Traction chain for a hybrid vehicle

• US 9,352,742 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2011
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TechnoBoost
• Original Assignee: TechnoBoost
• Inventors: Gauthier, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): CLEMMONS, STEVE M
• Application Number:
  US13/822,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20130178329A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,728 Days
• Field of Search: 180/305, 180/307, 180/69.6, 180/165, 180/65.21, 180/65.275, 603/25, 603/27, 604/13, 604/16, 604/21, 604/65, 477/3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/00 Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00; electric transmission arrangements B60K17/12; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles per se B60L; current-collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/00 Arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion, e.g. hybrid propulsion systems comprising electric motors and internal combustion engines ; Control systems therefor, i.e. systems controlling two or more prime movers, or controlling one of these prime movers and any of the transmission, drive or drive units arrangement or mounting in vehicles of electrical gearing, in which an electrical machine serves only as reduction gearing and not as the prime mover and in which no electrical storing means are used B60K17/12; control and regulation of purely electrical prime movers B60L; prime-movers comprising electrical and internal combustion motors in a common engine block or housing per se F02B65/00; electric motors or motor-generators used for starting the combustion engine F02N11/04; electric motors for synchronising gearing F16H3/12 Informative references: mechanical gearings with secondary electric drive F16H3/72; arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with the dynamo-electric machine H02K7/00; machines comprising structurally interrelated motor and generator parts H02K51/00; dynamo-electric machines not otherwise provided for in H02K see H02K99/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/12 by means of a chargeable fluidic accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to a drive wheel traction chain for a hybrid vehicle comprising a heat engine and a hydraulic traction machine powered by hydraulic accumulators forming two power units that can be used to drive the drive wheels of the vehicle. The invention further comprises a recharge module including electricity storage batteries connected to an electric machine which drives a hydraulic recharge machine that powers the hydraulic accumulators, and a means for controlling the recharge module connected to the means for controlling the power units of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A traction chain for the drive wheels of a hybrid vehicle, said traction train comprising:

a heat engine and a hydraulic traction machine, the hydraulic traction machine connected to a high-pressure hydraulic accumulator and a low-pressure hydraulic accumulator, the heat engine structured and operable to drive wheels of the vehicle, and hydraulic traction machine structured and operable to displace fluid from the high-pressure hydraulic accumulator toward the low-pressure hydraulic accumulator such that the hydraulic traction machine works as a motor and furnishes mechanical power the drive wheels, and receive mechanical power from the drive wheels to work as a pump and recharge the high-pressure accumulator;

a recharge module that includes an electric machine, electricity storage batteries connected to the electric machine, and a hydraulic recharge machine, the hydraulic recharge machine structured and operable to receive mechanical power from the electric machine to work as a pump and recharge the high-pressure and low-pressure accumulators, and consume hydraulic pressure from the high-pressure and low-pressure accumulators to deliver mechanical power to the electric machine, whereby the electric machine generates electricity to recharge the electricity storage batteries, wherein the hydraulic recharge machine includes;

two power supply channels each connected to one of the high-pressure hydraulic accumulator and the low-pressure hydraulic accumulators; and

a variable cubic capacity that is regulated by the means of controlling the recharge module; and

a means for controlling the recharge module connected to a means for controlling the heat engine and a hydraulic traction machine of the vehicle, wherein the recharge module is an independent subassembly that is mounted in the traction chain.

2. The traction chain according claim 1, wherein the recharge module includes an electric valve structured and operable to isolate the hydraulic circuit of the recharge module from the hydraulic circuit of the hydraulic traction machine.

3. A method of operation of a traction chain, wherein the traction chain includes a heat engine and a hydraulic traction machine connected to and powered by a fluid transfer between a high-pressure hydraulic accumulator and a low-pressure hydraulic accumulator, the heat engine and hydraulic traction machine structured and operable to drive wheels of the vehicle, a recharge module including an electric machine, electricity storage batteries connected to the electric machine, a hydraulic recharge machine, and a means for controlling the recharge module connected to a means for controlling the heat engine and a hydraulic traction machine of the vehicle, wherein the recharge module is an independent subassembly that is mounted in the traction chain, wherein the hydraulic recharge machine includes:

two power supply channels each connected to one of the high-pressure hydraulic accumulator and the low-pressure hydraulic accumulators; and

a variable cubic capacity that is regulated by the means of controlling the recharge module, said method comprising;

operating the traction chain in a first operating mode, wherein the hydraulic recharge machine receives mechanical power from the electric machine and works as a pump to recharge the high-pressure and low-pressure accumulators, the vehicle being one of halted or in motion, consuming an electric current delivered by the batteries; and

operating the traction chain in a second operating mode, wherein the hydraulic recharge module consumes hydraulic pressure from the high-pressure and low-pressure accumulators to deliver mechanical power to the electric machine, whereby the electric machine generates electricity to recharge the electricity storage batteries.

4. The method of operation of a traction chain according to claim 3 further comprising implementing a third operating mode when the recharge module is no longer in service, by closing an isolating electric valve.

5. A hybrid vehicle, said vehicle comprising:

a traction chain, wherein the traction chain includes;

a heat engine and a hydraulic traction machine, the hydraulic traction machine connected to a high-pressure hydraulic accumulator and a low-pressure hydraulic accumulator, the heat engine structured and operable to drive wheels of the vehicle, and hydraulic traction machine structured and operable to displace fluid from the high-pressure hydraulic accumulator toward the low-pressure hydraulic accumulator such that the hydraulic traction machine works as a motor and furnishes mechanical power the drive wheels, and receive mechanical power from the drive wheels to work as a pump and recharge the high-pressure accumulator;

a recharge module that includes an electric machine, electricity storage batteries connected to the electric machine, and a hydraulic recharge machine, the hydraulic recharge machine structured and operable to receive mechanical power from the electric machine to work as a pump and recharge the high-pressure and low-pressure accumulators, and consume hydraulic pressure from the high-pressure and low-pressure accumulators to deliver mechanical power to the electric machine, whereby the electric machine generates electricity to recharge the electricity storage batteries, wherein the hydraulic recharge machine includes;

two power supply channels each connected to one of the high-pressure hydraulic accumulator and the low-pressure hydraulic accumulators; and

a variable cubic capacity that is regulated by the means of controlling the recharge module; and

a means for controlling the recharge module connected to a means for controlling the heat engine and a hydraulic traction machine of the vehicle, wherein the recharge module is an independent subassembly that is mounted in the traction chain.