AU657116B2 - Improved vehicles - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2 -1- AUSTRALIA 6571 1 Patents Act 1990 CG~ETB~SL='EC IF CA2 M OW~ 372kr DA,:EJ 3P2TBrM1Tx 6 to.

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FILING DATE: GEORGE PANAYIDES PK 5062/91 13/ 3/91 Invention Title: IMPROVED VEHICLES The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: -2- This invention relates to an improved vehicle and in particular to an improved electric vehicle.

With the present concern about energy resources a number of people have been attempting to provide vehicles which are more energy efficient or which minimise the use of fossil fuels.

Of these electric vehicles seem to offer the best long term solution but they suffer from disadvantages which interrelate.

9*eeo9 Firstly, to provide a reasonable range at an acceptable speed the weight of the batteries carried is very high and this minimises 9*o99* the load capacity of the vehicle, and secondly, largely because of the limited range it is necessary to be able to provide means whereby the batteries can be readily recharged.

To date the degree of success in overcoming these difficulties has not been great as conventional thinking has been that it will be necessary to produce batteries which carry a higher charge but which are substantially lighter than herebefore and also, preferably, that the batteries can be quickly recharged.

The object of the present invention is to look at these problems from a different direction and to provide a vehicle which does not have to have a great battery capacity and this, at the same time, helps to minimise the overall weight of the vehicle and, thus, can provide an improved load capacity.

\WP51\SPEC\PANAYIDIS.SFP\25 February 1992 -3- The invention, in its broadest sense, includes a battery operated vehicle which includes a battery, a batte.y driven electric motor to propel the vehicle and which is powered by the battery and a generator, with drive means provided on a wheel of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle wheel has a ring gear associated with the inner face thereof and a gear wheel engaging the ring gear, the gear wheel being on a shaft which is substantially parallel to the wheel axis and which drives the generator.

In a preferred form of the invention I provide a generator *adjacent each back wheel of the vehicle and adapted to be driven in association therewith, and I also prefer to provide a generator about the drive shaft of the vehicle.

In a further form of the invention I provide means whereby the speed of rotation of the vehicle part can be multiplied to drive a generator at a more desirable speed.

a The use of the word battery in this specification is in the sense of a plurality of cells which may be in the same, or different, casings.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, I shall describe, in relation to the accompanying drawings, various aspects of the invention together with the method of operation.

-4- In these drawings:- Fig. 1 shows a rather schematic view of a vehicle to which the invention has been applied; Fig. 2 shows a view of a- second application of the invention; Fig. 3 shows an application of the invention to a semiarticulated vehicle; Fig. 4 shows a differential and suspension arrangement incorporating the invention; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the arrangement of Fig. 4; 9*S*9o Fig. 6 is an end elevation partially broken along lines 6-6 of Fig. Fig. 7 is a rear view, partly borken away, of an alternate form of drive means for a generator; Fig. 8 is a side view of the arrangement of Figure 7; Fig. 9 is a view similar to Figure 7 showing a different form of drive; Fig. 10 is a side view of the arrangment of Figure 9; Fig. 11 is a view of a truck axle and wheel assembly, with the tray removed showing a still different SPi' epwn p m yywlT OW 25 Febrrv 1992 form of drive means for the generators; and Fig. 12 is a view along line 12,12 of Figure 11 showing the method of drive.

The first form to be described is illustrated in Fig. 1 and is the application of the invention in a motor vehicle such as a motor car or the like.

oboe*: 0 In the invention the motor 1 and gear box assembly 2 (shown in chain-dash lines) are replaced by an electric motor 3 and .i* batteries 4 and the number and location of the batteries can vary depending upon the required application and the required weight distribution. That is, the batteries may be completely held within the engine compartment or they can be divided between the engine compartment and the boot of the vehicle. As illustrated, batteries 4a are shown at the rear of the vehicle.

The motor is in driving attachment with the rear wheels and I prefer to use a conventional drive shaft 5 and differential 6 and the motor may, if required, be connected to the drive shaft through a gear box 7 which would normally be a fixed ratio box but it could if required be a variable ratio box which enables the motor to run at a constant optimum speed.

Control of the speed of the vehicle can be effected by a throttle or the like 8 which simply enables more or less power to be \WP51\SPEC\PANAYIDIS.SPC\25 February 1992 -6applied to the motor.

