Vehicle and power unit for it

• US 9,533,582 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2011
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IceCure Medical Ltd., E-Traction Europe B.V. (Saietta Group Plc)
• Original Assignee: E-Traction Europe B.V. (Saietta Group Plc)
• Inventors: Heinen, Adrianus Johannes
• Primary Examiner(s): Restifo, Jeffrey J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gurari, Erez
• Application Number:
  US13/233,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20120004800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,937 Days
• Field of Search: 180 651- 6529
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/02 to electric heating circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/425 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0061 relating to electrical machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• 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 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/00 Electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• 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: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A vehicle includes at least one electromotor for driving the vehicle, an actuator for controlling the supply of electric power to the electromotor, and a power system for providing electric power to the electromotor. The power system includes an energy storage, an energy meter for measuring the energy condition of the energy storage, a power generator for generating electric power, and a computer system. The energy storage supplies power to the electromotor. The power generator supplies energy to the energy storage. The computer system controls the power supplied by the power generator so that the energy storage is able to provide the electromotor with the power the electromotor needs for driving the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising

wheels;

at least one electric drive configured for driving at least one of the wheels;

at least one battery connected to the electric drive and adapted to supply electric current to the drive for driving the at least one wheel;

at least one electric power generator connected to the at least one battery for charging of the at least one battery;

capacitors adapted to supply very high electric power during a very short time, said capacitors being connected to the at least one battery for supplying electric power and not being directly connected to the at least one electric drive; and

a battery control system provided for each battery, the battery control system being configured for monitoring the electric power and the desired electric power of the respective at least one battery for driving of the vehicle, and to add additional electric power from the electric power generator and/or from the capacitors to the at least one battery or give a warning when there is not enough electric power available in the at least one battery,

wherein there is no controller between the at least one battery and the at least one electric drive for controlling connection or disconnection of the at least one battery to or from the electric drive so that the at least one battery is continuously connected to the at least one electric drive, and the at least one electric power generator is connected to the at least one battery via a charger and is not directly connected to the at least one electric drive.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one electric power generator converts fuel to electric power.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the at least one electric power generator comprises an internal combustion engine or a fuel cell.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the capacitors each have a capacity of at least 800 F.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is provided with a computer system and a back up computer system configured to supply input to the wheels.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein an input device is adapted to permit a driver of the vehicle to enter data and drive the vehicle.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein each capacitor is configured to supply approximately 2.5 V.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein approximately 160 of said capacitors are used to supply 400 V.

9. A vehicle, comprising:

four wheels;

four electric drives, each configured for one of the respective four wheels;

at least one battery connected to the electric drive and adapted to supply electric current to the drive for driving the at least one wheel;

at least one electric power generator connected to the at least one battery for charging of the at least one battery;

capacitors adapted to supply very high electric power during a very short time, said capacitors being connected to the at least one battery for supplying electric power and not being directly connected to the four drives; and

a battery control system provided for each battery, the battery control system being configured for monitoring the electric power and the desired electric power of the respective battery for driving of the vehicle, and to add additional electric power from the at least one electric power generator and/or from the capacitors to the at least one battery or give a warning when there is not enough electric power available in the at least one battery,

wherein there is no controller between the battery and the at least one electric drive for controlling connection or disconnection of the at least one battery to or from the electric drive so that the at least one battery is continuously connected to the at least one electric drive, and the at least one electric power generator is connected to the at least one battery via a charger and is not directly connected to the at least one electric drive.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the at least one electric power generator converts fuel to electric power.

11. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the at least one electric power generator comprises an internal combustion engine or a fuel cell.

12. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the capacitors each have a capacity of at least 800 F.

13. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the vehicle is provided with a computer system and a back up computer system configured to supply input to the wheels.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein an input device is adapted to permit a driver of the vehicle to enter data and drive the vehicle.

15. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein each capacitor is configured to supply approximately 2.5 V.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein approximately 160 of said capacitors are used to supply 400 V.