EP3129251A2

EP3129251A2 - System for converting an automobile from endothermal engine powered drive to electric motor powered drive

Info

Publication number: EP3129251A2
Application number: EP15715320.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Claudio Cicero
Original assignee: Micro-Vett Srl
Current assignee: Micro-Vett Srl
Priority date: 2014-04-08
Filing date: 2015-04-03
Publication date: 2017-02-15
Also published as: WO2015155375A2; WO2015155375A3

Abstract

This relates to a system for converting an automobile from endothermal engine powered drive to electric motor powered drive. Such a system is characterised in that the replacement of the endothermal engine (M), mounted in series on the automobile, with an electric motor (1), takes place by means of an operation that does not require any modification and/or replacement of the mechanical parts present in the bearing structure and of the components that were moved by the above-mentioned endothermal engine and that, after the intervention, are moved by the above-mentioned electric motor.

Description

Title: System for converting an automobile from endothermal engine powered drive to electric motor powered drive

DESCRIPTION

of the invention having as TITLE "System for converting an automobile from endothermal engine powered drive to electric motor powered drive" in the name of MICRO- VETT S.R.L.

The present invention relates to a system for converting an automobile from endothermal engine powered drive to electric motor powered drive.

As is well known, the use of automobiles equipped with an endothermal engine has two serious drawbacks: one of economic type, due to the cost of fuel and one of ecological type, due to the pollution of exhaust gases.

In the current state of the art, to reduce these drawbacks, there are being marketed new automobiles with so-called "catalysed" engines, as well as electric automobiles and, more recently, hybrid automobiles, namely equipped with both types of engine, endothermal and electrical.

In document DE 20 2010 007408 Ul, there is provided the application of two different drive units of electric type; in particular, each of said two units is positioned directly on a single wheel, which involves considerable complications of constructive and functional type. The same applies to the fact that there is provided the presence of a special support structure for each drive unit of the electric type. Moreover, in this document there is no mention of the drive of the auxiliary services via electric motors placed in replacement of the endothermal engine.

In document MIYAZAKI T ET AL: "DAIHATSU HIJET EV'S PRODUCTION SYSTEM", the impact of the mass production of electric vehicles in the production lines of endothermal vehicles is simply analysed and there is absolutely no consideration for the technical detail of how to replace an endothermal engine with the equivalent electric motor.

In document US 2012/223529 Al, there is described a propulsion of the so-called "hybrid" type (combination of propulsion obtained by means of endothermal engines in combination with electric motors) and there is absolutely no consideration for the possibility of replacing an endothermal engine with an electric motor.

In concrete terms, the automotive industry produces new automobiles, more and more technologically advanced, to the detriment of the automobiles in circulation, which are therefore economically downgraded.

Moreover, with the traffic bans imposed by municipalities on automobiles not complying with antipollution standards, the automobiles still in circulation are further penalised, which, although still running perfectly from a mechanical perspective, tend to be inevitably scrapped.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a system that allows all automobiles, once transformed, to be able to run without the above-mentioned drawbacks.

Specifically, the aim of the invention is to provide a system that also allows automobiles not of recent construction to run freely and thus compete equally, both from an economic and an ecologic point of view, with more recently manufactured automobiles.

This aim is achieved with the realisation of a system that provides for the replacement of the endothermal engine with an electric motor in a fast, simple and economical way.

In terms of construction, the system of the invention provides for the possibility of replacing the endothermal engine, which is mounted in series on the automobile, with an electric motor, by means of an operation that does not require any modification and/or replacement of the mechanical parts present in the structure and of the components that were moved by the endothermal engine and that, after the intervention, are moved by the electric motor.

Specifically, the system of the invention is characterised in that the new motor, the electric one, is positioned in the same space left free by the previous endothermal engine and is applied onto the bearing structure of the above-mentioned previous engine, the endothermal one, using the same anchoring points of the previous endothermal engine and that is, ultimately, without structural modifications of the vehicle.

For the maintenance of the electric motor there is provided the use of a flange or of a suitably shaped support, in relation to the conformation of the frame of the automobile and of the existing gearbox.

Operationally, the new electric motor, which features externally a shape not necessarily cylindrical, is positioned in the engine compartment, freed by the previous, with the axis of rotation of the drive shaft projecting from the body, arranged in the same direction and in the same course as the drive axis of the previous endothermal engine.

In this way, it is therefore possible to directly fit the drive shaft projecting from one side of the body of the electric motor with the already installed transmission shaft of the automobile (gear shaft) and, similarly, the drive shaft projecting from the opposite side of said body allows to fit the pulleys, already present, on which belts are wound that take the rotary motion to the various members of the drive group, so that said pulleys and said members are neither moved, nor modified.

In practice, it is therefore possible to convert a normal series automobile, with an endothermal engine, into a so-called "electric" automobile, by simply acquiring an assembly kit, containing the electric motor, any adaptation brackets, the electronics of control and interface with the original electric system and the rechargeable battery pack, by means of an operation that can be accomplished also by qualified and properly equipped car repairmen, all with a very low expenditure.

Moreover, the assembly kit, being a supply not related to the structural features of the automobile, allows to choose between different solutions in relation to the dimensions of the automobile and the available budget.

