DE102015005318A1 - Device for range extension for electrically driven motor vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for extending range of travel for electrically powered vehicles, which has a chassis with a chassis, an internal combustion engine, an electric generator, a radiator, a fuel tank and silencer is located outside of the vehicle to be driven and attached to this if necessary, for longer distances to allow the drive by an electric generator driven by an internal combustion engine (Range Extender), wherein the electric generator drives the electric motor of the car by means of a detachable cable on the car, or the internal combustion engine by means of a propeller shaft is detachably connected directly to the transmission of the car and thus directly driving the car without energy conversion, while the attached device is close to the towing vehicle and by means of quickly attaching additional movable connection, the device always keeps almost straight behind the towing vehicle while the wheels of the chassis - in a special design - are automatically pivotally mounted on the chassis of the device for range extension.

Description

The invention relates to a device for extending the range of the route for electrically powered passenger cars.

It is known to extend the range of driven by an electric motor vehicle in addition to the electric motor to install an internal combustion engine that drives a generator that supplies the power for the main electric drive when needed, making the range of the vehicle due to the weight of the engine and generator the range of the route is limited.

One variant is the so-called plug-in hybrid system in which the internal combustion engine is the main drive and the electric drive can be optionally activated for weight reasons by a smaller battery correspondingly reduced range.

It is unavoidable that the purely electric range by forcibly reducing the battery is sustainably reduced by the additional weight of the built-in electric car weight of the engine and generator. Accordingly, in the series-built vehicle with plug-in hybrid system, the purely electric range is greatly reduced. For small cars this method of range extension is therefore not applicable.

Even with compact and mid-range vehicles, the additional weight of the range extender reduces the size of the battery for the electric drive, so that the range is also clearly reduced when the vehicle is powered purely by electricity.

The electric drive in daily local and city traffic is just the incentive for the purchase of an electric car, if there is enough range in this drive mode. As a sufficient range in the purely electric driving mode can be a z. Currently implement feasible distance of 150 to 450 KM (Tesla Model S) to motivate the purchase of an electric car.

The indicated in claim 1 invention is based on the problem to provide a motor vehicle with a device for range extension of the route without charging or refueling, in which a reduction in battery capacity is avoided by the range extender and thus reducing the range with purely electric drive ,

• a) entweder die durch einen vom Verbrennungsmotor angetriebenen elektrischen Generator erzeugte Energie über ein von Hand am Kraftfahrzeug lösbares elektrisches Stromkabel oder
• b) durch die mechanische Antriebskraft – das Drehmoment – des Verbrennungsmotors durch eine am Kraftfahrzeug lösbare und vorzugweise am Verbrennungsmotor des Range-Extenders angebrachte Welle und Gelenkwelle oder
• c) beide Ausführungen a) und b) gleichzeitig auf das mit Antriebsenergie zu versorgende Kraftfahrzeug zu übertragen ausgelegt ist, sowie
• d) durch wenigstens eine von Hand lösbare in der Länge veränderbare mechanische Verbindung – Kupplungsvorrichtung – mit dem Kraftfahrzeug verbunden ist, während
• e) die Abmessungen der Range-Extender-Vorrichtung bzw. die äußeren Gehäusemaße vorzugsweise klein gehalten sind und die Motor/Generator-Einheit, die Nebenaggregate und den vorzugsweise vorhandenen Treibstofftanks vorzugsweise eng umschließen.

This problem is solved by the features listed in claim 1, characterized in that the interaction of at least part of the following features, the device for range extension is located outside the space to be supplied with the electrical or mechanical drive energy motor vehicle, on a chassis with suspension in Longitudinal or transverse position is fixedly mounted, an electric generator, at least one fuel tank, radiator and muffler for the operation of the internal combustion engine and has

• a) either the energy generated by an electric generator driven by the internal combustion engine via a hand-held on the motor vehicle electrical power cable or
• b) by the mechanical driving force - the torque - of the internal combustion engine by a detachable from the motor vehicle and preferably attached to the engine of the range extender shaft and propeller shaft or
• c) both versions a) and b) is designed to transmit simultaneously to the drive power to be supplied motor vehicle, and
• d) is connected to the motor vehicle by at least one manually detachable length-variable mechanical connection - coupling device - during
• e) the dimensions of the range extender device or the outer housing dimensions are preferably kept small and preferably enclose the motor / generator unit, the ancillaries and preferably present fuel tanks tight.

