Energy regenerating mechanism of an elektric automobile

Abstract: There is disclosed an energy regenerating mechanism of an automobile, particulary to that adapted for an electric car. The energy regeneating mechanism is characterized in that a plurality of generators (6; 16; 22; 22') are mounted in a predetermind spaced intervals on a shaft (7; 17) which is coaxailly disposed with a drive shaft (1; 11). The plurality of a kinetic energy generated when the engine idles and when a first clutch (5a, 15a) mounted on the drive shaft (1; 11) is connected with a second clutch (5b; 15b) of the shaft (7; 17) and convert the kinetic energy into an electric energy.

Description: The present invention relates to an energy regenerating mechanism of an electric automobile for utilizing a kinetic energy generated when an engine of the automobile idles, particularly to the energy regenerating mechanism of an electric car capable of increasing the travel distance by one time charging of a battery. There have been conventionally invented various mechanisms for collecting or utilizing a kinetic energy generated while the engine idles as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 54-95424 in which the turning forth of a drive shaft is transmitted to the kinetic energy transmission shaft and accumulated in elastic springs, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 46-25884 in which kinetic energy of the automoble is accumulated as compressed air or in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 55-156724 in which the kinetic energy is accumulated by utilizing a distortion of an elastic member. Furthermore, there is disclosed Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 46-41767 for collecting the electric energy. The conventional various mechanisms for collecting the kinetic energy physically accumulate the kinetic energy of the automobile, and utilize the accumulated energy at the start of engine. However, these mechanisms are complex and can not accumulate energy sufficiently, hence they are difficult to be put into practical use. Particularly, the electric car can run practically for about 150 Km per day with one time full charging of a battery. Hence, according to the electric car, it takes much time for charging the battery per day since an output of the full charged battery can be consumed in a day, which was one of the obstacle to have been widely put into practice. The present invention has been made to solve the problems set forth above. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an energy regenerating mechanism of an automobile (hereinafter referred to as energy regenerating mechanism) capable of converting the kinetic energy into the electric energy and accumulate the electric energy into a battery, particularly adapted for the electric automobile. An energy regenerating mechanism according to the present invention comprises front and rear motors and front and rear generators respectively fixed to a mobile chassis, the front and rear motors being connected with front and rear wheels by front and rear driving shafts, the front and rear generators, being connected with the front and rear motors by front and rear coupling shafts, characterized in deriving a kinetic energy generated when the engine idles from the driving shafts, converting the thus derived kinetic energy into an electric energy, storing the electric energy into a battery, and utilizing the electric energy when the travel speed is accelerated. The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a plan view of assistance in explaining the operation of energy regenerating mechanism according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a plan view of assistance in explaining the operation of energy regenerating mechanism according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. An energy regenerating mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The first embodiment relates to the energy regenerating mechanism in an electric automobile. An energy regenerating mechanism comprises front and rear motors 21 and front and rear generators 22 respectively fixed to a mobile chassis 20, the front and rear motors 21 being connected with front and rear wheels 23 by front and rear driving shafts 24, the front and rear generators 22 being connected with the front and rear motors 21 by front and rear coupling shafts 25. With such an arrangement, a kinetic energy generated when the automobile runs at idle state where an acceleation pedal is not pressed is derived from the driving shafts 24 and the thus derived kinetic energy is converted into an electric energy. The converted electric energy is stored into a battery 28 and is utilized when the travel speed is accelerated. Designated at 26 are the universal joints, 27 are travel mechanism and 30 are regulators. The energy regenerating mechanism according to the first embodiment also utilizes an idling energy. The generators 22 are turned on or off associated with a positive or negative torque of the driving shafts 24 which is detected by a strain guage, not shown, mounted on the driving shafts 24 or associated with ON or OFF of the motors 21. An energy regenerating mechanism according to a second embodiment is illustrated in Fig. 2. An arrangement of the energy regenerating mechanism is substantially same as that of the first embodiment excepting that front and rear generators 22' are attached to the inside of the front and rear wheels 23, the front and rear generators 22' are connected with the front and rear motors 21 by the front and rear driving shafts 24. Inasmuch as the motors 21 and the generators 22 or 22' are connected to the wheels 23 by way of the driving shafts 24 and the coupling shafts 25, it is possible to prevent the kinetic energy being lost and utilize the kinetic energy effectively by converting it into the electric energy.

Claims: An electric automobile comprising: a chassis (20); front and rear wheels (23) supporting said chassis (20) for movement; electric motors (21) drivingly connected to said wheels (23) for rotating said wheels (23), said motors (21) being free from mechanical connection to each other; a battery (28) connected in parallel to said electric motors (21) for supplying electrical energy for operating said electric motors (21); separate electricity generators (22) each drivingly connected to one of said wheels (23) for transforming into electrical energy the kinetic energy of said automobile while said motors (21) are not driving said wheels (23), each of said generators (22) being free of electrical connection to its associated motor; conductors connecting said generators (22) in parallel to said battery (28) for supplying said electrical energy for charging said battery (28); and means for turning off said generators (22) when said motors (21) are driving said wheels (23) and for turning on said generators (22) when said automobile is moving and said motors (21) are not driving said wheels (23). An electric automobile according to claim 1, wherein said electricity generators (22) comprise front and rear generators (22') which are attached to the insides of said front and rear wheels (23), said front and rear generators (22') being connected with said motors (21) by front and rear driving shafts (25). An energy regenerating mechanism of an automobile according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said means for turning on and turning off said generators (22, 22') comprises strain gauges (9) mounted on said front and rear driving shafts (25) for detecting the torque of said front and rear driving shafts (25) and connected for turning said generators (22, 22') on or off.

Inventors: IIZUKA SOUICHI, YAMADA YASUHARU, IIZUKA, SOUICHI, YAMADA, YASUHARU
Applicants: IIZUKA SOUICHI, IIZUKA, SOUICHI
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B60K1
IPC codes: H02K7, B60K17, B60K25, B60K1, B60K7, B60K6