Electric or hybrid vehicle with a spare electric motor power source

• US 7,475,747 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2005
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul J. Plishner
• Original Assignee: Paul J. Plishner
• Inventors: Plishner, Paul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis; Christopher P
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALTERS, JOHN DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US11/145,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20060076836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 903/943, 903/905, 903/906, 903/925
• US Class Current: 180/65.31
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/043 Transmission unit disposed in on near the vehicle wheel, or between the differential gear unit and the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0444 Arrangement on a trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/28 Trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/30 Trolleys
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/46 Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/40 related to technical updates when adding new parts or software
• 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 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/147 Trailers, e.g. full trailers or caravans
• 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 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/905 Combustion engine

Abstract

A secondary electric power source (19) for a motor vehicle having one or more electric motors (12) for driving respective wheels (10a) of the motor vehicle and having a main electric power source (14) for providing power to electric motors (12) driving the wheels (10a), and a selector (17) for selecting power from either the main electric power source (14) or the secondary electric power source (19) or both.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a secondary electric power source for generating electric power for a vehicle having a main electric power source for also providing electric power; and

means for selecting as a power source for providing the electric power for use in powering an electric motor used to drive at least one wheel of the vehicle, an element from the set consisting of the secondary electric power source, the main electric power source, and both;

wherein the secondary electric power source is a motor-generator set including an electric generator and a motor for turning the electric generator; and

wherein the apparatus is configured so that the motor-generator set provides electric power to the electric motor via a power selector able to select either the main electric power source or the secondary electric power source or both, and via a controller for conditioning the electric power for use by the electric motor and for regulating the amount of power provided to the electric motor in response to control inputs by an operator.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the electric generator includes a winding for providing auxiliary power.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the winding provides auxiliary power at 115 volts and 60 Hz.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a fuel coupler including a fuel pump for coupling to a fuel tank included in the vehicle, for drawing fuel from the fuel tank for powering the motor used to turn the electric generator.

5. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the secondary electric power source is carried by a tag-along vehicle coupled to the vehicle.

6. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the secondary electric power source is attached to a side of the vehicle.

7. A system, comprising:

an apparatus as in claim 1;

the motor vehicle; and

means for at least mechanically and electrically coupling the secondary electric power source of the apparatus to the motor vehicle.

14. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the power source selector allows for manual selection of one or another or both the main and secondary electric power sources.

15. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the power source selector is configured to automatically select one or another or both the main and secondary electric power sources.

16. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the power source selector is configured to automatically select the secondary electric power source in case of degraded performance of the main electric power source.

8. A method, comprising:

a step of providing electric power from a main electric power source for powering an electric motor used to drive at least one wheel of a vehicle;

a step of selecting as a power source for providing the electric power for use in powering the electric motor an element from the set consisting of a main electric power source, a secondary electric power source, and both;

wherein the secondary electric power source is a motor-generator set including an electric generator and a motor for turning the electric generator; and

wherein the motor-generator set provides electric power to the electric motor via a power selector able to select either the main electric power source or the secondary electric power source or both, and via a controller for conditioning the electric power for use by the electric motor and for regulating the amount of power provided to the electric motor in response to control inputs by an operator.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein the electric generator includes a winding for providing auxiliary power.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein the winding provides auxiliary power at 115 volts and 60 Hz.

11. A method as in claim 8, further comprising a step of coupling to a fuel tank included in the vehicle, for drawing fuel from the fuel tank for powering the motor used to turn the electric generator.

12. A method as in claim 8, wherein the secondary electric power source is carried by a tagalong vehicle coupled to the vehicle.

13. A method as in claim 8, wherein the secondary electric power source is attached to a side of the vehicle.

17. A method as in claim 8, wherein the power source selector allows for manual selection of one or another or both the main and secondary electric power sources.

18. A method as in claim 8, wherein the power source selector is configured to automatically select one or another or both the main and secondary electric power sources.

19. A method as in claim 8, wherein the power source selector is configured to automatically select the secondary electric power source in case of degraded performance of the main electric power source.