GB2344799A - A motor vehicle braking system - Google Patents

A motor vehicle braking system Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2344799A
GB2344799A GB9827682A GB9827682A GB2344799A GB 2344799 A GB2344799 A GB 2344799A GB 9827682 A GB9827682 A GB 9827682A GB 9827682 A GB9827682 A GB 9827682A GB 2344799 A GB2344799 A GB 2344799A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
motor vehicle
electric motor
braking effect
motor
electrical
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9827682A
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GB9827682D0 (en
Inventor
Carl Charles Bourne
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MG Rover Group Ltd
Original Assignee
MG Rover Group Ltd
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by MG Rover Group Ltd filed Critical MG Rover Group Ltd
Priority to GB9827682A priority Critical patent/GB2344799A/en
Publication of GB9827682D0 publication Critical patent/GB9827682D0/en
Publication of GB2344799A publication Critical patent/GB2344799A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K6/00—Arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion, e.g. hybrid propulsion systems comprising electric motors and internal combustion engines ; Control systems therefor, i.e. systems controlling two or more prime movers, or controlling one of these prime movers and any of the transmission, drive or drive units Informative references: mechanical gearings with secondary electric drive F16H3/72; arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with the dynamo-electric machine H02K7/00; machines comprising structurally interrelated motor and generator parts H02K51/00; dynamo-electric machines not otherwise provided for in H02K see H02K99/00
    • B60K6/20—Arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion, e.g. hybrid propulsion systems comprising electric motors and internal combustion engines ; Control systems therefor, i.e. systems controlling two or more prime movers, or controlling one of these prime movers and any of the transmission, drive or drive units Informative references: mechanical gearings with secondary electric drive F16H3/72; arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with the dynamo-electric machine H02K7/00; machines comprising structurally interrelated motor and generator parts H02K51/00; dynamo-electric machines not otherwise provided for in H02K see H02K99/00 the prime-movers consisting of electric motors and internal combustion engines, e.g. HEVs
    • B60K6/42—Arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion, e.g. hybrid propulsion systems comprising electric motors and internal combustion engines ; Control systems therefor, i.e. systems controlling two or more prime movers, or controlling one of these prime movers and any of the transmission, drive or drive units Informative references: mechanical gearings with secondary electric drive F16H3/72; arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with the dynamo-electric machine H02K7/00; machines comprising structurally interrelated motor and generator parts H02K51/00; dynamo-electric machines not otherwise provided for in H02K see H02K99/00 the prime-movers consisting of electric motors and internal combustion engines, e.g. HEVs characterised by the architecture of the hybrid electric vehicle
    • B60K6/46—Series type
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K6/00—Arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion, e.g. hybrid propulsion systems comprising electric motors and internal combustion engines ; Control systems therefor, i.e. systems controlling two or more prime movers, or controlling one of these prime movers and any of the transmission, drive or drive units Informative references: mechanical gearings with secondary electric drive F16H3/72; arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with the dynamo-electric machine H02K7/00; machines comprising structurally interrelated motor and generator parts H02K51/00; dynamo-electric machines not otherwise provided for in H02K see H02K99/00
    • B60K6/20—Arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion, e.g. hybrid propulsion systems comprising electric motors and internal combustion engines ; Control systems therefor, i.e. systems controlling two or more prime movers, or controlling one of these prime movers and any of the transmission, drive or drive units Informative references: mechanical gearings with secondary electric drive F16H3/72; arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with the dynamo-electric machine H02K7/00; machines comprising structurally interrelated motor and generator parts H02K51/00; dynamo-electric machines not otherwise provided for in H02K see H02K99/00 the prime-movers consisting of electric motors and internal combustion engines, e.g. HEVs
    • B60K6/42—Arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion, e.g. hybrid propulsion systems comprising electric motors and internal combustion engines ; Control systems therefor, i.e. systems controlling two or more prime movers, or controlling one of these prime movers and any of the transmission, drive or drive units Informative references: mechanical gearings with secondary electric drive F16H3/72; arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with the dynamo-electric machine H02K7/00; machines comprising structurally interrelated motor and generator parts H02K51/00; dynamo-electric machines not otherwise provided for in H02K see H02K99/00 the prime-movers consisting of electric motors and internal combustion engines, e.g. HEVs characterised by the architecture of the hybrid electric vehicle
    • B60K6/48—Parallel type
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L1/00—Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles
    • B60L1/02—Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles to electric heating circuits
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L50/00—Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle
    • B60L50/50—Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle using propulsion power supplied by batteries or fuel cells
    • B60L50/60—Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle using propulsion power supplied by batteries or fuel cells using power supplied by batteries
    • B60L50/61—Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle using propulsion power supplied by batteries or fuel cells using power supplied by batteries by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L7/00—Electrodynamic brake systems for vehicles in general
    • B60L7/10—Dynamic electric regenerative braking
    • B60L7/18—Controlling the braking effect
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L7/00—Electrodynamic brake systems for vehicles in general
    • B60L7/22—Dynamic electric resistor braking, combined with dynamic electric regenerative braking
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L7/00—Electrodynamic brake systems for vehicles in general
    • B60L7/24—Electrodynamic brake systems for vehicles in general with additional mechanical or electromagnetic braking
    • B60L7/26—Controlling the braking effect
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02G—HOT GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT ENGINE PLANTS; USE OF WASTE HEAT OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F02G1/00—Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants
    • F02G1/04—Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants of closed-cycle type
    • F02G1/043—Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants of closed-cycle type the engine being operated by expansion and contraction of a mass of working gas which is heated and cooled in one of a plurality of constantly communicating expansible chambers, e.g. Stirling cycle type engines
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L2250/00—Driver interactions
    • B60L2250/24—Driver interactions by lever actuation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L2260/00—Operating Modes
    • B60L2260/20—Drive modes; Transition between modes
    • B60L2260/28—Four wheel or all wheel drive
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/60—Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
    • Y02T10/62—Hybrid vehicles
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/60—Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
    • Y02T10/70—Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Electric Propulsion And Braking For Vehicles (AREA)

