Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
In a self-propelled parallel hybrid drive type vehicle which includes an electric motor and a fast discharge-recharge type propulsion battery, as well as an engine, and a fast discharge-recharge battery control system, and wherein there is provision to charge the fast discharge-recharge battery with employment of regenerative braking, and to employ supplementary charging with use of energy supplied by the engine, the method of controlling the charging of the fast discharge-recharge type battery which consists in the steps of, 1. as an override of the operator's control of regenerative braking, providing so that, if not earlier terminated as a result of operator control action, or a drop in vehicle speed, termination of regenerative braking will take place at a point in time determined, at least in part, by the history of cell current subsequent to braking initiation, 2. providing via response to time-related variations in the magnitude of battery voltage and current, to generate within the said charge control system, one or more indications of the state of charge of the fast discharge-recharge battery following discharge termination, 3. providing so that supplementary charging, when not held in abeyance by regenerative braking, and except when interrupted by a process of discharge, will terminate when the fast discharge-recharge battery voltage per series connected cell, attains or exceeds a value that depends on information obtained in step 2 above.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
226 words
In a self-propelled parallel hybrid drive type vehicle which includes an electric motor and a fast discharge-recharge type propulsion battery, as well as an engine, and a fast discharge-recharge battery control system, and wherein there is provision to charge the fast discharge-recharge battery with employment of regenerative braking, and to employ supplementary charging with use of energy supplied by the engine, the method of controlling the charging of the fast discharge-recharge type battery which consists in the steps of, 1. as an override of the operator's control of regenerative braking, providing so that, if not earlier terminated as a result of operator control action, or a drop in vehicle speed, termination of regenerative braking will take place at a point in time determined, at least in part, by the history of cell current subsequent to braking initiation, 2. providing via response to time-related variations in the magnitude of battery voltage and current, to generate within the said charge control system, one or more indications of the state of charge of the fast discharge-recharge battery following discharge termination, 3. providing so that supplementary charging, when not held in abeyance by regenerative braking, and except when interrupted by a process of discharge, will terminate when the fast discharge-recharge battery voltage per series connected cell, attains or exceeds a value that depends on information obtained in step 2 above.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 in which the aspect of cell current history responded to in step 1 is its time integral.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 in which termination of regenerative braking will be delayed when the magnitude of charge current during regenerative braking decreases.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 in which, if not earlier terminated, regenerative braking will terminate at a point in time determined in part by an indication of the battery's state of charge just prior to initiation of braking.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
95 words
The method of claim 1 in which it is provided that, following termination of any process of battery discharge, if the battery has remained on open circuit for a predetermined number of seconds, when and as speed allows, and providing, also, that, regenerative braking is not in effect, the battery's charge control system will cause supplementary charging of the fast discharge-recharge battery to come into effect at a controlled rate unless the value of battery voltage on open circuit at the end of said predetermined number of seconds exceeds a charge control system reference value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
182 words
The method of claim 1 in which termination of supplementary charging, if not otherwise occurring, will be caused to take place when battery voltage per series connected cell first attains the value, Vsct=Vcn+ACRsctnIsct+fl[Vdo(t)min-Vdo(t)c] where Vcn=a charge control system reference voltage that approximates to battery voltage per series connected cell in normal cycling processes of discharge and recharge, at the start of regenerative braking, when state of charge is normal, Isct=battery cell current at termination of supplementary charge, ACRsctn=a charge control system reference parameter that approximates apparent cell resistance at supplementary charge termination under normal cycling conditions, is Vdo(t)min=the lowest value of Vdo(t) that the battery experiences in the interval between termination of a process of discharge and termination of supplementary charging, Vdo(t)c=a control system reference voltage that approximates to Vdo(t)n, Vdo(t)=the battery voltage per series connected cell that obtains when, following termination of a process of discharge, the battery has remained on open circuit for t seconds, Vdo(t)n=the value of Vdo(t) that applies in normal cycling discharge-recharge when state of charge is normal, and fl[Vdo(t)min-Vdo(t)c] represents an empirically determinable function of Vdo(t)min.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
94 words
The method of claim 1 in which, if not otherwise occurring, termination of supplementary charging will be caused to take place when battery voltage per series connected cell attains the value, Vsct=Vcn+ACRsctnIsct +F3[SCRjbdt] where ACRjbdt=(Vcn-Vjbdt)/Ijbdt Vjbdt=battery voltage per series connected cell just prior to discharge termination Ijbdt=cell current on discharge just prior to discharge termination Vcn=a control system reference voltage that approximates to battery voltage per series connected cell at the start of regenerative braking in normal cycling discharge-recharge when state of charge is normal and f3[ACRjbdt] represents an empirically determinable function of ACRfbdt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
102 words
The method of claim 1 in which the positive electrodes of the fast discharge-recharge type battery are of porous nickel type and have been impregnated with nickelous hydroxide, and in which the cells are equipped with resealable pressure relief type vents which operate to seal against inflow of air, and permit venting of internally generated gas to atmosphere only when cell internal pressure exceeds a predetermined value, and the battery charge control system is so adjusted as to hold rate of gas evolution within the cells low enough to avoid development of sufficient internal pressure to cause venting of internally generated gas.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 8 in which the negative electrodes are of porous nickel type and have been impregnated with cadmium hydroxide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 in which the fast discharge-recharge battery is of the lead-acid type.