Solar celled hybrid vehicle

• US 4,090,577 A
• Filed: 04/18/1977
• Issued: 05/23/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wallace H. Moore
• Original Assignee: Wallace H. Moore
• Inventors: Moore, Wallace H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Milton L.
• Application Number:
  US05/788,623
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65 R, 180/65 B, 180/65 C, 180/65 E, 180/65 F, 180/65 A, 180/44 M, 180/44 E, 180/57, 180/60, 180/54 C, 318/139, 290/4 C, 105/50, 105/51, 105/49
• US Class Current: 180/243
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 16/00 Arrangements in connection with power supply of propulsion units in vehicles from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind B60L8/00; marine propulsion by wind motors driving water-engaging propulsive elements B63H13/00; wind motors specially adapted for installation on vehicles F03D9/32
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• 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 8/00 Electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• 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: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/90 Energy harvesting concepts as power supply for auxiliaries' energy consumption, e.g. photovoltaic sun-roof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/291 Applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/904 Component specially adapted for hev
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/907 Electricity storage, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/916 with plurality of drive axles

Abstract

A front wheel driven, gas powered vehicle is converted to include a rear differential connected for power input to a first and second electrical motor, or a single electric motor if desired. When first and second electrical motors are used they are connected in parallel, the power input thereto being brought across a current limiting series of resistors to protect and control the current level thereto. A switching circuit connects in various series and parallel combinations a plurality of batteries and concurrently switches the necessary current limiting resistance. Thus a control combination is provided including a manual selector for the desired forward and reverse directions and the low and high current ranges which is further multiplied by the various resistances. In this configuration, the normally available gasoline power plant is retained in the vehicle and is augmented during periods of nonoptimal use by the above electric motor provisions. This electric power can be periodically replenished either by way of a charger or a set of solar panels placed on the roof of the vehicle.

Claims

1. In a gas driven automobile including an internal combustion engine having associated therewith gearing and a first differential, said engine gearing and differential being disposed proximate a first axle connected to be driven thereby, said automobile further including a second axle, the improvement comprising:

a second differential connected to said second axle for distributing power thereto, said second differential including an input shaft for receiving power applied thereto and sprocket means mounted on said input shaft;

electric motor means attached to said second axle including chain drive means connected to said sprocket means;

a first and second array of batteries disposed within said automobile each said array comprising a series connection of a plurality of batteries;

control means connected between said arrays and said electric motor means including a first, manually selected, control stage for connecting said first and second arrays to said motor means in series or in parallel according to the manual selection thereof and a second control stage articulated by a foot pedal for interposing combinations of current limiting resistors between said first stage and said motor means according to the position of said foot pedal; and

solar panel means disposed on said automobile and connected across said first and second array for recharging said batteries when said first control stage is in said series connecting mode.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

said electric motor means is disposed for thermal communication with said first and second array.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein:

said control means further includes a third, manually selected, control stage for reversing the connection from said first stage to said motor means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising:

an electric charger adapted for connection to a source of A.C. power connected in parallel with solar panel means.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

said second control stage includes a multiposition switch including a conductive bar pivotally articulated by said foot pedal, said switch having a first electrically excited terminal disposed for contact by one end of said bar when the other end thereof is in contact with a second and third terminal.