Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A drivetrain (48) adapted for use with an electric vehicle (10) having at least one tractive wheel (12), said drivetrain, comprising: a substantially fixed D.C. power source (40); a single-phase brushless A.C. motor (26) for imparting torque to said wheel, said motor including, (i) a stator (96) adapted for mechanical grounding to a relatively stationary portion (16) of said vehicle, and (ii) a permanent magnet external rotor (26) disposed for rotation about said stator for magnetic interaction therewith and adapted for operably engaging said wheel; an inverter (44) for providing a power input from said power source, and a power output to said motor in response to switch command signals; and a control circuit (46) operative to receive an operator demand signal and to generate said switch command signals as a function thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A drivetrain (48) adapted for use with an electric vehicle (10) having at least one tractive wheel (12), said drivetrain, comprising: a substantially fixed D.C. power source (40); a single-phase brushless A.C. motor (26) for imparting torque to said wheel, said motor including, (i) a stator (96) adapted for mechanical grounding to a relatively stationary portion (16) of said vehicle, and (ii) a permanent magnet external rotor (26) disposed for rotation about said stator for magnetic interaction therewith and adapted for operably engaging said wheel; an inverter (44) for providing a power input from said power source, and a power output to said motor in response to switch command signals; and a control circuit (46) operative to receive an operator demand signal and to generate said switch command signals as a function thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The drivetrain of Claim 1, further comprising transmission means (20) adapted to mechanically couple the rotor of said motor to said tractive wheel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The drivetrain of Claim 2, wherein said transmission means comprises an input shaft (32), an output shaft (22) and selectable multiple gear ratios engagingly disposed therebetween.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The drivetrain of Claim 1, wherein said D.C. power source comprises at least one chemical battery.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The drivetrain of Claim 2, wherein said transmission further comprises a mechanical differential operative to transfer torque to a plurality of axially aligned tractive wheels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The drivetrain of Claim l, wherein said rotor comprises a plurality of ferrite ceramic magnets (132).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
171 words
A drivetrain adapted for use with an electric vehicle having at least one tractive wheel, said drivetrain comprising: a substantially fixed D.C. power source; a single-phase brushless A.C. motor for imparting torque to said wheel, said motor including, (i) an elongated central shaft (28), (ii) a frame assembly (30) adapted for mechanical grounding said shaft to a relatively stationary portion of said vehicle, (iii) a stator assembly secured to said shaft and characterized by a plurality of outwardly directed salient poles (102) and associated induction coils (110), and (iv) a rotor assembly rotatably disposed on said shaft and substantially enclosing said stator assembly, said rotor assembly characterized by a plurality of arcuate permanent magnet segments spaced radially outwardly from said poles for magnetic interaction therewith; an inverter for providing a power input from said power source and a power output to said motor in response to switch command signals; and a control circuit operative to receive an operator demand signal and to generate said switch command signals as a function thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
171 words
A drivetrain adapted for use with an electric vehicle having at least one tractive wheel, said drivetrain comprising: a substantially fixed D.C. power source; a single-phase brushless A.C. motor for imparting torque to said wheel, said motor including, (i) an elongated central shaft (28), (ii) a frame assembly (30) adapted for mechanical grounding said shaft to a relatively stationary portion of said vehicle, (iii) a stator assembly secured to said shaft and characterized by a plurality of outwardly directed salient poles (102) and associated induction coils (110), and (iv) a rotor assembly rotatably disposed on said shaft and substantially enclosing said stator assembly, said rotor assembly characterized by a plurality of arcuate permanent magnet segments spaced radially outwardly from said poles for magnetic interaction therewith; an inverter for providing a power input from said power source and a power output to said motor in response to switch command signals; and a control circuit operative to receive an operator demand signal and to generate said switch command signals as a function thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The drivetrain of Claim 7, wherein said shaft is secured to said frame assembly proximate at least one end thereof, and said drivetrain further comprises an output bus (122, 124, 126) for electrically interconnecting said motor and inverter extending, in part, axially through said secured shaft end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The drivetrain of Claim 7, wherein said motor has a like number of said poles and magnet segments.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The drivetrain of Claim 9, wherein said pole is substantially circumferentially coextensive with each said magnet segment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The drivetrain of Claim 7, wherein there an even number of said magnet segments and each said segment is radially polarized in a sense opposite to the polarization of immediately adjoining segments.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The drivetrain of Claim 3, wherein said output bus comprises a plurality of discrete insulated electrical conductors disposed within a single, substantially axially disposed passageway (120) within said shaft.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The drivetrain of Claim 8, wherein said output bus comprises a plurality of discrete insulated electrical conductors, each disposed within one of a plurality of substantially axially aligned, circumferentially spaced passageways (120a, b, c) within said shaft.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The drivetrain of Claim 7, wherein said rotor assembly further comprises means for drivingly engaging said tractive wheel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The drivetrain of Claim 7, wherein said associated induction coils comprise a bifilar-wound coil.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The drivetrain of Claim 7, wherein said rotor assembly further comprises a cylindrical shell (130) defining an inner surface for carrying said permanent magnet segments thereon at circumferentially spaced locations thereabout.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The drivetrain of Claim 16, wherein said magnet segments are adhesively bonded to said shell inner surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The drivetrain of Claim 16, wherein said shell, stator poles and shaft are constructed of ferrous metal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The drivetrain of Claim 7, wherein said salient poles are integrally formed from a single armature member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The drivetrain of Claim 7, wherein said permanent magnet segments are constructed of ferrite ceramic.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The drivetrain of Claims 1 or 7, wherein said control circuit is further operative to effect self-synchronous operation by sensing rotor position.