Electrically powered drive train and vehicle

• US 5,839,529 A
• Filed: 07/02/1996
• Issued: 11/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Michael T. Depaoli
• Original Assignee: Michael T. Depaoli
• Inventors: DePaoli, Michael T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AVERY, BRIDGET D
• Application Number:
  US08/674,427
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.6, 180/65.3, 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 74/477
• US Class Current: 180/65.1
• 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 17/043 Transmission unit disposed in on near the vehicle wheel, or between the differential gear unit and the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20238 Interlocked

Abstract

An electric powered drive train for providing motive force to a vehicle. The drive train includes an electric motor, an engine wheel having a central axis of rotation, an outer edge and a diameter, and a driver gear driven by the electric motor and engaging the outer edge of the engine wheel for driving the engine wheel. The driver gear has a diameter which is smaller than the diameter of the engine wheel. Also included is a crank shaft coupled to and extending from the central axis of rotation of the engine wheel, the crank shaft having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the engine wheel, and a portable power source coupled to the electric motor.

Claims

1. An electric vehicle comprising:

a body;

motive means coupled to the body for moving the body;

a differential carried by the body and coupled to the motive means for imparting motion to the motive means; and

a drive train carried by the body, the drive train including;

an electric motor;

an engine wheel having a central axis of rotation, an outer edge and a diameter;

a driver gear driven by the electric motor and engaging the outer edge of the engine wheel for driving the engine wheel, the driver gear having a diameter which is smaller than the diameter of the engine wheel;

a crank shaft fixedly attached to the engine wheel at the axis of rotation for rotation therewith, and coupled to the differential, the crank shaft having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the engine wheel and wherein the engine wheel is carried above the differential in a horizontal orientation with the crank shaft extending vertically downward and directly coupled to the differential; and

a portable power source coupled to the electric motor.

2. An electric vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the engine wheel has a diameter at least three times larger than the diameter of the driver gear.

3. An electric vehicle as claimed in claim 2 wherein the engine wheel has a diameter at least 10 times larger than the diameter of the crankshaft.

4. An electric vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the motive means includes a drive wheel coupled to the gear device.

5. An electric vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body includes a compartment for carrying passengers.

6. An electric vehicle as claimed in claim 1 further including a control assembly for controlling the electric motor.

7. An electric vehicle as claimed in claim 6 wherein the control assembly includes a current limiter to limit the amps drawn from the portable power source and a throttle controller which controls the operation of the motor by controlling the voltage applied thereto.

8. An electric vehicle as claimed in claim 6 further including a battery charger coupled to the portable power source.

9. An electric vehicle as claimed in claim 6 further including an alternator coupled to the portable power source and engaging the crankshaft.