The advantages achieved by the invention are in particular that the holder of an electric car can use the vehicle in local or city traffic as previously without range extender with electric drive up to a distance of about 150 km to 450 km daily, with occasional driving long distance but the detachable from the towing vehicle range extender device to the vehicle and then reaches a range extension of the route if necessary, in which the driven by a generator electric motor drives the vehicle until the detachable in the vehicle range extender Device entrained fuel is consumed.

In this way, the powered vehicle remains free of the weight of the range extension device, and the range of the vehicle may even be longer than that of a fuel-only automotive internal combustion engine.

Thus, the desire for a purely electrically driven vehicle with sufficient range in daily local and city traffic is met and due to the connectable combustion engine ranges up to more than 800 KM with drive through the "range extender" without refueling are also possible.

Some advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in claims 2 to 10.

The device for range extension can be designed in various ways.

The range extender device according to the invention consists of the internal combustion engine, the generator, the radiator, the silencer and at least one fuel tank and all aggregates closely enclosing - preferably soundproof - hinged housing is equipped with a chassis whose simplest version by a ball coupling in a known Is attached to the car as close as possible.

The electric generator is then connected via a detachable cable connection with the electric motor of the vehicle.

To facilitate maneuvering and reversing with the Range Extender Vorichtung, alternatively on both sides parallel to the ball coupling flexible - preferably designed as steel cables - mechanical detachable connections provided which are manually fast to attach and longitudinally have a small sprung tolerance to allow the vertical and twisting movements of the attached device.

The wheels are mounted eccentrically pivotable about an axis in the described embodiment and pivot when reversing automatically by 180 ° degrees or contrary to the current direction to facilitate shunting for inexperienced people.

To reduce the distance of the range extender device to the vehicle, the drawbar of the ball-and-socket coupling, preferably threaded and a crank at the rear of the range extender device, can be shortened in length after coupling, so that the additional total length of the range Extender device is reduced accordingly.

The mounted on a separate chassis device of the range extension can thus be coupled by the rigid in the lateral direction connection to the towing vehicle very close to this, so that the additional length of the vehicle with appended range extender can be reduced to about 60 cm.

If necessary, a synchronization of the pivoting movement of the wheels can be achieved by a gear connection to the pivot axes with, for example, wrap around by timing belt.

With existing hybrid drives, the entire innovation, the system formed by the internal combustion engine can be moved to the external range extender so that the battery in the car can be increased and the pure electric range of the vehicle can be approximately doubled and the car can then also for longer distances are driven by the current supplied by the generator with electric drive.

Another version of the invention is that in a corresponding change to the transmission or mechanical drive system of the motor vehicle to be driven in conjunction with the above-executed laterally rigid connection between range extender device and motor vehicle detachable to the vehicle shaft and drive shaft between the engine Range extender device and the transmission of the car is provided.

In such a design, which - as I said - a change in the mechanical drive system of the vehicle makes optimal conditions with respect to fuel consumption so the economy on long routes with fuel drive created and the car is only with the electric drive battery and electric motor - Equipped with correspondingly increased range in pure electric drive mode.

The detachable from the towing vehicle range extender device is designed in this embodiment so that the axis of rotation (crankshaft) of the internal combustion engine is preferably arranged in the direction of travel. In this way, between the vehicle and range extender device located on the engine side preferably permanently fixed propeller shaft is very short - about 20 to 30 cm - and can by means of external teeth at the shaft end in an internal toothing of the drive shaft to the motor vehicle Side are pushed so that no assembly when coupling the range extender device is required.

In this embodiment, the internal combustion engine preferably drives the rear wheels, while the electric drive preferably drives the front wheels of the towing vehicle.

For the movement of the range extender device in the decoupled state by hand, a hinged additional drawbar and at least one lowerable support wheel is preferably provided.

Alternatively, a roller-mounted frame is used for the manual movement in the uncoupled state, which is connected to the decoupling of the range extender device with this. After uncoupling, the range extender device is then moved together with the rollable frame by hand and can then be turned off in this state.

Some embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be described in more detail below.

