Environmentally sensitive hybrid vehicle

• US 5,908,077 A
• Filed: 01/30/1995
• Issued: 06/01/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Moore, Thomas S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, J J
• Assistant Examiner(s): VANAMAN, FRANK BENNETT
• Application Number:
  US08/380,270
• Time in Patent Office: 1,583 Days
• Field of Search: 180/2.2, 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.8, 180/68.5, 180/67.5, 180/243, 180/244, 180/69.4, 123/527, 123/DIG. 2, 280/834
• US Class Current: 180/65.25
• 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 15/063 Arrangement of tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/356 having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel B60K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0638 the fuel tank is arranged in the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 5/04 with the engine main axis, e.g. crankshaft axis, transversely to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/40 characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components
• 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: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/916 with plurality of drive axles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/951 Assembly or relative location of components

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle includes a vehicle frame having a pair of rails disposed in spaced relationship relative to each other and defining a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, a pair of axles disposed spaced from one another and extending substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis with each of the pair of axles including a pair of wheels operatively mounted thereto for rolling engagement with a surface, an internal combustion engine mounted for driving engagement of one of the pair of wheels through one of the axles and an electric motor mounted for driving engagement of the other pair of wheels through the other axle, and a set of batteries disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor for providing an electrical power source to the electric motor.

Claims

1. A hybrid vehicle comprising:

a vehicle frame having a pair of rails disposed in spaced relation relative to each other and defining a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, a pair of axles spaced longitudinally from one another and extending substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis and operatively connected to said rails, each with a pair of wheels operatively mounted thereto for rolling engagement with a surface;

an internal combustion engine operatively connected to said rails and disposed slightly behind a rear one of said pair of axles for driving engagement of a rear pair of said wheels through said rear one of said axles and an electric motor operatively connected to said rails and disposed substantially adjacent a front one of said pair of axles for driving engagement of a front pair of said wheels through said front one of said axles;

a set of batteries operatively connected to said rails and substantially centrally disposed equidistant between said pair of rails so as to be parallel to said longitudinal axis of said vehicle and between said internal combustion engine and said electric motor for providing an electrical power source to said electric motor; and

a fuel tank operatively connected to and disposed between said rails and slightly in front of said rear one of said axles so as to be between said internal combustion engine and said set of batteries.

2. A hybrid vehicle as set forth in claim 1 including a vehicle body defining a tunnel disposed parallel to said longitudinal axis of said vehicle between said internal combustion engine and said electric motor, said set of batteries housed within said tunnel of said body and operatively connected to said electric motor.

3. A hybrid vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vehicle further includes a plurality of solar cells disposed at a roof of the vehicle for collecting and converting solar energy into electrical energy and operatively connected to said set of batteries for charging same.

4. A hybrid vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said internal combustion engine is a two stroke cycle engine adapted for burning compressed natural gas.

5. A hybrid vehicle comprising:

a vehicle frame having a pair of rails disposed in spaced relationship relative to one another and defining a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, a front axle and a rear axle spaced longitudinally from one another and extending substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis of the vehicle and operatively connected to said rails, each of said front and rear axles including a pair of wheels operatively mounted thereto for rolling engagement with a surface;

a two stroke cycle internal combustion engine adapted for burning compressed natural gas operatively connected to said rails and disposed slightly behind said rear axle for driving engagement of said pair of wheels through said rear axle and an electric motor operatively connected to said rails and disposed substantially adjacent said front axle for driving engagement of said pair of wheels through said front axle;

a set of batteries operatively connected to said rails and substantially centrally disposed equidistant between said pair of rails so as to be parallel to said longitudinal axis of said vehicle and between said internal combustion engine and said electric motor for providing an electrical power source to said electric motor; and

a fuel tank operatively connected to and disposed between said rails and slightly in front of said rear axle so as to be between said internal combustion engine and said set of batteries.

6. A hybrid vehicle as set forth in claim 5 including a vehicle body defining a tunnel disposed parallel to said longitudinal axis of said vehicle and between said internal combustion engine and said electric motor, said set of batteries housed within said tunnel of said vehicle body and operatively connected to said electric motor.

7. A hybrid vehicle comprising:

a vehicle frame having a pair of rails disposed in spaced relation relative to each other and defining a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, a pair of axles spaced longitudinally from one another and extending substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis and operatively connected to said rails, each having a pair of wheels operatively mounted thereto for rolling engagement with a surface;

an internal combustion engine operatively connected to said rails and disposed slightly behind a rear one of said pair of axles for driving engagement of a rear pair of said wheels through said rear one of said axles and an electric motor operatively connected to said rails and disposed substantially adjacent a front one of said pair of axles for driving engagement of a front pair of said wheels through said front one of said axles;

a vehicle body operatively connected to said rails and defining a tunnel disposed parallel to said longitudinal axis of the vehicle and between said internal combustion engine and said electric motor;

a set of batteries housed within said tunnel of said vehicle body and substantially centrally disposed equidistant between said pair of rails so as to be parallel to said longitudinal axis of said vehicle and between said internal combustion engine and said electric motor for providing an electrical power source to said electric motor; and

a fuel tank operatively connected to and disposed between said rails and slightly in front of said rear one of said axles so as to be between said internal combustion engine and said set of batteries.

8. A hybrid vehicle as set forth in claim 7, including a plurality of solar cells disposed at a roof of the vehicle for collecting and converting solar energy into electrical energy and operatively connected to said set of batteries for charging same.

9. A hybrid vehicle as set forth in claim 7 wherein said internal combustion engine is a two stroke cycle engine adapted for burning compressed natural gas.