Power system for electric and hybrid vehicles

• US 7,434,636 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2006
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Danilo R. Sutherland
• Original Assignee: Danilo R. Sutherland
• Inventors: Sutherland, Danilo R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Restifo; Jeffrey J
• Application Number:
  US11/376,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20060213697A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 180/165, 180/2.1, 180/2.2, 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4
• US Class Current: 180/2.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2016/003 solar power driven
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• 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 8/006 Converting flow of air into electric energy, e.g. by using wind turbines
• 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 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/10 Assembly of wind motors; Arrangements for erecting wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/20 Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/007 the wind motor being combined with means for converting solar radiation into useful energy
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/32 on moving objects, e.g. vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/941 which is a land vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 10/12 Hybrid wind-PV energy systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 Onshore wind turbines
• 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 10/90 : Energy harvesting concepts as power supply for auxiliaries' energy consumption, e.g. photovoltaic sun-roof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

A power system for an electric vehicle, the power system comprising at least one power generating device selected from a group consisting of a solar panel, a wind turbine capable of producing electrical power, an auxiliary generator driven by an internal combustion engine, and a generator for producing electrical power mechanically connected to, and driven by the rotational force of an axle of a vehicle. The power system being further comprised of a charging device, a battery control device, at least one battery, a motor control device, an electric drive motor electrically connected to the motor control device, and a driver interface connected to the motor control device. The electric drive motor may be used to generate power through regenerative braking. The wind turbine may be raised outside the body of a vehicle while the vehicle is not in motion. The solar panel may be disposed outside the vehicle while remaining electrically connected to the charging device.

Claims

1. A power system for powering an electric vehicle, the power system disposed within the electric vehicle, the vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body with at least one upper surface and a roof;

an electrical generator powered by an internal combustion engine, wherein the internal combustion engine does not provide motive force to the vehicle;

at least one solar panel electrically connected to the power system, wherein the at least one solar panel is capable of charging the power system;

a hood;

a wind turbine door hingedly attached to, and disposed within the hood;

an air intake in the front surface of the vehicle, wherein air is forced into the air intake by the forward motion of the vehicle;

a wind turbine cowling disposed within the air intake;

a wind turbine assembly electrically attached to the power system, wherein the wind turbine assembly is capable of producing electrical power, wherein the wind turbine assembly is capable of being raised outside the body of the vehicle while the vehicle is not in motion, wherein the wind turbine assembly is disposed within the vehicle when in a lowered position, wherein the wind turbine cowling funnels air into the wind turbine assembly when the wind turbine assembly is in the lowered position;

wherein the wind turbine assembly is comprised of;

a power generating device with an input shaft, the power generating device electrically connected to the power system;

a vane attached to the power generating device capable of orienting the wind turbine assembly in such a manner that the longitudinal axis of the input shaft is parallel to a wind direction;

a central hub, wherein the central hub is fixedly attached to an input shaft of a power generating device, wherein the central hub may rotate the power generating device input shaft along the longitudinal axis of the input shaft;

at least one wind turbine blade attached to a central hub;

a support bracket to which the power generating device is attached, which support bracket is attached to an electric vehicle; and

and a means for pivoting the support bracket to alternatively position the wind turbine assembly within the hood operatively disposed behind the wind turbine cowling and outside the hood so that the vane can freely rotate the wind turbine assembly into the wind.

2. The power system of claim 1, wherein the wind turbine assembly is brought to a raised position upon a driver'"'"'s removal of an ignition key from an ignition disposed within the vehicle.

3. The power system of claim 2, the vehicle further comprising a wind turbine defeat switch, wherein upon activation, prevents the wind turbine from being automatically raised by the driver'"'"'s removal of the ignition key from the ignition.

4. The power system of claim 1, wherein the power generating device is attached to the support bracket via a pivot, wherein the pivot allows the power generating device with attached central hub, vane and turbine blades to rotate on a vertical axis.

5. The power system of claim 4, wherein the pivot means further comprises a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism capable of rotating the power generating device and attached central hub, vane and at least one turbine blades back into an orientation suitable for lowering of the wind turbine assembly into the vehicle.

6. The power system of claim 1, wherein at least one solar panel electrically connected to the power system is disposed on the roof, the hood and the wind turbine door.