Electromechanical vehicle regeneration system

• US 6,387,007 B1
• Filed: 03/06/2000
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anthony W. Fini Jr
• Original Assignee: Anthony W. Fini Jr
• Inventors: Fini, Anthony W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Estremsky, Sherry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, Tisha D.
• Application Number:
  US09/519,639
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 475/268, 475/5, 475/190, 475/9, 475/8, 180/65-- 6
• US Class Current: 475/268
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/383 One-way clutches or freewheel devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/387 Actuated clutches, i.e. clutches engaged or disengaged by electric, hydraulic or mechanical actuating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/727 with at least two dynamo electric machines for creating an electric power path inside the gearing, e.g. using generator and motor for a variable power torque path special adapted for a hybrid electric vehicle B60K6/20
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/906 Motor or generator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/91 Orbital, e.g. planetary gears
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/913 One way
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/914 Actuated, e.g. engaged or disengaged by electrical, hydraulic or mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/916 with plurality of drive axles

Abstract

A high output transmission comprising a planetary drive with input driven by an electric motor, arranged as a variable speed translator to deliver power and speed to the wheels of the vehicle, with vehicle movement being controlled by automatically increasing and decreasing gear ratios in cooperation with variations in electric motor speed and comprising a generator arranged to provide regenerative power to the power supply during automatic imposition of scheduled resistance of rotation which enables change in output gear ratio.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising an alternate power engine arranged to drive a first wheel, and an electric motor, electrical power storage means, generating means and transmission means in operable enablement to drive a second wheel wherein:

said power storage means is an arrangement providing electrical power to said electric motor;

said transmission comprises a planetary drive means having an idler member rotatably engaged between rotatable first and second drive means, said first drive means being arranged to be driven by said electric motor and said idler member being arranged to transfer power between said first and second drive means, from a fast speed with low torque to a slower speed with high torque, by means controlling the rotation of said idler member in scheduled increments;

said second drive means being arranged to drive said second wheel of said vehicle; and

said generating means being in electrical circuitry for regeneration of electrical power in said power storage means, and is arranged to generate electricity by means resisting the rotation of said idler member.

2. A vehicle of claim 1 wherein said means controlling the rotation of said idler member comprises means regulating current generated by said generator.

3. A vehicle of claim 1 wherein said means for controlling the rotation of said idler member comprises friction brake means.

4. A vehicle of claim 1, wherein said means for controlling the rotation of said idler member comprises computer control means.

5. A vehicle of claim 1 wherein movement of said idler member is driven by rotation of said second drive means in response to movement of said vehicle.

6. A vehicle of claim 1 wherein movement of said idler member is driven by rotation of said first drive means in response to rotation of a shaft of said electric motor.

7. A vehicle of claim 1, wherein said electric motor is enabled for different speeds and rotational direction reversal.

8. A vehicle of claim 1 wherein said planetary drive comprises a first wheel member rotatably mounted on an idler shaft, a third wheel member rigidly mounted to a first drive shaft, a second wheel member rigidly mounted to a second drive shaft, wherein said idler shaft is mounted to a housing which rotates about an axis of said first drive shaft and is arranged to enable said generating means.

9. A vehicle of claim 1 wherein said alternate power engine drives a first rotatable drive means of a further planetary drive transmission wherein said second rotatable drive means comprises a rotatable housing engaged between said first rotatable drive means and a rotatable idler member, said rotatable idler member is connected to a generator, and said rotatable housing is in enabling arrangement to drive a different wheel from that driven by said electric motor.

10. A vehicle of claim 1 wherein said alternate power engine is arranged to drive a wheel on an axis spaced from the axis of said wheel driven by said second drive means of said planetary drive.

11. A vehicle of claim 5, comprising brake means arranged to stop rotation of said first drive means.

12. A vehicle of claim 8, wherein said planetary drive wheel members are gears.

13. A vehicle of claim 12, wherein said planetary drive first drive means, idler member and said second drive means are arranged in a speed ratio which increases from about 1:

1 to about 1;

3.

14. A vehicle of claim 9 wherein said wheel driven by said rotatable housing of said further planetary drive transmission, and said wheel driven by said electric motor, are arranged on separate axles.

15. The combination comprising a wheeled vehicle, an electric motor, electric generator, electrical power storage means and a transmission means, said transmission means comprising input means arranged to be rotatably driven by said electric motor, an idler member rotatably driven by said input means and output means driven by said idler member at variable ratios of rotation in respect to rotation of said input means, wherein said output means is arranged to drive a wheel of said vehicle, and said generator is arranged to generate electricity in response to resistance imposed upon the rotation of said idler member.

16. The combination of claim 15 comprising sensing means arranged to sense at least one of variation in vehicle resistance to inertial movement and vehicle driver'"'"'s response, and computer means arranged to receive data from said sensing means, compute a response to said data, and initiate a response comprising at least one of power input to said electric motor and generating output of said generator.

17. A wheeled vehicle comprising an alternate fuel engine, a transmission having an input means in operable enablement with a rotatable output means of said engine, an electric motor comprising a motor driven shaft in operable enablement with a rotatable output means of said transmission wherein said transmission comprises a planetary drive having a rotatable idler member engaged between first and second transmission drive means, said electric motor comprises a motor driven shaft having first and second ends, said first end being in enabling arrangement to drive a wheel of said vehicle, said second end being in enabling arrangement to drive said second transmission drive means of said planetary drive transmission;

and wherein said alternate fuel engine comprises an engine driven shaft in enabling arrangement to drive said first transmission drive means.

18. A wheeled vehicle of claim 17 wherein said electric motor is an AC motor and said alternate fuel engine drives an AC generator which provides electric current to said electric motor.

19. A wheeled vehicle of claim 17 wherein said idler member is arranged to transfer power between said first and second drive means, from a fast speed with low torque to slow speed with high torque, by means controlling the rotation of said idler member, a generating means is in electrical circuitry for regeneration of electrical power in said power storage means, said generating means being arranged to generate electricity by means resisting the rotation of said idler member.

20. A wheeled vehicle comprising an alternate fuel engine, a transmission having an input means in operable enablement with a rotatable output means of said engine, an electric motor comprising a motor driven shaft in operable enablement with a rotatable output means of said transmission wherein said transmission comprises a planetary drive transmission having a rotatable housing arranged between first and second rotatable drive shafts, said second rotatable drive shaft is arranged to engage and disengage in direct rotation with said rotatable housing by clutch means, said alternate fuel engine is connected to drive said first rotatable drive shaft, said electric motor is connected to drive said second rotatable shaft and said rotatable housing is in enabling arrangement to drive a wheel of said vehicle.

21. A wheeled vehicle of claim 20 wherein said electric motor comprises a permanent magnet.

22. A wheeled vehicle of claim 20 comprising brake means arranged to resist the rotation of said first rotatable drive shaft.

23. A wheeled vehicle of claim 20 wherein said electric motor is an AC motor.