Electric hybrid vehicle

• US 6,481,516 B1
• Filed: 01/13/2000
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Field Hybrids LLC
• Original Assignee: Field Hybrids LLC
• Inventors: Adler, Spencer E., Field, Bruce F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, Robert P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McClellan, James S.
• Application Number:
  US09/483,008
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 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 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:

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

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

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

an accessory battery electrically connected to vehicle accessories;

a recharger recharging the accessory battery and the battery, and the recharger receiving power from the liquid fueled engine;

a voltage controller altering the voltage output of the recharger; and

a switch changing the output of the recharger between the accessory battery and the battery, the switch directing the altered voltage away from the accessory battery and to the battery when the recharger has substantially charged the accessory battery.

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

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

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

5. The vehicle of claim 1 the recharger has a voltage output range between approximately 10 volts and approximately 150 volts.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the voltage controller is a process controller.

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

8. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the revolutions per minute of the liquid fueled engine match the revolutions per minute of the electric motor.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the recharger comprises the electric motor.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein the electric motor is the recharger during deceleration of the vehicle.

11. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a power splitter dividing power output of the liquid fueled engine between the recharger and at least one drive wheel.

12. The vehicle of claim 1 and further comprising a clutch connecting the liquid fueled engine to the electric motor.

13. A vehicle comprising:

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

an electrical store electrically connected to the electric motor;

a liquid powered engine being connected to a drive wheel and generating electrical power;

an accessory electrical store providing power to vehicle accessories;

a recharger selectively recharging the accessory electrical store and the electrical store with a voltage output, and the recharger receiving power from the liquid powered engine;

a voltage controller altering the voltage output of the recharger, the voltage controller providing a higher voltage output to the electrical store and a lower voltage output to the accessory electrical store; and

a switch changing the voltage output of the recharger between the accessory electrical store and the electrical store, the switch directing a portion of the voltage output away from the accessory electrical store and to the electrical store when the accessory electrical store has been substantially charged.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the recharger has a voltage output range of approximately 10 volts to approximately 150 volts.

15. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the liquid fueled engine is mechanically coupled to the electric motor to operate the electric motor as a mechanical coupling transmitting mechanical power from the liquid fueled engine to a drive wheel.

16. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein the liquid fueled engine and the electric motor simultaneously provide mechanical power to a drive wheel.

17. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the voltage controller is a process controller.

18. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein the revolutions per minute of the liquid fueled engine match the revolutions per minute of the electric motor.

19. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein the recharger comprises the electric motor.

20. The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the electric motor is the recharger during deceleration of the vehicle.

21. The vehicle of claim 13 further comprising a power splitter dividing power output of the liquid fueled engine between the recharger and at least one drive wheel.

22. The vehicle of claim 13 further comprising a clutch connecting the liquid fueled engine to the electric motor.

23. An electric hybrid vehicle comprising:

a) an internal combustion engine mechanically coupled to at least one drive wheel;

b) a first motor/generator mechanically coupled to said internal combustion engine and to said at least one drive wheel;

c) a relatively high voltage battery pack electrically coupled to said first motor/generator for providing power to said first motor/generator and for receiving generated power from said first motor/generator;

d) a second motor/generator mechanically coupled continuously to and actuated by said engine, said second motor/generator electrically coupled to said battery pack for charging said battery pack when said first motor/generator drives said drive wheel, said engine drives said drive wheel, or both said engine and said first motor/generator drive said drive wheel;

e) an accessory battery electrically coupled to said second motor/generator for providing an accessory voltage to accessory devices on said electric hybrid vehicle; and

f) a power supply electrically coupled between said battery pack and said accessory battery for converting voltage from said high voltage level of said battery pack to said accessory voltage compatible with said accessory battery.

24. The electric hybrid vehicle of claim 23 wherein said second motor/generator is an alternator having a voltage potential output in excess of said high voltage of said battery pack.

25. The electric hybrid vehicle of claim 23 wherein said mechanical coupling between said internal combustion engine and said first motor/generator enables said first motor/generator to assist said internal combustion engine when extra drive power is required, and enables the internal combustion engine to supply motive force to said first motor/generator for generating electrical charging energy to said battery pack when extra drive power is not required.

26. The electric hybrid vehicle of claim 23 wherein said mechanical coupling of said internal combustion engine provides for splitting of power from said internal combustion engine between said at least one drive wheel and said first and second motor/generators.

27. The electric hybrid vehicle of claim 23 further comprising:

a process controller for establishing substantially matching rotation speeds between said internal combustion engine and said first motor/generator to thereby maintain smooth operations therebetween.

28. The electric hybrid vehicle of claim 27 wherein said process controller further monitors a state of charge of said battery pack and determines the amount of charge necessary to maintain a charged state of said battery pack.

29. The electric hybrid vehicle of claim 28 wherein said process controller further controls the operation of said first motor/generator to be a motor or to be a generator based on the driving demands of said vehicle and according to said state of charge of said battery pack.

30. The electric hybrid vehicle of claim 23 wherein the power supply is electrically coupled between the second motor/generator and the accessory battery.

31. An electric hybrid vehicle comprising:

a) an internal combustion engine mechanically coupled to at least one drive wheel;

b) a first motor/generator mechanically coupled to said internal combustion engine and to said at least one drive wheel;

c) a relatively high voltage battery pack electrically coupled to said first motor/generator for providing power to said first motor/generator and for receiving generated power from said first motor/generator.

d) a second motor/generator mechanically coupled continuously to and actuated by said engine, said second motor/generator electrically coupled to said battery pack for charging said battery pack when, said first motor/generator drives said drive wheel, said engine drives said drive wheel, or both said engine and said first motor/generator drive said drive wheel;

e) an accessory battery electrically coupled to said second motor/generator and said battery pack for providing accessory voltage to accessory devices on said electric hybrid vehicle; and

f) a power supply electrically coupled between said battery pack and said accessory battery for converting said high voltage of said battery pack to said accessory voltage compatible with said accessory battery.

32. The electric hybrid vehicle of claim 31 wherein said second motor/generator has a voltage potential output in excess of said high voltage of said battery pack.

33. The electric hybrid vehicle of claim 31 wherein said mechanical coupling between said internal combustion engine and said first motor/generator enables said first motor/generator to assist said internal combustion engine when extra drive power is required, and enables the internal combustion engine to supply motive force to said first motor/generator for generating electrical charging energy to said battery pack when extra drive power is not required.

34. The electric hybrid vehicle of claim 31 wherein said mechanical coupling of said internal combustion engine provides for splitting of power from said internal combustion engine between said at least one drive wheel and said first and second motor/generators.

35. The electric hybrid vehicle of claim 31 further comprising:

a process controller for establishing substantially matching rotation speeds between said internal combustion engine and said first motor/generator to thereby maintain smooth operations therebetween.

36. The electric hybrid vehicle of claim 35 wherein said process controller further monitors a state of charge of said battery pack and determines the amount of charge necessary to maintain a charged state of said battery pack.

37. The electric hybrid vehicle of claim 36 wherein said process controller further controls the operation of said first motor/generator to be a motor or to be a generator based on the driving demands of said vehicle and according to said state of charge of said battery pack.