Non-railbound vehicle with an electric motor and an internal combustion engine powered generator wherein a low voltage source and capacitors are used to operate the generator as a starter to start the engine

US5705859A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Mannesmann AG · DE

Inventors

• Erich Karg · Zeitlofs, DE
• Dieter Lutz · Schweinfurt, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 13, 1995
• Grant date: Jan 6, 1998
• Expiry date: Sep 13, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S903/907
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A non-railbound vehicle in which at least one driving wheel is coupled with an electric motor which is supplied with electric current via power electronics influenced by an electronic control depending on the power requirement selected by the driver via an accelerator pedal. The current is produced by a generator (2) which is coupled with an internal combustion engine. The current for driving the generator is supplied with an operating voltage in the medium-voltage range. Additionally, there is a vehicle power supply in the low-voltage range which ensures the supply of power to accessory electrical consumers. The low-voltage power supply has a vehicle battery and is supplied with current obtained by transforming a portion of the mechanical energy generated by the internal combustion engine. The generator can also be operated as an electric motor for starting the internal combustion engine. A DC-voltage intermediate circuit outfitted with capacitors is connected downstream of the generator, and powers the electric motors. The electronic control is programmed to provide for a charging of the capacitors of the DC-voltage intermediate circuit from the vehicle battery before starting th…