Hybrid vehicle

• US 5,249,637 A
• Filed: 05/29/1992
• Issued: 10/05/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Hasler, Franz, Heidl, Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US07/852,213
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/165, 180/53.5, 180/53.7, 180/53.8
• US Class Current: 180/65.25
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• 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 58/18 of two or more battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B61C 7/04 Locomotives or motor railcars with two or more different kinds or types of engines, e.g. steam and IC engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 67/04 of mechanically-driven auxiliary apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/02 Selector apparatus
• 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 30/00 Transportation of goods or passengers via railways, e.g. energy recovery or reducing air resistance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/916 with plurality of drive axles

Abstract

A hybrid-propulsion vehicle, having one axle driven by an internal-combustion engine while the other is driven by a first electric motor. A second electric motor mounted in the vicinity of the internal-combustion engine acts as a servo motor, operating a servo pump when the vehicle is running on electric drive. When the vehicle is running via the internal-combustion engine, the servo motor acts as a generator for recharging the battery supply for the first electric motor.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a first axle for propelling the vehicle;

a second axle for propelling the vehicle;

an internal combustion engine for selectively driving the first axle;

an electric propulsion motor for selectively driving the second axle when the internal combustion engine is not driving the first axle;

a battery supply for powering the electric propulsion motor;

at least one auxiliary power unit;

an electric unit capable of acting as a motor and a generator, the electric unit acting as a motor for driving the at least one auxiliary power unit when the second axle is driven by the electric propulsion motor and acting as a generator powered by the internal combustion engine for recharging the battery supply when the first axle is driven by the internal combustion motor; and

a single pulley mechanically connecting the electric unit to the auxiliary power unit.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary power unit comprises a pump, the vehicle further comprising a first V-belt driven by the internal combustion engine for operating the pump and a second V-belt driven by said electric unit for operating the pump.

3. A vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the pump includes a pulley for each of the first and second V-belts and at least one of the pulleys has a free-wheel.