HYBRID ELECTRICAL VEHICLE DRIVE

• US 3,792,327 A
• Filed: 10/05/1972
• Issued: 02/12/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lindsey Earl Waldorf
• Original Assignee: Lindsey Earl Waldorf
• Inventors: Waldorf, Lindsey Earl
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilheany, Bernard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Langer, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US05/295,052
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 290/9,16,50,30 307/64,66 318/139 320/62
• US Class Current: 318/139
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/15 with additional electric power supply with capacitors charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/40; with batteries charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/61
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• 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: Y04S 10/126 the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]

Abstract

A vehicle electric drive is provided including a traction motor powered by a battery or, alternatively, by a constant power generator. When the voltage on the battery is above a first predetermined level the battery alone supplies electric power to the motor. When the battery voltage falls below a second predetermined level, a switch sensing the battery voltage starts an internal combustion engine to drive the generator; the power from the generator is effective to supply the traction motor and, simultaneously, recharge the battery. The recharging power applied to the battery equals the difference between the fixed power from the generator and the variable power to the traction motor. When the engine is running, it operates under the constant load of the generator; the engine is also operated at a constant speed. This constant speed-constant load engine operation permits the engine to be designed and adjusted to minimize exhaust pollutants.

Claims

1. A vehicle propulsion system comprising:

a traction motor;

a battery electrically connected to said traction motor;

a generator having its output connected to said traction motor and siad battery to power said traction motor and to supply charging current to said battery;

a prime mover drivingly connected to said generator;

means for maintaining the speed of the prime mover at a constant level when said prime mover is on; and

means connected with the output of said generator for regulating the power of said generator and maintaining that power at a substantially constant level.

2. A system as in claim 1, including a switch to turn said prime mover on and off.

3. A system as in claim 2, wherein said switch monitors the voltage on said battery and turns said prime mover on and off in accordance therewith.

4. A system as in claim 1, including an operator control regulating the power to said traction motor.

5. A system as in claim 1, wherein said means for regulating the power of said generator comprises controlled switches in a bridge connected at the output of said generator, means for sensing the power from said generator, means for developing a reference power signal, means for comparing said reference power signal with the sensed power from said generator, and means controlled by said means for comparing to controllably switch said controlled switches in said bridge.

6. A system as in claim 1, including a switch to turn said prime mover on and off.

7. A system as in claim 6, wherein said switch monitorS the voltage on said battery and turns said prime mover on and off in accordance therewith.

8. A system as in claim 7, including an operator control regulating the power to said traction motor.

9. A system as in claim 8, wherein said prime mover comprises an internal combustion engine.

10. A system as in claim 9, wherein said means for regulating the power of said generator comprises controlled switches in a bridge connected at the output of said generator, means for sensing the power from said generator, means for developing a reference power signal, means for comparing said reference power signal with the sensed power from said generator, and means controlled by said means for comparing to controllably switch said controlled switches in said bridge.

11. A system as in claim 10, wherein said traction motor is supplied power from said battery when said internal combustion engine is off and wherein said traction motor is supplied power from said generator when said internal combustion engine is on.

12. A vehicle propulsion system comprising:

an electric traction motor;

a storage battery electrically connected to said traction motor;

a generator;

a prime mover drivingly connected to said generator;

means for controlling the operative state of the prime mover as a function of the state of charge of the battery;

means for maintaining the speed of the prime mover at a constant level when said prime mover is in an operative state; and

power control means for receiving the electrical output of the generator and providing it to the battery and the traction motor, said power control means being operative to maintain the power provided by the generator to the battery and the prime mover at a constant value at such time as the generator is operative.