Power unit for electric cars

• US 5,225,744 A
• Filed: 04/27/1991
• Issued: 07/06/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Minezawa, Yukihiro, Ishikawa, Masami
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US07/690,838
• Time in Patent Office: 801 Days
• Field of Search: 318/139, 318/106, 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/65.8
• US Class Current: 318/139
• 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 6/32 characterised by the fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/60 using power supplied by batteries in combination with fuel cells B60L50/75
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• 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 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/908 Fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/916 with plurality of drive axles

Abstract

Herein disclosed is a power unit for an electric car, which comprises: a first power supply mounted on the electric car and adapted to be always used; and a second power supply mounted on the electric car, if necessary. The first power supply may include a battery for effecting a travel of low speed and short distance by itself. The second power supply may include a battery module for effecting a travel of high speed and short distance and a generator module for effecting a travel of high speed and long distance.

Claims

1. A power unit for mounting on the body of an electric car, comprising:

a sensor for detecting a running condition of the car;

a first power supply mounted on the electric car body;

a second power supply module;

means for detachably mounting different, interchangeable types of said second power supply module on the electric car body;

a motor control circuit, including a computer, connected to said first power supply and said second power supply module for feeding a current to a motor as commanded by the computer;

said computer including control means for determining (1) whether said second power supply module is mounted or not and (2) for determining the type of second power supply module mounted;

setting means for connecting said first power supply and said second power supply module with said motor control circuit, in parallel or in series, responsive to the detected running condition; and

said computer controlling said motor control circuit according to determinations of said control means.