Linear motor charged electric vehicle

• US 8,113,310 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2009
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Atomics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: General Atomics, Inc.
• Inventors: Gurol, Husam, Jeter, Philip L., Schaubel, Kurt M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver, II, J. Allen
• Assistant Examiner(s): FOLLMAN, BRODIE J
• Application Number:
  US12/370,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20100200316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/65.21, 180/65.22, 180/65.27, 180/65.285, 180/65.31, 180/65.6, 180/65.7, 180/54.1, 180/60, 104/283, 104/284
• US Class Current: 180/65.31
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 13/035 Suspension of the vehicle-borne motorparts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/005 without mechanical contact between the collector and the power supply line
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/39 with position-responsive activation of primary coils
• 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 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

An all-electric, wheeled vehicle has a magnet array that can be selectively moved between a retracted position and a deployed position, to respectively operate in a motor mode or a generator mode. When in the motor mode, with its magnet array retracted, wheel rotation to move the vehicle is powered by an onboard battery. Alternately, in the generator mode with the magnet array deployed, the vehicle is powered by a Linear Synchronous Motor (LSM). Specifically, the deployed magnet array interacts with a multiple-phase winding (i.e. LSM) embedded into the roadway on which the vehicle travels. Further, rotation of the wheel during vehicle movement in the generator mode recharges the battery.

Claims

1. An all-electric vehicle for movement along a roadway, wherein the roadway has at least one power segment with a three-phase winding imbedded therein, the vehicle comprising:

an undercarriage having at least one wheel, wherein the wheel is in contact with the roadway for rotation thereof during movement of the vehicle along the roadway;

an electric motor mounted on the undercarriage;

a battery mounted on the undercarriage for running the electric motor;

a magnet array mounted on the undercarriage for movement between a retracted configuration and a deployed configuration;

an electrical system mounted on the undercarriage for alternately operating in a motor mode to move the vehicle along the roadway with power from the electric motor, and in a generator mode to recharge the battery by rotating the wheel, wherein the electrical system has a differential connected between the wheel and the electric motor, with the differential having an approximately 10.9 to 1 gear ratio, wherein the electric motor is a synchronous permanent magnet motor for generating 125 hp at approximately 1200 rpm, and wherein the electrical system has a variable frequency inverter-rectifier connected between the electric motor and the battery for charging the battery with a d.c. voltage when the electrical system is operated in the generator mode, and for providing an a.c. voltage to energize the electric motor when the electrical system is operated in the motor mode; and

a control system for operating the vehicle in the generator mode, to recharge the battery, by selectively moving the magnet array into its deployed configuration to establish a Linear Synchronous Motor (LSM) between the magnet array and the three-phase winding in the power segment of the roadway for moving the vehicle along the roadway.

2. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein the magnet array comprises:

a support member; and

a permanent magnet mounted on the support member.

3. A vehicle as recited in claim 2 wherein the support member is a back iron and the permanent magnet is a Halbach array.

4. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein the three-phase winding in the power segment creates an LSM field having a waveform speed along the power segment of approximately 15 mph.

5. A vehicle as recited in claim 4 wherein the LSM operates at approximately 15 Hz.

6. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein the magnet array in its deployed configuration is positioned at a distance of approximately 5 cm from the three-phase winding in the power segment.

7. A dual-mode power unit for moving a wheeled vehicle which comprises:

a generator assembly mounted on the vehicle to operate in a generator mode for charging a battery by rotating a wheel of the vehicle, wherein the wheel rotates as the vehicle moves in response to a Linear Synchronous Motor (LSM), and wherein the LSM is established by an interaction of a magnet array on the vehicle with a three-phase winding positioned external to the vehicle;

a motor assembly mounted on the vehicle to operate in a motor mode for rotating the wheel to move the vehicle with an electric motor powered by the battery;

a control system mounted on the vehicle for alternately activating the generator mode and the motor mode; and

a power train, wherein the power train has a differential connected between the wheel and the electric motor, with the differential having an approximately 10.9 to 1 gear ratio, and wherein the power train has a variable frequency inverter-rectifier connected between the electric motor and the battery for charging the battery with a d.c. voltage when the power unit is operated in the generator mode, and for providing an a.c. voltage to energize the electric motor when the power unit is operated in the motor mode.

8. A power unit as recited in claim 7 further comprising a magnet array connected to the control system for selective movement of the magnet array into a deployed configuration to establish a Linear Synchronous Motor (LSM) between the magnet array and a three-phase winding in a power segment of a roadway, as the vehicle moves along the roadway.

9. A power unit as recited in claim 8 wherein the magnet array comprises:

a support member; and

a permanent magnet mounted on the support member.

10. A power unit as recited in claim 9 wherein the support member is a back iron and the permanent magnet is a Halbach array.

11. A power unit as recited in claim 8 wherein the three-phase winding in the power segment creates an LSM field having a waveform speed along the power segment of approximately 15 mph, and further wherein the LSM operates at approximately 15 Hz.

12. A power unit as recited in claim 8 wherein the magnet array in its deployed configuration is positioned at a distance of approximately 5 cm from the three-phase winding in the power segment.

13. A method for moving an all-electric wheeled vehicle having at least one wheel along a roadway, wherein the roadway has at least one power segment with a three-phase winding imbedded therein, wherein the three-phase winding in the power segment creates an LSM field having a waveform speed along the power segment of approximately 15 mph, wherein the vehicle has a battery powered electric motor mounted on an undercarriage and includes a magnet array with a support member and a permanent magnet attached thereon, wherein the support member is a back iron, and wherein the magnet array is a Halbach array mounted on the undercarriage for movement of the magnet array between a retracted configuration and a deployed configuration, and further wherein the method comprises the steps of:

operating the vehicle in a motor mode to rotate the wheel with power from the electric motor for movement of the vehicle along the roadway;

selectively moving the magnet array into its deployed configuration to establish a Linear Synchronous Motor (LSM) between the magnet array and the three-phase winding in the power segment of the roadway for moving the vehicle along the roadway in a generator mode, wherein the wheel rotates to recharge the battery when operated in the generator mode;

operating the LSM at approximately 15 Hz;

connecting a differential between the wheel and the electric motor, with the differential having an approximately 10.9 to 1 gear ratio to generate 125 hp at approximately 1200 rpm; and

connecting a variable frequency inverter-rectifier between the electric motor and the battery for charging the battery with a d.c. voltage when the electrical system is operated in the generator mode, and for providing an a.c. voltage to energize the electric motor when the electrical system is operated in the motor mode.