Hybrid electric vehicle having alternate power sources

• US 6,892,840 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2003
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daniel J. Meaney Jr
• Original Assignee: Daniel J. Meaney Jr
• Inventors: Meaney, Daniel J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KLEBE, GERALD B
• Application Number:
  US10/393,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20030183429A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/65.6, 123/DIG.12, 123/DIG.13
• US Class Current: 180/65.22
• 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 6/22 characterised by apparatus, components or means specially adapted for HEVs
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/24 characterised by the combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/32 characterised by the fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/06 Apparatus for de-liquefying, e.g. by heating
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 123/12 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/904 Component specially adapted for hev
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/905 Combustion engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/908 Fuel cell

Abstract

A hybrid electric vehicle having alternate fuel sources is shown. The hybrid vehicle includes an AC/DC converter for storing a direct current voltage in a storage device such as a battery. A fuel converter converts a composition combustible fuel into a combustible fuel preferably hydrogen. The combustible material is stored in a combustible fuel storage device. The charging of a battery and the storage of the combustible fuel occur at prior to the starting of or the operation of the hybrid electric vehicle. A driving system includes a direct current motor and a combustible fuel engine. A control device enables the driving system to be powered by the direct current voltage or the combustible fuel. Preferably the combustible fuel is hydrogen. A hydrogen fuel cell is responsive to hydrogen to produce a direct current voltage for charging a battery or driving the direct current motor.

Claims

1. A hybrid drive for a motor vehicle of the type having a thermal engine that can be operated with a hydrocarbon containing fuel suitable for generating hydrogen, a fuel storage tank for storing said fuel, an energy storage device in which the energy generated by the thermal engine can be stored, and a drive motor whose operating state depends on the energy from the thermal engine and/or the energy storage device, said hybrid drive comprising:

an alternating current to energy converter for producing and storing energy in the energy storage device prior to starting of a hybrid drive for a motor vehicle;

a hydrogen storage device located on said motor vehicle;

a hydrogen-generating unit operatively connected to the fuel storage tank and to said hydrogen storage device for receiving a hydrocarbon containing fuel and generating hydrogen therefrom and prior to starting of the hybrid drive for a motor vehicle or during operation of the hybrid drive for a motor vehicle storing hydrogen in said hydrogen storage device and wherein said thermal engine can be operated alternatively on hydrogen generated by said hydrogen-generating unit or hydrogen stored in said hydrogen storage device;

said thermal engine being configured for optional operation on fuel from said storage tank when said motor vehicle is in a higher driving load range, and for operation on hydrogen generated by said hydrogen-generating unit or stored hydrogen when said motor vehicle is in a lower driving load range.

2. The hybrid drive of claim 1 further comprising

a control device for selectively applying both a control signal to said hydrogen-generating unit for receiving a hydrocarbon containing fuel and generating hydrogen therefrom and prior to starting of the hybrid drive for a motor vehicle or during operation of the hybrid drive for a motor vehicle storing hydrogen in said hydrogen storage device and wherein said thermal engine can be operated alternatively on hydrogen generated by said hydrogen-generating unit or hydrogen stored in said hydrogen storage device.

3. The hybrid drive of claim 1 wherein said alternating current to direct current converter includes

a direct current control device for controlling the direct current characteristics of the direct current voltage and for applying said direct current voltage having said predetermined characteristics to said direct current voltage storage device.

4. A method of operating a vehicle with a hybrid drive arrangement of the type having a thermal engine that can be operated with a hydrocarbon containing fuel suitable for generating hydrogen, a fuel storage tank for storing said fuel, an energy storage device in which the energy generated by the thermal engine can be stored, and a drive motor whose operating state depends on the energy from the thermal engine and/or the energy storage device, wherein the vehicle further includes:

an alternating current to energy converter for producing and storing energy in the energy storage device prior to starting of a hybrid drive for a motor vehicle;

a hydrogen storage device located on said vehicle;

a hydrogen-generating unit operatively connected to the fuel storage tank and to said hydrogen storage device for receiving a hydrocarbon containing fuel and generating hydrogen therefrom and prior to starting of the hybrid drive for a vehicle or during operation of the hybrid drive for a vehicle storing hydrogen in said hydrogen storage device and wherein the thermal engine is configured for optional operation on fuel from said storage tank, hydrogen generated by said hydrogen-generating unit and stored hydrogen, said method comprising the steps of;

in a higher driving load range, operating the thermal engine on fuel from the fuel tank; and

in a lower driving load range, and during starting and operation, optionally operating the thermal engine on hydrogen generated by said hydrogen-generating unit or hydrogen stored in said hydrogen storage device, said engine being held at a low-emission operating point;

whereby

during operating phases in which the thermal engine is operated on hydrogen, and a required driving power exceeds power generated by the thermal engine operated at the fixed operating point, an excess power requirement is supplied from said energy storage.

