Hybrid electric motor vehicle drive

• US 5,765,656 A
• Filed: 01/18/1996
• Issued: 06/16/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Winstead B. Weaver
• Original Assignee: Winstead B. Weaver
• Inventors: Weaver, Winstead B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US08/587,914
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 180/165, 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 290/13, 290/35, 290/51, 290/52, 290/14, 290/16, 290/17, 203/61
• US Class Current: 180/65.22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/10 for monitoring or controlling batteries
• 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 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A hybrid electric motor vehicle drive charged by a gas turbine which has an electric motor (20) driving a set of wheels (22) through a transmission (24). A number, preferably two, battery banks (28 and 30) supply power to the motor. A switchover control (30) selects one bank to operate the motor while leaving the other at rest. A sequence control (34) permits charging of individual batteries of the at rest battery bank with duration and sequence modulation from a gas turbine driven alternator (44), a motor driven alternator (52) and/or an AC/DO battery charger (54). The sequence controller senses time, or in other embodiments, voltage, amperage or distance to switchover the charging from one bank to the other. Hydrogen gas is preferred as a fuel source for the gas turbine to drive the alternator for onboard charging of the batteries.

Claims

1. A hybrid electric motor vehicle drive charged by a gas turbine alternator comprising:

a) an electric motor driving a set of wheels through mechanical means for electromotive propulsion of said vehicle,

b) a plurality of series connected electric battery banks, contained within said vehicle, connected to the electric motor suppling electrical power for energizing said motor,

c) a battery bank switchover control associated electrically with the battery banks for selecting at least one battery bank to supply power to said motor, permitting all remaining banks to remain at rest,

d) a battery charging sequence control linked to the switchover control permitting selective charging of at least one remaining at rest bank With sequence and duration modulation of selected batteries in the battery bank, for prolonging battery life by varying input charge location relative to its series connection and battery condition,

e) a gas turbine driven alternator electrically connected to the sequence control for producing power to charge at rest battery banks, and

f) a motor driven alternator and regulator electrically connected through the battery charging sequence control to augment battery charging.

2. The motor vehicle drive as specified in claim 1 further comprising a clutch and mechanical transmission intersected between the electric motor and vehicle wheels permitting a manually adjustable speed ratio.

3. The motor vehicle drive as specified in claims 1 further comprising an automatic transmission intersected between the electric motor and vehicle wheels permitting a manually adjustable speed ratio.

4. The motor vehicle drive as specified in claim 1 wherein said battery banks further comprises a sealed gel electrolyte lead-acid type.

5. The motor vehicle drive as specified in claim 1 wherein said battery banks further comprises a lead acid type.

6. The motor vehicle drive as specified in claim 1 wherein said battery bank switchover control further comprises a plurality of electromechanical relays directed by the battery charging sequence control energizing appropriate relays to change over from one bank to another for motor operation from a charged battery bank.

7. The motor vehicle drive as specified in claim 1 further comprising a motor speed controller electrically connected between the switchover control and the motor reducing the voltage from a selected battery bank to govern speed of the motor within specific limits.

8. The motor vehicle drive as specified in claim 1 wherein said battery charging sequence control further comprises a plurality of electromechanical relays, a sequencer and a time delay relay, with the relays controlled in sequence and time duration by the sequencer and the time delay relay permitting sufficient time lapse for relay closure without overlap.

9. The motor vehicle drive as specified in claim 1 wherein said battery charging sequence control further comprises a plurality of solid state silicon controlled rectifiers and a microprocessor programmable for time sequence and duration.

10. The motor vehicle drive as specified in claim 1 further comprising hydrogen gas as fuel for the turbine.

11. The motor vehicle drive as specified in claim 1 further comprising fossil fuel for turbine operation.

12. The motor vehicle drive as specified in claim 1 further comprising a drive means connecting the motor driven alternator to the electric motor continually revolving the alternator any time the motor is rotating.

13. The motor vehicle drive as specified in claim 1 further comprising an alternating current to direct current battery charger in communication with the battery charging sequence control for charging the battery banks from an external power source.

14. The motor vehicle drive as specified in claim 1 further comprising a vehicle heater having a fresh air intake, an exhaust gas to fresh air heat exchanger and a vehicle heater air distribution system, with fresh air heated by exchanger with the turbine exhaust gas and introduction into a vehicle interior.

15. A hybrid electric motor vehicle drive charged by a gas turbine engine and motor driven alternator of a type having a direct current or alternating current motor driving a set of wheels and a plurality of electric battery banks with switchover control, wherein the improvement comprises a battery charging sequence control linked with the switchover control selectively charging at least one battery bank at one time having a plurality of electromechanical relays, a sequencer and a time delay relay with the relays controlled in sequence and time duration by the sequencer and a time delay relay permitting sufficient time lapse for relay closure without overlap, such that varying input charge location relative to its overall series bank connection along with sequence and time modulation of charging selected batteries in each battery bank to prolong individual battery life.

16. A hybrid electric motor vehicle drive charged by a gas turbine alternator comprising:

a) an electric motor driving a set of wheels through mechanical means for electromotive propulsion of a vehicle,

b) a plurality of series connected electric battery banks, contained within a vehicle, connected to the electric motor suppling electrical power for energizing the motor,

c) a battery bank switchover control associated electrically with the battery banks for selecting at least one battery bank to supply power to the motor, permitting all remaining banks to be at rest,

d) a battery charging sequence control linked to the switchover control permitting selective charging of at least one remaining at rest bank with sequence and duration modulation of selected batteries in the battery bank, for prolonging individual battery life by varying input charge location relative to its series connection,

e) a hydrogen gas turbine driven alternator electrically connected to the sequence control for producing power to charge at rest battery banks, and

f) a motor driven alternator and regulator electrically connected through the battery charging sequence control to augment battery charging.

17. A hybrid electric motor vehicle drive charged by a turbine alternator comprising:

a) an electric motor driving a set of wheels through mechanical means for propulsion of said vehicle,

b) a set of batteries divided into a plurality of series connected electric battery banks that are contained within said vehicle and connected to power said electric motor,

c) a gas turbine operated by a gaseous fuel,

d) an alternator that is driven by said gas turbine and that maintains said batteries in a charged condition, and

e) a battery bank switchover control for selecting at least one battery bank to supply power ton said motor, and permitting all remaining battery banks to remain at rest.