Abstract

A motor vehicle 10 comprises electric motors 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d for driving the vehicle and for regenerative braking, and electronic control means 22 for controlling the electric motors 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d so as to produce one of a number of discreet levels of braking corresponding to the position of an accelerator pedal 26. A battery 24 for supplying the motors is charged by an i.c.engine 20 via a generator 18, and by the electric motors when in braking mode. When the battery is fully charged by the motors, the control means 22 directs current to a heater (34, Fig.2) in the vehicle water cooling system. A disc brake system (not shown) is also provided. In a second embodiment (Fig.3), the vehicle is driven by an i.c.engine (120) or by an electric motor (136), and the regenerative braking level is increased or decreased by operation of a steering-wheel-mounted switch (42).

Description

A Vehicle Brakmg System This invention relates to a motor vehicle and in particular to a motor vehicle having a powertrain including an electric drive motor.
The invention is equally applicable to pure electric motor vehicles, series hybrid motor vehicles having an internal combustion engine to generate electric power which is used to drive one or more electric motors each directly driving one of the road wheels of the motor vehicle and to a parallel hybrid motor vehicle in which the internal combustion engine and the electric motor are connected in parallel to a mechanical transmission from which power is transmitted to one or more of the road wheels.
It is known for example from US Patent number 3,544,873 to use the electric motor to apply a braking torque to the motor vehicle. The electrical energy thereby produced is used to recharge the battery of the motor vehicle or if the power cannot be used to recharge the battery because it is already fully charged then it is dissipated in some other manner such as a resistive heater as shown in US Patent number 5,291,960.
It is an object of this of this invention to provide an improved vehicle braking system utilising a regenerative braking effect.
According to the invention there is provided a motor vehicle having an electric motor to provide a driving or braking effect to the motor vehicle, an electronic control means to control the electric motor so as to selectively provide said driving effect or braking effect and a source of electrical power to provide power to drive the electric motor wherein the motor vehicle further includes a driver operable means to select one of a number of discreet levels of braking effect produceable by the electric motor.
The source of electrical power may be an electrical energy storage device such as a battery or fuel cell or may be an electrical generator driven by a fuel burning engine. The driver operable means may be a number of electrical switches each operable to select one of the number of discreet levels of braking effect produced by the electric motor.
Alternatively, the driver operable means may be an electrical switch moveable in one direction to incrementally increase the braking effect produced by the electric motor and moveable in another direction to incrementally reduce the braking effect produced by the electric motor.
In which case, the electrical switch may be a rocker switch.
The driver operable means may be a foot operable lever arranged to select one of the numberof discreet levels of braking effect produced by the electric motor.
In which case, the foot operable lever may be a power demand lever used to provide a demand signal to the electronic control means.
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing of which: Fig. l is a schematic representation of a motor vehicle according to a first embodiment of the invention ; Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a cooling system forming part of the motor vehicle shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a motor vehicle according to a second embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 4 is a graphical representation of the levels of braking torque derivable from an electric motor forming part of the motor vehicle shown inÇigs. 1 and 2.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 there is shown a series hybrid motor vehicle 10 having a pair of front wheels 12a, 12b and a pair of rear wheels 14a, 14b. Each of the wheels 12a, 12b, 14a, 14b is driven by an independent electric motor 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d.
