Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A motor vehicle including an electromechanical transmission system comprising an engine (11) driven generator (10) and a motor (12) adapted to drive one or more wheels (14) of the vehicle, characterised in that the generator (10) is connected to the motor (12) via a DC to DC converter (31) by which the current output of the generator (10) may be varied to provide appropriate current input to the motor (12), and control means (34) including means to sense the performance of the vehicle (33) and a speed control device (35) for operation by the driver, said control means (34) being arranged to control the engine (11) and the DC to DC converter (31) to optimise operation of the transmission to match the requirements of the driver to the performance of the vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
34 words
A motor vehicle according to Claim 1 characterised in that the control means (34) is adapted to provide signals to control the DC to DC converter (31) and an engine management control module (36).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
A motor vehicle according to Claim 2 characterised in that for steady speed conditions, the control means (34) is adapted to set the DC to DC converter (31) to give minimum power output to maintain the steady speed and control the engine management control module (36) to reduce the engine speed to match the power requirement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
A motor vehicle according to Claim 2 or 3 characterised in that under acceleration, the control means (34) is adapted to increase the power output of the engine (11) in response to the requirements of the driver and to control the DC to DC converter (31) to provide maximum torque output from the motor (12) at any given speed for the power available.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A motor vehicle according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 characterised in that the speed control device comprises an accelerator pedal (35) controlling an electrical device which will provide a signal proportional to depression of the accelerator pedal (35).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A motor vehicle according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 characterised in that the means (33) for sensing the performance of the vehicle comprises a transducer associated with a component of the mechanical drive train (15, 16, 21) to the wheels (14).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
A motor vehicle according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 characterised in that the generator (10) comprises an alternator which produces a three phase alternating current supply, the three phase alternating current supply being converted to a direct current supply by means of a rectifier (30), before being fed to the DC to DC converter (31).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
A motor vehicle according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 characterised in that the motor (12) is a permanent magnet brushless direct current motor, the direct current output of the DC to DC converter (31) being converted to three phase alternating current by means of an inverter (32) to drive the motor (12).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that one or more wheels (14) of the vehicle are driven by independent motors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A motor vehicle according to any one of Claims 1 to 8 characterised in that a single motor (12) drives a pair of wheels (14) on a common axle (13), the motor (12) driving through a differential unit (16).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A motor vehicle according to Claim 10 characterised in that the motor (12) is disposed parallel to the axle (13), the motor being drivingly connected to the cage (17) of a bevel gear differential mechanism (16) by which the wheels (14) are driven.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A motor vehicle according to Claim 11 characterised in that a gear (21) driven directly by the electric motor (12) engages a gear ring (20) on the outer diameter of the cage (17) of the differential mechanism (16).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
77 words
A motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the motor (12) is selectively connected to the generator (10) or an auxiliary power source (43, 44; 45) through switching means (40), so that upon deceleration or braking of the vehicle, the motor (12) may be connected to the auxiliary power source (43, 44; 45) and current generated by the motor (12) be used to charge the auxiliary power source (43, 44; 45).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A motor vehicle according to Claim 13 characterised in that the auxiliary power source comprises a secondary electric motor (43) coupled to a low mass/high inertia composite flywheel (44).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A motor vehicle according to Claim 14 characterised in that the auxiliary power source is a high power/density battery (45).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
A motor vehicle according to any one of Claims 13 to 15 characterised in that the auxiliary power source (43, 44; 45) is connected to the motor (12) via a DC to DC converter (41) which will optimise use of the power supplied to or from the auxiliary power source (43, 44; 45).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
101 words
A motor vehicle according to any one of Claims 13 to 16 characterised in that the switching means (40) is controlled by the control means (34) to connect the generator (10) to the motor (12) while isolating the auxiliary power source (43, 44; 45) from the motor (12), during normal operation; isolate the generator (10) from the motor (12) while connecting the auxiliary power source (43, 44; 45) to the motor (12), under deceleration or braking of the vehicle; and connect both the generator (10) and auxiliary power source (43, 44; 45) to the motor (12) under re-acceleration of the vehicle.