Hybrid vehicles

• US 4,470,476 A
• Filed: 07/01/1983
• Issued: 09/11/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hugh S. Hunt
• Original Assignee: Hugh S. Hunt
• Inventors: Hunt, Hugh S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAR, MICHAEL Y
• Application Number:
  US06/510,116
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65 R, 180/65 A, 180/65 B, 180/54 C, 74/661, 74/665 B, 74/665 C, 192/48.91, 310/306, 322/2 R, 320/61, 60/718
• US Class Current: 180/65.25
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/34 for driving both front and rear wheels, e.g. four wheel drive vehicles arrangement or mounting of control devices for changing number of driven wheels B60K23/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/356 having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel B60K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/14 to electric lighting circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/461 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• 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: Y10S 903/916 with plurality of drive axles

Abstract

Hybrid vehicles having two or more power plants which can be operated independently or simultaneously and includes an electric motor as well as an internal combustion engine which may be selectively connected to drive the drive wheels of such vehicles either independently or simultaneously. When the internal combustion engine is used to drive a vehicle, the waste heat from such engine is utilized as a source of energy to generate electricity which electricity may be stored in suitable storage batteries and thereafter such batteries may be used to drive an electric motor.

Claims

1. A hybrid vehicle comprising a frame supported by ground engaging wheels, propelling means including a transmission and drive shaft for driving certain of said wheels, an electric motor mounted on said frame, means for selectively connecting said electric motor to said propelling means, said means for connecting said electric motor to said propelling means for the vehicle including a transfer case having a power shaft connected to said transmission, an internal combustion engine mounted on said frame, means for selectively connecting said internal combustion engine to said power shaft to selectively drive said propelling means, said transfer case further including bypass means operably connecting said internal combustion engine to drive said electric motor to generate electricity while simultaneously disconnecting said internal combustion engine and said electric motor from said propelling means, said internal combustion engine having an exhaust manifold for removing heated exhaust gases therefrom, chamber means communicating with said exhaust manifold for receiving said exhaust gases therefrom, at least one means for converting radiant energy into electrical energy mounted within said chamber means for utilizing the energy of said heated exhaust gases within said chamber means to generate electrical current, means for electrically connecting said means for converting radiant energy into electrical energy to at least one storage battery for receiving and storing electrical energy, said chamber means including a housing having an exhaust gas inlet and outlet, at least one baffle disposed within said housing and between said inlet and outlet to create flow channels for diverting the exhaust gases flowing through said housing, and said means for converting radiant energy into electrical energy being mounted adjacent to one of said channels, said storage battery being electrically connected to said electric motor to drive said electric motor when said electric motor is connected to said propelling means, whereby either said internal combustion engine or said electric motor may be selectively operated to propel the vehicle and wherein the storage battery may be charged during operation of the internal combustion engine through the use of radiant energy from the exhaust gases.

2. The invention of claim 1 in which said housing includes ambient air passages in heat exchange relationship with said means for converting radiant energy into electrical energy.

3. The invention of claim 2 including a plurality of generally parallel spaced baffles within said housing creating a plurality of flow channels arranged in a serpentine flow path for said exhaust gases, and a plurality of means for converting radiant energy into electrical energy mounted adjacent to and along opposite sides of said channels.