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US 8,567,547 B2Granted
Regenerative braking method
AssigneePurdue Research Foundation
InventorN. Athula Kulatunga
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A neighborhood electrical vehicle (NEV), including provisions for improved deceleration during regenerative braking, in which the vehicle momentum is converted to electrical energy stored in a capacitor bank. The capacitor bank includes alternate configurations for charging or discharging of the capacitors.
Claims22
A vehicle, comprising:
- three wheels arranged as a tricycle and supporting a seat by a frame;
- a brushless DC motor mechanically coupled to at least one of the wheels;
- a rechargeable battery;
- an capacitor;
- an electronic controller in electrical communication with said capacitor, said battery, and said motor, said electronic controller being operable in at least two modes;
- and
- a pair of pedals operatively connected to an electrical generator, said pedals being adapted and configured for a human operator to provide motive power to said generator, said generator being in electrical communication with said controller;
- wherein in a first mode of operation said controller receives electrical power generated by said motor and provides the power to said capacitor, and in a second mode of operation said controller provides power from said capacitor to said battery.
5 more elements
A method for operating an electric vehicle, comprising:
- providing a tricycle, a generator rotatable by a foot pedal, a braking lever movable over a range of positions, at least one ultracapacitor, and a seat, at least one of the wheels being coupled to an electric motor capable of driving the wheel and capable of generating electricity;
- generating alternating current electricity by the motor in response to placement of the lever within the range;
- slowing the vehicle by said generating by the motor;
- generating electricity from the generator by rotation with the foot pedal;
- and
- charging the ultracapacitor with electricity from said generating by the motor and from said generating from the generator.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.