Series-parallel electric hybrid powertrain with multi fuel capabilities
First Claim
1. A hybrid powertrain for powering a vehicle, the hybrid powertrain comprising:
- a micro turbine assembly;
a turbine drive shaft extending from the micro turbine assembly, the turbine drive shaft having a turbine engaged position where a turbine rotational output of the micro turbine assembly is transferred by the turbine drive shaft to wheels of the vehicle, and a turbine unengaged position where the turbine rotational output of the micro turbine assembly is independent from the wheels, wherein the micro turbine assembly is operable at an optimum operating speed both when the turbine drive shaft is in the turbine engaged position and the turbine unengaged position;
a generator selectively connected to the micro turbine assembly in parallel with a portion of the turbine drive shaft;
a power storage device connected to, and chargeable by, the generator;
an electric motor connected to, and drivable by, the power storage device;
a motor drive shaft having a motor engaged position where a motor rotational output of the electric motor is transferred by the motor drive shaft to the wheels and a motor unengaged position where the motor rotational output of the electric motor is independent from the wheels;
a generator drive shaft, the generator drive shaft having a generator engaged position where the turbine rotational output of the micro turbine assembly is transferred by the generator drive shaft to the generator and a generator unengaged position where the turbine rotational output of the micro turbine assembly is independent from the generator;
wherein the micro turbine assembly is operable at the optimum operating speed both when the generator drive shaft is in the generator engaged position and the generator unengaged position; and
whereinthe power storage device is selectively connected to the wheels and is chargeable by rotation of the wheels simultaneously with the generator drive shaft being in the generator engaged position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid powertrain for powering a vehicle includes a micro turbine assembly with multi-fuel capabilities and a turbine drive shaft extending therefrom. The turbine drive shaft has a turbine engaged position where a turbine rotational output of the micro turbine assembly is transferred by the turbine drive shaft to wheels of the vehicle, and a turbine unengaged position where the turbine rotational output is independent from the wheels. A generator is selectively connected to the micro turbine assembly in parallel with a portion of the turbine drive shaft. A power storage device is chargeable by the generator and can drive an electric motor. A motor drive shaft has a motor engaged position where a motor rotational output of the electric motor is transferred by the motor drive shaft to the wheels, and a motor unengaged position where the motor rotational output is independent from the wheels.
40 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A hybrid powertrain for powering a vehicle, the hybrid powertrain comprising:
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a micro turbine assembly; a turbine drive shaft extending from the micro turbine assembly, the turbine drive shaft having a turbine engaged position where a turbine rotational output of the micro turbine assembly is transferred by the turbine drive shaft to wheels of the vehicle, and a turbine unengaged position where the turbine rotational output of the micro turbine assembly is independent from the wheels, wherein the micro turbine assembly is operable at an optimum operating speed both when the turbine drive shaft is in the turbine engaged position and the turbine unengaged position; a generator selectively connected to the micro turbine assembly in parallel with a portion of the turbine drive shaft; a power storage device connected to, and chargeable by, the generator; an electric motor connected to, and drivable by, the power storage device; a motor drive shaft having a motor engaged position where a motor rotational output of the electric motor is transferred by the motor drive shaft to the wheels and a motor unengaged position where the motor rotational output of the electric motor is independent from the wheels; a generator drive shaft, the generator drive shaft having a generator engaged position where the turbine rotational output of the micro turbine assembly is transferred by the generator drive shaft to the generator and a generator unengaged position where the turbine rotational output of the micro turbine assembly is independent from the generator;
wherein the micro turbine assembly is operable at the optimum operating speed both when the generator drive shaft is in the generator engaged position and the generator unengaged position; and
whereinthe power storage device is selectively connected to the wheels and is chargeable by rotation of the wheels simultaneously with the generator drive shaft being in the generator engaged position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A hybrid powertrain for powering a vehicle, the hybrid powertrain comprising:
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a micro turbine assembly with a recuperator, the recuperator being a heat exchanger having a first fluid path between a compressor section and a turbine section of the micro turbine assembly and a second fluid path in fluid communication with an exhaust gas from the turbine section; a turbine drive shaft extending from the turbine section of the micro turbine assembly and in selective mechanical connection with a wheels drive shaft, the wheels drive shaft in selective mechanical connection with wheels of the vehicle; a generator selectively connected to the micro turbine assembly in parallel with a portion of the turbine drive shaft; a generator drive shaft, the generator drive shaft having a generator engaged position where the turbine rotational output of the micro turbine assembly is transferred by the generator drive shaft to the generator and a generator unengaged position where the turbine rotational output of the micro turbine assembly is independent from the generator;
wherein the micro turbine assembly is operable at the optimum operating speed both when the generator drive shaft is in the generator engaged position and the generator unengaged position;a power storage device connected in series with, and chargeable by, the generator, the power storage device further chargeable by rotation of the wheels simultaneously with the generator drive shaft being in the generator engaged position; an electric motor connected in series with, and drivable by, the power storage device; and a motor drive shaft extending from the electric motor and in selective mechanical connection with the wheels drive shaft. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for powering a vehicle with a hybrid powertrain, the method comprising:
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providing a micro turbine assembly that has a turbine drive shaft extending from the micro turbine assembly; providing a generator selectively connected to the micro turbine assembly in parallel with a portion of the turbine drive shaft; providing a power storage device connected to the generator, and selectively charging the power storage device with the generator; providing an electric motor connected to the power storage device, and selectively driving the electric motor with the power storage device; moving the turbine drive shaft between a turbine engaged position where a turbine rotational output of the micro turbine assembly is transferred by the turbine drive shaft to wheels of the vehicle, and a turbine unengaged position where the turbine rotational output of the micro turbine assembly is independent from the wheels, wherein the micro turbine assembly is operated at an optimum operating speed both when the turbine drive shaft is in the turbine engaged position and the turbine unengaged position; moving a motor drive shaft between a motor engaged position where a motor rotational output of the electric motor is transferred by the motor drive shaft to the wheels, and a motor unengaged position where the motor rotational output of the electric motor is independent from the wheels; providing a generator drive shaft, the generator drive shaft having a generator engaged position where the turbine rotational output of the micro turbine assembly is transferred by the generator drive shaft to the generator and a generator unengaged position where the turbine rotational output of the micro turbine assembly is independent from the generator, wherein the micro turbine assembly is operated at the optimum operating speed both when the generator drive shaft is in the generator engaged position and the generator unengaged position; and
whereinthe power storage device is selectively connected to the wheels and is chargeable by rotation of the wheels simultaneously with the generator drive shaft being in the generator engaged position. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification