Direct current electric vehicle drive

• US 6,119,800 A
• Filed: 07/29/1997
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gates Corporation The
• Original Assignee: Gates Corporation The
• Inventors: McComber, Donald R
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): YEAGLEY, DANIEL S
• Application Number:
  US08/902,562
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/220, 180/315, 180/336, 280/DIG. 5, 474/69, 474/70
• US Class Current: 180/65.7
• 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 17/16 of differential gearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/66227 controlling shifting exclusively as a function of speed and torque
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/66254 controlling of shifting being influenced by a signal derived from the engine and the main coupling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 280/05 Motorized golf carts

Abstract

An improved electrically powered vehicle and associated method of the type having a mobile electrical storage device for providing electrical power electrically connected to a switching device, for selectively controlling the flow of electric power. The switching device is electrically connected to an electric motor. It selectively allows the flow of electrical power to the motor. The motor is mechanically connected to a belt type continuously variable transmission with the transmission mechanically connected to a drive wheel of the vehicle. It is improved by the motor, being of the direct current type, that is electrically connected to a continuously variable power supply control device responsive to an operator input. Further, the motor is mechanically connected to the continuously variable transmission, with the transmission adapted to respond to the rotational speed of the motor by varying in speed ratio.

Claims

1. An improved method for operating a vehicle with a combination, of a continuously variable transmission and an electric motor, powered by a mobile electrical storage device, with the steps of supplying electrical power to said combination from said storage device, transmitting mechanical power between said electric motor and a drive wheel of said vehicle, and varying a speed ratio between said electric motor and said drive wheel in a continuous manner, the improvement comprising:

supplying electrical potential for direct current to said motor,

varying the amount of electrical potential supplied to said motor in a continuous manner, and

varying a radial distance from axis of rotation a power transmission belt rides upon a pulley to vary said speed ratio between said electric motor and said drive wheel in a continuous manner in response to motor speed and in response to motor load by communication of a biasing arrangement.

2. The method of claim 1, the improvement further comprising said response to motor speed is by a driver pulley increasing said speed ratio upon sensing increasing motor speed.

3. The method of claim 2, the improvement further comprising said driver pulley increasing said speed ratio through action of fly weights.

4. The method of claim 1, the improvement further comprising said response to motor load is by a driven pulley decreasing said speed ratio upon sensing increasing motor load.

5. The method of claim 4, the improvement comprising said driven pulley decreasing said speed ratio through action of a torque ramp.

6. The improvement of claim 4 wherein said biasing arrangement includes fly weights adapted to vary a driver pulley width and thereby vary said speed ratio.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 further comprising:

said biasing arrangement including fly weights adapted to vary a driver pulley width and thereby vary said speed ratio.

8. The vehicle of claim 6 further comprising:

said biasing arrangement including a torque ramp adapted to vary a driven pulley width and thereby vary said speed ratio.

9. The improvement of claim 4 wherein said biasing arrangement includes a torque ramp to vary a driven pulley width and thereby vary said speed ratio.

10. An improved electrically powered vehicle of the type having a mobile electrical storage means for providing electrical power electrically connected to a switching means, for selectively controlling the flow of electric power, said switching means electrically connected to an electric motor to which said flow of electrical power selectively flows, said motor mechanically connected to a continuously variable transmission, and said transmission mechanically connected to a drive wheel of said vehicle, the improvement comprising:

said motor, being of the direct current type,

electrically connected to a continuously variable power supply control means responsive to an operator input, and

mechanically connected to a belt type continuously variable transmission, said transmission adapted to respond to rotational speed of said motor and adapted to respond to motor load by varying a speed ratio by communication of a biasing arrangement.

11. An electrically powered vehicle comprising:

a mobile electrical storage device for providing electrical power,

said electric storage device electrically connected to a continuously variable power supply control device responsive to an operator input,

said power control device electrically connected to a direct current type of electric motor,

said motor mechanically connected to a belt type continuously variable transmission,

said transmission mechanically connected to a drive wheel of said vehicle, and

said transmission adapted to respond to rotational speed of said motor by varying a speed ratio in response to motor speed and in response to motor load by communication of a biasing arrangement.