US 5,172,784 A · Hybrid electric propulsion system

Abstract

A hybrid electric vehicle propulsion system having an external combustion free-piston engine is provided with an integral linear electric current generator and a pulse frequency controller. The system includes a power integration processor, a frequency modulator circuit and a pulse width modulator circuit, the power integration processor controls the frequency modulator circuit and the pulse width modulator circuit to produce both a frequency modulated pulsed current and an auxiliary power current which varies in pulse width. Both the frequency modulated pulsed current and the pulse width modulated auxiliary current are combined to power an electric drive motor having an integral electronic differential. A small auxiliary power source, such as a rechargeable battery pack, is provides the auxiliary current for acceleration and hill climbing power. The external combustion engine may burn any pollution free fuel (such as natural gas, alcohol, propane, etc.) and runs at a constant peak efficiency speed to generate constant frequency electric current from coils integrated into the engine. The generator current is sufficient to propel the vehicle in ordinary driving situations with smooth speed control of the drive motor. The propulsion motor combines one fixed stator, and two axially opposed permanent magnet or induction-type rotors, one for each output propulsion shaft.

Claims27

Dependent claims

An electro-mechanical propulsion system for a vehicle comprising:

an external combustion, free piston multiple-cylinder engine;
linear electric generator means for generating electric power from said engine including linear element generator means integrally mounted in said engine for converting mechanized to electrical power;
means for adjusting a mechanical and electrical phase relationship between said engine and said generator means;
a manual accelerator and an electric traction motor;
means for controlling the electric output of the linear generator means corresponding to an accelerator position, and motor speed;
an auxiliary power source comprising means for controlling output of said auxiliary power source corresponding to the load on said motor, said auxiliary power source being synchronized with the said means for controlling output of said linear generator means;
said electric traction motor being connected as the prime mover means for propelling said vehicle, said motor being connected to be actuated by said linear generator and said auxiliary power supply, said electric motor including two independent and synchronized rotors, each of said rotors including an output shaft for connection to the vehicle propulsion means.

4 more elements

An electro-mechanical propulsion system for vehicles comprising:

an electro-mechanical converter means including an external combustion, free piston four-cylinder engine;
said engine comprising a plurality of cylinders and pistons connected by a plurality of shafts, said plurality of shafts being connected to said pistons;
and an integral linear electric generator means for converting power from said engine, one such means associated with each of said four cylinders;
each of said four linear generator means comprising a plurality of permanent magnetic elements, at least one of said permanent magnet element fixed to at least one said plurality of pistons and piston shafts and a plurality of cylindrical armature coils at least one of which is fixed to each of said plurality of cylinders located in said engine, said linear generator means generating a linear generator electric signal frequency;
a manual accelerator and an electric traction motor;
means for controlling the linear generator electric signal of the linear generator means, the output of said controlling means corresponding to an accelerator position, motor speed, and motor load;
an auxiliary electric power supply to supply auxiliary electric power comprising means for modulating said electric power into a pulsed signal, a width of said pulsed signal corresponding to the load on said motor, and means for synchronizing said pulsed signal with said linear generating signal;
said electric traction motor being connected as the prime mover means for propelling said vehicle, said electric motor operating on current correlated to the frequency of said linear generator, said electric motor being connected to the auxiliary electric power supply and linear generator means through said controlling means;
said electric motor including one common wound stator generating a rotating magnetic field, and two opposing rotor elements, each including a first end and a second end, said first end of said opposing rotor elements being connected to a pilot bearing, said second end being connected to a propulsion shaft;
said two opposing rotors including a first rotor and a second rotor, said first and said second rotor rotating in the same magnetic field;
transducer means for sensing said field speed and the rotational speed of said first rotor and said second rotor, said transducer means being connected to said controller means;
means for synchronizing the speed of said first rotor and said second rotor.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hybrid electric propulsion system

Life of this patent

Hybrid electric propulsion system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27