US 2011/0031050 A1 · ELECTRIC TRACTION SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract

A power exchange unit (PXU) is coupled to an existing manual transmission of a vehicle via a PTO port. An electric motor generator coupled to the PXU. A battery is electrically coupled to the motor generator for supplying power to propel the vehicle. A control unit is coupled to the motor generator and the battery and configured to switch operation of the vehicle between first and second modes, wherein in the first mode an internal combustion engine of the vehicle propels the vehicle, and in the second mode the motor generator propels the vehicle in a motoring mode.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A method of retrofitting a vehicle comprising:

installing a power exchange unit (PXU) coupled to an existing manual transmission of the vehicle via a PTO port;
installing an electric motor generator coupled to the PXU;
installing a battery electrically coupled to the motor generator for supplying power to propel the vehicle;
installing a control unit coupled to the motor generator and the battery and configured to switch operation of the vehicle between first and second modes, wherein in the first mode an internal combustion engine of the vehicle propels the vehicle, and in the second mode the motor generator propels the vehicle in a motoring mode.\

1 more element

In a vehicle with a manual transmission having a transfer gear accessible via a power take off (PTO) port, a retrofit apparatus comprising:

an electric traction motor-generator (ETMG) mechanically coupled to the transmission transfer gear via a power exchange unit (PXU) through the PTO port, the ETMG electrically connected to a battery;
and
a controller configured to operate the vehicle in i) an internal combustion engine mode (ICE mode), wherein the ICE provides mechanical power via the transfer gear and the PXU to the ETMG for driving the ETMG as an electric generator to produce and store an electrical charge in the battery, and ii) an electric traction motor mode (ET mode), wherein the ICE is powered off, and the stored electrical charge from the battery energizes the ETMG as an electric motor to provide mechanical power via the transfer gear and the PXU to the manual transmission for propelling the vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to automatically switch operation of the vehicle between ICE and ET modes, and wherein the controller is configured to automatically switch operation of the vehicle between ICE and ET modes responsive to predetermined driving and battery conditions.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

12/933,415Filed 8 Aug 2008

Priority

19 Mar 2008

Published

10 Feb 2011

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification31 codes

B60W 20/12
Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand: using control strategies taking into account route…
B60L 1/003
Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles: to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
B60L 1/06
Fed by the power supply line: using only one supply
B60L 15/2045
For control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed: for…

Electric traction system and method

Life of this patent

Electric traction system and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25