Semi-hybrid electric automobile

• US 5,251,721 A
• Filed: 04/21/1992
• Issued: 10/12/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard Ortenheim
• Original Assignee: Richard Ortenheim
• Inventors: Ortenheim, Bjorn A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US07/871,693
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 180/298, 180/65.2, 180/41, 180/89.1, 180/65.1, 180/65.3, 180/68.5, 180/294, 180/299, 290/4 R, 318/139
• US Class Current: 180/298
• 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 5/10 providing for ready detachment of engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A semi-hybrid electric automobile includes a compartment, adapted to receive an easily removable fuel propulsion unit therein, and a transmission, adapted to establish a torque-transmitting connection between an output shaft of a fuel propulsion unit, placed in a predetermined position in the compartment, and a drive axle of the automobile.

Claims

1. An automobile comprising:

a compartment, adapted to receive an easily removable fuel propulsion unit therein in a predetermined accurate position,

a transmission, adapted to establish a torque-transmitting connection between an output shaft of the fuel propulsion unit, when it is placed in said predetermined accurate position in said compartment, and a drive axle of the automobile, propulsion of said automobile being selectively provided by only one of electric power from an electric battery power source and mechanical power from a fuel propulsion unit, and

guide means for guiding the fuel propulsion unit into said predetermined accurate position when propulsion of said automobile is to be provided by mechanical power.

2. An automobile according to claim 1, wherein said compartment is provided in a rear portion of the automobile and said drive axle is a rear axle of the automobile.

3. An automobile according to claim 1, wherein said transmission is adapted to establish a torque-transmitting connection between the output shaft of the fuel propulsion unit and said drive axle through a differential of said drive axle.

4. An automobile according to claim 3, wherein said transmission comprises a belt transmission, adapted to transmit torque from the output shaft of the fuel propulsion unit to a pinion shaft of said differential.

5. An automobile according to claim 3, comprising a single electric driving motor, adapted to be powered from said electric battery power source and connectable to the pinion shaft of said differential through an electrically operated clutch.

6. An automobile according to claim 5, wherein said electric driving motor is provided with liquid cooling means, connected to a liquid cooling system, for cooling said electric driving motor.

7. An automobile according to claim 6, wherein said liquid cooling system comprises means for delivering heat to the interior of the automobile.

8. An automobile according to claim 5, wherein said clutch is adapted to break the connection between said electric driving motor and the pinion shaft of said differential during propulsion of the automobile by mechanical power from said fuel propulsion unit.

9. An automobile according to claim 1, wherein said electric battery power source is formed by an easily removable and replaceable battery cassette.

10. An automobile according to claim 1, further comprising an electrically operated levelling system permitting an adjustment of the horizontal level of the automobile in response to its load.

11. An automobile according to claim 1, wherein said guide means is formed by guide ways in said compartment.

12. An automobile according to claim 11, wherein each of said guide ways has a U-profile.

13. An automobile according to claim 11, wherein said fuel propulsion unit includes rollers provided thereon which cooperate with said guide ways.

14. An automobile according to claim 1, and further comprising latch means for locking said fuel propulsion unit in said predetermined accurate position.