Patent Publication Number: US-2005115748-A1

Title: All-wheel drive electric vehicle

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The field of this invention is electric vehicles, and more particularly, all-wheel drive electric vehicles.  
      2. Discussion of the Prior Art  
      Electric vehicles are well known. However, one problem with known electric vehicles is that they typically can be driven only on a road. Although roads are the main way in which vehicles traverse land, and they have obvious advantages, roads also have disadvantages if the main vehicles that would be using them for travel are electric vehicles such as electric cars. One such disadvantage is that the electric vehicles have to be charged on the road constantly. That requires constant stopping which uses up time and the construction of electric stations for charging. Electric tracks have been proposed but a network of electric tracks has not been laid and even if such a network is laid it is unlikely that it would replace all existing roads in the foreseeable future. Thus there is a need for an electric vehicle that can be used for driving both on ordinary roads and highways and also on a network of electric tracks. This way if a portion of the transportation network remained roads and highways while a portion of the transportation network were converted into electric tracks, there would be a vehicle that can negotiate both portions of the transportation network.  
      In addition, known electric vehicles are not constructed in a manner that would allow them to be used on electric tracks.  
      Another problem with electric vehicles is the cooling system. It is based on anti-freeze or a similar coolant. Anti-freeze is an acceptable coolant but there may be occasions where other materials are available and anti-freeze type coolants are not available. Thus is a need for motor cooling systems that utilize alternative coolants.  
      Still another problem with known electric vehicles is that they typically produce only a moderate amount of volts. This limits the acceleration capacity of the vehicles. It is well known that electric vehicles are not as capable of acceleration as gas-propelled vehicles and are poorer performers with regard to passing and hill climbing. Thus there is a need for maximizing the acceleration capability of electric vehicles.  
      The present invention solves these problems and provides other benefits as well.  
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
      A four wheel drive electric vehicle that runs on a road and on an electrified track comprises an electric drive motor, a battery pack, a foot powered accelerator connected to the electric drive motor that controls an amount of electricity that travels to the electric drive motor, an alternator, an auxiliary generator capable, once the electric vehicle reaches approximately twenty m.p.h., of charging the battery when the battery pack is off or, when the battery pack is on, of transmitting electricity to the motor for extra power, an electrical system for conveying electrical energy from the battery pack to the electric drive motor and for conveying electrical energy from the auxiliary generator to either the electric drive motor or the battery pack, the electrical system including a voltage regulator for regulating the voltage coming out of the auxiliary generator, a pair of motorized legs with balled feet, each of the motorized legs capable of being lowered so as to make contact with the electrified track that supplies electric power to drive the electric drive motor when the battery pack is off and a cooling system for cooling the motor including a cooling tank that contains oil that is circulated through oil piping. A separate portable charger for charging the batteries at home or when the vehicle is not in use is included. The vehicle also includes the usual essential elements such as a chassis including a driving wheel, two front wheels on opposite ends of a front axle, a front differential positioned on the front axle and a front drive shaft connected to the differential, two rear wheels on opposite ends of a rear axle, a rear differential positioned on the rear axle and a rear drive shaft connected to the differential, a transfer case for transmitting rotary motion to the front and rear drive shafts and a transmission connected to the electric drive motor  
     IMPORTANT OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES  
      The following important objects and advantages of the present invention are: 
          (1) to provide an electric vehicle that can be driven over an electric track;     (2) to provide an electric vehicle whose force is produced from the turning of each of the four wheels of the vehicle,     (3) to provide an electric vehicle whose electrical system can produce 120 volts of force to move the vehicle;     (4) to provide an electric vehicle that is suitable for being driven both on the road and highway and on an electric track;     (5) to provide an electric vehicle that has a cooling system for the motor that uses oil as the coolant;     (6) to provide an electric vehicle whose battery can be charged when the vehicle is not in use;     (7) to provide an electric vehicle whose battery can be charged while the driver is at home;     (8) to provide an electric vehicle that can draw on several different power sources including an electric track, a battery pack and an auxiliary generator;     (9) to provide an electric vehicle that can easily climb an upward incline such as a hill;     (10) to provide an electric vehicle that can easily pass another automobile on the highway;     (11) to provide an electric vehicle whose battery can be charged while the vehicle is being driven;     (12) to provide an electric vehicle that has two electric generators—the auxiliary generator that can provide auxiliary electricity to assist the battery and an alternator that can be used to run the accessory systems of the vehicle, such as the lights, air conditioning, etc.;     (13) to provide an electric vehicle with motorized legs so that with the push of a button the vehicle can be switched into a mode that draws electricity from an electric track and allows the vehicle to run on the electric track; and     (14) to provide an electric vehicle that can negotiate all parts of a transportation network, a portion of which is roads and highways and a portion of which is a network of electric tracks.       

    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a flow diagram of the all-wheel electric vehicle of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the cooling system of the all-wheel electric vehicle of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the all-wheel electric vehicle of the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a front view of the all-wheel electric vehicle of the present invention with its motorized legs in a “down” position.  
       FIG. 5  is a side view of an alternative embodiment showing a rear wheel drive electric vehicle in accordance with the present invention with its motorized legs in a “down” position.  
       FIG. 6  is an electric wiring diagram for the all-wheel drive electric vehicle of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      The apparatus of the present invention will now be illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings. The electric vehicle of the present invention has been assigned reference numeral  100  Other elements have been assigned the reference numerals referred to below.  
      It is noted that the terms “electric motor” and “electric drive motor” is used herein to denote the vehicle&#39;s motor that causes the vehicle to move. Any other reference to a “motor” is to one or more motors that are designed merely to operate particular limited parts within the vehicle such as the motor for the fan, i.e. the fan motor, or the motors associated with the legs, i.e. the leg motors, as described in further detail below.  
      As seen from  FIGS. 1-6 , the electric vehicle of the present invention is an all-wheel drive electric vehicle that runs on a road and on an electrified track. Certain parts of the vehicle  100  are standard and well known. For example a chassis, a driving wheel and other well known parts of a standard automobile or other vehicle are included. There are two front wheels on opposite ends of a front axle, a differential positioned on the front axle and a front drive shaft connected to the differential and there are two rear wheels on opposite ends of a rear axle, a differential positioned on the rear axle and a rear drive shaft connected to the differential. A transfer case for transmitting rotary motion to the front and rear drive shafts.  
      The vehicle  100  includes an electric drive motor  33 , a battery pack  48  with a battery switch  25  for turning the battery pack  48  on or off and a transmission connected to the electric drive motor. The vehicle  100  also includes a foot powered accelerator  80  connected to the electric drive motor that controls an amount of electricity that travels to the electric drive motor. Vehicle  100  also includes an alternator  9  for generating electric power to operate accessories in the electric vehicle, and an auxiliary generator  35 . The auxiliary generator  35  is capable, once the electric vehicle attains a speed of approximately 20 m.p.h., of charging the battery pack when the battery pack has been turned off and of assisting the battery pack when the battery pack is turned on, by transmitting electricity to the electric drive motor for extra power, such as when climbing hills or passing vehicles  
      Vehicle  100  includes an electrical system for conveying electrical energy from the battery pack to the electric drive motor and for conveying electrical energy from the auxiliary generator  35  to the electric drive motor and the battery pack, the electrical system including a voltage regulator for regulating the voltage output of the auxiliary generator  35 . Electricity flows from the auto battery to the starter switch and then to the accessory terminal and through the indicator light to the regulator. From there electricity flows to the alternator  9  and from the alternator  9  it flows to the auto battery to charge it. Electricity also flows from the regulator through diode to the auto battery. Accordingly, a double charging occurs from this process. In addition, when starter switch is turned on electricity flows from the accessory terminal to the battery pack switch  25  and then to the auxiliary switch  36  and finally to the voltage regulator  21  which controls the flow of electric power coming out of the auxiliary generator  35 .  
      The above describes events when the motorized legs are in an up position and not in contact with electric track. Following this assumption further, when the battery switch is on it activates battery relay and permits electricity to flow from the battery pack  48  through circuit breaker, shunt and electric drive motor  33  and through the foot controlled accelerator  80 . When the battery relay is turned off and the output from battery pack  48  is stopped, auxiliary generator  35  can then charge battery pack  48  provided voltage regulator is placed in an on position. Thus, auxiliary generator  35  drives electric motor  33  and aids battery pack  48  with back-up power for passing, climbing hills etc.  
      It is noted, however, that neither the alternator  9  nor the auxiliary generator  35  will send electricity to the vehicle&#39;s electrical system until the vehicle has attained a speed of approximately 20 miles per hour. This is only a crude approximation and the required speed may be somewhat higher or somewhat lower.  
      An important part of the present invention is that vehicle  100 , as described in further detail below regarding  FIG. 3 , includes a pair of legs, each of the legs having a motor associated with the leg and having a balled foot, the legs capable of being lowered so as to make contact with the electrified track and complete an electric circuit that allows the electric track to supply electric power to drive the electric drive motor when an output from the battery pack has been turned off Thus, when the legs  42 ,  49  are in the “down” position the battery pack  48  is or has been switched off using battery pack switch  25 .  
      Another feature of the present invention is its cooling system for cooling the electric drive motor, which is depicted in  FIG. 2 . Although the cooling system is an option, a preferred embodiment would include such a system. The cooling system including a cooling tank. This is shown in  FIG. 2 . As seen from  FIG. 2 , oil pump  24  is connected fan motor  23  draws oil from the oil cooling tank  28  which surrounds the electric motor  33 . Electric motor  33  is attached to a pulley  5  on one end of electric motor  33 . On the other end of electric motor  33  is flywheel  27 . Cooling oil flows from the oil cooling tank  28  at a first point  29  of oil piping  30  through the oil pump  24  and through the oil piping  30  to the oil radiator  31 . The oil then leaves the oil radiator  31  and enters oil piping  30  at a second point  11  and then enters the oil cooling tank  28  at third point  12  of oil piping  30 . This process repeats itself.  
       FIG. 3 , which is a simple bottom view of the electric vehicle  100 , shows the following parts of the vehicle: oil radiator  31 , fan  32 , fan motor  23 , oil pump  24 , auxiliary generator  35 , cooling tank  28 , transmission  37 , transfer case  38 , front differential  39 , alternator  9 , front drive shaft  41 , first leg  42  (also called first motorized leg  42 ), first balled foot  43 , electric drive motor  33 , rear drive shaft  45 , rear differential  46 , first leg motor  47 , battery pack  48 , second motorized leg  49 , second balled foot  50  and second leg motor  51 . The first and second balled feet  43 ,  50  allow legs  42 ,  49  to travel along an electric track with reduced friction as the wheels of the vehicle are moving along the road. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the electric track  51  appears on the side of each road portion  53 ,  55  adjacent a road divider  54 . However, the particular arrangement of the electric track and the road and divider shown in  FIG. 4  is merely illustrative of one possibility and the present invention contemplates a variety of other arrangements.  
      Vehicle  100  also includes a portable charger for charging the batteries when the vehicle is not in use.  
      In a preferred embodiment, the battery pack consists of  10  batteries of which is a 12 volt battery. Preferably although not necessarily, the battery pack  48  utilizes smaller sized batteries such as the batteries used in motorcycles. The battery pack  48  can be turned on and off in the preferred embodiment by simply manually pushing a button which allows current to flow to the motor  33 . The present invention does, however, contemplate other well known means for turning the battery pack on and off.  
      Preferably, auxiliary generator  35  produces 120 volts but in any event the auxiliary generator  35  must produce a voltage equal to the voltage provided by battery pack  48 . This is because while the motor  33  can receive voltage from two different sources, the battery pack and the auxiliary generator  35 , those source must be providing the same voltage. Thus, auxiliary generator  35  can assist battery pack  48  by providing extra power when battery pack  48  is turned on and when voltage regulator  21  is turned on. By manually turning on the voltage regulator  21  you are turning on the auxiliary generator to control the power coming out of the auxiliary generator. Voltage regulator  21  gets power from a single battery like the 12 volt battery one found in any car.  
      Although the voltage of the auxiliary generator is the same as that of the battery pack  48 , the amps are different, preferably. For example, aux gen may be producing 100 amps, or auxiliary generator  33  may even be producing  185  amps like the electric drive motor which also has  185  amps, whereas the battery pack may be producing 25 amps.  
       FIG. 6  shows an electrical wiring diagram for the electric vehicle of the present invention. In  FIG. 6 , auto battery  1  has switch  2  and accessory terminal  3  along with diode  4 . Indicator light  5  advises the driver whether the alternator is operating properly or not. Resistor  6 , amp meter  7  and regulator  8 . Alternator  9  provides electricity for the accessory systems of the vehicle. Portable charger  70  is shown in  FIG. 6  plugged into battery pack  48  in order to charge battery pack  48  whenever the vehicle  100  is not being used, for example at night, at home or when the vehicle  100  is not in use.  FIG. 6  also depicts first leg motor  47  and second leg motor  51  generate electric power for and are connected to first motorized leg  42  and second motorized leg  49  respectively. Further, in  FIG. 6 , circuit breaker  73  amp meter  74 , shunt  75  and battery pack  48  as well as voltmeter  77 , battery relay  78  and amp meter  79 . Auxiliary generator  35  has voltage regulator  21  and auxiliary switch  36  associated therewith. Accelerator  80  controls the amount of electric power going to motor  33 . Auxiliary relay  84  and battery switch  25  are also shown in  FIG. 6 .  
       FIG. 5  is a side view of an alternative embodiment showing a rear wheel drive electric vehicle in accordance with the present invention with its motorized legs in a “down” position. In accordance with  FIG. 5 , accelerator  80 , auxiliary generator  35 , battery pack  48  and wheel assembly  6 , first leg motor  47 , pulley  5 , first leg  42 , first balled foot  43 , oil cooling tank  28 , electric drive motor  33  and rear wheel differential  46 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , vehicle  100  is based on rear wheel drive by the two rear wheels.  
      In the rear wheel drive version depicted in  FIG. 5 , the vehicle would not have a front differential  39  or a front drive shaft  41 . In addition, transfer case  38  is unnecessary. Although the nature of the transmission would be different, the other components of the vehicle would be similar.  
      In all embodiments, vehicle  100  of the present invention is also useful for traveling through tunnels.  
      It is to be understood that while the apparatus of this invention have been described and illustrated in detail, the above-described embodiments are simply illustrative of the principles of the invention. It is to be understood also that various other modifications and changes may be devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof It is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. The spirit and scope of this invention are limited only by the spirit and scope of the following claims.