Show it

1 - 1a the rear part of a towing vehicle, with the chassis attached to it, on a base plate ( 1 ) fixed installation, consisting of internal combustion engine, radiator, generator, fuel tank and silencer device for range extension in a schematic side view and in schematic cross section,

1b - 1c the device for range extension after 1 with a laterally rigid coupling and pivotable wheels in a schematic plan view,

2 . 2a . 2 B the towing vehicle with a range extender device attached in a conventional manner via a ball-and-socket coupling with a device rigidly coupled in the lateral movement direction about the longitudinal axis for extending the range with transversely arranged engine-generator unit in a schematic side view and schematic plan view;

2c the execution after 2 B with arranged in the longitudinal or direction of travel engine-generator unit in a schematic plan view,

3 + 3a the execution after 1 with transverse installation of the internal combustion engine-generator unit and lowerable Abstützrad, in a schematic plan view,

4 the range extender device with specially designed chassis bottom plate and reduced track width,

5a + 5a Coupled range extender with double ball coupling, central double wheel and mechanical transmission of engine torque to the towing vehicle,

6 the range extender device with mechanical connection of the crankshaft to the vehicle transmission in a schematic plan view,

7 + 7a a design with double ball coupling in a schematic plan view and lowered support device and folding drawbar in a schematic side view,

7b a version with drawbar that can be shortened in length,

8th the schematic structure of the mechanical torque transmission to the towing vehicle,

9 to 9c a rollable frame for the movement of the range extender device by hand in the uncoupled state,

10 the side view of a luxury-class passenger car with appended device for range extension.

(General Note on the Drawings: The drawings are schematic diagrams of the principles which suggest to a designer the various possible embodiments of the invention.) Parts of the same function are given the same reference numbers in the various drawings, and all drawings are representations of the basic principles the invention and can be applied in practice by constructive detail changes application).

1 and 10 show in a simplified embodiment on a base plate 1 permanently installed with a chassis and housing cover 10 provided range extender device. The housing cover 1a closely surrounds the internal combustion engine with small external dimensions 3 , the cooler 13 as well as the fuel tank 5 and generator 4 and the entire range extender device is via a ball and socket coupling with the towing vehicle 2 connected. The length of the axis of the ball coupling can also be made variable according to the following embodiment.

1a shows the transversely mounted engine / generator unit 3 / 4 as well as the container 5 for the fuel supply km schematic cross-section.

The engine 3 powered electric generator 4 is connected via an electrical cable to the control device for the electric motor on towing vehicle (not shown) and can be solved at any time manually on the towing vehicle as needed.

The 1b This basic design has short length tolerance fitted steel wires 12 on, which couple the device in the lateral direction of movement approximately rigidly on towing vehicle and are manually fast to attach. This ensures that it does not shuffle when reversing and when turning to the side, but can occur during driving movements in vertical and rotatable about the longitudinal axis. The wheels 6 of the chassis are about a fixed axis 7 pivotally mounted eccentrically by 360 ° and pivot, for example, when reversing automatically by 180 ° degrees in the opposite direction. ( 1c )

In 1c the internal combustion engine is alternatively arranged for the purpose of a narrower embodiment in the longitudinal direction and the placement of the preferably unbreakable fuel tanks in the raised floor.

The range extender device, which by a hinged housing 1a can be covered is in 1c Mounted in the longitudinal direction on the hitch and with a common ball coupling 14 connected to the towing vehicle. The extendable drawbar 16 and the lowerable support 15 allow the movement of the device by hand in the disconnected state.

Again, hold the - not shown - elastic compounds ( 12 according to 1b ) the device always aligned almost straight behind the towing vehicle.

In 2 to 2c is the rigid in lateral movement coupling at 360 ° pivotable wheels again shown.

3 and 3a When you turn off the range extender device and move it by hand, the wheels become 6 preferably locked in normal position.

Due to the lowerable support wheels 10 The range extender can be parked in an upright position and the movement of the same is facilitated by the hinged drawbar accordingly.

These devices are exemplified and their function can be achieved by any design designed.

The manually executed coupling process is very simple and can be done in a few minutes without installation effort.

In 4 is a specially designed bottom plate shown to the vertical and twisting movements about the longitudinal axis of the attached device despite the tightly attached to the towing vehicle and attached laterally by the wire ropes 12 to allow connected device. Due to the additionally reduced track width, the attached device also remains in cornering behind the towing vehicle, without sideways auszuscheren.

The 5 and 5a show an alternative embodiment for the arrangement of the wheels of the range extender device. The device is rigidly mounted with respect to a rotational movement about the longitudinal axis with possible vertical movement by two parallel ball head couplings on towing vehicle, a rotational movement about the longitudinal axis is through the central arrangement of a central wheel 6 or double wheel still possible.

The mechanical transmission of the torque of the internal combustion engine to the towing vehicle via the propeller shaft 21 and the connecting shaft 22 ,

6 shows the device after 5 and 5a again in an alternative version with a wide chassis, which is coupled very close to the car. This arrangement of the attached device is possible in that the detachable wire ropes 12 are mounted laterally at a certain distance from the vehicle on the range extender, whereby the rotational and vertical movements of the attached device are possible.

The transmission of the torque of the internal combustion engine is via a propeller shaft 21 and extension shaft shown again, with occurring lateral and tensile forces of the hitch are received by the specially designed drive shaft. Alternatively, the embodiment according to 7 applied.

In 7 an alternative embodiment of the range extender device for motor vehicles is shown. In this embodiment, the chassis of the attached device is equipped with a special hitch.

The internal combustion engine is provided without an electric generator and via a propeller shaft 21 and a subsequent extension wave 22 mechanically connected to the transmission of the vehicle. The torque of the internal combustion engine 3 is transferred in this way without energy conversion directly to the drive of the car, so that no additional energy losses. The cooler 13 for the internal combustion engine is also provided in the hitch.

The connecting device alternatively consists of two parallel mounted ball head couplings 14 , which by the centrally about the longitudinal axis rotatable connecting body 19 Allow twisting movements of the attached device. When coupling, the externally toothed connecting shaft 22 inserted into an existing on towing vehicle internally toothed hollow shaft without mounting and the ball head couplings are locked.

By the rotatable about its axis connecting body 19 The attached device can rotate about the longitudinal axis and the double ball coupling 14 and the swivel wheels 6 cause the attached device always remains - even when reversing - aligned behind the car, making it easier to maneuver with the team.

In 7a the suspended device is stabilized by the lowerable jockey wheel and can manually by means of the folding drawbar 16 to be moved.

In 7b is the drawbar 25 the ball coupling by means of a running under the bottom of the hitch double tube by thread and a crank at the rear of the device after coupling at a distance from the car shortened provided. Here is the chassis also transversely mounted range extender device 3 / 4 designed so that the wheels are swiveling through 360 ° and facilitate the reversing and maneuvering for inexperienced people.

8th , In 8th is the mechanical transmission of the torque of the internal combustion engine 3 over the propeller shaft 21 on the gearbox 24 and the rear wheels of the towing vehicle shown schematically in plan view.

9 to 9c show a rollable frame, by means of which the device for range extension in the disconnected state by means of the handle 16a can be moved and turned off.

The frame 26 is from behind to the attached to the car range extender device by means of the rollers 15a and 15b and a mechanical caster guide 17 introduced and then separated from the towing vehicle. In this way, the device for range extension can then be moved by hand and turned off.

In 9 the rollable frame is brought to the coupled range extender and mechanically secured against displacement.

9a shows the rollable frame without range extender.

In 9b is the rollable frame together with the range extender shown in schematic cross section and

9c shows the rollable frame together with the range extender in a schematic plan view.

In 10 is a top-class passenger car with appended device for range extension again shown in a schematic side view, in which the range is extended by the range extender by an additional 800 KM or more, which is currently reachable by no other functioning method using a range extender.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

baseplate

1a

Housing Cover

1b

specially shaped base plate

2

Rear part of the towing vehicle

3

internal combustion engine

4

electric generator

5

fuel tank

6

Wheel of the chassis

7

Swivel joint for impeller

8th

foldable drawbar

9

Joint for vertical movement

10

Lowerable support wheel

11

tensile metal eyelet

12

Detachable wire rope

13

cooler

14

Ball coupling

15

Lowerable impeller

15a

Gestellrad

15b

swiveling frame wheel

16

fold-out drawbar

16a

strong drawbar

17

casters

18

Connecting shaft to the car transmission

19

centrally rotatable connection body

20

Connecting rod or pipe

21

propeller shaft

22

connecting shaft

23

shaft joint

24

transmission

25

Length adjustable drawbar

26

rollable transport rack

Claims (10)

