Electric current and controlled heat co-generation system for a hybrid electric vehicle

• US 6,575,258 B1
• Filed: 05/25/2000
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steven Lynn Clemmer
• Original Assignee: Steven Lynn Clemmer
• Inventors: Clemmer, Steven Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): VANAMAN, FRANK BENNETT
• Application Number:
  US09/577,670
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/68.2, 180/68.4, 180/68.5, 180/68.6, 180/69.2, 318/139, 296/208, 165/41.51
• US Class Current: 180/68.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/02 with liquid cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/04 Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds B60K11/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/005 the electric storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/02 to electric heating circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/34 Cabin temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/662 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/162 of electrical cells or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/22 Standstill, e.g. zero speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/26 Transition between different drive modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/12 of exhaust
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/142 acoustic
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/44 Heat storages, e.g. for cabin heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/46 Heat pumps, e.g. for cabin heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 : with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 : Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 : having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 : by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/27 : by heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 : Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/246 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2050/24 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2050/30 : Circuit boards
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 3/20 : Cooling circuits not specific to a single part of engine or machine F01P3/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/16 : by thermostatic control
• 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 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

An internal combustion engine in a hybrid electric vehicle powers an alternator or generator, providing current while the engine'"'"'s cooling system supplies heat to warm or cool the batteries in a thermostatically controlled manner. Further embodiments utilize heat from the exhaust and catalytic converter to maintain the engine'"'"'s temperature at an efficient level, and increase the amount of usable heat energy within the system. Organized compartmentalization and insulation of system components controls storage, distribution and release of heat energy during operation and shut-down for increased efficiency and reduced pollutant emissions.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling the temperature of a battery in a vehicle having a liquid-cooled internal combustion engine, comprising:

a liquid-cooled internal combustion engine having a coolant fluid jacket, said coolant fluid jacket having a jacket output port and a jacket input port;

a first fluid path having an input connected to said jacket output port, an output, a first pipe section and a second pipe section between said input and said output;

a first heat exchanger conductor thermally connected to said first pipe section;

a first battery heat conductor thermally connected to said second pipe section;

a first battery thermally connected to said first battery heat conductor;

a first jacket structure thermally connected to said first heat exchanger conductor, having an input port connected to said output of said first fluid path, and an output port;

a second jacket structure thermally connected to said first heat exchanger conductor, having an input port connected to said output port of said first jacket structure, a main output port, a bypass output, and a thermostatically controlled valve means for blocking fluid flow through said bypass port in response to a fluid temperature below a battery control temperature and for blocking fluid flow through said main output in response to a fluid temperature above said battery control temperature, said battery control temperature based on a battery target operating temperature;

a third jacket structure thermally connected to said first heat exchanger conductor, having an input port connected to said main output port of said second jacket structure, and a main output port;

a first bypass fluid path, having a first input port connected to said bypass output of said second jacket structure, a second input port connected to said main output port of said third jacket structure, and an output port; and

a second fluid path, having an input connected to said output port of said first bypass fluid path, and an output connected to said input port of said fluid jacket.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said internal combustion engine has an exhaust apparatus including a catalytic converter, wherein said second fluid path includes a re-heater jacket having a structure thermally connected to said catalytic converter for re-heating a fluid within the re-heater jacket to a predetermined engine coolant temperature range prior to entering the input port of the coolant fluid jacket of the internal combustion engine.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said second fluid path further comprises a third pipe section and said first fluid path further-comprises

a fourth pipe section, said third pipe section being between said input of said second fluid path and said re-heater jacket, and said fourth pipe section having an input end and an output end; and further comprising;

a second battery heat conductor thermally connected to said third pipe section;

a second heat exchanger conductor thermally connected to said fourth pipe section; and

a second battery thermally connected to said second battery heat conductor; and

wherein said second fluid path further comprises

a fourth jacket structure thermally connected to said second heat exchanger conductor, having an input port connected to said output end of said fourth pipe section, and an output port;

a fifth jacket structure thermally connected to said second heat exchanger conductor, having an input port connected to said output of said fourth jacket structure, a main output port, and a bypass port;

a second bypass fluid path, having a first input port connected to said bypass port of said fifth jacket structure, a second input port connected to said main output port of said fifth jacket structure, and an output port; and

a fluid path connecting said output port of said second bypass fluid path into said re-heater jacket.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a thermostat valve for stopping flow of fluid below said battery control temperature through said jacket output port of said coolant fluid jacket, and for providing fluid flow through said jacket output port of said coolant fluid jacket, above said battery control temperature.

5. An apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a thermostat valve for stopping flow of fluid below said battery control temperature through said jacket output port of said coolant fluid jacket, and for providing fluid flow through said jacket output port of said coolant fluid jacket above said battery control temperature.

6. An apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising a thermostat valve for stopping flow of fluid below said battery control temperature through said jacket output port of said coolant fluid jacket, and for providing fluid flow through said jacket output port of said coolant fluid jacket above said battery control temperature.

7. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said second fluid path further comprises:

an outer jacket structure surrounding said re-heater and thermally connected to said catalytic converter;

a fifth pipe section having output end;

a fluid path from said output end of said fifth pipe section into said outer jacket structure; and

further comprising

a third battery heat conductor thermally connected to said fifth pipe section;

a second heat exchanger conductor thermally connected to said fourth pipe section; and

a third battery thermally connected to said third battery heat conductor.

8. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said fourth pipe section is more proximal to said output port of the fluid jacket of the internal combustion engine than the first pipe section.