# US 8,783,396 B2 · Hydrocarbon fueled-electric series hybrid propulsion systems

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 8,783,396 B2
- Document ID: US8783396B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/011,597
- Filed: 2011-01-21
- Published: 2011-07-21
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2010-01-21
- Assignees: ePower Engine Systems, L.L.C.
- Applicants: Jay J. Bowman
- Inventors: Jay J. Bowman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783396B2

## CPC

- B60L 15/2009: {for braking}
- B60K 6/46: Series type
- B60L 3/0069: {relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current}
- B60L 7/14: for vehicles propelled by AC motors
- B60L 15/025: {using field orientation; Vector control; Direct Torque Control [DTC]}
- B60L 50/40: using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
- B60L 50/61: by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
- B60L 50/64: Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
- B60L 50/66: {Arrangements of batteries}
- B60L 58/18: of two or more battery modules
- B60L 58/21: having the same nominal voltage
- B60L 58/25: by controlling the electric load
- B60L 58/26: by cooling
- B60L 58/27: by heating
- B60L 2200/36: Vehicles designed to transport cargo, e.g. trucks
- B60L 2210/20: AC to AC converters
- B60L 2210/30: AC to DC converters
- B60L 2220/12: Induction machines
- B60L 2240/12: Speed
- B60L 2240/421: Speed
- B60L 2240/423: Torque
- B60L 2240/441: Speed
- B60L 2240/443: Torque
- B60L 2270/36: of vehicles
- B60Y 2200/14: Trucks; Load vehicles, Busses
- Y02T 10/62: Hybrid vehicles
- Y02T 10/64: Electric machine technologies in electromobility
- Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
- Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
- Y02T 10/72: Electric energy management in electromobility
- Y02T 90/40: Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
- B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A hybrid propulsion system for powering vehicles such as class 8 DOT classified semi-tractor trucks under normal load conditions and at highway speeds comprises an internal combustion engine, an AC generator powered by the engine, DC battery packs, an AC/DC controller, and an AC electric motor driving the drive train of the vehicle. The AC generator and the DC battery packs provide input to the AC/DC controller, which, in turn, converts the DC input from the DC battery packs via a DC circuit to AC so that the output from the AC/DC controller to the electric motor is AC for powering the vehicle. The DC battery packs may comprise thin plate flooded lead acid cells and may be connected in series, in parallel or a combination thereof. Vehicles may be retrofitted to incorporate the propulsion system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A hybrid propulsion system for powering a vehicle comprising:
a hydrocarbon fueled engine;
an AC generator powered by the hydrocarbon fueled engine;
at least one DC battery;
an AC/DC controller; and
an AC electric motor drivingly connected to a power train of the vehicle,
wherein the AC generator and the at least one DC battery provide input to the AC/DC controller, the AC/DC controller converts DC input from the at least one DC battery to AC and outputs AC to the AC electric motor to provide boost power to the power train of the vehicle, and the AC generator continuously powers the AC electric motor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The hybrid propulsion system of claim 1, further comprising a DC pulsed charge computer controller connected to the AC/DC motor controller and to the at least one DC battery.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The hybrid propulsion system of claim 1, further comprising means for controlling the temperature of the at least one DC battery.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The hybrid propulsion system of claim 3, wherein the temperature of the at least one DC battery is maintained within a temperature of from 20 to 35° C.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The hybrid propulsion system of claim 3, wherein the temperature of the at least one DC battery is maintained within a range of ±2° C. of an optimal battery temperature.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The hybrid propulsion system of claim 1, further comprising an electrolyte pumping system connected to the at least one DC battery for heating and cooling an electrolyte of the at least one DC battery to maintain an optimum temperature range of the electrolyte of the at least one DC battery.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The hybrid propulsion system of claim 1, wherein the at least one DC battery comprises thin plate flooded lead acid cells.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The hybrid propulsion system of claim 1, further comprising a field weakening circuit connected to the AC generator.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The hybrid propulsion system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a semi-tractor truck capable of operating under normal load conditions and at highway speeds.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A vehicle powered by the hybrid propulsion system of claim claim 1.

### Claim 11

A semi-tractor truck vehicle having a hybrid propulsion system comprising:
a hydrocarbon fueled engine;
an AC generator powered by the hydrocarbon fueled engine;
at least one DC battery;
an AC/DC controller connected to the AC generator and the at least one DC battery; and
an AC electric motor connected to the AC/DC controller and in driving engagement with a power train of the vehicle,
wherein the at least one DC battery provides boost power to the power train of the vehicle, the AC generator continuously powers the AC electric motor, and the semi-tractor truck vehicle is capable of running at a speed of at least 50 mph for at least 5 hours.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The semi-tractor truck vehicle of claim 11, wherein the vehicle is capable of running at a speed of at least 55 mph for at least 8 hours.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The semi-tractor truck vehicle of claim 11, wherein the vehicle has a fuel efficiency of greater than 10 mpg.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The semi-tractor truck vehicle of claim 11, wherein the vehicle has a fuel efficiency of greater than 15 mpg.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The semi-tractor truck vehicle of claim 11, wherein the vehicle has a fuel efficiency at least 100 percent greater than a fuel efficiency of the vehicle equipped with a standard diesel engine.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The semi-tractor truck vehicle of claim 11, wherein the AC/DC controller converts DC input from the at least one DC battery to AC, and outputs AC to the AC electric motor to drive the power train of the vehicle.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The semi-tractor truck vehicle of claim 11, further comprising means for controlling the temperature of the at least one DC battery.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The semi-tractor truck vehicle of claim 17, wherein the temperature of the at least one DC battery is maintained within a temperature of from 20 to 35° C.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The semi-tractor truck vehicle of claim 17, wherein the temperature of the at least one DC battery is maintained within a range of ±2° C. of an optimal battery temperature.