Regenerative braking on an electrical vehicle when towed
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsMelvin Douglas Palmer, William P. Milam
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Regenerative braking is actuated in an electrical vehicle during towing of the vehicle to recharge the battery and brake the vehicle. When a driver of a towing vehicle depresses the brakes of the vehicle (202), the electrical vehicle applies regenerative braking in proportion to a braking signal from the towing vehicle (206). Also, regenerative braking is applied to the electrical vehicle when the vehicle is inadvertently disconnected from a connector (110) that couples the electrical vehicle to the towing vehicle (208).
Claims11
A method for activating regenerative braking in a vehicle being towed, the method comprising the steps of:
- A) receiving a signal in proportion to an amount of braking applied to a first vehicle to decrease a speed of the first vehicle, wherein the first vehicle is towing a second vehicle;
- and
- C) applying regenerative braking to the second vehicle as a function of the signal to recharge a battery of the second vehicle.
A braking system comprising:
- a connector that transmits a braking signal from a first vehicle to a second vehicle, wherein the connector couples the first vehicle to the second vehicle for towing;
- an inverter that supplies a current to a motor of the second vehicle, wherein the motor generates regenerative braking to recharge a battery of the second vehicle;
- a processor coupled to the connector that:
- receives the braking signal from the connector;
- and
- controls the amount of regenerative braking applied to the second vehicle as a function of the braking signal.
The braking system of claim 7 wherein the connector comprises a circuit for brake control.
The braking system of claim 8 wherein the connector further comprises a connection for at least one of taillights, brake lights, left turn signal and right turn signal.
An apparatus for applying regenerative braking in a vehicle comprising:
- a processor that receives a braking signal from a first vehicle that is towing a second vehicle that comprises the apparatus, wherein the braking signal is proportional to an amount of braking applied to decrease a speed of the first vehicle;
- and
- wherein the processor determines an amount of regenerative braking to be applied by an electric motor in the second vehicle based on the braking signal to thereby decrease a speed of the second vehicle and charge a battery of the second vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.