Hybrid electric heavy-duty vehicle drive system

• US 7,338,335 B1
• Filed: 01/06/2005
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frank Messano
• Original Assignee: Frank Messano
• Inventors: Messano, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Basinger; Sherman
• Application Number:
  US11/031,263
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 180/65.22
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 13/14 having dampers accumulating utilisable energy, e.g. compressing air fluid springs with an accumulator B60G11/30
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/60 Vehicles using regenerative power
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/30 Height or ground clearance
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/914 Height Control System
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00428 electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/32 characterised by the fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/18 Buses
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/28 Trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/36 Vehicles designed to transport cargo, e.g. trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/20 DC electrical machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/44 Wheel Hub motors, i.e. integrated in the wheel hub
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/28 Four wheel or all wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/30 for monitoring or controlling fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/34 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 : for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/00 : Electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 : Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/34 : the living accommodation being expansible, collapsible or capable of rearrangement B60P3/38 takes precedence; tents supported at least partially by vehicles E04H15/06
• 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 20/00 : Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/15 : Control strategies specially adapted for achieving a particular effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/14 : Tractor-trailers, i.e. combinations of a towing vehicle and one or more towed vehicles, e.g. caravans; Road trains
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/145 : Semi-trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/18 : Four-wheel drive vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/185 : Off-road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/001 : For commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. caravans
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 59/04 : driven from propulsion unit on trailer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• 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 10/88 : Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/90 : Energy harvesting concepts as power supply for auxiliaries' energy consumption, e.g. photovoltaic sun-roof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

A hybrid electric system designed to lower fuel consumption in heavy-duty long-haul vehicles, and in medium and light duty vehicles (trucks, buses, vans, SUVs, recreational vehicles, and the like), utilizing a multiplicity of thermal engines, regenerative power road-wheels, solar cells, and frontal area reducing adjustable-height suspension that are utilized singly or in combinations as suits the vehicle'"'"'s mission.

Claims

1. A hybrid semi-trailer truck system comprising:

an electric drive road tractor that incorporates;

a multiplicity of constant-speed internal combustion engines maximized for fuel efficiency, driving a multiplicity of electrical generators or alternators, which automatically start and stop individually and in combinations to meet the varying power demands of the electric drive road tractor, and optionally its semi-trailers;

a driver controlled variable ride-height suspension system that lowers the road tractor suspension to reduce frontal area of the vehicle;

a multiplicity of rooftop photovoltaic modules (solar cell panels) located on the road tractor that are suitably interconnected to augment the varying power demands of the vehicle;

a multiplicity of electric motor-driven road-wheel modules which also act as a generator(s) or alternator(s) to brake the road tractor;

a multiplicity of fuel cell module(s), and or thermal turbine module(s) and or battery module(s), and or capacitor module(s) located in the road tractor which are suitably interconnected to the vehicle system to operate singly or in combinations as required to minimize the number of internal combustion engine(s) running at any one time, while meeting the varying power demands of the vehicle;

and one or more connected semi-trailers which incorporate;

a interconnected variable ride-height suspension system that allows the road tractor driver to lower the trailer(s) suspension to reduce frontal area of the semi-trailer truck system;

a multiplicity of electric motor-driven road-wheel modules which also act as a generator(s) or alternator(s) to brake the semi-trailer(s), that are interconnected to the road tractor'"'"'s system;

and a multiplicity of rooftop photovoltaic modules (solar cell panels) located on the semi-trailer(s) which are suitably interconnected to augment the varying power demands of the semi-trailer truck system.

2. The hybrid vehicle system as set forth in claim 1, where the semi-trailer incorporates a multiplicity of fuel cell module(s), and or thermal turbine module(s) and or battery module(s), and or capacitor module(s) which are suitably interconnected to the semi-trailer truck system to operate singly or in combinations as required to minimize the number of internal combustion engine(s) running at any one time in the road tractor.

3. The hybrid vehicle system as set forth in claim 1, where the system is suitable for off-road operation.

4. The hybrid vehicle system as set forth in claim 1, where the road tractor is a conventional truck, bus, van, motorhome, SUV, automobile, construction vehicle, tracked vehicle, or an amphibian.

5. The hybrid vehicle system as set forth in claim 1, where the semi-trailer is a recreational travel trailer, a recreational fifth-wheel trailer, a horse trailer, or a tanker trailer.

6. A hybrid semi-trailer truck system comprising:

a road tractor and semi-trailer(s) all having a multiplicity of interconnected electric motor-driven road-wheel modules which also act as a generator(s) or alternator(s) to brake the system;

a multiplicity of constant-speed internal combustion engines maximized for fuel efficiency, driving a multiplicity of electrical generators or alternators, which automatically start and stop individually and in combinations to meet the varying power demands of the electric drive road tractor and its semi-trailers;

a driver controlled variable ride-height suspension system that lowers the road tractor and semi-trailer(s) suspension to reduce frontal area of the system;

a multiplicity of rooftop photovoltaic modules (solar cell panels) located on the semi-trailers that are suitably interconnected to augment the varying power demands of the road tractor;

a multiplicity of fuel cell module(s), and or thermal turbine module(s) and or battery module(s), and or capacitor module(s) located in the road tractor and optionally in the semi-trailer(s) which are suitably interconnected to the system to operate singly or in combinations as required to minimize the number of internal combustion engine(s) running at any one time in the road tractor.

7. The hybrid semi-trailer truck system as set forth in claim 6, where the system is suitable for off-road operation.

8. The hybrid semi-trailer truck system as set forth in claim 6, where the road truck is a conventional truck, bus, van, motorhome, SUV, automobile, construction vehicle, tracked vehicle, or an amphibian.

9. The hybrid vehicle system as set forth in claim 6, where the semi-trailer is a recreational travel trailer, a recreational fifth-wheel trailer, a horse trailer, or a tanker trailer.