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US 5,346,031 AGranted
Hybrid motor vehicle having an electric motor and utilizing an internal combustion engine for fast charge during cruise mode off condition
OwnerConrad O. Gardnerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hybrid motor vehicle utilizing electric motor propulsion prior to cruise mode detection condition and internal combustion engine propulsion during cruise mode.
Claims6
In combination in a motor vehicle having a first pair of wheels and a second pair of wheels:
- an electric motor;
- a combustion engine;
- a fast charge-discharge battery for transferring electrical energy to said electric motor;
- a cruise mode control circuit having preprogrammed cruise mode operating conditions which includes a cruise mode on condition when the vehicle operating speed exceeds a predetermined level and for a predetermined time interval and a cruise mode off condition when the cruise mode operating conditions have not been satisified, said control circuit automatically activating first coupling means for connecting said electric motor to one of said first and second pairs of wheels during the cruise mode off condition and automatically activating second coupling means for connecting said combustion engine to one of said first and second pairs of wheels during the cruise mode on condition;
- said cruise mode control circuit activating third coupling means for connecting said combustion engine to an electric power generator for charging said fast charge-discharge battery during the cruise mode off condition;
- and
- user controlled means bypassing said control circuit for activating said first coupling means for connecting said electric motor to one of said first and second pairs of wheels during the cruise mode on condition, and user controlled means bypassing said control circuit for activating said second coupling means for connecting said combustion engine to one of said first and second pairs of wheels in the event of failure of said fast charge-discharge battery.
4 more elements
In combination in a motor vehicle having a first pair of wheels and a second pair of wheels:
- an electric motor;
- a combustion engine;
- a fast charge-discharge battery for transferring electrical energy to said electric motor;
- a cruise mode control circuit having preprogrammed cruise mode operating conditions which includes a cruise mode on condition when the vehicle operating speed exceeds a predetermined level and for a predetermined time interval and a cruise mode off condition when the cruise mode operating conditions have not been satisified, said control circuit automatically activating first coupling means for connecting said electric motor to one of said first and second pairs of wheels and deactivating second coupling means for disconnecting said combustion engine from one of said first and second pairs of wheels during the cruise mode off condition and said control circuit automatically activating said second coupling means for connecting said combustion engine to one of said first and second pairs of wheels and deactivating said first coupling means for disconnecting said electric motor from one of said first and second pairs of wheels during the cruise mode on condition;
- said cruise mode control circuit activating third coupling means for connecting said combustion engine to an electric power generator for charging said fast charge-discharge battery during the cruise mode off condition;
- and
- user controlled means bypassing said control circuit for activating said first coupling means for connecting said electric motor to one of said first and second pairs of wheels during the cruise mode on condition, and user controlled means bypassing said control circuit for activating said second coupling means for connecting said combustion engine to one of said first and second pairs of wheels in the event of failure of said fast charge-discharge battery.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.