Battery powered vehicle drive

• US 3,874,472 A
• Filed: 01/25/1974
• Issued: 04/01/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clifford T. Deane
• Original Assignee: Clifford T. Deane
• Inventors: Deane, Clifford T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schonberg, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Milton L.
• Application Number:
  US05/436,683
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65R,60,65F,65A 290/16,15,14,9,10,11,12,17 320/61
• US Class Current: 180/65.245
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/30 using propulsion power stored mechanically, e.g. in fly-wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/62 charged by low-power generators primarily intended to support the batteries, e.g. range extenders
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/18 of two or more battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 1/04 with fuel-air mixture admission into cylinder
• 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: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

Two banks of batteries are alternately charged from a main generator driven by a low power gasoline engine. The battery set disconnected from the generator powered charging section, energizes a drive motor from which a vehicle is propelled at a speed determined by a motor speed controller. At a lower speed limit, a coast generator driven by a flywheel is enabled to begin charging of the motor energizing battery set under coasting conditions.

Claims

1. In combination with a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a drive propelling transmission and a flywheel driven by the transmission, a drive motor connected to the transmission for propelling the vehicle, generator means driven by the engine for generating a source of electrical energy, at least two energy storing battery assemblies for alternately storing the electrical energy output of the generator means, charging circuit means connected to the generator means for charging one of the battery assemblies while the other of the battery assemblies is energizing the drive motor, an auxiliary generator continuously driven by the flywheel and connected to the charging circuit means, and coast control means connected to the auxiliary generator for enabling the same under coasting conditions of the vehicle to charge one of the battery assemblies.

2. The combination of claim 1 including speed control means connected to the drive motor for increasing the speed thereof from a lower limit, and means interconnecting the speed control means with the coast control means for enabling the auxiliary generator only at said lower limit of the drive motor speed.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said charging circuit means includes a change-over switch device interconnecting the battery assemblies with the generator means and the auxiliary generator, and switch actuating means connected to the switch device for periodically interchanging the battery assemblies respectively being charged and energizing the drive motor.

4. The combination of claim 3 including speed control means interconnecting the drive motor with the change-over switch device for varying the speed of the drive motor while energized by the other of the battery assemblies.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein said switch actuating means includes a timer.

6. The combination of claim 3 including speed control means connected to the drive motor for increasing the speed thereof from a lower limit, and means interconnecting the speed control means with the coast control means for enabling the auxiliary generator only at said lower limit of the drive motor speed.