Energy conserving electric vehicle

• US 6,260,649 B1
• Filed: 03/29/1999
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert S. Carney Jr
• Original Assignee: Robert S. Carney Jr
• Inventors: Carney, Robert S. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FISCHMANN, BRYAN R
• Application Number:
  US09/280,607
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 180/165, 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/65.5, 180/65.6, 180/65.7, 180/65.8, 180/221, 180/220, 180/230, 318/149, 318/93, 318/95
• US Class Current: 180/220
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/20 using propulsion power generated by humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/12 for vehicles propelled by dc motors
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/45 Control or actuating devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/60 power-driven at axle parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A vehicle and vehicle system(s) comprising: rechargeable battery cells, switches, electric circuits, control means, a drive train, and one or more motor-generator devices, such that for each motor-generator device the motor-generator device alternatively operates both: (a) as a motor at a higher voltage to drive the vehicle, and (b) at a lower voltage as a generator, transforming the vehicle'"'"'s kinetic energy into electrical energy stored in the rechargeable battery cells as the motor-generator functions as a brake to decelerate and stop the vehicle, thus conserving and reusing energy that is dissipated and lost by other vehicles.

Claims

1. A vehicle and vehicle system(s), comprising:

a. two or more motor-generators, each having rotating components, and such that for the same input voltage two or more of the said motor-generators individually produce different power outputs, and

b. one or more vehicle wheels, and

c. a mechanical drive train that connects each said motor-generator to one or more vehicle wheels, and

d. more than one rechargeable battery cell, and

e. a system of electrical circuits comprising multiple circuit sections, with each said circuit section including one or more electrical on-off switches, and

f. control means to set the said electrical on-off switches and thereby to control the function and use of the said motor-generators and said rechargeable battery cells, and

g. for each said motor-generator, one or more combination(s) of the said electrical on-off switch settings, set by control means, that function(s) to connect more than one of the said multiple rechargeable battery cells in series with the said motor-generator and to operate said motor-generator as an electrical motor to drive said vehicle, and

h. for each said motor-generator, one or more combination(s) of the said electrical on-off switch settings, set by control means, that function(s) to connect said motor-generator either individually to one said rechargeable battery cell or to multiple rechargeable battery cells in parallel, such that for a sufficiently high RPM of the said motor-generator'"'"'s rotating components said motor-generator operates as a generator and charges said rechargeable battery cell(s).

2. The vehicle and vehicle system(s) of claim 1 further comprising two or more motor-generators such that for the same input voltage one or more of said motor-generators produces or produce a power output that is an approximate integer multiple, or are approximate integer multiples, for any integer greater than one of the power output of the motor-generator having the lowest power output, and such that the set of all total power output combinations from all possible combinations of any or all of the said two or more motor-generators operating as motors approximates a sequential integer range of multiples of the power output of the motor-generator having the lowest power output.

3. The vehicle and vehicle system(s) of claim 1 such that for either some combination(s) or for every possible combination of two or more of the said motor-generators there is at least one combination of the said electrical on-off switch settings, set by control means, that functions both to operate the said combination of motor-generators as motors to drive the vehicle, and to not operate any other motor-generator(s) of the said vehicle and vehicle system(s) as motors to drive the vehicle.

4. The vehicle and vehicle system(s) of claim 1 such that for either some combination(s) or for every possible combination of two or more of the said motor-generators there is at least one combination of the said electrical on-off switch settings, set by control means, that functions both to operate the said combination of motor-generators as generators to charge one or more of the said rechargeable battery cell components(s), and to not operate any other motor-generator of the said vehicle and vehicle systems as a generator to charge any said rechargeable battery cell(s).

5. The vehicle and vehicle system(s) of claim 1 further comprising one or more driver controlled power control switches such that no said motor-generator component can function as a motor or a generator unless one or more of the said driver controlled power control switches is on.

6. The vehicle and vehicle system(s) of claim 1 further comprising two or more driver controlled power control switches such that no said motor-generator can function as a motor to drive the vehicle unless a first said driver controlled power control switch is on.

