Power axle for a commercial vehicle

• US 8,025,117 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2009
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carol L. Bennett, Lawrence R. Bennett Sr
• Original Assignee: Carol L. Bennett, Lawrence R. Bennett Sr
• Inventors: Bennett, Lawrence R. Sr., Bennett, Carol L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver, II; J. Allen
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEYER, JACOB B
• Application Number:
  US12/380,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20100224430A1
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.21, 180/65.22, 180/65.26, 180/65.285, 180/65.51, 180/165
• US Class Current: 180/65.51
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/356 having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel B60K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/001 one motor mounted on a propulsion axle for rotating right and left wheels of this axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/10 for automatic control superimposed on human control to limit the acceleration of the vehicle, e.g. to prevent excessive motor current electric devices for safety purposes B60L3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/36 Vehicles designed to transport cargo, e.g. trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/15 with additional electric power supply with capacitors charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/40; with batteries charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/61
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/14 Trucks; Load vehicles, Busses
• 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 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A power axle for assisting an automotive vehicle in ascending and descending steep slopes and grades includes an electromagnetic motor mounted to one floating axle of the vehicle, a junction box mounted to and electrically connected to the electromagnetic motor, a DC/AC power inverter mounted to the cab interposed between and for electrically interconnecting the vehicle'"'"'s battery to the electromagnetic motor for powering the motor from the battery and control switches mounted on the dashboard and which include an on/off switch and a speed control dial for regulating and controlling the interaction and engagement of the electromagnetic motor with the floating axle of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A power axle apparatus for assisting an automotive vehicle having a driver'"'"'s compartment, at least one front axle and one rear axle in ascending a slope, hill, incline and grade, and descending from the slope, hill, incline and grade, comprising:

an electromagnetic motor mounted onto the rear axle and which is selectively actuated for engaging the rear axle during the ascent and the descent of the automotive vehicle;

a junction box mounted to the electromagnetic motor and electrically interconnected therewith;

a DC/AC power inverter interposed between the battery of the automotive vehicle and the junction box and electrically interconnected therewith for providing the electrical current conversions;

an on/off switch mounted on the dashboard of the automotive vehicle for selectively actuating the electromagnetic motor;

a speed control dial mounted on the dashboard of the automotive vehicle for setting the speed of the electromagnetic motor relative to the speed of the automotive vehicle; and

wherein as the automotive vehicle commences the ascent the electromagnetic motor is actuated for engaging the rear axle and the speed control dial is set to assist the automotive vehicle in pushing the automotive vehicle during the ascent and as the automotive vehicle commences the descent the speed control dial is adjusted to slow the descent of the vehicle so that the descent of the vehicle is maintained at a constant slow speed.