Various embodiments described herein relate to apparatus, systems, and methods associated with hybrid electric vehicle drive systems.
Hybrid electric drive systems utilize an internal combustion engine to generate electricity and drive an electric motor. Such a configuration can be very energy efficient because the internal combustion engine can be run at a substantially constant speed to generate electricity. Additional configurations are constantly being sought to further improve efficiency.
In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilized and structural, logical, and electrical changes may be made.
In one example, the hybrid drive system 100 includes a rectifier 116 to convert alternating current from the generator 114 to direct current. In one example, a radiator 110 is coupled adjacent to a fan 138 to provide cooling of a liquid medium. In one example, a pair of radiators are coupled adjacent to one another, where one radiator includes standard engine coolant, such as ethylene glycol, and a second radiator includes a liquid medium as described in examples below. In one example, the fan 138 is used to cool both the ethylene glycol radiator and the liquid medium radiator. In one example the liquid medium includes a lubricant. In one example, the liquid medium includes an oil based medium.
An electric motor 122 is further shown in
Although a number of systems are drawn adjacent to one another in block diagram form in
A reservoir tank 130 is further shown in
In the example of
In one example, the connection lines 140 flow the liquid medium through the radiator 110, and out to various components and/or systems of the hybrid drive system 100 that are cooled by a single supply of liquid medium as shown in
Although an example flow pathway for the liquid medium is illustrated in
In the example of
Although for illustration purposes, the flow of the liquid medium is shown in series from one component and/or system, the invention is not so limited. In one example, a flow divider 128 is shown. In one example, flow of the liquid medium may be directed in parallel from the flow divider 128 to various components and/or systems at selected flow rates.
In one example, the brake system 124 is configured to be normally biased in a stopping or braking condition. Examples of a braking condition include a mechanical spring or other device that biases brake pads against a drum or disk or other friction surface. When the hybrid drive system 100 is not in operation, the brake system 124 is engaged, and the associated vehicle cannot move.
In one example, the connection line 140 coupled to the brake system 124 provides a supply of pressurized liquid medium wherein the pressure in the system is supplied by the pneumatic pressure source 142. In one example, the pressurized liquid medium is coupled to the brake system 124 to overcome the normally biased condition, and allow the associated vehicle to move. If power is lost at any time during operation of the hybrid drive system 100, the brake system 124 will lose pressure from the connection line 140 and the brake system will return to the biased condition and stop the vehicle. Safety of the vehicle is increased because the vehicle will stop without any intervention from an operator whenever the hybrid drive system 100 loses power. This feature may be particularly advantageous in an autonomous vehicle.
The vehicle 200 of
While a number of embodiments of the invention are described, the above lists are not intended to be exhaustive. Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement that is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon studying the above description.
This patent application is a U.S. National Stage Filing under 35 U.S.C. 371 from International Application No. PCT/US2014/053238, filed on Aug. 28, 2014, and published as WO 2015/031662 A1 on Mar. 5, 2015, which, claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/872,168, filed on Aug. 30, 2013, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2014/053238 | 8/28/2014 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2015/031662 | 3/5/2015 | WO | A |
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WO-2015031662 | Mar 2015 | WO |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20160214487 A1 | Jul 2016 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61872168 | Aug 2013 | US |