Hybrid electric vehicle regenerative braking energy recovery system
First Claim
1. An automotive series hybrid vehicle having an electric traction motor with a drive mode and a regenerative braking mode, the latter mode producing a source of useful electrical energy, and means to utilize the electrical energy, including a storage battery power source for driving the traction motor, an internal combustion engine driven generator for supplying electrical energy to the traction motor and for charging the battery power source, switch means operable to control distribution of electrical energy from the generator to the traction motor and battery during the drive mode and from the traction motor to the battery and other means to to utilize the electrical energy during the regenerative braking mode, a liquid coolant circuit having a plurality of liquid coolant circuit containing elements which includes the internal combustion engine, a vehicle passenger compartment heater element, a vehicle radiator type heat exchanger element, and a high capacity heat storage battery, electrical resistive heater means in the coolant circuit and connected through the switch means to the traction motor and being operable at times in response to the establishment of the regenerative braking mode of the traction motor to receive surplus electrical energy therefrom for heating the coolant for selective distribution to one or more of the coolant circuit containing elements, and controller means operably connected to the switch means, the resistive heater means, and the plurality of coolant circuit containing elements for controlling the distribution of electrical energy to and from the traction motor during the drive and regenerative braking modes of operation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A series hybrid engine has an electric traction motor drive of the vehicle wheels and a regenerative braking system that converts the motor to a generator for the output of useful electrical energy, the latter being used either to charge the storage battery for a power source for the traction motor, or if the battery is charged, diverting the regenerative energy to a resistive heater located in the cooling circuit of an independently operated accessory driving ICE; the resistive heater providing heat to the coolant to preheat the ICE prior to engine start-up; or, alternatively, or concurrently to supply heat to the core of a heater for the passenger compartment of the vehicle, or, to store the heat in a heat battery type reservoir for future use.
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Citations
13 Claims
- 1. An automotive series hybrid vehicle having an electric traction motor with a drive mode and a regenerative braking mode, the latter mode producing a source of useful electrical energy, and means to utilize the electrical energy, including a storage battery power source for driving the traction motor, an internal combustion engine driven generator for supplying electrical energy to the traction motor and for charging the battery power source, switch means operable to control distribution of electrical energy from the generator to the traction motor and battery during the drive mode and from the traction motor to the battery and other means to to utilize the electrical energy during the regenerative braking mode, a liquid coolant circuit having a plurality of liquid coolant circuit containing elements which includes the internal combustion engine, a vehicle passenger compartment heater element, a vehicle radiator type heat exchanger element, and a high capacity heat storage battery, electrical resistive heater means in the coolant circuit and connected through the switch means to the traction motor and being operable at times in response to the establishment of the regenerative braking mode of the traction motor to receive surplus electrical energy therefrom for heating the coolant for selective distribution to one or more of the coolant circuit containing elements, and controller means operably connected to the switch means, the resistive heater means, and the plurality of coolant circuit containing elements for controlling the distribution of electrical energy to and from the traction motor during the drive and regenerative braking modes of operation.
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13. An automotive series hybrid vehicle having an electric traction motor with a drive mode and a regenerative braking mode, the latter mode producing a source of useful electrical energy, and means to utilize the electrical energy, including a storage battery power source for driving the traction motor, an internal combustion engine driven generator for supplying electrical energy to the traction motor and for charging the battery power source, switch means operable to control distribution of electrical energy from the generator to the traction motor and battery during the drive mode and from the traction motor to the battery and other means to to utilize the electrical energy during the regenerative braking mode, a liquid coolant circuit having a plurality of liquid coolant circuit containing elements which includes the internal combustion engine and a high capacity heat storage battery, electrical resistive heater means in the coolant circuit and connected through the switch means to the traction motor and being operable at times in response to the establishment of the regenerative braking mode of the traction motor to receive surplus electrical energy therefrom for heating the coolant for selective distribution to one or more of the coolant circuit containing elements, and controller means operably connected to the switch means, the resistive heater means, and the plurality of coolant circuit containing element for controlling the distribution of electrical energy to and from the traction motor during the drive and regenerative braking modes of operation.
Specification