A source of electrical energy for the motors 16 is derived from an electric generator 18 driven by a fuel burning engine in the form of an internal combustion engine 20. The electrical energy produced by the electric generator 18 is distributed to the electric motors 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d by an electronic control unit 22.
Each of the motors 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d can also be used to apply a braking torque to its respective wheel 12a, 12b, 14a, 14c. This is achieved by using the motors 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d as electric generators in their own right so that rotation of the wheels 12a, 12b; 14a, 14b is used to produce an electric current which needs to be dissipated in some manner.
An electrical energy storage means in the form of a battery 24 is provided to act as a buffer for the storage of excess energy produced and to smooth over irregularities in the power of the engine 20. A foot operable demand lever in the form of an accelerator pedal 26 is provided to produce an input signal indicative of the required torque output from electric motors 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d. A potentiometer 28 is connected to the accelerator pedal 26 thereby producing a torque demand signal dependent upon the position of the accelerator pedal 26. The electronic control unit 22 is operatively connected to the potentiometer 28 so as to receive the torque demand signal produced by the potentiometer 28.
A conventional disc brake system (not shown) is also provided to assist the electric motors 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d to provide the required braking effect for the motor vehicle.
With particular reference to Fig. 2 it can be seen that the engine 20 is cooled by a water cooling system comprising a radiator 30 and a coolant circuit 32 for circulating water through the engine 20 and the radiator 30. As is well known, the water cools the engine 20 by transferring heat from the engine 20 to the radiator 30 where it is dissipated into the air that passes over or through the radiator 30.
An electric heater 34 is provided in the cooling system such that water circulating in the system can be heated by it. The power supply to the heater 34 is controlled by the electronic control unit 22. The electronic control unit 22 can direct power generated by the motors 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d during braking of the motor vehicle to either the battery 24 or to the heater 34.
During normal operation when the electronic control unit 22 is operable to cause the motors 16a, 16b. 16c, 16d to apply a braking effect to the motor vehicle it monitors the state of charge of the battery 24 and if the battery 24 is not fully charged any power generated by the braking of the motor vehicle is used to charge the battery 24. However, if the battery 24 becomes fully charged, the electronic control unit 22 is operable to direct the power generated during braking to the heater 34 which then dissipates the energy into the cooling system 32.
The electronic control unit 22 is arranged to receive signals from speed sensors 29a, 29b, 29c, 29d so that it is able to determine the speed at which the motor vehicle is travelling.
As is shown in Fig. 4 the electronic control unit 24 is programmed to provide a number of discreet levels of braking effect from each of the electric motors 16a, 16b. 16c, 16d. The braking effect or torque produced by each of the electric motors 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d is increased by the electronic control unit 22 as the vehicle speed is reduced. This is to prevent a sudden application of braking torque to the road wheels 12a, 12b ; 14a, 14b which could cause the vehicle to skid.
As shown the electronic control unit 22 has five discreet levels of braking torque which it can supply from the electric motors 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d. In the minimum braking condition as illustrated by the line Tmin the electronic control unit 22 demands no braking effect from the electric motors 16a,-16b, 16c, 16d but there will be a small amount of braking effect produced due to losses within the electric motors. Selection of the level T1 produces a discernible amount of braking torque and hence braking effect on the motor vehicle.
