System and method for powering accessories in a hybrid vehicle

• US 7,492,055 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2006
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
• Original Assignee: ISE Incorporated (ISE Group of Companies)
• Inventors: Chiao, Sheng
• Primary Examiner(s): DeBeradinis; Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US11/538,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20070080008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• 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 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• 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 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19 Gearing

Abstract

A system and method for providing power to vehicle accessories having operational power requirements in excess of 1 kilowatt. The system is employed in conjunction with a vehicle comprising a main power unit and an electric motor, the main power unit providing more than 42 volts of power to a DC power bus from which the electric motor draws power to propel the vehicle. The system comprises a vibration dampening mounting structure affixed to the vehicle. A vehicle accessory requiring operational power in excess of 1 kilowatt and an electric accessory motor are affixed to the mounting structure. The electric accessory motor is mechanically coupled to the vehicle accessory. The electric accessory motor draws electric power from the DC power bus to provide operational power to the vehicle accessory. The vehicle accessory can be a scroll type air compressor.

Claims

1. A parallel drive vehicle power system for a heavy-duty parallel drive hybrid vehicle including an engine compartment and a drive shaft, comprising:

a parallel drive system including an internal combustion engine located in the engine compartment, a mechanical coupling coupled to the internal combustion engine, an electric propulsion motor and integrated generator coupled to the mechanical coupling, a drive shaft coupled to the mechanical coupling, the internal combustion engine configured to propel the heavy-duty hybrid vehicle using the drive shaft and supply a DC power to the heavy-duty hybrid vehicle via the generator, the electric propulsion motor configured to propel the heavy-duty hybrid vehicle using the drive shaft;

a DC bus electrically coupled with the generator, the DC bus configured to receive the DC power from the generator;

a vehicle accessory traditionally powered directly from an internal combustion engine of a conventional heavy-duty vehicle and requiring more than 1 kilowatt of power, the vehicle accessory including at least one of a compressor and a pump;

an electric accessory motor, which is separate from the electric propulsion motor, electrically coupled with the DC bus and mechanically coupled with the vehicle accessory, the electric accessory motor configured to supply power to the vehicle accessory, the electric accessory motor and vehicle accessory carried by the heavy-duty vehicle outside of the engine compartment, and the electric accessory motor configured to be operable and supply power to the vehicle accessory when the internal combustion engine is turned off.

2. The parallel drive vehicle power system of claim 1, wherein the electric propulsion motor is electrically coupled with the DC bus, the electric propulsion motor configured to receive power from the high power DC bus and to use the received power to propel the hybrid vehicle using the drive shaft.

3. The parallel drive vehicle power system of claim 1, wherein the heavy- duty parallel drive hybrid vehicle is a parallel hybrid-electric transit bus.

4. The vehicle power system of claim 1, further comprising an energy storage electrically coupled to the DC bus, the energy storage configured to store power from the DC bus when excess power is available and supply power in place of the main power from the internal combustion engine when the internal combustion engine is off or uncoupled from the drive shaft, or in addition to the internal combustion engine when the internal combustion engine is on and coupled to the drive shaft.

5. The vehicle power system of claim 4, wherein the energy storage is one of a battery, an ultracapacitor pack, and a flywheel.

6. A parallel drive vehicle power system for a heavy-duty parallel drive hybrid vehicle including an engine compartment and a drive shaft, comprising:

a parallel drive system including an internal combustion engine located in the engine compartment, a mechanical coupling coupled to the internal combustion engine, an electric propulsion motor and integrated generator coupled to the mechanical coupling, a drive shaft coupled to the mechanical coupling, the internal combustion engine configured to propel the heavy-duty hybrid vehicle using the drive shaft and supply a DC power of more than 42 volts to the heavy-duty hybrid vehicle via the generator, the electric propulsion motor configured to propel the heavy-duty hybrid vehicle using the drive shaft;

a DC bus electrically coupled with the generator, the DC bus configured to receive the DC power from the generator;

a vehicle accessory traditionally powered directly from an internal combustion engine of a conventional heavy-duty vehicle and requiring more than 1 kilowatt of power, the vehicle accessory including at least one of a compressor and a pump;

an electric accessory motor, which is separate from the electric propulsion motor, electrically coupled with the DC bus and mechanically coupled with the vehicle accessory, the electric accessory motor configured to supply power to the vehicle accessory, the electric accessory motor and vehicle accessory carried by the vehicle outside of the engine compartment, and the electric accessory motor configured to be operable and supply power to the vehicle accessory when the internal combustion engine is turned off; and

a vibration dampening structure that the electric accessory motor and vehicle accessory are mounted to, the vibration dampening structure configured to be mounted to the heavy duty hybrid vehicle.

7. The parallel drive vehicle power system of claim 6, wherein the electric propulsion motor is electrically coupled with the DC bus, the electric propulsion motor configured to receive power from the high power DC bus and to use the received power to propel the heavy duty hybrid vehicle using the drive shaft.

8. The parallel drive vehicle power system of claim 6, wherein the heavy- duty parallel drive hybrid vehicle is a parallel hybrid-electric transit bus.

9. The vehicle power system of claim 6, further comprising an energy storage electrically coupled to the DC bus, the energy storage configured to store power from the DC bus when excess power is available and supply power in place of the main power from the internal combustion engine when the internal combustion engine is off or uncoupled from the drive shaft, or in addition to the internal combustion engine when the internal combustion engine is on and coupled to the drive shaft.

10. The vehicle power system of claim 9, wherein the energy storage is one of a battery, an ultracapacitor pack, and a flywheel.