Basically, with the above-described system, one converts a normal automobile (gas or diesel powered, possibly also lpg or methane powered) into a pure, zero-emission electric automobile; a conversion which, in addition to the economic advantage constituted by the saving in the difference between the cost of an electric "full tank" compared to the cost of a "full tank" of gas or diesel, is particularly suited for old but still working automobiles, no longer complying with current antipollution standards, which can then be reused again in historic centres and urban centres forbidden to polluting automobile traffic.

The invention will now be further defined by means of the description of a possible embodiment thereof, only given by way of example and not limitation, with the help of the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Fig.l (Tab. I) represents an elevational view of the invention;

- Fig. 2 (Tab. II ) represents the entire cycle of use of the invention;

- Figs. 3, 4 and 5 (Tab. Ill) represent, in a schematic way, the work phases of the invention.

As shown in Fig. l, an electric motor, indicated with reference 1, held on a support 2 and on which there is placed the control unit 3, constitutes a monoblock, indicated with reference 10, which is mounted directly on the bearing structure 20, constituting the frame of the vehicle.

Specifically, the monoblock 10 is positioned so that the two projecting ends of the drive shaft are directly fitted from one side on the drive unit of the drive shaft 30, also by means of a clutch device over the original one and from the opposite side to the pulleys 40, which move the other automobile operating members.

As shown in Fig. 2, the invention provides that the components of the monoblock 10 are sold in the form of an "assembly kit" 100, which, after assembly, is inserted into the engine compartment 200 and locked onto the structure 20 of the frame, without any modification to the already installed mechanical members and components . The usefulness of the invention is evident in that, from the condition illustrated in Figure 3, when the automobile is still equipped with the series endo thermal engine "M", with a simple and rapid operation of disassembly of the motor "M" and positioning of the electric motor 1 in the same compartment (see Fig. 4), one obtains an electrically powered automobile (see Fig. 5), where all the members, such as the alternator "A", the power steering "I", the air conditioner "C" and the tensioner "T" all remain in their position.

The invention thus conceived is achievable in different ways and its constructive details may be various, provided that they all fall within the inventive concept defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. SYSTEM FOR CONVERTING AN AUTOMOBILE FROM ENDOTHERMAL ENGINE POWERED DRIVE TO ELECTRIC MOTOR POWERED DRP E, said system being characterised in that the replacement of the endothermal engine (M), mounted on the production line onto the automobile, with an electric motor (1), takes place through an operation that does not require any modification and/or replacement of the mechanical parts present in the support structure and of the components that were moved by the aforementioned endothermal engine and that, after the intervention, are moved by the aforementioned electric motor.

2. SYSTEM FOR CONVERTING AN AUTOMOBILE FROM ENDOTHERMAL ENGINE POWERED DRP E TO ELECTRIC MOTOR POWERED DRIVE, according to claim 1, characterised in that the new electric motor (1) is positioned in the engine compartment (200), freed from the previous endothermal engine (M) and arranged in the same direction and facing the same way as the motor axis of said endothermal engine.

3. SYSTEM FOR CONVERTING AN AUTOMOBILE FROM ENDOTHERMAL ENGINE POWERED DRP E TO ELECTRIC MOTOR POWERED DRIVE, according to claim 2, characterised in that the drive shaft is fitted directly, projecting from one side of the body of the electric motor (1), with the propeller shaft of the automobile (30), also by means of a coupling device in addition to the original one and on the drive shaft projecting from the opposite side of said body pulleys (40) are fitted, on which belts are wound that take the rotary motion to the various members of the drive group, such as the alternator (A), the hydraulic power steering (I), the conditioner (C) and the belt tightener (T), so that said propeller shaft, said pulleys and said members to not need to be moved and/or modified.

4. SYSTEM FOR CONVERTING AN AUTOMOBILE FROM ENDOTHERMAL ENGINE POWERED DRIVE TO ELECTRIC MOTOR POWERED DRIVE, according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that the electric motor (1) is positioned in the same space or engine compartment (200) left free by the previous endothermal engine and is applied in place of the previous endothermal engine (M), using the same anchoring points.

5. SYSTEM FOR CONVERTING AN AUTOMOBILE FROM ENDOTHERMAL ENGINE POWERED DRP E TO ELECTRIC MOTOR POWERED DRIVE, according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that the electric motor (1) is positioned in the same space or engine compartment (200) left free by the previous endothermal engine (M) and is applied onto the bearing structure (20) of the previous endothermal engine (M), through the interposition of a flange or of a support (2) that connects to the aforementioned structure on the same existing anchoring points.

6. SYSTEM FOR CONVERTING AN AUTOMOBILE FROM ENDOTHERMAL ENGINE POWERED DRP E TO ELECTRIC MOTOR POWERED DRIVE, according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that the electric motor (1), held on a support (2) and on which the control unit (3) is placed, constitutes a monoblock (10), which is mounted directly on the bearing structure (20).

7. SYSTEM FOR CONVERTING AN AUTOMOBILE FROM ENDOTHERMAL ENGINE POWERED DRP E TO ELECTRIC MOTOR POWERED DRIVE, according to claim 6, characterised in that the components of the monoblock (10) are sold in the form of an "assembly kit" (100).

8. SYSTEM FOR CONVERTING AN AUTOMOBILE FROM ENDOTHERMAL ENGINE POWERED DRP E TO ELECTRIC MOTOR POWERED DRIVE, according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that it allows the installation of any kind of electric motor.

9. ELECTRIC MOTOR POWERED AUTOMOBILE, characterised in that it comprises the conversion system according to one or more of the previous claims.