Electric and pedal driven bicycle with solar charging

• US 5,237,263 A
• Filed: 06/17/1991
• Issued: 08/17/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Henry M. Gannon
• Original Assignee: Henry M. Gannon
• Inventors: Gannon, Henry M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephan, Steven L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERHANE, ADOLF D
• Application Number:
  US07/716,089
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 323/282, 323/283, 323/284, 323/288, 388/830-840, 318/362-369, 318/375-377, 318/599, 180/212, 180/205, 180/215, 180/220, 180/343
• US Class Current: 323/288
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/20 using propulsion power generated by humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/53 in combination with an external power supply, e.g. from overhead contact lines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/19 Switching between serial connection and parallel connection of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 13/02 with changeable ratio, e.g. with roller of varying diameter
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/75 power-driven by friction rollers or gears engaging the ground wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/85 Solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/90 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/563 including two stages of regulation at least one of which is output level responsive, e.g. coarse and fine regulation
• 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 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric propulsion system for a multi-wheeled vehicle including though not limited to a bicycle. The preferred embodiment consists of a standard street bicycle with multi-speed transmission, plus an electrical propulsion system and a solar charging apparatus. This preferred embodiment is normally powered by a combination of motor and pedals, coupled such that either or both may provide power at any time. The electrical propulsion system consists of: a) a DC electric motor, B) a plurality of batteries, C) a hand lever operating a throttle means, D) a throttle means which controls a battery switching circuit for altering the plurality of batteries into a parallel configuration for a lower voltage to facilitate regenerative charging at times, and into a series configuration at other times for a higher drive voltage for the motor, as well as controls a voltage regulating circuit which regulates voltage to the motor, E) a continuously variable automatic transmission which selects the correct ratio for conditions between a high and a low limit without intervention by the operator, as well as automatically regulates clutching friction, and F) A regenerative braking arrangement which converts forward momentum of bicycle and rider into a charging current for the plurality of batteries during braking or slowing. The solar apparatus consists of a plurality of solar cells mounted on a disc fitted outside the spokes on either or both sides of either or both wheels. A rotatable coupler conducts the solar charging current from the solar cells to the plurality of batteries.

Claims

1. A D.C. power supply for providing a variable pulse width modulated voltage to one or more switching devices coupled to a load, the D.C. power supply comprising:

sawtooth voltage waveform generation means for providing a sawtooth voltage waveform having variable rise and fall characteristics, said sawtooth voltage waveform generation means comprising first and second amplifiers, each having at least one input terminal and an output terminal, the output terminal of said first amplifier being connected to an anode terminal of a first diode, a cathode terminal of said first diode being connected to a first terminal of an adjustable resistor, a second terminal of said adjustable resistor being connected to a cathode terminal of a second diode, and an anode terminal of said second diode being connected to the output terminal of said second amplifier, a variable resistance terminal of said adjustable resistor being connected through a timing capacitor to ground, the sawtooth voltage waveform being provided at the variable resistance terminal of said adjustable resistor;

a window comparator connected to receive the sawtooth voltage waveform at the variable resistance terminal of said adjustable resistor, said window comparator being operative for converting said sawtooth voltage waveform to a pair of logic signals;

an RS flip-flop coupled to the window comparator for receiving said pair of logic signals and for controlling an on and off duty cycle of said one or more switching devices to apply a variable voltage to the load; and

a control loop coupling an output of said RS flip-flop to said at least one input terminal of said first and second amplifiers for gating said sawtooth voltage waveform generation means.

2. A D.C. power supply as in claim 1 wherein said adjustable resistor comprises a potentiometer.