The present invention relates to a hybrid drive device for motor vehicles and finds application in the automobile industry.
Automobiles known as Series Hybrid are vehicles driven by an electric motor wherein another motor, e.g. combustion engine, is used solely to recharge the accumulator batteries. Known is an electric automobile driven by electric motor in which the batteries are used to store electric energy from the power supply network or another external source. The electric motor uses this stored energy to drive the automobile until the energy is exhausted.
Known from publication U82007114078 is a vehicle including a petrol engine that drives a generator, which generates electric current and charges the batteries which on their side power the electric motor that drives the automobile. This embodiment with a petrol engine can only use liquid fuel, e.g. petrol, to produce electric energy which results in the automobile engine being heavier but with lower power and lower efficiency. The petrol piston engine works in synchronously with the electric motor, which increases the fuel consumption and decreases the distance that the vehicle can cover.
A pneumatic motor is a mechanism that takes compressed air and converts it into energy that is then used for mechanical work U.S. Pat. No. 6,862,973. Also known is Quasiturbine Pneumatic turbines, known to be used to generate electric power U.S. Publication No. 20040079321 A1.
The goal of this invention is to create a hybrid drive for vehicles that increases the distance covered by the vehicle without the need for frequent recharge of the batteries from the power supply network and at the same time decreases the fuel consumption in view of lowering the noxious emissions.
The goal is achieved by a hybrid drive for vehicles including batteries mounted on the chassis of the vehicle, which supply power to at least one electric motor. The electric motor is coupled by the means of a transmission to the drive wheels of the vehicle.
According to the present invention, the chassis supports a fuel tank to supply fuel to a turbine engine. Via a reducer, the turbine engine is coupled to a generator that produces electric energy and is connected to the batteries to recharge them. On the chassis shall be installed a control unit that controls the level of charge of the accumulator batteries and commands the switching on or off of the turbine engine.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the fuel tank contains liquid fuel. Another embodiment is possible wherein the tank contains compressed combustible gas.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, when the tank contains compressed combustible gas, it is possible to install between the tank and the turbine engine a pneumatic turbine connected to the power generator. There is an embodiment in which the pneumatic turbine is coupled to an additional power generator.
In the case when the tank contains compressed non-combustible gas, the hybrid drive of the vehicle includes accumulator batteries installed on the chassis of the vehicle, which supply power to at least one electric motor. Via a transmission, the electric motor is coupled to the drive wheels of the vehicle. Through a duct from the tank, compressed non-combustible gas is supplied to a pneumatic turbine, which is coupled via a reducer to a power generator which generates electric energy and recharges the accumulator batteries.
It is possible to be installed an electric motor that is coupled to a compressor unit that allows a quick recharge of the tank for compressed non-combustible gas or compressed air.
The chassis shall support a control unit that controls the level of charge of the accumulator batteries. It is possible to couple one electric motor to each of the two front drive wheels. Another embodiment of the present invention provides for one electric motor coupled to each one of the four wheels of the vehicle. All embodiments of the present invention provide for a device to recharge the accumulator batteries from the power supply network.
The advantage of the present invention consists in that it significantly decreases the fuel consumption because a turbine motor is used that is only activated when the charge of the accumulator batteries is low, and it always works at optimum mode. Thus, the distance covered by the vehicle is increased without need to frequently recharge the batteries from the power supply network because they are recharged by the action of the turbine motor. Furthermore, the turbine motor is lighter than the petrol piston engine and in the same time more efficient.
The present invention is explained through the embodiment shown on the enclosed figures, wherein:
As shown in
The device is also fitted with control unit (9) that controls the charge of the accumulator batteries (3). When the charge of the accumulator batteries (3) drops below a certain level, the control unit (9) starts the turbine motor (7). When the accumulator batteries are completely recharged, the control unit (9) sends a signal to turn off the turbine motor (7). In all embodiments of the device an arrangement (10) is fitted for recharge of the accumulator batteries from the power supply network. Arrangement (10) permits the driver to manually charge the accumulator batteries (3). Liquid fuel tank (4) is connected to turbine motor (7) with a white arrow, representing a fuel line. Turbine motor (7) is connected to power generator (6) with a dark grey arrow with a circular arrow around it—representing torque. Power generator (6) is connected to accumulator batteries (3) with thin black arrows representing electric power. Similarly, accumulator batteries (3) are connected to electric motor (1) with thin black arrows, again representing electric power. Electric motor (1) is connected to transmission (2) with a dark grey arrow with a half circular arrow around it representing torque.
In the embodiment of the device disclosed in
The device of
As shown in
When using CNG, LPG, gas or other fuel stored under high pressure in a tank of compressed gas (5) is used together with pneumatic turbine (8) and turbine (Turbo-shaft) engine (7) by the compressed gas passes through pneumatic turbine (8) and drives it and then the fuel gas (5) is used in a turbine (Turbo-shaft) engine (7) for fuel which drives it. Starting and stopping of a turbine engine is controlled by an electronic unit (9) depending on the level of charge the battery (3).
Upon starting the vehicle electrical control unit (9) checks the status of the battery and if necessary starts turbine (Turbo-shaft) engine (7) and/or pneumatic turbine (8) if low. Batteries (3) have enough electric power car began work as a standard electric car.
Generated electricity is stored in storage batteries (3), which provides electricity to power an electric motor incorporated in the wheels (11) which operates independently on all four wheels of the vehicle. To increase fuel economy the arrangement (10) can be used by the driver to charge the batteries(3) from the power grid. During braking and deceleration of the vehicle energy/momentum by the electronic control unit (9) electric motor (11) produce energy which is returned to the batteries (3).
On
As shown in
Upon starting the vehicle electrical control unit (9) checks the status of the battery (3) and if necessary starts pneumatic turbine (8). If the batteries (3) have enough electricity the car operates as a standard electric car. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that high pressure noncombustible gas tank (15) could be replaced with compressed combustible gas tank (5).
In
On in
On
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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BG 1487 | Aug 2008 | BG | national |
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/060,048, filed Feb. 21, 2011.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 13060048 | Feb 2011 | US |
Child | 14025784 | US |