7. The vehicle and vehicle system(s) of claim 1 further comprising two or more driver controlled power control switches such that no said motor-generator can function as a generator to charge any said rechargeable battery cell unless a second said driver controlled power control switch is on.

8. The vehicle and vehicle system(s) of claim 6 such that when the said first driver controlled power control switch is on, no said motor-generator can function as a generator to charge any said rechargeable battery cell.

9. The vehicle and vehicle system(s) of claim 7 such that when the said second driver controlled power control switch is on, no said motor-generator can function as a motor to drive the vehicle.

10. The vehicle and vehicle system(s) of claim 1 further comprising one or more combination(s) of the said electrical on-off switch settings, set by control means, such that one or more motor-generators can be operated as motors to drive the vehicle backwards.

11. The vehicle and vehicle system(s) of claim 1 further comprising a set of voltage determining combinations of the said electrical on-off switch settings, set by control means, such that for a given combination of one or more motor-generators operating as motors to drive the vehicle forward, individual elements of the said set of voltage determining combinations of circuit sections and electrical on-off switch settings operate the said combination of motor-generators at different voltage levels such that the total electrical power used to drive the vehicle is greater or less as the voltage level is greater or less.

12. The vehicle and vehicle system(s) of claim 1 further comprising a set of voltage determining combinations of the said electrical on-off switch settings, set by control means, such that for a given combination of one or more motor-generators operating as motors to drive the vehicle forward, individual elements of the said set of voltage determining combinations of circuit sections and electrical on-off switch settings operate the said combination of motor-generators at incrementally increasing voltage levels such that the total electrical power used to drive the vehicle is increased incrementally by means of the said incrementally increasing voltage levels.

13. The vehicle and vehicle system(s) of claim 1 further comprising a set of one or more turbo rechargeable battery cells that are not recharged during operation of the vehicle, such that for one or more combination(s) of the said electrical on-off switch settings, set by control means, the said set of turbo rechargeable battery cells is included in circuits that power one or more of the said motor-generators operating as a motor(s) to drive the vehicle.

14. The vehicle and vehicle system(s) of claim 1 further comprising one or more turbo rechargeable batteries, each having multiple individual battery cells internally connected in series, that are not recharged during operation of the vehicle, such that for one or more combination(s) of the said electrical on-off switch settings, set by control means, the said set of turbo rechargeable batteries is included in circuits that power one or more of the said motor-generators operating as a motor(s) to drive the vehicle.

15. The vehicle and vehicle system(s) of claim 1 such that for a rechargeable battery cell of the said vehicle and vehicle system(s) or for a group of rechargeable battery cells of the said vehicle and vehicle system(s) a rechargeable battery comprised of multiple individual battery cells internally connected in series can be substituted as the functional equivalent of the said rechargeable battery cell or the said group of rechargeable battery cells.

16. The vehicle and vehicle system(s) of claim 1 further comprising one or more multiple circuit electrical switches operated by control means, such that each said multiple circuit electrical switch has multiple switch positions, and such that each said multiple circuit electrical switch operates more than one individual electrical circuit, and such that for each said switch position the said multiple circuit electrical switch sets each of the said individual electrical circuits as either on or off.

17. The vehicle and vehicle system(s) of claim 16 where one or more switch positions of one or more of the said multiple circuit electrical switches is set directly by a driver.

18. The vehicle and vehicle system(s) of claim 16 further comprising two of the multiple circuit electrical switches and two driver operated power control switches, such that the first multiple circuit electrical switch and the first power control switch function to control motor-generators operating as motors, and the second multiple circuit electrical switch and the second power control switch function to control motor-generators operating as generators, such that any or all motor-generators can not function as a motor to drive the vehicle unless the first power control switch is on, and such that any or all motor-generators can not function as a generator to generate and store electrical power unless the second power control switch is on.

19. The vehicle and vehicle system(s) of claim 18 such that no motor-generator can function as either a motor or as a generator when both of the power control switches are on.

20. The vehicle and vehicle system(s) of claim 1 further comprising mechanical means for a driver and/or passenger(s) to provide power to the vehicle by means of a pedal driven drive train, such that the function of said pedal driven drive train is independent of the function of any motor-generator to drive the vehicle or to generate and store electrical power.