Autonomous portable range extender
First Claim
1. A portable range extender system capable of supplying energy to a vehicle, the system comprising:
- an internal combustion engine;
a dynamoelectric machine having a rotor coupled to the engine by a shaft, the dynamoelectric machine connectable to a power source for driving the shaft during a starting mode of the engine and for being driven by the engine via the shaft during a running mode of the engine;
a controller for operation of the dynamoelectric machine and engine, the controller having a user input permitting a user to select between a manual operating mode and one of a plurality of operating modes of the range extender; and
a portable enclosure containing the engine, dynamoelectric machine and controller, the enclosure containing a partition that divides the enclosure into two sections, a first section housing the dynamoelectric machine and the second section housing the engine;
wherein the dynamoelectric machine operates as a motor to drive the engine during a warm-up period of the engine and the dynamoelectric machine operates as a generator driven by the engine during a running mode of the engine.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable range extender can be used to supply electrical power to an electric vehicle operable by an electric traction motor. The portable range extender includes an engine, a dynamoelectric machine coupled to the engine by a shaft, an autonomous range extender controller for controlling operations of the range extender independently of a controller for the vehicle, and circuitry associated with the engine and machine. The range extender and its controlling circuitry are self contained within an enclosure. The enclosure is partitioned to form two sections, a first section housing the dynamoelectric machine and the second section housing the engine. Windows in the enclosure provide a path for air cooling of the range extender components. Air cooling is facilitated by a first set of cooling fins mounted on the rotor of the dynamoelectric machine at an end proximate an air inlet window, a second set of cooling fins mounted on the rotor of the dynamoelectric machine in the vicinity of an opening in the partition, and a third set of cooling fins mounted on the engine at the opposite side of the partition opening.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A portable range extender system capable of supplying energy to a vehicle, the system comprising:
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an internal combustion engine; a dynamoelectric machine having a rotor coupled to the engine by a shaft, the dynamoelectric machine connectable to a power source for driving the shaft during a starting mode of the engine and for being driven by the engine via the shaft during a running mode of the engine; a controller for operation of the dynamoelectric machine and engine, the controller having a user input permitting a user to select between a manual operating mode and one of a plurality of operating modes of the range extender; and a portable enclosure containing the engine, dynamoelectric machine and controller, the enclosure containing a partition that divides the enclosure into two sections, a first section housing the dynamoelectric machine and the second section housing the engine; wherein the dynamoelectric machine operates as a motor to drive the engine during a warm-up period of the engine and the dynamoelectric machine operates as a generator driven by the engine during a running mode of the engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A range extender system capable of supplying energy to a vehicle, the system comprising:
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an internal combustion engine; a dynamoelectric machine having a rotor coupled to the engine by a shaft and a stator radially surrounding the rotor by a radial air gap, the stator comprising a plurality of ferromagnetically isolated separate core segments, the stator connectable to a power source for driving the shaft during a starting mode of the engine and the rotor being driven by the engine via the shaft during a running mode of the engine; and a controller for operation of the dynamoelectric machine and engine, the controller having a user input permitting a user to select between a manual operating mode and one of a plurality of operating modes of the range extender system; wherein the dynamoelectric machine operates as a motor to drive the engine during a warm-up period of the engine and the dynamoelectric machine operates as a generator driven by the engine during a running mode of the engine. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A system, comprising:
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a vehicle with an electric motor that drives the vehicle; and a range extender having an internal combustion engine, a dynamoelectric machine, and a controller disposed within an enclosure of the range extender to define a range extender assembly, the range extender assembly detachably connected to the vehicle, the controller having a user input permitting a user to select between a manual operating mode and one of a plurality of operating modes of the range extender, wherein the dynamoelectric machine operates as a motor to drive the engine during a warm-up period of the engine and the dynamoelectric machine operates as a generator driven by the engine during a running mode of the engine. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A system, comprising:
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a vehicle with an electric motor that drives the vehicle; and a range extender having an internal combustion engine, a dynamoelectric machine, and a controller, the dynainoelectric machine having a rotor coupled to the engine by a shaft and a stator radially surrounding the rotor by a radial air gap, the stator comprising a plurality of ferromagnetically isolated separate core segments, the stator connectable to a power source for driving the shaft during a starting mode of the engine and the rotor being driven by the engine via the shaft during a running mode of the engine, the controller having a user input permitting a user to select between a manual operating mode and one of a plurality of operating modes of the range extender, wherein the dynamoelectric machine operates as a motor to drive the engine during a warm-up period of the engine and the dynamoelectric machine operates as a generator driven by the engine during a running mode of the engine. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A method of supplying energy to an energy storage device, comprising:
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connecting a range extender to a vehicle having the energy storage device; selecting between a manual operating mode of the range extender and one of a plurality of operating modes of the range extender; operating a dynamoelectric machine of the range extender to function as a motor to drive an internal combustion engine of the range extender during a warm-up period of the engine; and operating the dynamoelectric machine as a generator driven by the engine during a running mode of the engine to supply energy to the energy storage device. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A method of supplying energy to an electric motor, comprising:
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connecting a range extender to a vehicle driven by the electric motor; selecting between a manual operating mode of the range extender and one of a plurality of operating modes of the range extender; operating a dynamoelectric machine of the range extender to function as a motor to drive an internal combustion engine of the range extender during a warm-up period of the engine; and operating the dynamoelectric machine as a generator driven by the engine during a running mode of the engine to supply energy to the electric motor of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A method of controlling a machine, comprising:
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connecting a range extender having a controller to a vehicle; selecting between a manual operating mode of the range extender and one of a plurality of operating modes of the range extender; employing the controller to operate a dynamoelectric machine of the range extender as a motor to drive an internal combustion engine of the range extender during a warm-up period of the engine; and employing the controller to operate the dynamoelectric machine as a generator driven by the engine during a running mode of the engine to supply energy to the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A method of transferring energy, comprising:
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connecting a range extender to a vehicle; selecting between a manual operating mode of the range extender and one of a plurality of operating modes of the range extender; transferring energy from the vehicle to operate a dynamoelectric machine of the range extender as a motor to drive an internal combustion engine of the range extender during a warm-up period of the engine; and operating the dynamoelectric machine as a generator driven by the engine during a running mode of the engine to transfer energy to the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A method of transportation, comprising:
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connecting a range extender to a vehicle; operating an electric motor of the vehicle to move the vehicle; selecting between a manual operating mode of the range extender and one of a plurality of operating modes of the range extender; supplying energy from a battery of the vehicle to operate a dynamoelectric machine of the range extender as a motor to drive an internal combustion engine of the range extender during a warm-up period of the engine; and operating the dynamoelectric machine as a generator driven by the engine during a running mode of the engine to supply energy to the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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Specification