Hybrid propulsion for fuel-cell cars

• US 6,380,638 B1
• Filed: 11/16/2000
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Bitsche, Omar, Spaniel, Dirk
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US09/623,930
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.R, 290/40.A, 290/40.C, 320/5, 320/147, 322/16, 322/22, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 290/40.00C
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/30 for monitoring or controlling fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04947 of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

The invention relates to a hybrid drive for an electric vehicle having a fuel cell, an energy store, an electric traction motor and electrical auxiliary loads. The invention proposes providing two separate circuits, provided with switching devices, for selectively connecting the electric traction motor and the electrical auxiliary loads to the fuel cell or to the energy store, and providing a switchable connecting line between the fuel cell and the energy store.

Claims

1. A hybrid drive system for a motor vehicle comprising:

a fuel cell;

an energy store;

a first electric traction motor,

an auxiliary electrical load;

a first circuit operable at a first voltage and adapted to selectively supply said first traction motor and said auxiliary electrical load with electrical energy, said first circuit includes a first switching device for selectively connecting said fuel cell and said first traction motor, said first circuit also includes a second switching device for selectively connecting said fuel cell to said auxiliary electrical load;

said first circuit capable of connecting said fuel cell, said first traction motor, and said auxiliary electrical load,

a second circuit operable at a second voltage and adapted to selectively supply said first traction motor and said auxiliary electrical load with electrical energy, said second circuit includes a third switching device for selectively connecting said energy store and said first traction motor, said second circuit also includes a fourth switching device for selectively connecting said energy store to said auxiliary electrical load;

said second circuit capable of connecting said energy store, said first traction, motor, and said auxiliary electrical load; and

a device for controlling said first, second, third, and fourth switching devices.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first voltage can differ from said second voltage.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second and fourth switching devices are a single changeover device.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first circuit includes a first line disposed between said fuel cell and said first traction motor and a second line disposed between said fuel cell and said auxiliary electrical load, wherein said first switching device is disposed in said first line, said second line branches off from said first line between said fuel cell and said first switching device.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 4, wherein said second circuit includes a third line disposed between said energy store and said first traction motor, said second circuit also includes a fourth line disposed between said energy store and said auxiliary electrical loads, said third switching device is disposed in said third line, said fourth line includes a fifth switching device, said third line connects said second circuit to said first circuit and branches off from said fourth line between said auxiliary electrical loads and said fifth switching device.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 5, wherein said second and fourth switching devices are a single changeover device such that said auxiliary electrical loads can be selectively connected to said second line or said fourth line.

7. The invention as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a DC/DC converter disposed between said third switching device and said energy store.

8. The invention as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a second traction motor and a fifth line disposed between said second traction and said third switching device, said third switching device being a changeover switch such that said second traction motor can be selectively connected to said first circuit or said second circuit.

9. The invention as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first circuit includes a first line and a second line, said first switching device being disposed in said first line between said fuel cell and said first traction motor, said second circuit includes a fourth line having a fifth switching device disposed therein between said energy store and said auxiliary electrical loads, a third line branches of from said fourth line between said fifth switching device and said auxiliary electrical loads, said first line being capable of being selectively connected to said second line or to said third line.

10. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein said energy store is a battery.

11. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first traction motor can be operated as a generator.

12. The invention as set forth in claim 8, wherein said second traction motor can be operated as a generator.

13. A method for operating a hybrid drive system for a motor vehicle comprising:

providing a fuel cell;

providing an energy store;

providing an electric traction motor;

providing an auxiliary electrical load;

providing a circuit having a plurality of switches selectively interconnecting said fuel cell, said energy store, said traction motor, and said auxiliary electrical load;

powering said traction motor with said fuel cell and separately powering said auxiliary electrical loads while in a first load driving state;

powering said traction motor and said auxiliary loads with said fuel cell while in a second load driving state;

powering said traction motor and said auxiliary loads with said energy store at a third load driving state;

wherein said first load is greater than said second load and said second load is greater than said third load.

14. The invention as set forth in claim 13, further comprising:

powering said auxiliary loads by said fuel cell while in a first standstill state;

powering said auxiliary loads by said energy store in said second standstill position while said fuel cell is disabled.

15. The invention as set forth in claim 13, wherein said traction motor can also act as a generator.

16. The invention as set forth in claim 15, further comprising charging said energy store with said traction motor while in a braking state.

17. The invention as set forth in claim 15, further comprising:

powering said auxiliary electrical loads with said fuel cell and charging said energy store with said traction motor while in a first braking mode;

powering said auxiliary electrical loads with said energy store and charging said energy store with said traction motor while in a second braking mode, said second braking mode being more severe than said first braking mode.

18. The invention as set forth in claim 17, wherein said second braking mode providing a greater deceleration of said vehicle than said first braking mode.

19. The invention as set forth in claim 17, further comprising powering said auxiliary electrical loads with said generator in a third braking state.

20. The invention as set forth in claim 13, further comprising operating said fuel cell at a first voltage and operating said energy store at a second voltage.

21. The invention as set forth in claim 20 wherein said first voltage can be different from said second voltage.

22. The invention as set forth in claim 21, further comprising providing a DC/DC converter and charging said energy store and powering said traction motor with said fuel cell while said vehicle is in a fourth driving state.