Device for extending range of the route of electrically powered vehicles - also called range extender - in which an internal combustion engine if necessary, the drive of the vehicle - in particular by a driven by an electric generator electric motor of the vehicle, characterized in that the components of the device for range extension of the driving distance of a motor vehicle such as the internal combustion engine ( 3 ) and the associated parts as well as the generator ( 4 ) are mounted for generating electrical energy outside of the motor vehicle to be driven and are preferably fixedly mounted on a chassis to be attached to the chassis with the chassis, wherein the electric energy generated by the drive of the generator for the occasional drive of the motor driven by an electric motor either through the Combustion engine or by the movement of the wheels of the attached device while driving, especially downhill or when rolling the vehicle, preferably by wedge or toothed belt and is switched on and off by means of a preferably detachable to the vehicle cable to the electric motor of the vehicle or alternatively the torque of the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine preferably located in the direction of travel in this embodiment ( 3 ) directly via a propeller shaft ( 21 ) and subsequent extension wave ( 22 ) on the - preferably on the rear wheel axle located transmission ( 24 ) is transmitted with coupling device of the car. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that this by means of known manually releasable mechanical coupling device ( 14 ) connected to the electrically driven towing vehicle and in the uncoupled state by a known folding or extendable support device - in particular lowerable jockey wheel ( 10 ) 3 + 3a) - stabilized by hand is able to move, while designed in a conventional manner as a diesel, gasoline or multi-fuel engine internal combustion engine ( 3 ) and driven by this generator ( 4 ) is preferably detachably covered by a preferably sound-insulating, hinged and preferably aerodynamically optimized in the form designed wall and the base plate or the double bottom of the chassis is preferably - at least partially - formed as a cavity of a preferably unbreakable container for receiving the fuel of the internal combustion engine. Device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it consists of an electric generator, in particular high power generator, which depends on the wheels of the device to be attached to the vehicle when needed and when the engine is idling and rolling out of the vehicle via one of the car driver or automatically switchable electromagnetic coupling device, especially when driving downhill and is powered by a detachable leading to the car cable charging the batteries located in the car for the electric drive of the team. Device according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the chassis a) is designed as a per se known single-axle chassis ( 1 ) and b) the track width of the same is smaller or alternatively designed according to the towing vehicle ( 2 B . 2c . 4 ) and c) the wheels of the chassis are freely pivotally mounted by bearings to levers pivotable through 360 ° or by a turntable. ( 4 . 6 + 7 ). Device according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that two at the same height and preferably parallel to the ball-head coupling device ( 14 ) and mutually attached and detachable connection wires ( 12 are provided, which connect the base plate, the chassis or the chassis of the device for range extension and the towing vehicle in the lateral direction of movement - at least approximately - rigidly, while the mechanical connections each have a low - preferably sprung - length tolerance to the movements of attached device while driving, ( 2 B + 2c Alternatively, instead of the elastic connection through the connecting wire ropes (FIG. 12 ) Pipes or rods are provided with joints, which allow for laterally rigid connection, the vertical or approximately vertical movements of the device for range extension. Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the distance between attached range extender device and motor vehicle by a variable in length, preferably extending within a tube drawbar ( 25 ) by means of threaded rod, counter thread and by a crank on the back of the attached device changeable, in particular after coupling can be shortened. ( 7b ). Device according to one or more of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the combustion engine mounted on the attached chassis, preferably in the longitudinal direction, ( 3 ) by means of a shaft, preferably propeller shaft ( 21 ) and subsequent extension wave ( 22 ) preferably via a manually or automatically switchable transmission ( 24 ) is connected in a torque-locking manner with the rear wheels of the towing vehicle with an automatically or manually shiftable clutch, while the electric drive of the towing vehicle preferably drives the front wheels in a manner known per se. ( 7 + 8th ). Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a rollable frame ( 26 ) is provided, which before disconnected from the car with the range extender device, so that the device is then manually movable and can be parked together with the frame. ( 9 to 9c ). Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is connected via a known mechanical coupling device with a truck or a commercial vehicle with electric drive - for the purpose of supplying the electric drive energy when needed. Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a housing enclosed by the separate space for the accommodation of objects such as in particular luggage.

Images