5. In a hybrid drive arrangement for a motor vehicle, the combination comprising:

a combustion engine which can be operated on hydrogen and on a hydrocarbon containing fuel from which hydrogen can be generated;

a fuel tank for storing hydrocarbon-containing fuel from which hydrogen can be generated;

storage device for storing energy from said combustion engine;

an alternating current to energy converter for producing and storing energy in the energy storage device prior to starting of a hybrid drive for a motor vehicle;

a hydrogen storage device located on said motor vehicle;

a hydrogen-generating unit operatively connected to the fuel storage tank and to a hydrogen storage device for receiving a hydrocarbon containing fuel and generating hydrogen therefrom and prior to starting of the hybrid drive for a motor vehicle or during operation of the hybrid drive for a motor vehicle storing hydrogen in said hydrogen storage device;

a traction motor for driving said vehicle, said traction motor being coupled to receive energy from said combustion engine and from said storage means;

a fuel converter for generating hydrogen from said fuel stored in said fuel tank; and

a control device for selectively providing either hydrogen from said fuel converter, hydrogen from said hydrogen storage device or fuel from said fuel tank to operate said combustion engine;

wherein the combustion engine is configured for optional operation on fuel from said storage tank when said vehicle is in a higher driving load range, and for optional operation on hydrogen from said hydrogen-generating unit or hydrogen from said hydrogen storage device when said vehicle is in a lower driving load range.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said control device further controls said hybrid drive arrangement to

operate said combustion engine on said hydrocarbon containing fuel from said fuel tank during periods of higher output power requirements and optionally on hydrogen from said fuel converter or said hydrogen storage device during periods of lower output requirements, and during starting and warm-up periods for said combustion engine.

7. The combination of claim 5 wherein said control device further controls said hybrid drive arrangement to

discontinue operation of said combustion engine and operating said traction motor solely on energy from energy storage device.

8. The combination of claim 5 wherein said control device further controls said hybrid drive arrangement when said combustion engine is operated on hydrogen and a required driving power exceeds power generated by said combustion engine, to cause said energy storage device to provide energy to said traction motor.

9. The combination of claim 5 further wherein the fuel converter prior to start-up is responsive to the alternating current for converting said hydrocarbon containing fuel into hydrogen and storing the hydrogen in said hydrogen storage device.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said fuel converter converts and stores a sufficient quantity of hydrogen in said hydrogen storage device to at least start and warm-up said thermal engine in said vehicle.

11. The combination of claim 9 wherein said fuel converter converts and stores a sufficient quantity of hydrogen in said hydrogen storage device to enable the control device to optionally at least start and warm-up said thermal engine in said vehicle using hydrogen or stored energy whereby said thermal engine is held at a low-emission operating point.

12. The combination of claim 5 further comprising

a hydrogen fuel cell configured to receive hydrogen as an input combustible material and to produce a direct current voltage as an output, said hydrogen fuel cell being operatively connected to said hydrogen storage device located on said motor vehicle wherein a combustible material stored therein is hydrogen.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said control device applies said direct current voltage produced by said hydrogen fuel cell to said direct current voltage storage device or a direct current motor for driving the motor vehicle.

14. The hybrid electric vehicle of claim 13 wherein said control device enables the production of a direct current voltage from at least one of an alternating current source or said hydrogen fuel cell.

15. A method of operating a vehicle with a hybrid drive arrangement of the type having a thermal engine that can be operated with a hydrocarbon containing fuel suitable for generating hydrogen, a fuel storage tank for storing said fuel, an energy storage device in which the energy generated by the thermal engine can be stored, and a drive motor whose operating state depends on the energy from the thermal engine and/or the energy storage device, wherein the vehicle further includes:

an alternating current to energy converter for producing and storing energy in the energy storage device prior to starting of a hybrid drive for a motor vehicle;

a hydrogen storage device located on said vehicle;

a hydrogen-generating unit operatively connected to the fuel storage tank and to said hydrogen storage device for receiving hydrocarbon containing fuel and generating hydrogen therefrom and prior to starting of the hybrid drive for a vehicle or during operation of the hybrid drive for a vehicle storing hydrogen in said hydrogen storage device and wherein the thermal engine is configured for optional operation on fuel from said storage tank, hydrogen generated by said hydrogen-generating unit and stored hydrogen, said method comprising the steps of;

in a higher driving load range, operating the thermal engine on fuel from the fuel tank; and

in a lower driving load range, optionally operating the thermal engine on hydrogen generated by said hydrogen-generating unit or stored hydrogen, said engine being held at a low-emission operating point.

16. A method of operating a vehicle with a hybrid drive arrangement of the type having a thermal engine that can be operated with a hydrocarbon containing fuel suitable for generating hydrogen, a fuel storage tank for storing said fuel, an energy storage device in which the energy generated by the thermal engine can be stored, and a drive motor whose operating state depends on the energy from the thermal engine and/or the energy storage device, wherein the vehicle further includes:

an alternating current to energy converter for producing and storing energy in the energy storage device prior to starting of a hybrid drive for a motor vehicle;

a hydrogen storage device located on said vehicle;

a hydrogen-generating unit operatively connected to the fuel storage tank and to said hydrogen storage device for receiving hydrocarbon containing fuel and generating hydrogen therefrom and prior to starting of the hybrid drive for a vehicle or during operation of the hybrid drive for a vehicle storing hydrogen in said hydrogen storage device and wherein the thermal engine is configured for optional operation on fuel from said storage tank, hydrogen generated by said hydrogen-generating unit and stored hydrogen, said method comprising the steps of;

during starting and warm-up, optionally operating the thermal engine on hydrogen generated by said hydrogen-generating unit generated or hydrogen stored in said hydrogen storage device, said engine being held at a low-emission operating point; and

thereafter, alternatively operating the thermal engine on fuel from the storage tank and optionally hydrogen generated by the hydrogen-generating unit or stored hydrogen.

17. A hybrid drive for a motor vehicle of the type having a thermal engine that can be operated with a hydrocarbon containing fuel suitable for generating hydrogen, a fuel storage tank for storing said hydrocarbon containing fuel, an energy storage device in which the energy generated by the thermal engine can be stored, and a drive motor whose operating state depends on the energy from the thermal engine and/or the energy storage device, said hybrid drive comprising:

an alternating current to energy converter for producing and storing energy in the energy storage device prior to starting of a hybrid drive for a motor vehicle;

a hydrogen storage device located on said motor vehicle;

a hydrogen-generating unit operatively connected to the fuel storage tank and to said hydrogen storage device for receiving a hydrocarbon containing fuel and generating hydrogen therefrom and prior to starting of the hybrid drive for a motor vehicle or during operation of the hybrid drive for a motor vehicle storing hydrogen in said hydrogen storage device and wherein said thermal engine can be operated alternatively on hydrogen generated by said hydrogen-generating unit, stored hydrogen or hydrocarbon containing fuel;

said thermal engine being configured for optional operation on hydrocarbon containing fuel from said storage tank when said motor vehicle is in a higher driving load range, and for operation on hydrogen generated by said hydrogen-generating unit or stored hydrogen when said motor vehicle is in a lower driving load range.

18. The hybrid drive of claim 17 further comprising

a control device for selectively apply applying both a control signal to said hydrogen-generating unit for receiving a hydrocarbon containing fuel and for generating hydrogen therefrom and prior to starting of the hybrid drive for a motor vehicle or during operation of the hybrid drive for a motor vehicle storing hydrogen in said hydrogen storage device and wherein said thermal engine can be operated alternatively on hydrogen generated by said hydrogen-generating unit, stored hydrogen or hydrocarbon containing fuel.

19. The hybrid drive of claim 17 wherein said alternating current to direct current converter includes

a direct current control device for controlling the direct current characteristics of the direct current voltage and for applying said direct current voltage having said predetermined characteristics to said direct current voltage storage device.

20. A method of operating a vehicle with a hybrid drive arrangement of the type having a thermal engine that can be operated with a hydrocarbon containing fuel suitable for generating hydrogen, a hydrocarbon containing fuel storage tank for storing said hydrocarbon containing fuel, an energy storage device in which the energy generated by the thermal engine can be stored, and a drive motor whose operating state depends on the energy from the thermal engine and/or the energy storage device, wherein the vehicle further includes:

an alternating current to energy converter for producing and storing energy in the energy storage device prior to starting of a hybrid drive for a motor vehicle;

a hydrogen storage device located on said vehicle;

a hydrogen-generating unit operatively connected to the hydrocarbon containing fuel storage tank and to said hydrogen storage device for receiving hydrocarbon containing fuel and generating hydrogen therefrom and prior to starting of the hybrid drive for a vehicle or during operation of the hybrid drive for a vehicle storing hydrogen in said hydrogen storage device and wherein the thermal engine is configured for optional operation on hydrocarbon containing fuel from said hydrocarbon containing fuel storage tank, hydrogen generated by said hydrogen-generating unit or stored hydrogen, said method comprising the steps of;

in a higher driving load range, operating the thermal engine on hydrocarbon containing fuel from the fuel tank; and

in a lower driving load range, and during starting and operation, optionally operating the thermal engine on hydrogen generated by said hydrogen-generating unit or stored hydrogen, said engine being held at a low-emission operating point and whereby

during operating phases in which the thermal engine is operated on hydrogen, and a required driving power exceeds power generated by the thermal engine operated at the fixed operating point, an excess power requirement is supplied from said energy storage and during periods of still higher output power requirements the higher power requirement during such periods is supplied by replacing the hydrogen used for operating the thermal engine with hydrocarbon containing fuel from the fuel tank.

21. In a hybrid drive arrangement for a motor vehicle, the combination comprising:

a combustion engine which can be operated on hydrogen and on a hydrocarbon containing fuel from which hydrogen can be generated;

a fuel tank for storing hydrocarbon-containing fuel from which hydrogen can be generated;

storage device for storing energy from said combustion engine;

an alternating current to energy converter for producing and storing energy in the energy storage device prior to starting of a hybrid drive for a motor vehicle;

a hydrogen storage device located on said motor vehicle;

a hydrogen-generating unit operatively connected to the fuel storage tank and to a hydrogen storage device for receiving a hydrocarbon containing fuel and generating hydrogen therefrom and prior to starting of the hybrid drive for a motor vehicle or during operation of the hybrid drive for a motor vehicle storing hydrogen in said hydrogen storage device;

a traction motor for driving said vehicle, said traction motor being coupled to receive energy from said combustion engine and from said storage means;

a fuel-converter for generating hydrogen from said fuel stored in said fuel tank; and

a control device for selectively providing hydrogen from said fuel converter, stored hydrogen or hydrocarbon-containing fuel from said fuel tank to operate said combustion engine;

wherein the combustion engine is configured for optional operation on hydrocarbon containing fuel from said storage tank when said vehicle is in a higher driving load range, and for optional operation on hydrogen from said hydrogen-generating unit or stored hydrogen when said vehicle is in a lower driving load range.

22. The combination of claim 21 wherein said control device further controls said hybrid drive arrangement to

operate said combustion engine on said hydrocarbon containing fuel from said fuel tank during periods of higher output power requirements and optionally on hydrogen from said fuel converter or said stored hydrogen during periods of lower output requirements, and during starting and warm-up periods for said combustion engine.

23. The combination of claim 21 wherein said control device further controls said hybrid drive arrangement to

discontinue operation of said combustion engine and operating said traction motor solely on energy from energy storage device.

24. The combination of claim 21 wherein said control device further controls said hybrid drive arrangement is operative when said combustion engine is operated on hydrogen and a required driving power exceeds power generated by said combustion engine, to cause said energy storage device to provide energy to said traction motor.

25. The combination of claim 21 further wherein the fuel converter prior to start-up is responsive to the alternating current for converting said hydrocarbon containing fuel into hydrogen and storing the hydrogen in said hydrogen storage device.

26. The combination of claim 25 wherein said fuel converter converts and stores a sufficient quantity of hydrogen in said hydrogen storage device to at least start and warm-up said thermal engine in said vehicle.

27. The combination of claim 25 wherein said fuel converter converts and stores a sufficient quantity of hydrogen in said hydrogen storage device to enable the control device to optionally at least start and warm-up said thermal engine in said vehicle using hydrogen or stored energy whereby said thermal engine is held at a low-emission operating point.

28. The combination of claim 21 further comprising

a hydrogen fuel cell configured to receive hydrogen as an input combustible material and to produce a direct current voltage as an output, said hydrogen fuel cell being operatively connected to said hydrogen storage device located on said motor vehicle wherein a combustible material stored therein is hydrogen.

29. The hybrid electric vehicle of claim 28 wherein said control device enables the production of a direct current voltage from at least one of an alternating current source and said hydrogen fuel cell.

30. A method of operating a vehicle with a hybrid drive arrangement of the type having a thermal engine that can be operated with a hydrocarbon containing fuel suitable for generating hydrogen, a fuel storage tank for storing said hydrocarbon containing fuel, an energy storage device in which the energy generated by the thermal engine can be stored, and a drive motor whose operating state depends on the energy from the thermal engine and/or the energy storage device, wherein the vehicle further includes:

an alternating current to energy converter for producing and storing energy in the energy storage device prior to starting of a hybrid drive for a motor vehicle;

a hydrogen storage device located on said vehicle;

a hydrogen-generating unit operatively connected to the fuel storage tank and to said hydrogen storage device for receiving hydrocarbon containing fuel and generating hydrogen therefrom and prior to starting of the hybrid drive for a vehicle or during operation of the hybrid drive for a vehicle storing hydrogen in said hydrogen storage device and wherein the thermal engine is configured for optional operation on fuel from said storage tank, hydrogen generated by said hydrogen-generating unit or stored hydrogen, said method comprising the steps of;

in a higher driving load range, operating the thermal engine on fuel from the fuel tank; and

in a lower driving load range, optionally operating the thermal engine on hydrogen generated by said hydrogen-generating unit or stored hydrogen, said engine being held at a low-emission operating point;

during operating phases in which the thermal engine is operated on hydrogen, and a required driving power exceeds power generated by the thermal engine operated at the fixed operating point an excess power requirement is supplied from said energy storage device and during periods of still higher output power requirements the higher power requirement during such periods is supplied by replacing the hydrogen used for operating the thermal engine with hydrocarbon containing fuel from the fuel tank.

31. A method of operating a vehicle with a hybrid drive arrangement of the type having a thermal engine that can be operated with a hydrocarbon containing fuel suitable for generating hydrogen, a fuel storage tank for storing said hydrocarbon containing fuel, an energy storage device in which the energy generated by the thermal engine can be stored, and a drive motor whose operating state depends on the energy from the thermal engine and/or the energy storage device, wherein the vehicle further includes:

an alternating current to energy converter for producing and storing energy in the energy storage device prior to starting of a hybrid drive for a motor vehicle;

a hydrogen storage device located on said vehicle;

a hydrogen-generating unit operatively connected to the hydrocarbon containing fuel storage tank and to said hydrogen storage device for receiving hydrocarbon containing fuel and generating hydrogen therefrom and prior to starting of the hybrid drive for a vehicle or during operation of the hybrid drive for a vehicle storing hydrogen in said hydrogen storage device and wherein the thermal engine is configured for optional operation on fuel from said storage tank, hydrogen generated by said hydrogen-generating unit or stored hydrogen, said method comprising the steps of;

during starting and warm-up, optionally operating the thermal engine on hydrogen generated by said hydrogen-generating unit generated or stored hydrogen, said engine being held at a low-emission operating point; and

thereafter, alternatively operating the thermal engine on at least one of hydrocarbon containing fuel from the storage tank, optionally hydrogen generated by the hydrogen-generating unit or stored hydrogen.

32. A hybrid drive arrangement for a vehicle comprising

an alternating current to direct current converter for producing and storing energy in an energy storage device prior to starting of a vehicle having a hybrid drive arrangement;

a fuel converter for receiving a hydrocarbon containing fuel from a hydrocarbon containing fuel in a first state from a hydrocarbon containing fuel storage device located on the vehicle and converting said hydrocarbon containing fuel into a combustible material in a second state and for storing said combustible material in a combustible material storage device located on the vehicle prior to the starting of the hybrid electric vehicle or during the operation of the hybrid electric vehicle;

a driving system for transporting the vehicle, said driving system including

a direct current motor operatively coupled to said driving system and to energy storage device, said direct current motor being responsive to a stored energy for driving said driving system in response to a first control signal;

a thermal engine operatively coupled to said driving system and to said hydrocarbon containing fuel storage device, said thermal engine being responsive to stored said hydrocarbon containing fuel for driving said driving system in response to a second control signal;

a fuel cell operatively coupled to said hydrocarbon containing fuel storage device for converting said hydrocarbon containing fuel into direct current for storing energy in an energy storage device or applying a direct current voltage for driving said direct current motor; and

a control device operatively connected to said direct current motor and to said thermal engine to selectively applying said first control signal to said direct current motor or said second control signal to said thermal engine to enable said driving system to be driven by stored energy or said hydrocarbon containing fuel.

33. The hybrid drive arrangement of claim 32 wherein said control device selectively applies both said first control signal to said direct current motor and said second control signal to said thermal engine to enable said driving system to be concurrently driven by said direct current voltage and said hydrocarbon containing fuel.

34. The hybrid electric vehicle of claim 32 further comprising

a fuel converter responsive to the control device for converting the hydrocarbon containing fuel in said first state into a combustible material in said second state during operation of the vehicle.