Non-railbound vehicle with an electric motor

• US 5,848,659 A
• Filed: 07/13/1995
• Issued: 12/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mannesmann AG (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Mannesmann AG (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Inventors: Lutz, Dieter, Karg, Erich
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US08/448,421
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/65.5, 180/65.8, 180/69.3, 180/65.2
• US Class Current: 180/65.245
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/209 for overtaking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/20 AC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/10 using propulsion power supplied by engine-driven generators, e.g. generators driven by combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A non-railbound vehicle with an electric motor in which the maximum output of the internal combustion engine will be available in its entirety for driving the vehicle without prejudice to convenience with respect to electrical actuation of accessory functions. The vehicle includes a drive control that provides a portion of the output generated by a generator for supplying power to the low-voltage vehicle power supply. The electronic drive control is programmed to provide a temporary interruption of the current supplied by the generator to the low-voltage vehicle power supply during operating phases in which the full output of the internal combustion engine is required for driving the vehicle. During these phases current is supplied to accessory electrical consumers via the vehicle battery.

Claims

1. A series hybrid vehicle, comprising:

at least one driving wheel;

an electric motor drivingly coupled to the at least one driving wheel;

means for supplying electric current to the electric motor;

electronic control means for influencing the electric current supply means;

an internal combustion engine coupled to the electric motor by the electronic control means;

a generator operatively coupled to the internal combustion engine for generating the electric current as an output with an operating voltage in a medium-voltage range;

accessory electric consumers; and

vehicle power supply means operative in a low-voltage range for supplying power to the accessory electric consumers, the vehicle power supply means including a battery, the electronic control means including a drive controller which is operative to direct a portion of the generator current output to the vehicle power supply means and is further operative to temporarily interrupt the current fed to the vehicle power supply means when full output of the internal combustion engine and generator is needed to drive the vehicle and temporarily connect the accessory electrical consumers to the battery.

2. A vehicle as defined in claim 1, and further comprising an accelerator operatively connected to the electronic control means so as to permit actuation of the electronic control means by a driver of the vehicle.

3. A vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein the generator is operative to generate an electric current with an operating voltage in a range of above 100 volts to 1500 volts.

4. A vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein the vehicle power supply means is operative in a range below 60 volts.

5. A vehicle as defined in claim 1, and further comprising interruption means operatively connected to the drive controller for temporarily interrupting the current feed from the generator to the low-voltage vehicle power supply means.

6. A vehicle as defined in claim 5, and further comprising voltage transformer means for reducing the current supply for the low-voltage vehicle power supply from the medium-voltage range of the generator to the voltage of the low-voltage vehicle power supply means, the voltage transformer means being connected directly to the generator via the interrupter means.

7. A vehicle as defined in claim 1, and further comprising voltage transformer means for reducing the current directed to the low-voltage vehicle power supply means from the medium-voltage range of the generator to the voltage of the low-voltage power supply means.

8. A vehicle as defined in claim 7, and further comprising a rectifier operatively arranged down stream of the generator for generating direct current, and a DC-voltage intermediate circuit operatively connected down stream of the rectifier to supply the electric motor with current for driving the vehicle, the voltage transformer means including a DC-DC converter connected to the DC-voltage intermediate circuit.

9. A vehicle as defined in claim 8, wherein the DC-voltage intermediate circuit is rated at an operating voltage in a range of 60 to 1500 volts.

10. A vehicle as defined in claim 9, wherein the DC-voltage intermediate circuit is rated at an operating voltage of approximately 650 volts.

11. A vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein the generator includes means for supplying power directly to the low-voltage vehicle power supply means.

12. A vehicle as defined in claim 11, wherein the means for supplying power directly to the low-voltage power supply means includes a low-voltage winding.