ELECTRIC POWER PLANT FOR LAND VEHICLES

• US 3,845,835 A
• Filed: 03/14/1973
• Issued: 11/05/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Earl W. Petit
• Original Assignee: Earl W. Petit
• Inventors: Petit, Earl W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schonberg, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mitchell, David M.
• Application Number:
  US05/341,030
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65R,65A 320/61 290/14,15,16,17,45,4D,DIG.10 318/139
• US Class Current: 180/65.31
• 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 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/001 one motor mounted on a propulsion axle for rotating right and left wheels of this axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• 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: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

An electric power plant for a land vehicle which includes: an electric motor; two alternators driven by the motor; a voltage regulator for the alternators; and two sets of batteries charged alternately through the regulator. The battery that is not being charged energizes the motor. The alternators are on the drive axle of the vehicle.

Claims

1. In a vehicle having vehicle-propelling wheels, drive axle means for driving said wheels, an electric drive motor for driving said drive axle means, two sets of batteries for energizing the motor alternately, two voltage generating machines mounted on said drive axle means to be driven therewith for alternately charging said sets of batteries through a regulator, and selective means for connecting the set of batteries which is not being charged to the motor for energizing the motor while disconnecting from the motor the other set of batteries and connecting the said other set to the regulator to be charged, the improvement comprising:

first relay means for selectively coupling one said voltage generating machine or the other to the regulator for charging the selected battery, and operating circuit means for operating said relay means and said selective means.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which said selective means comprises second relay means.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2 in which said operating circuit means includes first and second timer means respectively coupled to said first annd second relay means for controlling the times at which said first and second relay means are energized and de-energized.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 3 in which said drive axle means includes apertured housings respectively enclosing said two voltage generating machines, and seals for said housings for sealing each voltage generating machine in a ventilated enclosure.