Electric powered vehicle

• US 5,680,908 A
• Filed: 01/29/1996
• Issued: 10/28/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Louis Reed
• Original Assignee: Louis Reed
• Inventors: Reed, Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US08/593,663
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/65.3, 180/65.6, 180/165, 180/244, 290/9, 290/10, 290/11, 290/12, 290/17, 290/18, 290/19, 290/21, 318/153, 318/154, 318/156
• US Class Current: 180/65.245
• 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 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/12 of electric gearing of electrically-actuated clutches B60K17/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/356 having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel B60K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/46 Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/28 Four wheel or all wheel drive

Abstract

An electrically powered vehicle comprising at least one electric motor connected to a drive axle, at least one generator means connected to another axle whereby the rotation of the axle powers the generator means to produce electricity, batteries to provide stored electrical energy to said motor, transmission gearing means to increase the rotational speed of the generator means beyond that of the axle, and management control means to selectively direct electrical power from the generator means to either the motor for power or the batteries for recharge, depending upon the driving conditions and requirements.

Claims

1. An electrically powered vehicle comprising two axles connected to wheels, an electric motor coupled to one said axle to drive said vehicle, generator means coupled to the other said axle whereby the rotation of said axle powers said generator means to create electricity, rechargeable batteries to supply electricity to said motor, electrical conducting means connecting said motor, said generator means and said batteries, and management control means to selectively deliver electricity from said batteries to said motor or from said generator means to either said motor or to said batteries for recharge.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising transmission gearing means coupled between said axle and said generator means whereby the rotation speed of said generator means may be increased to greater speed than the rotation speed of said axle.

3. An electrically powered vehicle comprising a plural number of rotating axles connected to wheels, at least one electric motor connected to at least one said axle to drive said vehicle, at least one generator means coupled to at least one said axle whereby the rotation of at least one said axle powers said at least one generator means to create electricity, rechargeable batteries to supply electricity to said at least one motor, electrical conducting means connecting said at least one motor, said at least one generator and said batteries, transmission gearing means coupled to said at least one generator means to increase the rotation speed of said at least one generator means to a speed greater than the speed of said at least one axle, and management control means to selectively deliver electricity from said batteries to said motor or from said generator means to either said motor or to said batteries for recharge.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, comprising four said motors and one said generator means.

5. The vehicle of claim 3, comprising four said generator means and one said motor.

6. The vehicle of claim 3, where said generator means and said motor are connected coaxially to said axles.

7. The vehicle of claim 3, comprising four independent axles, two generator means and two motors.

8. The vehicle of claim 3, comprising four independent axles, four generator means and four motors.