Hybrid vehicle

• US 5,713,426 A
• Filed: 03/19/1996
• Issued: 02/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nantong Jianghai Capacitor Company Limited, Okamura Laboratory Inc.
• Original Assignee: JEOL Limited
• Inventors: Okamura, Michio
• Primary Examiner(s): Ballato, Josie
• Application Number:
  US08/616,468
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/65.2, 180/65.8, 318/139, 318/268
• US Class Current: 180/65.245
• 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 17/12 of electric gearing of electrically-actuated clutches B60K17/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/06 Combustion engines, Gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0016 using shunting, discharge or bypass circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1415 with a generator driven by a prime mover other than the motor of a vehicle
• 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

Abstract

A practical hybrid vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine, a generator powered by the engine, and a storage battery which has a large capacity but is not heavy. The storage battery consists of electric double layer capacitors. Electric power generated by the generator is supplied to the battery via a charger having a constant-current characteristic to recharge the battery. The charger can consist mainly of a current-output type switching regulator. Electric power stored in the battery is supplied via an output converter to an electric motor which drives the wheels.

Claims

1. A hybrid vehicle having wheels, comprising:

an electric power-generating means for producing electric power;

electric double layer capacitors to which said electric power produced by said electric power-generating means is supplied via an electric charger to recharge said electric double layer capacitors; and

an electric motor for driving the wheels, said electric motor being driven by electric power supplied from said electric double layer capacitors.

2. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein said electric double layer capacitors are connected in series, and wherein voltage-equalizing means are connected in parallel with said electric double layer capacitors, respectively.

3. The hybrid vehicle of claim 2, wherein said voltage-equalizing means are equipped with bypass means to cause a charging current for recharging said electric double layer capacitors to bypass said capacitors when a voltage developed across terminals of each electric double layer capacitor exceeds a given voltage.

4. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein said charger is a switching converter having a constant-current characteristic and a limited-voltage characteristic.

5. The hybrid vehicle of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said electric power-generating means is a generator driven by an internal combustion engine.

6. The hybrid vehicle of claim 5, wherein said internal combustion engine is a gasoline engine.

7. The hybrid vehicle of claim 5, wherein said internal combustion engine is a diesel engine.

8. The hybrid vehicle of claim 5, wherein said internal combustion engine is a gas turbine.

9. The hybrid vehicle of claim 5, wherein said internal combustion engine is a reciprocating engine using propane gas or LNG as its fuel.

10. The hybrid vehicle of claim 5, wherein said internal combustion engine is a reciprocating alcohol engine.

11. The hybrid vehicle of claim 5, further comprising a driving force-transmitting means for transmitting driving force produced by said internal combustion engine to said wheels.

12. The hybrid vehicle of claim 11, wherein said internal combustion engine is a gasoline engine.

13. The hybrid vehicle of claim 11, wherein said internal combustion engine is a diesel engine.

14. The hybrid vehicle of claim 11, wherein said internal combustion engine is a gas turbine.

15. The hybrid vehicle of claim 11, wherein said internal combustion engine is a reciprocating engine using propane gas or LNG as its fuel.

16. The hybrid vehicle of claim 11, wherein said internal combustion engine is a reciprocating alcohol engine.

17. The hybrid vehicle of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said electric power-generating means is a fuel cell.