US 5,698,905 A · Hybrid propulsion system for a motor vehicle and a method of operating the hybrid propulsion system

Abstract

A hybrid propulsion system for a motor vehicle, in which electric motors corresponding to the wheels of the motor vehicle are supplied by a generator, which generator is driven by an internal combustion engine, in particular via a direct current intermediate circuit. To be able to start the internal combustion engine, in the event of the failure of the battery provided for starting the internal combustion engine, by pushing or towing the vehicle or rolling it downhill, the electric motors can be switched over to operate as generators, and the generator can be switched over to operate as a motor, during an emergency starting phase, once the speed of travel of the vehicle exceeds a specified speed threshold. The emergency starting attempt can be initiated by the driver by means of a control mechanism, e.g. a manually actuated control switch or the accelerator pedal. If necessary, the speed threshold can be measured by means of a speed sensor. A voltage monitoring device can essentially guarantee that before the emergency starting attempt takes place, there is sufficient operating voltage available for the control systems which correspond to the electric motors and the generator.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A method of operating and starting a hybrid road vehicle under emergency conditions, said method comprising the steps of:

moving the hybrid road vehicle and moving at least one wheel of the hybrid road vehicle;
switching an electrical generator from operation as a generator to operation as a motor, the electrical generator being in driving connection with an internal combustion engine;
switching at least one electric motor disposed at the at least one wheel from operation as a motor to operation as a generator;
connecting the at least one motor to the electrical generator with connecting circuitry;
driving the at least one electric motor as a generator during movement of the at least one wheel of the hybrid road vehicle;
accumulating electric energy from the at least one electric motor;
supplying electric energy, generated by the at least one electric motor, to the electrical generator;
and
starting the internal combustion engine with the electrical generator.

6 more elements

A hybrid road vehicle comprising:

a chassis;
a plurality of wheels being rotationally mounted on said chassis;
a plurality of road vehicle tires being disposed on corresponding ones of said plurality of wheels;
a hybrid propulsion system, said hybrid propulsion system comprising:
an internal combustion engine;
an electrical generator in driving connection with said internal combustion engine;
at least one electric motor for propelling at least one of said plurality of wheels;
connecting circuitry connecting said at least one electric motor to said electrical generator;
means for electronically controlling at least said generator and said at least one electric motor during operation of said hybrid road vehicle;
said means for electronically controlling comprising means for starting said hybrid road vehicle under emergency conditions;
said means for starting said hybrid road vehicle under emergency conditions comprising:
first means for switching said electrical generator from operation as a generator to operation as a motor;
second means for switching said at least one electric motor from operation as a motor to operation as a generator;
circuit means for supplying electric energy generated by said at least one electric motor to said electrical generator, to start said internal combustion engine;
and
said at least one electric motor being disposed to be driven by movement of said at least one of said plurality of wheels during movement of said hybrid road vehicle, thus driving said at least one electric motor as a generator, and being connected to said circuit means to supply electrical energy to said electrical generator when said electrical generator is being operated as a motor.

13 more elements

A method of operating and starting a hybrid road vehicle under emergency conditions, the hybrid road vehicle comprising:

a chassis;
a plurality of wheels being rotationally mounted on said chassis;
a plurality of road vehicle tires being disposed on corresponding ones of said plurality of wheels;
a hybrid propulsion system, said hybrid propulsion system comprising:
an internal combustion engine;
an electrical generator in driving connection with said internal combustion engine;
at least one electric motor for propelling at least one of said plurality of wheels;
connecting circuitry connecting said at least one electric motor to said electrical generator;
means for electronically controlling at least said generator and said at least one electric motor during operation of said hybrid road vehicle;
said means for electronically controlling comprising means for starting said hybrid road vehicle under emergency conditions;
said means for starting said hybrid road vehicle under emergency conditions comprising:
first means for switching said electrical generator from operation as a generator to operation as a motor;
second means for switching said at least one electric motor from operation as a motor to operation as a generator;
circuit means for supplying electric energy generated by said at least one electric motor to said electrical generator to start said internal combustion engine;
said at least one electric motor being disposed to be driven by movement of said at least one of said plurality of wheels during movement of said hybrid road vehicle, thus driving said at least one electric motor as a generator, and being connected to said circuit means to supply electrical energy to said electrical generator when said electrical generator is being operated as a motor, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a chassis;
providing a plurality of wheels being rotationally mounted on said chassis;
providing a plurality of road vehicle tires being disposed on corresponding ones of said plurality of wheels;
providing a hybrid propulsion system, said step of providing said hybrid propulsion system comprising:
providing an internal combustion engine;
providing an electrical generator in driving connection with said internal combustion engine;
providing at least one electric motor for propelling at least one of said plurality of wheels;
providing connecting circuitry, the connecting circuitry connecting said at least one electric motor to said electrical generator;
providing means for electronically controlling at least said generator and said at least one electric motor during operation of said hybrid road vehicle;
said step of providing said means for electronically controlling further comprising the step of providing means for starting said hybrid road vehicle under emergency conditions;
said step of providing means for starting said hybrid road vehicle under emergency conditions comprising:
providing first means for switching said electrical generator from operation as a generator to operation as a motor;
providing second means for switching said at least one electric motor from operation as a motor to operation as a generator;
providing circuit means for supplying electric energy generated by said at least one electric motor to said electrical generator to start said internal combustion engine;
said method further comprising the additional steps of:
switching said electrical generator from operation as a generator to operation as a motor, with said first means for switching;
switching said at least one motor from operation as a motor to operation as a generator, with said second means for switching;
moving said hybrid road vehicle to move said at least one of said plurality of wheels to drive said at least one electric motor as a generator;
generating electric energy with said at least one electric motor;
supplying electric energy generated by said at least one electric motor to said electrical generator with said circuit means;
and
starting said internal combustion engine with said electrical generator.

34 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hybrid propulsion system for a motor vehicle and a method of operating the hybrid propulsion system

Life of this patent

Hybrid propulsion system for a motor vehicle and a method of operating the hybrid propulsion system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21