speeder and to the prime mover and including means for sensing the power output of the prime mover and further means for varying the speeder operation to control the load thereof on the prime mover to maintain the prime mover output power substantially constant; and

torquer control means coupled to said torquer, and having command signal input means, for controlling the transfer of energy between said speeder, energy storage means, torquer and the energy receiving means in response to command signals and to energy conditions at the energy receiving means.