The foregoing can be considered to be basically conventional as an approach to an electric vehicle although it differs inasmuch as the size of the batteries concerned can be substantially less than would normally be used. The reason for this will be described later.

Mounted in association with each rear wheel of the vehicle there can be a generator 9 which is adapted to produce power at a voltage such as to permit recharging of the batteries.

*e s 0* 00 This may necessitate providing a generator which is either indirectly driven through some form of gear box 10 so that its rate of rotation is higher than the rate of rotation of the Sassociated wheel or could necessitate the provision of a generator/gear box assembly the input to which is driven at the speed of rotation of the wheel and which has a speed multiplier for the rotor.

0 I also prefer to provide a further generator 31 in which part of the tail shaft is used as the rotor and the field coils 12 are located thereabout.

Again this generator is adapted to produce an output at a voltage which will permit charging of the batteries.

\WP51\SPEC\PANAYIDISSPC\25 February 1992 -7- The generators, 9 can either be direct current generators which operate at a voltage slightly higher then the required battery voltage, to ensure charging, or alternators 12, 13 which produce an alternating current which passes through rectifier 14 from which a direct current having the required voltage is produced.

If required, and if this proves more efficient, where alternators are being used, then the voltage can be at any required level and the outputs of the alternators can pass through a transformer before passing to the rectifier 14 to produce the required voltage.

The arrangement is such that when the vehicle is moving there is a certain amount of power generated which is fed back to the battery but where the speed of the vehicle reaches a predetermined optimum, say 60 kilometres an hour, then the generators operate at maximum efficiency and produce a maximum output.

This arrangement is then such that during normal acceleration, say, there is no undue loading because of the operation of the generators but once the required speed is reached then excess power can effectively drive these generators which in turn will charge the battery, This indicates the capability to include lower capacity batteries than has previously been the case, because the batteries are \WP51\SPEC\PANAYIDIS.SPC\25 February 1992 recharged during normal operation and particularly during downhill operation.

The main battery source then is necessary to ensure that there is sufficient power for the vehicle to reach the optimum speed and to assume a certain degree of loading on long uphill runs, where power is consumed. Under normal conditions there is a net increase of power to the battery so the battery can be recharged.

In heavier vehicles I can provide different modifications of the invention.

e* e If a truck is a tray truck, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the arrangement can be very similar to that described for a motor car in Fig. 1 but I can if required incorporate an additional **o transfer case 21 arrangement and a driven shaft 22 rather than a drive shaft which can run along the length of the tray, or at least a substantial part of this length and possibly parallel S, to the drive shaft 24 which driven shaft can constitute the core of the rotor of an additional generator The driven shaft 25 is supported by a bearing assembly 26. The other components, whether illustrated or not, can be considered similar to the corresponding components of Fig. 1.

In semi-trailer vehicles, illustrated schematically in Fig. 3, where the trailer 35 itself is not driven, I may provide an \WP51\SPEC\PANAYIDIS.SPC\25 February 1992 -9interconnection between one or more pairs of the road wheels which has one or two differential units therein each of which has a driven shaft el-aAing therefrom which driven shafts 31 can constitute the core of a generator 32 as in the arrangement of Fig. 2, the free end of shaft 31 "can be mounted in a bearing assembly 38.

While not illustrated, I can alternatively provide two differentials on the one axle and effectively duplicate the shafts 31 to provide extra power.

In such an arrangement I could provide batteries 34 in association with the trailer so that whilst the prime mover has a battery 36 sufficient for its own operation, when a trailer is attached there is an additional source of power 34 which can

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be directly connected in parallel, as by connector 37, with the prime mover's batte: 'es 36 which provides the additional power needed for the additional weight associated with the addition of the trailer.

Whilst in this specification to date I have discussed the use of effectively conventional components I can also, if required, provide a modified form of suspension arrangement for use with trucks.

In this arrangement, illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6, instead of using a normal axle extending outwardly from the differential and \WP51\SPEC\PANAYIDIS.SPC\25 February 1992 having a hub thereon to which hub the wheel is connected, I provide a hollow tube 41 which operates as a shaft and which can have located therein or thereabouts the components of the generator 2 and which may have as its outer end a splined inner or outer surface 43 and the wheel 46 which is being driven thereby can have corresponding splines 44 to enable operative inter-engagement.