Increased braking torque is provided by selecting levels T2 or T3 and the maximum possible braking torque is provided by selecting the level Tmax. The discreet levels Tmin, T1, T2, T3, Tmax are selected by the electronic control means 22 in accordance with the position of the accelerator pedal 26. When the accelerator pedal 26 is sensed to be in a fully"off" position the signal sent from the potentiometer 28 indicates that this is the case and the electronic control means 22 then selects the maximum braking torque Tmax. As the accelerator pedal 26 is gradually depressed the signal from the potentiometer 28 will send a signal to the electronic control means 22 indicating the position of the accelerator 26. The electronic control means 22 is operable to select the lower levels of braking torque as the accelerator pedal 26 is moved from its un-depressed state until, after a small deflection of the accelerator pedal, the minimum braking torque Tmin is produced. Further depression of the accelerator pedal 26 will then produce a positive torque from each of the electric motors 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d to produce a driving effect upon the motor vehicle.
With particular reference to Fig. 3 there is shown a second embodiment of the invention in the form of a parallel hybrid motor vehicle.
A fuel burning engine in the form of an internal combustion engine 120 is coupled to the rear wheels 114a, 114b of the motor vehicle 110 by means of a continuously variable mechanical transmission 38 and a rear differential 40.
An electric motor 136 is also connected to the transmission 38 so as to provide an alternative form of motive power for the motor vehicle. A battery 124 provides a source of electrical energy for the electric motor 136 which is controlled by an electrical control means 122. In a similar manner, to that previously described the engine 120 is cooled by a water cooling system including an electric heater used to dissipate the power generated by the motor 136 when it is used to brake the motor vehicle 110. Once again, the electronic control means 122 is operable so as to give preference to the recharging of the battery 124 rather than the electric heater so as to ensure that whenever excess energy is being produced by the motor 136 it is utilised to recharge the battery 124. In this manner, the battery 124 is kept as fully charged as is possible. The front wheels 112a, 112b are not driven by the internal combustion engine 120 or the electric motor 136 and are free to rotate of their own will.
Power to the wheels 114a, 114b is provided by the engine 120 and the electric motor 136 in parallel, the transmission 38 being arranged to allow the differential 40 to be directly driven by the internal combustion engine 120 or by the electric motor 136.
The electronic control means 122 is operable to control the amount of braking torque produced by the electric motor 136 and also to control the proportion of energy produced by using the motor 136 to provide a braking effect which goes to the battery 124 or to the electric heater.
The electronic control means 122 is operatively connected to a driver operable means in the form of a rocker switch 42 mounted upon a steering wheel 41 of the motor vehicle 110.
The rocker switch 42 can be used to select one of a number of discreet levels of braking effect produceable by the electric motor 136. The rocker switch 42 has three positions, a neutral position in which no signal is sent to the electronic control means 122, a positive position in which the signal sent to the electronic control means indicates that an increased level of braking effort is required from the electric motor 136 and a negative or reducing position in which the signal received by the electronic control means 122 indicates that a lower level of braking effect is required from the electric motor 136.
A driver can use the rocker switch 42 to increase the braking effort produced by the electric motor 136 during slowing of the motor vehicle so as to simulate the effect of changing down gears in a manual transmission motor vehicle. Every time the plus or increased demand side of the switch is operated the level of braking is increased to the next discreet level and therefore the amount of braking effect on the motor vehicle 110 will be increased. The switch 42 can also be used by the driver to control the rate of descent down a hill by increasing or decreasing the level of braking effect being produced by the electric motor.
Although this invention has been described with reference to the use of an internal combustion engine it will be appreciated that any fuel burning engine such as a gas turbine or sterling engine could be used.
It will also be appreciated that the invention is not limited to four wheel vehicles but could be used on a two wheel motor vehicle.

