All-electric vehicle control system
First Claim
1. An all-electric vehicle control system comprising:
- a. a control console arranged between a pair of seats, either of which can be used by an operator for operating the vehicle;
b. the console including operator interface controls sufficient for operating the vehicle, the controls including a joystick operable by an inboard hand of an operator sitting in one of the seats; and
c. the operator interface controls being electrically interconnected with vehicle components including a battery, a pair of driving gear motors connected to a respective pair of vehicle drive wheels, a control system responsive to the joystick for controlling electric current to and from the gear motors for rotating and regeneratively braking the drive wheels, and a steering system responsive to the joystick for controlling a steering angle of a pair of steerable wheels of the vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An all-electric vehicle control system arranges operator interface controls at a console between a pair of seats, either of which can be used by an operator. The console controls include a joystick arranged in communication with an electronic motor control system for driving and regeneratively braking the vehicle wheels. The joystick is also in communication with an electronic servo amplifier and an electric servo actuator that steers the vehicle electromechanically and provides a closed loop feedback circuit for steering control. Electromagnetically actuated brakes are interposed between drive wheels and electric drive motors and are energized automatically whenever the vehicle rolls to a stop, thereby holding the vehicle still. The console also includes a dynamic brake switch that can energize the electromagnetic brakes for decelerating the vehicle in conjunction with regenerative braking. A console-mounted override switch disengages the electromagnetic brakes when the vehicle is stopped so that the vehicle can be moved with external power.
83 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An all-electric vehicle control system comprising:
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a. a control console arranged between a pair of seats, either of which can be used by an operator for operating the vehicle; b. the console including operator interface controls sufficient for operating the vehicle, the controls including a joystick operable by an inboard hand of an operator sitting in one of the seats; and c. the operator interface controls being electrically interconnected with vehicle components including a battery, a pair of driving gear motors connected to a respective pair of vehicle drive wheels, a control system responsive to the joystick for controlling electric current to and from the gear motors for rotating and regeneratively braking the drive wheels, and a steering system responsive to the joystick for controlling a steering angle of a pair of steerable wheels of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A console-controlled electrical vehicle comprising:
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a. operator interface controls including a joystick arranged on a control console between a pair of seats, either of which can be used by an operator of the vehicle; b. the vehicle having a pair of electric drive gear motors arranged for rotating a respective pair of vehicle wheels and having electromagnetically applied brakes arranged between each of the gear motors and a respectively driven vehicle wheel; c. a control system responsive to the joystick and communicating with the motors for rotating and for regeneratively braking the vehicle wheels; d. the electromagnetically actuated brakes being applied by the control system whenever the vehicle wheels are not rotating and being released by the control system whenever current is applied to the motors to rotate the vehicle wheels; and e. the operator interface controls including a dynamic brake switch interconnected with the control system for actuating the electromagnetic brakes to increase deceleration of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of controlling an all-electric vehicle, the method comprising:
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a. operating the vehicle by sitting in either of a pair of seats so that an inboard hand of an operator controls the position of a joystick arranged between the seats; b. controlling acceleration and deceleration of a driven pair of vehicle wheels in response to the joystick so that wheels are rotated at adjustable acceleration rates and are regeneratively decelerated; c. electromagnetically actuating wheel brakes whenever vehicle wheels stop rotating; d. releasing the wheel brakes whenever motors are energized to rotate vehicle wheels; and e. electromagnetically actuating the wheel brakes in response to a dynamic brake switch arranged between the seats and actuated by the operator for increasing deceleration of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification