Patent · US Expired

Vehicle drive system with electrical power regeneration

US5771478A · kind A · utility

48Cited by
13References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 6, 1995
Grant dateJun 23, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 6, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S903/947
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A drive system provides a smooth start for a vehicle and converts excess kinetic energy accompanying the difference in speed between the engine and the drive wheels occurring during starting into electrical energy for storage in a battery. The drive system includes a gearbox having at least a first gear element connected to an output shaft of an engine, a second gear element connected to a drive wheel of a vehicle and a third gear element for, by applying a braking torque to the third gear element, reducing the speed of rotation input from the first gear element and outputting it to the second gear element. An engaging element provides selective connection to any of the gear elements for mechanically connecting the output shaft of the engine to the drive wheel. The drive system further includes an electric rotary device connected to the third gear element, an accumulator, engine load detector for detecting engine load, speed detector for detecting the speed of at least one of the gear elements of the gearbox and for outputting a speed signal and a control unit.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.