GB2440321A

GB2440321A - Parallel hybrid vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2440321A
Application number: GB0613717A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Viktors Makurins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-07-11
Filing date: 2006-07-11
Publication date: 2008-01-30
Also published as: GB0613717D0

Abstract

An electric engine includes an electric motor powered by a rechargeable electric energy storage device. This motor can be engaged to the transmission or any point of the drive train and used independently of the main internal combustion petrol, diesel, etc. engine of the vehicle to turn the drive wheels in order to move the vehicle, allowing the driver to switch off the main engine. Preferably the electric motor also acts as a generator or a separate generator may be used to recharge the electric energy storage device. A separate or a conventional starter battery of greater capacity may be used as the energy storage device. Preferably a vehicle starter motor with possible modifications is used as the electric motor. The electric engine may be controlled by semi- or fully manual, part- or fully automatic controls.

Description

S I

Electric engine This invention relates to an electric engine used on motor vehicles with an internal combustion engine (petrol, diesel, gas, liquid petroleum gas, etc).

Motor vehicles often get stuck in traffic jams. In most cases they can only progress a short distance at a time, sometimes spending lengthy periods of time moving very slowly. Every time the vehicle moves forward, even a few inches, the engine, the clutch, the gearbox, the brakes and other mechanical parts and controls are engaged. During this time the engine is running or idling. Since traffic jams occur on a daily basis and involve a great number of vehicles overall, they present a great environmental issue (pollution, noise, etc), unnecessary consumption of fuel and the wear of the vehicle and road surface.

Often traffic jams (delays, closures, diversions, etc) are caused by broken down vehicles. In such cases they have to be towed or pushed away, which causes delay and may be highly dangerous especially on high speed roads and motorways in adverse weather conditions.

Although the combination of electric and internal combustion engines are used on hybrid vehicles (for instance parallel systems), these systems rely on the internal combustion engine either to power the electric engine or in parallel with the electric motor. In either case the internal combustion engine is running.

Also it is difficult, prohibitively expensive or impossible to convert the existing petrol or diesel vehicle to the hybrid version.

To overcome this, the present invention proposes an electric engine that can be used instead of the main internal combustion engine as completely or partially independent device so that when a vehicle gets stuck in heavy traffic and can move forward only short distances at a time, the driver can switch off the main engine and engage the electric engine to inch forward.

This invention can also be used in emergencies when the main engine is not This system can be designed to be installed at the factory or fitted in an existing vehicle, which is a particularly important advantage.

Accordingly, this invention provides an electric engine which consists of an electric motor (the existing starter or an additional motor, which can also act as a generator to recharge the energy storage device) engaged to the transmission or drive train at any point, rechargeable electric energy storage device (e.g. a battery) and controls.

Preferably, the starter motor (or a modified version) is used for this purpose, although a separate motor may be used.

Preferably, the electric motor also acts as a generator to recharge the energy storage device (battery) of the electric engine, although the conventional starter/generator or a separate generator may be used. In either case the generator must be connected to the main engine when the electric engine is not running in order to produce enough electric current to recharge the storage device.

Preferably, an additional battery or a similar storage device is used as the electric energy storage device, although a more powerflul starter battery may be used.

A preferred embodiment of this invention will now be described.

The electric engine (starter or an separate motor) is connected to the gearbox (manually or with the help of automated controls) via a combination of shafts, gears, belts, chains or wheels or any other devices and may be engaged to the drive train -just like the main engine -by putting it in gear.

This connection must be arranged in such a way that it enables the starter to move the vehicle.

If the starter is used, then another device ensures that it is disengaged from the main engine before it is engaged to the drive train to prevent the two engines interfering with each other and to reduce the load on the electric motor. Once it is disengaged from the drive train, it should be re-engaged to the engine so it can act as a conventional starter and generator.

The controls may be manual or part-/filly automatic. They connect the electric power from the energy storage device (e.g. battery) to the starter, enabling the driver to switch on/off the power or gradually increase/decrease it. They can be, for instance, programmed to increase the electric power gradually to avoid the use of clutch (similar to electric trains, for example) to move off the vehicle from a stationary position.

The controls also inform the driver of the battery charge so that he/she can plan ahead and either switch back to the main engine or run it to generate enough electricity to recharge the energy storage device.

To disengage the electric engine the driver can use the clutch (depending on the point of connection to the drive drain) or disengage the gear.

Alternatively all or some of these operations may be carried out manually or automatically with the help of controls or as a combination of either.

For example, when the vehicle is stuck in a jam, the driver switches off the main engine and manually engages the electric engine gear. The controls automatically disengage it from the main engine. When it is safe to proceed, the driver switches on the electric power and gradually increases it to move the vehicle forward. Switching on/off and increasing/reducing the power can be controlled by the gas pedal, just like in an electric vehicle.

In order to enable the starter/generator to successfully recharge the energy storage device of the electric engine as well as the existing starter battery (if a separate battery is used) it is preferable that the smallest possible battery is used in the design of the electric engine. This means that motor must be of the smallest possible capacity, however, powerful enough to move the vehicle. It is possible then that the transmission device which connects the electric motor to the drive train will require a very low gear to enable the motor to move the vehicle. Therefore the vehicle may only be able to move at a rather low speed. But as low speeds are quite acceptable in the circumstances outlined above (e.g. inching forward in a long queue at the traffic lights or a jam), this does not present an issue.

When the driver wishes to use the electric engine to move the vehicle (for example when the vehicle is in heavy traffic), he/she engages it with the help of controls and has the option of switching off the main engine before or after that. The driver then uses controls to increase/decrease the power from the energy storage device to the starter to move the vehicle as required.

When the traffic has cleared and the vehicle can travel at higher speeds, the driver switches off the electric motor and disengages the electric engine from the drive train, at the same time re-engaging it to the main engine so it can start acting as starter and generator and switches on the main internal combustion engine to proceed.

Whilst the use of the existing or modified starter motor is preferable, an additional electric motor can be fitted with its own battery or using the starter battery of higher capacity. Similar principles apply if an additional electrical motor is installed as when the starter motor is used. It may be connected to the drive train in a similar or a different fashion.

Another version of the same invention may have an electric motor (starter or another motor) connected to the drive train at any point. For instance it may be engaged directly to the output shaft, axle or one of the wheels.

In any even the electric motor, starter or a separate generator must be connected to the main engine or any point of the drive train when it is running so that they can act as a generator and produce electricity to recharge the energy storage devices.

The detailed design of the mechanical, electrical and electronic parts can be worked out by a manufacturer or qualified mechanic depending on the type of the vehicle, its use, the market requirements, etc.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. An electric engine includes an electric motor powered by a rechargeable electric energy storage device that can be engaged to the transmission or any point of the drive train and used independently of the main internal combustion petrol, diesel, gas or liquid petroleum gas engine of the vehicle to turn the drive wheels in order to move the vehicle.

2. An electric engine as claimed in Claim I where the electric motor can also act as a generator so that when it is connected to the main engine or the drive train of the vehicle it produces electricity to recharge the electric energy storage device of the electric engine.

3. An electric engine as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 where the vehicle starter is used as the electric motor.

4. An electric engine as claimed in Claim 3 where a greater capacity motor is used.

5. An electric engine as claimed in any proceeding claim which is powered by the conventional starter battery of greater capacity.

6. An electric engine as claimed in any proceeding claim which is powered by an independent electric energy storage device.

7. An electric engine as claimed in any proceeding claim which uses a separate generator or the starter to recharge its electric energy storage device.

8. An electric engine as claimed in any proceeding claim which is controlled by a semi-or fully manual, part-or fully automatic controls.