HYBRID ELECTRIC POWER VEHICLE

• US 3,837,419 A
• Filed: 05/09/1973
• Issued: 09/24/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kazumasa Nakamura
• Original Assignee: Kazumasa Nakamura
• Inventors: Nakamura, Kazumasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Schonberg, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mitchell, David M.
• Application Number:
  US05/358,512
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65A,65R 290/14,16 318/139,312,332,341,343
• US Class Current: 180/65.245
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/429 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/26 by pedal actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/62 charged by low-power generators primarily intended to support the batteries, e.g. range extenders
• 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

Abstract

In the hybrid electric power vehicle disclosed, a generator driven by a heat engine turns a motor which moves the vehicle. A main circuit controls the motor with power from the generator. The main circuit includes a first thyristor or relay contact for connecting the main circuit and the battery in series with each other or in parallel with each other and a commutation circuit that operates as a chopper. A second thyristor provides the energy from the generator to the motor in the form of pulses. A switch-over circuit opens the relay contact on the basis of the relationship between the degree to which the accelerator pedal is depressed and the motor speed so as to connect the main battery and the generator in series. An output ratio control circuit turns the two thyristors on so that the generator and main battery outputs are supplied to the motor together. The output of the battery is varied by the first thyristor in response to the degree to which the accelerator pedal is depressed.

Claims

1. A hybrid type electric power drive apparatus for a vehicle having an accelerator pedal, comprising a heat engine, a generator driven by said heat engine, a main battery, coupling means between said battery and said generator for connecting said battery and said generator in parallel so that said generator charges said battery and for connecting said generator and said battery in series, main circuit means for controlling the power from said battery and said generator, a DC motor for driving the vehicle with power from said main circuit means, detecting means for detecting the degree to which the accelerator pedal is depressed and for detecting the current supplied to the motor as well as the speed of the motor, ratio control circuit means coupled to said detecting means and responsive to the relation between the degree of depression of the accelerator pedal and the motor speed and coupled to said coupling means and said main circuit means for causing said main circuit means and said coupling means to establish a ratio between the generator and battery output in response to the relationship between the degree of depression of the accelerator pedal and the motor speed.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said ratio control circuit means further includes an operational circuit for producing signals in response to the difference between the degree of depression of the accelerator pedal and the motor current, a reference generator for producing signals to interrupt said main circuit at a fixed time, a first signal generator for generating signals for rendering said main circuit conductive for a fixed period when predetermined conditions are satisfied in the relationship between the degree of depression of the accelerator pedal and the motor speed, a second signal generator for generating signals so as to operate said coupling means in response to signal values from said operational circuit so that the final output may be supplied with a battery output to supplement the output of the generator.

3. An apparatus for powering an electric vehicle, comprising generator driving means, generator means responsive to said generator driving means for producing an electric current, battery means, motor means for rotating in response to current applied thereto, and control means for producing a speed demand indication;

signal means responsive to combinations of the speed of said motor means, the current of said motor means, and the output of the control means for producing combination signals which define a high speed range and a low speed range, and switch means responsive to said signal means for connecting said generator means in parallel with said battery means when the signals of said signal means define a low range and for disconnecting said generator means from said battery mEans and then intermittently connecting the said battery means in series with said generator means when the signals define a high range.

4. An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said switch means intermittently connects the battery means in series with the generator means for time periods depending upon the magnitude of the signals within the high speed range.

5. An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said generator means includes a first pair of terminals and said battery means includes a second pair of terminals, said switch means including a pair of series connected switches connected between one pair of terminals and forming a common junction, one of the terminals of the other pair of terminals being connected to the common junction, said switch means including a diode connecting the second terminal of said other pair of terminals to one of the terminals of the one pair of terminals, said switches being operated by said signal means so that only one or the other is closed at one time.

6. An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said generator means includes a pair of generator terminals and said battery means includes a pair of battery terminals, said switch means including pair of switches connected in series with each other and between said generator terminals and forming a common junction, said switch means further including a diode connecting one generator terminal to one battery terminal, the other battery terminal being connected to the common junction, said signal means closing said switches only one at a time.

7. An apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said signal means operates said switches so that the switch between the diode and the battery means is on for time periods depending upon the magnitude of the signals within lhe high-speed range.

8. An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein regulating means control the current flow from said generator means to said motor means, said signal means further including an operational circuit for producing signals in response to the difference between the speed demand indicated by said control means and current to the motor, a reference generator coupled to said regulating means for producing signals to cause said control means to interrupt current flow to the motor at a fixed time, a first signal generator for generating signals for rendering the regulating means so that it conducts current for a fixed period when predetermined conditions are satisfied in the relationship between the speed demand of said control means and the motor speed, a second signal generator for generating signals so as to operate said switch means in response to signal values from said operational circuit so that the switches connect the battery means and the generator means in series with each other.

9. An apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said generator means includes a first pair of terminals and said battery means includes a second pair of terminals, said switch means including a pair of series connected switches connected between one pair of terminals and forming a common junction, one of the terminals of the other pair of terminals being connected to the common junction, said switching means including a diode connecting the second terminal of said other pair of terminals to one of the terminals of the one pair of terminals, said switches being operated by said signal means so that only one or the other is closed at one time.

10. An apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said generator means includes a pair of generator terminals and said battery means includes a pair of battery terminals, said switch means including a pair of switches connected in series with each other and between said generator terminals and forming a common junction, said switch means further including a diode connection one generator terminal to one battery terminal, the other battery terminal being connected to the common junction, said signal means closing said switches only one at a time.

11. An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein regulating means control the flow of currenT between said generator means and battery means and said motor means;

said signal means including a a saw tooth signal generator, signal applying means coupled to said signal generator and said control means for causing said regulating means to cut off current flow to said motor means at a predetermined point in each cycle of the saw tooth generator, first comparator means responsive on the one hand to the output of the control means and the speed of the motor means and on the other hand the voltage of said saw tooth generator for producing an electrical indication which causes the regulating means to turn on the motor current, and second comparator means responsive on the one hand to the relationship between the speed of the motor means and the control means and on the other hand to the voltage of said saw tooth generator for producing a second electrical indication which causes said switch means to place said generator means and said battery means in series with each other.

12. An apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said generator means includes a pair of generator terminals and said battery means includes a pair of battery terminals, said switch means including a pair of switches connected in series with each other and between said generator terminals and forming a common junction, said switch means further including a diode connecting one generator terminal to one battery terminal, the other battery terminal being connected to the common junction, said signal means closing said switches only one at a time.