Solar celled hybrid vehicle
First Claim
1. In a gas driven automobile including an internal combustion engine having associated therewith gearing and a first differential, said engine gearing and differential being disposed proximate a first axle connected to be driven thereby, said automobile further including a second axle, the improvement comprising:
- a second differential connected to said second axle for distributing power thereto, said second differential including an input shaft for receiving power applied thereto and sprocket means mounted on said input shaft;
electric motor means attached to said second axle including chain drive means connected to said sprocket means;
a first and second array of batteries disposed within said automobile each said array comprising a series connection of a plurality of batteries;
control means connected between said arrays and said electric motor means including a first, manually selected, control stage for connecting said first and second arrays to said motor means in series or in parallel according to the manual selection thereof and a second control stage articulated by a foot pedal for interposing combinations of current limiting resistors between said first stage and said motor means according to the position of said foot pedal; and
solar panel means disposed on said automobile and connected across said first and second array for recharging said batteries when said first control stage is in said series connecting mode.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A front wheel driven, gas powered vehicle is converted to include a rear differential connected for power input to a first and second electrical motor, or a single electric motor if desired. When first and second electrical motors are used they are connected in parallel, the power input thereto being brought across a current limiting series of resistors to protect and control the current level thereto. A switching circuit connects in various series and parallel combinations a plurality of batteries and concurrently switches the necessary current limiting resistance. Thus a control combination is provided including a manual selector for the desired forward and reverse directions and the low and high current ranges which is further multiplied by the various resistances. In this configuration, the normally available gasoline power plant is retained in the vehicle and is augmented during periods of nonoptimal use by the above electric motor provisions. This electric power can be periodically replenished either by way of a charger or a set of solar panels placed on the roof of the vehicle.
-
Citations
5 Claims
-
1. In a gas driven automobile including an internal combustion engine having associated therewith gearing and a first differential, said engine gearing and differential being disposed proximate a first axle connected to be driven thereby, said automobile further including a second axle, the improvement comprising:
-
a second differential connected to said second axle for distributing power thereto, said second differential including an input shaft for receiving power applied thereto and sprocket means mounted on said input shaft; electric motor means attached to said second axle including chain drive means connected to said sprocket means; a first and second array of batteries disposed within said automobile each said array comprising a series connection of a plurality of batteries; control means connected between said arrays and said electric motor means including a first, manually selected, control stage for connecting said first and second arrays to said motor means in series or in parallel according to the manual selection thereof and a second control stage articulated by a foot pedal for interposing combinations of current limiting resistors between said first stage and said motor means according to the position of said foot pedal; and solar panel means disposed on said automobile and connected across said first and second array for recharging said batteries when said first control stage is in said series connecting mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
Specification