In such an arrangement the wheel may not be restrained against axial movement and I can provide a linkage located between the sub-frame 45 of the trailer and the wheel 46, which may include a parallel pair of upwardly directed links 47 which are rotatably *"connected to a pair of inwardly directed links 48 the free ends of which are pivotally connected to the frame 45, and it may also be preferred that the inwardly directed links 48 be telescopic **6t to enable the correct geometry of the wheel to be maintained.

Figures 7 and 8 show an arrangement whereby the vehicle wheel is provided with a gear wheel 51 coaxially therewith which gear meshes with a further gear wheel 52 which is connected to a shaft 53 which is supported by a bearing 54 which is associated with the tray 59 of the vehicle.

A universal joint 60 is provided to permit relative movement between the wheel 52 and the shaft 53.

Shaft 53 can drive, through a gear box 55, a generator 56.

I qpa i r cpr~r Pl TIn apr 25 Febri, ry 1992 -11- The wheel 51 is associated with an axle 57 which is sprung 58 and it is to accommodate the movement between the axle 57 and the tray 59 that the universal joint 60 is provided.

Shown in chain dash there is a protective cover 67.

The arrangement of Figures 9 and 10 are very similar to that of Figures 7 and 8, and similar references would be used where relevant in this case instead of the gear wheels 51 and 52 there Sis a pinion 61 mounted on extension of the axle and this meshes with a gear 62 which is connected by means of a shaft 63 to a second gear 64 which drives a pinion

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The shaft 63 is shown as having bearings 68 and 69.

The shaft 53, which is mounted in bearing 54 drives a gear box 55 and, by way of the gear box, the generator 56 as in the previous embodiment.

0 The embodiment of Figures 11 nd 12 show an arrangement where the generators 71 and 72 are fixed relative to the axle 80 thus removing the necessity to have a universal joint connection in the drive train.

In each case there is a gear wheel 73 mounted on a shaft 75 which meshes with a ring gear 74 which is connected to the wheel or wheel hub.

\WP51\SPEC\PANAYIOtS.SPC\25 February 1992 -12- This shaft can drive through a gear box 76 to the generator 71.

The axles 80 are shown as being connected to a differential 81 and in this case there is a generator, 71, 72 associated with the wheels on each side and these generators are each adapted to be located in association with the axles and in such a way as to not foul the differential 81 or the associated drive shaft.

Whilst in the embodiment of Figure 11 we have shown the generator as being associated with a driven axle it would be equally 0*es possible to drive the generators through road wheels which are S. non-driven.

es g In such a case there would not be the length for restriction on the generators as there would no differential and, provided the generators were located on either side of the axle, as illustrated for example in Figure 11, they could be of any .oo required length.

0 In accordance with the invention, and specifically in accordance with the embodiments of Figures 7, 12 the generators can be connected to a motor or motors, not shown and to provide direct power to the motor, Any excess power generated can be feed to recharge the batteries of the vehicles.

\WP51\SPEC\PANAYIDIS.SPC\25 February 1992 -13- I believe with the arrangement of these embodiments I will not have to provide great battery capacity and, as such, can minimise the useable weight lost by carrying batteries.

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Claims (4)

1. A battery operated vehicle which includes a battery, a battery driven electric motor to propel the vehicle and which is powered by the battery and a generator, with drive means provided on a wheel of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle wheel has a ring gear associated with the inner face thereof and a gear wheel engaging the ring gear, the gear wheel being on a shaft which is 0 substantially parallel to the wheel axis and which drives the generator.

2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is more C than one generator.

3. A vehicle as claimed in either preceding claim including C GOOD means whereby the speed of rotation of the generator is greater than the speed of rotation of the rotating vehicle wheel with which it is associated.

4. A vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the battery consists of a number of cells or cell modules. 9f I N k Abattery operated vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 12th day of February, 199-2 GEORGE PANAYIDIS By His Patent Attorneys A. Tatlock Associates S S S S. S S S S S S SS S. S S. 55 S S S S S 595 *S S 'V Ld4 \22~ g Q -16- Abstract A battery operated vehicle which includes a battery, a battery driven electric motor to propel the vehicle and which is powered by the battery and a generator adapted to charge the battery. The generator is associated with a ground-wheel so that the wheel has a ring gear associated with the inner face thereof a gear wheel, being on a shaft which drives the generator, engaging the ring gear and there may, if required be more than on generator. 9 The generator may be operated at the speed of rotation of the rotating part or at a speed greater than this. O* 0 4 O j1<«.