Method and apparatus for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electric or hybrid vehicle
First Claim
1. An auxiliary power system for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electric or hybrid vehicle, comprising:
- a towable trailer being mechanically couplable to a vehicle including a drivetrain, the drivetrain of the vehicle including one or more storage batteries and an energy conversion portion electrically couplable with the one or more storage batteries via a third pathway, the towable trailer including an auxiliary battery housing unit;
at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer;
one or more auxiliary batteries disposed within the auxiliary battery housing unit of the towable trailer,a bidirectional electrical pathway electronically coupling the towable trailer and the vehicle, the bidirectional electrical pathway comprising;
a first pathway electrically coupling the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer to the one or more storage batteries via a first coupling control circuitry; and
a second pathway electrically coupling the energy conversion portion to the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer via a second coupling control circuitry; and
a control system configured to control a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain via the first pathway, a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the second pathway, or a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the third pathway.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention may include a towable trailer being mechanically couplable to a vehicle, the towable trailer including an auxiliary battery housing unit, a wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer, an auxiliary battery disposed within the auxiliary battery housing unit of the towable trailer, the vehicle including a storage battery, the auxiliary battery of the towable trailer being electrically couplable with the storage battery of the vehicle via a bidirectional pathway, and a control system configured to control a transfer of electrical energy between the auxiliary battery of the towable trailer and the storage battery of the vehicle along the bidirectional pathway.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. An auxiliary power system for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electric or hybrid vehicle, comprising:
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a towable trailer being mechanically couplable to a vehicle including a drivetrain, the drivetrain of the vehicle including one or more storage batteries and an energy conversion portion electrically couplable with the one or more storage batteries via a third pathway, the towable trailer including an auxiliary battery housing unit; at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer; one or more auxiliary batteries disposed within the auxiliary battery housing unit of the towable trailer, a bidirectional electrical pathway electronically coupling the towable trailer and the vehicle, the bidirectional electrical pathway comprising; a first pathway electrically coupling the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer to the one or more storage batteries via a first coupling control circuitry; and a second pathway electrically coupling the energy conversion portion to the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer via a second coupling control circuitry; and a control system configured to control a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain via the first pathway, a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the second pathway, or a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the third pathway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electrical or hybrid vehicle, comprising:
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providing one or more auxiliary batteries disposed within an auxiliary battery housing unit of a towable trailer, the towable trailer including at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer; mechanically coupling the towable trailer to a vehicle, the vehicle including a drivetrain, the drivetrain of the vehicle including one or more storage batteries and an energy conversion portion; electrically coupling the towable trailer to the vehicle using a bidirectional electrical pathway, the electrically coupling comprising; establishing a first pathway between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the one or more storage batteries via a first coupling control circuitry and a second pathway between the energy conversion portion and the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer via a second coupling control circuitry; establishing a third pathway between the energy conversion portion and the one or more storage batteries; and controlling a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain via the first pathway, a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the second pathway, or a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the third pathway. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification