US5346031A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hybrid motor vehicle having an electric motor and utilizing an internal combustion engine for fast charge during cruise mode off condition
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1993-10-25
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Granted: 1994-09-13
•
Expires: 2013-10-25
Abstract
Abstract A hybrid motor vehicle utilizing electric motor propulsion prior to cruise mode detection condition and internal combustion engine propulsion during cruise mode.
Inventors
- 👤 Conrad O. Gardner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 09:52
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60W; B60W20/00; B60W20/10; B60K; B60K6/00; B60K6/20; B60K6/42; B60K6/46; B60K6/50; B60K6/52; B60L; B60L50/00; B60L50/10; B60L50/16; B60L50/50; B60L50/60; B60L50/61; B60W10/00; B60W10/02; B60W10/04; B60W10/06; B60W10/08; B60W30/00; B60W30/14; B60W30/143; B60K17/00; B60K17/34; B60K17/356; B60L2220/00; B60L2220/10; B60L2220/20; B60L2260/00; B60L2260/20; B60L2260/28; B60W2540/00; B60W2540/10; B60W2540/103; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/60; Y02T10/62; Y02T10/70; Y02T10/7072; Y10; Y10S; Y10S903/00; Y10S903/902; Y10S903/903; Y10S903/904; Y10S903/915; Y10S903/916; Y10S903/946
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
246 words
In combination in a motor vehicle having a first pair of wheels and a second pair of wheels: an electric motor; a combustion engine; a fast charge-discharge battery for transferring electrical energy to said electric motor; a cruise mode control circuit having preprogrammed cruise mode operating conditions which includes a cruise mode on condition when the vehicle operating speed exceeds a predetermined level and for a predetermined time interval and a cruise mode off condition when the cruise mode operating conditions have not been satisified, said control circuit automatically activating first coupling means for connecting said electric motor to one of said first and second pairs of wheels during the cruise mode off condition and automatically activating second coupling means for connecting said combustion engine to one of said first and second pairs of wheels during the cruise mode on condition; said cruise mode control circuit activating third coupling means for connecting said combustion engine to an electric power generator for charging said fast charge-discharge battery during the cruise mode off condition; and user controlled means bypassing said control circuit for activating said first coupling means for connecting said electric motor to one of said first and second pairs of wheels during the cruise mode on condition, and user controlled means bypassing said control circuit for activating said second coupling means for connecting said combustion engine to one of said first and second pairs of wheels in the event of failure of said fast charge-discharge battery.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
246 words
In combination in a motor vehicle having a first pair of wheels and a second pair of wheels: an electric motor; a combustion engine; a fast charge-discharge battery for transferring electrical energy to said electric motor; a cruise mode control circuit having preprogrammed cruise mode operating conditions which includes a cruise mode on condition when the vehicle operating speed exceeds a predetermined level and for a predetermined time interval and a cruise mode off condition when the cruise mode operating conditions have not been satisified, said control circuit automatically activating first coupling means for connecting said electric motor to one of said first and second pairs of wheels during the cruise mode off condition and automatically activating second coupling means for connecting said combustion engine to one of said first and second pairs of wheels during the cruise mode on condition; said cruise mode control circuit activating third coupling means for connecting said combustion engine to an electric power generator for charging said fast charge-discharge battery during the cruise mode off condition; and user controlled means bypassing said control circuit for activating said first coupling means for connecting said electric motor to one of said first and second pairs of wheels during the cruise mode on condition, and user controlled means bypassing said control circuit for activating said second coupling means for connecting said combustion engine to one of said first and second pairs of wheels in the event of failure of said fast charge-discharge battery.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said first coupling means connects the electric motor to said first pair of wheels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said second coupling means connects the combustion engine to said second pair of wheels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
291 words
In combination in a motor vehicle having a first pair of wheels and a second pair of wheels: an electric motor; a combustion engine; a fast charge-discharge battery for transferring electrical energy to said electric motor; a cruise mode control circuit having preprogrammed cruise mode operating conditions which includes a cruise mode on condition when the vehicle operating speed exceeds a predetermined level and for a predetermined time interval and a cruise mode off condition when the cruise mode operating conditions have not been satisified, said control circuit automatically activating first coupling means for connecting said electric motor to one of said first and second pairs of wheels and deactivating second coupling means for disconnecting said combustion engine from one of said first and second pairs of wheels during the cruise mode off condition and said control circuit automatically activating said second coupling means for connecting said combustion engine to one of said first and second pairs of wheels and deactivating said first coupling means for disconnecting said electric motor from one of said first and second pairs of wheels during the cruise mode on condition; said cruise mode control circuit activating third coupling means for connecting said combustion engine to an electric power generator for charging said fast charge-discharge battery during the cruise mode off condition; and user controlled means bypassing said control circuit for activating said first coupling means for connecting said electric motor to one of said first and second pairs of wheels during the cruise mode on condition, and user controlled means bypassing said control circuit for activating said second coupling means for connecting said combustion engine to one of said first and second pairs of wheels in the event of failure of said fast charge-discharge battery.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
291 words
In combination in a motor vehicle having a first pair of wheels and a second pair of wheels: an electric motor; a combustion engine; a fast charge-discharge battery for transferring electrical energy to said electric motor; a cruise mode control circuit having preprogrammed cruise mode operating conditions which includes a cruise mode on condition when the vehicle operating speed exceeds a predetermined level and for a predetermined time interval and a cruise mode off condition when the cruise mode operating conditions have not been satisified, said control circuit automatically activating first coupling means for connecting said electric motor to one of said first and second pairs of wheels and deactivating second coupling means for disconnecting said combustion engine from one of said first and second pairs of wheels during the cruise mode off condition and said control circuit automatically activating said second coupling means for connecting said combustion engine to one of said first and second pairs of wheels and deactivating said first coupling means for disconnecting said electric motor from one of said first and second pairs of wheels during the cruise mode on condition; said cruise mode control circuit activating third coupling means for connecting said combustion engine to an electric power generator for charging said fast charge-discharge battery during the cruise mode off condition; and user controlled means bypassing said control circuit for activating said first coupling means for connecting said electric motor to one of said first and second pairs of wheels during the cruise mode on condition, and user controlled means bypassing said control circuit for activating said second coupling means for connecting said combustion engine to one of said first and second pairs of wheels in the event of failure of said fast charge-discharge battery.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said first coupling means connects the electric motor to said first pair of wheels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said second coupling means connects the combustion engine to said second pair of wheels.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-09-12 | 1998-03-14 | 1998-09-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-09-12 | 2002-03-14 | 2002-09-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-09-12 | 2006-03-14 | 2006-09-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |