Hybrid traction system for vehicles

• US 7,216,735 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2003
• Issued: 05/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Francisco Gonzalez Mena
• Original Assignee: Francisco Gonzalez Mena
• Inventors: Gonzalez Mena, Francisco
• Primary Examiner(s): Vanaman; Frank
• Application Number:
  US10/503,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20050079951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 180/165, 180/302, 180/304, 123/179.31, 123/527, 123/528, 605/98
• US Class Current: 180/165
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/12 by means of a chargeable fluidic accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F01B 17/02 Engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 33/00 Engines characterised by provision of pumps for charging or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A hybrid drive system for vehicles. The system includes the connection of an engine and a motor, one as a combustion engine (1) and the other as a pneumatic motor (2), with this connection being made through a mechanical coupling (3) and, at once, through a pneumatic connection between the exhaust (8) of the pneumatic motor (2) and the input (9) of the combustion engine (1), including a control unit (19) which controls both the coupling (3) and the engine (1) and motor (2) and supplementary equipment associated to the latter. The pneumatic and mechanical coupling between both engine (1) and motor (2) provides comburent overfeeding to the combustion engine (1) and, at the same time, a sum of the drives provided by both engine and motor, with this sum of drives being applied to the pertinent clutch (6) of the system, in order to achieve a reduction in the consumption of the latter and greater power.

Claims

1. Hybrid drive system for vehicles that comprises:

A combustion engine (1) with an air input (9), an alternator (22) and a fuel tank (18);

A pneumatic compressed air motor (2) with an electro-pneumatic control valve (14), an air exhaust (8) and a compressed air tank (13);

A clutch (6) and a gearbox (7) for applying drive of the combustion engine and pneumatic motor (1, 2)

Characterised, in that this system additionally comprises;

A mechanical coupling device (3) for coupling/uncoupling the respective combustion engine (1) and pneumatic motor (2), so that the drive of both may be added together;

A pneumatic coupling device made up of a pneumatic tube (10), an electro-pneumatic valve (11) and an air filter (12) with an outlet to the outside, for connecting the air exhaust (8) of the pneumatic motor (2) to the air input (9) of the combustion engine (1), so that comburent surpercharging is provided to the combustion engine (1); and

An electronic control unit (19) for governing the combustion engine (1), the mechanical coupling device (3), the clutch (6), the gearbox (7), the electro-pneumatic valve (11), the control valve (14), and the alternator (22).

2. A system according to claim 1, characterised in that the clutch (6) and the gearbox (7) are fitted on the combustion engine (1).

3. A system according to claim 1, characterised in that the mechanical coupling device (3) is arranged between a crankshaft (4) of the combustion engine (1) and a crankshaft (5) of the pneumatic motor (2).

4. A system according to claim 3, characterised in that the mechanical coupling device (3) is a direct coupling.

5. A system according to claim 1, characterised in that the compressed air tank (13) is pneumatically connected to a compressor (17) electrically supplied by a high capacity electric battery (23).

6. A system according to claim 5, characterised in that an external electric take-off is provided for an alternative electric power supply of a compressor (17).

7. A system according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the electronic control unit (19), which is supplied by a high capacity electric battery (23) also has a control output (190) for controlling the compressor (17) and another control output (191) for controlling the alternator (22), as well as respective control inputs (192, 193) for electric signals as generated from an accelerator system (20) and from a brake system (21) of the vehicle.