Manually operated electrical control and installation scheme for electric hybrid vehicles

• US 9,463,786 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2015
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Albert W. Brown
• Original Assignee: Albert W. Brown
• Inventors: Brown, Albert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walters, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): SWENSON, BRIAN L
• Application Number:
  US14/616,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20160001760A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.21, 180/65.22, 180/65.265, 180/65.285, 180/65.31, 903/903, 903/925, 903/943, 744/731.2, 744/732.1, 745/12, 745/13
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/4808 Electric machine connected or connectable to gearbox output shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2026/025 Input devices for controlling electric drive motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2026/029 Joystick type control devices for acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/02 of initiating means or elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/30 with means to change over to human control
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/24 by lever actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/13 Maintaining the SoC within a determined range
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/103 Accelerator thresholds, e.g. kickdown
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/215 : Selection or confirmation of options
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 : Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 : Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/085 : Changing the parameters of the control units, e.g. changing limit values, working points by control input
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/92 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/04 : Controlling members for hand actuation by pivoting movement, e.g. levers
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20474 : Rotatable rod, shaft, or post
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20612 : Hand
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 : Pedals

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle system facilitates operator control over electric power generation and use. The system features a motor/generator that can be mounted to an output of a transmission of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A hybrid system for a vehicle comprising a vehicle structure, said hybrid system comprising a motor/generator, said motor/generator comprising a shaft, a first end of said shaft connectable to a first driveline component and a second end of said shaft connectable to a second driveline component, said motor/generator electrically connected to an energy storage system and a controller, said controller electrically connected to a manually-operated control actuator, said manually-operated control actuator and said controller controlling operation of said motor/generator such that said motor/generator functions in a generator mode or a motor mode as dictated by said manually-operated control actuator wherein said manually-operated control actuator comprises a trigger moveably attached on an accelerator pedal and wherein said trigger is moveable relative to the accelerator pedal without substantial movement of the accelerator pedal and wherein said trigger is coupled with a switch such that a release of the trigger results in the switch indicating that the trigger has been released to initiate a regeneration mode of operation of the motor/generator.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a speed-based controller that is adapted to connect and disconnect a potentiometer attached to said trigger and said controller, wherein said speed-based controller receives information about a speed of the vehicle and wherein said speed-based controller disconnects said potentiometer from said controller when the speed of the vehicle is below a predetermined speed.

3. A method of assembling a hybrid system for a vehicle, comprising:

attaching a motor/generator to a vehicle structure, said motor/generator comprising a shaft,

connecting a first end of said shaft to a first driveline component of the vehicle structure and connecting a second end of said shaft to a second driveline component of the vehicle structure;

electrically connecting said motor/generator to an energy storage system and a controller; and

electrically connecting said controller to a manually-operated control actuator, said manually-operated control actuator and said controller controlling operation of said motor/generator such that said motor/generator functions in a generator mode or a motor mode as dictated by said manually-operated control actuator wherein said manually-operated control actuator comprises a trigger moveably attached on an accelerator pedal and wherein said trigger is moveable relative to the accelerator pedal without substantial movement of the accelerator pedal.