Electric hybrid vehicle

• US 6,044,922 A
• Filed: 08/29/1996
• Issued: 04/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Field Hybrids LLC
• Original Assignee: Bruce F. Field
• Inventors: Field, Bruce F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, J. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McClellan, James S.
• Application Number:
  US08/705,001
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/65.8
• US Class Current: 180/65.23
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/40 characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/442 Series-parallel switching type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/28 Four wheel or all wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/62 charged by low-power generators primarily intended to support the batteries, e.g. range extenders
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/081 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/081 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• 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 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/951 : Assembly or relative location of components

Abstract

A vehicle having an electric hybrid power system is provided. The vehicle includes an electric motor drivably connected to one or more ground engaging wheels. A battery pack stores electricity to power the electric motor. An engine is drivably connected to the wheels with an alternator connected to the engine for recharging an accessory battery. The engine is located near the end of the vehicle opposite the end where the electric motor is located and the two motors are joined with a light-weight small-diameter drive shaft. The alternator has at least a voltage output range of between approximately the standard output voltage of the accessory battery and the standard output voltage of the battery pack. In accordance with the present invention, a mechanism for electrically connecting the alternator to the battery pack is provided such that the alternator alternatively recharges both the battery pack and the accessory battery.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

electric motor means drivably connected to at least one ground engaging drive wheel, the electric motor means selectively having a function of rotating the drive wheel;

electrical storage means for storing power for the electric motor means, the electrical storage means being electrically connected to the electric motor means, the electric storage means selectively powering the electric motor means, the electrical storage means selectively being charged by the electric motor means;

liquid fueled engine means drivably connected to at least one ground engaging wheel, the liquid fueled engine means selectively having a function of rotating the drive wheel; and

recharging means coupled to and powered by the liquid fueled engine means for selectively recharging the electrical storage means as the electrical motor means powers the drive wheel, the recharging means also selectively recharging the electrical storage means at the same time the liquid fueled engine means powers the drive wheel;

whereby the electrical storage means selectively receives recharging energy from the recharging means even when both the liquid fueled engine means and the electric motor means are connected for driving the vehicle.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

voltage control means for changing the voltage output of the recharging means.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, further comprising:

accessory electrical storage means for providing power to a variety of vehicle accessories; and

switching means for switching the output of the recharging means between the accessory electrical storage means and the electrical storage means.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the voltage control means alters voltage output from the recharging means, and the switching means directs the altered voltage away from the accessory electrical storage means and to the electrical storage means when the recharging means has substantially charged the accessory electrical storage means.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the liquid fueled engine means is mechanically coupled to the electric motor means to operate the electric motor means as a mechanical coupling to transmit mechanical power from the liquid fueled engine means to a drive wheel.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the liquid fueled engine means and the electric motor means simultaneously provide mechanical power to a drive wheel.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the recharging means has a voltage output range between approximately 10 volts and approximately 150 volts.

8. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein the voltage control means regulates the voltage output to approximately 14 volts when the accessory electrical storage means is being charged and to approximately 90 volts when the electrical storage means is being charged.

9. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein the voltage control means is a process controller means.

10. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the liquid fueled engine means is selectively coupled to the electric motor means.

11. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising means for matching the revolutions per minute of the liquid fueled engine means and the electric motor means.

12. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the recharging means comprises the electric motor means.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the electric motor means comprises the recharging means during deceleration of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising power splitting means for dividing power output of the liquid fueled engine means between the recharging means and at least one drive wheel.

15. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a clutching means connecting the liquid fueled engine means to the electric motor means.

16. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the liquid fueled engine means comprises any internal combustion engine.

17. A vehicle comprising:

electric motor means drivably connected to at least one ground engaging drive wheel, the electric motor means selectively having a function of rotating the drive wheel;

battery means for powering the electric motor means, the battery means being electrically connected to the electric motor means, the battery means selectively powering the electric motor means, the battery means selectively being charged by the electric motor means;

combustion engine means drivably connected to at least one ground engaging drive wheel, the combustion engine selectively having a function of rotating the drive wheel;

accessory battery means for providing power to a variety of vehicle accessories;

recharging means for selectively recharging the accessory battery means and the battery means, and the recharging means receiving power from the combustion engine means;

voltage control means for altering the voltage output of the recharging means; and

switching means for switching the output of the recharging means between the accessory battery and the battery means, the switching means directing the altered voltage away from the accessory battery and to the battery means when the recharging means has substantially charged the accessory battery.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the liquid fueled engine means is mechanically coupled to the electric motor means to operate the electric motor means as a mechanical coupling to transmit mechanical power from the liquid fueled engine means to a drive wheel.

19. The vehicle of claim 17 wherein the liquid fueled engine means and the electric motor means simultaneously provide mechanical power to a drive wheel.

20. The vehicle of claim 17 wherein the recharging means has a voltage output range between approximately 10 volts and approximately 150 volts.

21. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the voltage control means is a process controller means.

22. The vehicle of claim 17 wherein the liquid fueled engine means is selectively coupled to the electric motor means.

23. The vehicle of claim 17 further comprising means for matching the revolutions per minute of the liquid fueled engine means and the electric motor means.

24. The vehicle of claim 17 wherein the recharging means comprises the electric motor means.

25. The vehicle of claim 24 wherein the electric motor means comprises the recharging means during deceleration of the vehicle.

26. The vehicle of claim 17 further comprising power splitting means for dividing power output of the liquid fueled engine means between the recharging means and at least one drive wheel.

27. The vehicle of claim 17 further comprising a clutching means connecting the liquid fueled engine means to the electric motor means.

28. The vehicle of claim 17 wherein the liquid fueled engine means is selectively coupled to the electric motor means.

29. A vehicle comprising:

electric motor means drivably connected to at least one ground engaging drive wheel;

electrical storage means for storing power for use by the electric motor means;

liquid powered engine means for rotating a drive wheel and for generating electrical power;

accessory electrical storage means for providing power to a variety of vehicle accessories;

recharging means for selectively recharging the accessory electrical storage means and the electrical storage means with a voltage output, and the recharging means receiving power from the liquid powered engine means;

voltage control means for altering the voltage output of the recharging means, the voltage control means providing a higher voltage output for charging the electrical storage means and a lower voltage output for charging the accessory electrical storage means; and

switching means for switching the voltage output of the recharging means between the accessory electrical storage means and the electrical storage means, the switching means directing a portion of the voltage output away from the accessory electrical storage means and to the electrical storage means when the accessory electrical storage means has been substantially charged.

30. The vehicle of claim 29, wherein the liquid fueled engine means is mechanically coupled to the electric motor means to operate the electric motor means as a mechanical coupling to transmit mechanical power from the liquid fueled engine means to a drive wheel.

31. The vehicle of claim 29 wherein the liquid fueled engine means and the electric motor means simultaneously provide mechanical power to a drive wheel.

32. The vehicle of claim 29, wherein the voltage control means is a process controller means.

33. The vehicle of claim 29 further comprising means for matching the revolutions per minute of the liquid fueled engine means and the electric motor means.

34. The vehicle of claim 29 wherein the recharging means comprises the electric motor means.

35. The vehicle of claim 34 wherein the electric motor means comprises the recharging means during deceleration of the vehicle.

36. The vehicle of claim 29 further comprising power splitting means for dividing power output of the liquid fueled engine means between the recharging means and at least one drive wheel.

37. The vehicle of claim 29 further comprising a clutching means connecting the liquid fueled engine means to the electric motor means.

38. The vehicle of claim 29, wherein

the recharging means has a voltage output range of approximately 10 volts to approximately 150 volts.