Claims (10)

1. A motor vehicle having an electric motor to provide a driving or braking effect to the motor vehicle, an electronic control means to control the electric motor so as to selectively provide said driving effect or braking effect and a source of electrical power to provide power to drive the electric motor wherein the motor vehicle further includes a driver operable means to select one of a number of discrete levels of braking effect produceable by the electric motor.
2. A motor vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 in which the source of electrical power is an electrical energy storage device.
3. A motor vehicle as claimed in Claim 2 in which the electrical energy storage device is a battery.
4. A motor vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 in which the source of electrical energy is an electrical generator driven by a fuel burning engine.
5. A motor vehicle as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4 in which the driver operable means is a number of electrical switches each operable to select one of the number of discrete levels of braking effect produced by the electric motor.
6. A motor vehicle as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4 in which the driver operable means is an electrical switch movable in one direction to incrementally increase the braking effect produced by the electric motor and moveable in another direction to incrementally reduce the braking effect produced by the electric motor.
7. A motor vehicle as claimed in Claim 6 in which the electrical switch is a rocker switch.
8. A motor vehicle as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4 in which the driver operable means is a foot operable lever arranged to select one of the number of discrete levels of braking effect produced by the electric motor.
9. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 8 in which the foot operable lever is a power demand lever used to provide a demand signal to the electronic control means.
10. A motor vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.
GB9827682A 1998-12-16 1998-12-16 A motor vehicle braking system Withdrawn GB2344799A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9827682A GB2344799A (en) 1998-12-16 1998-12-16 A motor vehicle braking system

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9827682A GB2344799A (en) 1998-12-16 1998-12-16 A motor vehicle braking system

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GB9827682D0 GB9827682D0 (en) 1999-02-10
GB2344799A true GB2344799A (en) 2000-06-21

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Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005012028A1 (en) * 2003-07-31 2005-02-10 Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. Inductive heating system and method for controlling discharge of electric energy from machines
WO2007107576A1 (en) * 2006-03-23 2007-09-27 Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.A. Electric braking system for a road vehicle, with all-electric control
FR2898836A1 (en) * 2006-03-23 2007-09-28 Conception & Dev Michelin Sa Electric braking system for e.g. electrically powered road vehicle, has electric energy dissipating unit and electric machine dissipating electric energy and peak power more than three fifty kilowatts per ton of vehicle, respectively
WO2008000637A1 (en) 2006-06-26 2008-01-03 Societe De Technologie Michelin Redundant hardware architecture for the low-voltage power supply stage of the braking system of a vehicle in which all of the wheels are connected to at least one rotary electrical machine
WO2009060090A1 (en) 2007-11-09 2009-05-14 Societe De Technologie Michelin System for controlling a vehicle with determination of the speed thereof relative to the ground
GB2467736A (en) * 2009-02-11 2010-08-18 Oaktech Ltd Driver Control Aid For Vehicle Hybrid Systems
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WO2005012028A1 (en) * 2003-07-31 2005-02-10 Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. Inductive heating system and method for controlling discharge of electric energy from machines
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EP2035249B1 (en) * 2006-06-26 2014-04-16 Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin Redundant hardware architecture for the low-voltage power supply stage of the braking system of a vehicle in which all of the wheels are connected to at least one rotary electrical machine
US7971666B2 (en) 2007-06-20 2011-07-05 Ford Global Technologies, Llc System and method of extending regenerative braking in a hybrid electric vehicle
US8370013B2 (en) 2007-11-09 2013-02-05 Compagnie Generale Des Establissements Michelin System for generating an estimation of the ground speed of a vehicle from measures of the rotation speed of at least one wheel
US8527177B2 (en) 2007-11-09 2013-09-03 Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin System for controlling a vehicle with determination of the speed thereof relative to the ground
WO2009060090A1 (en) 2007-11-09 2009-05-14 Societe De Technologie Michelin System for controlling a vehicle with determination of the speed thereof relative to the ground
GB2467736A (en) * 2009-02-11 2010-08-18 Oaktech Ltd Driver Control Aid For Vehicle Hybrid Systems
WO2011013018A1 (en) * 2009-07-29 2011-02-03 Protean Electric Limited Cooling system
GB2504353A (en) * 2012-07-27 2014-01-29 Gm Global Tech Operations Inc Redirecting power from an alternator wherein the power is surplus to battery recharging requirements
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