US 12,128,869 B2
External combustion engine series hybrid electric drivetrain
Joseph Shea McDowell, San Antonio, TX (US)
Appl. No. 16/759,730
Filed by QUANTUM INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, Seguin, TX (US)
PCT Filed Oct. 27, 2018, PCT No. PCT/US2018/057892
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 27, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/084527, PCT Pub. Date May 2, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/578,348, filed on Oct. 27, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0179060 A1, Jun. 17, 2021
Int. Cl. B60W 20/10 (2016.01); B60K 6/24 (2007.10); B60K 6/26 (2007.10); B60K 6/28 (2007.10); B60K 6/36 (2007.10); B60K 6/46 (2007.10); B60R 16/023 (2006.01); B60R 16/03 (2006.01); B60W 10/06 (2006.01); B60W 10/08 (2006.01); B60W 10/18 (2012.01); B60W 10/30 (2006.01); B60W 30/18 (2012.01); F01N 5/02 (2006.01); F01N 13/10 (2010.01)
CPC B60W 20/10 (2013.01) [B60K 6/24 (2013.01); B60K 6/26 (2013.01); B60K 6/28 (2013.01); B60K 6/36 (2013.01); B60K 6/46 (2013.01); B60R 16/023 (2013.01); B60R 16/03 (2013.01); B60W 10/06 (2013.01); B60W 10/08 (2013.01); B60W 10/18 (2013.01); B60W 10/30 (2013.01); B60W 30/18109 (2013.01); F01N 5/025 (2013.01); F01N 13/10 (2013.01); B60W 2510/0676 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle, comprising:
an engine equipped with at least one combustion chamber which receives a mixture of fuel and air that undergoes combustion in the at least one combustion chamber in accordance with an ignition sequence;
a computerized controller which is equipped with a tangible, non-transient medium and which controls the ignition sequence in accordance with an algorithm recorded in said medium;
a temperature sensor which is disposed in said engine and which is in communication with said controller, wherein said controller maintains the engine in an inactive state until the temperature sensed by said temperature sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold value;
an electric motor;
a drivetrain driven by said engine and said electric motor, said drivetrain including a rotatable shaft;
a generator which is attached to said rotatable shaft, and which generates electrical energy in response to the rotation of said shaft;
an energy recovery system; and
an electrical energy storage system;
wherein said controller transitions the engine to an active state when the temperature sensed by said temperature sensor exceeds the predetermined threshold value; and
wherein said controller transitions the engine to an active state by reversing the electrical current flow from a plurality of electrical storage devices to a generator/starter, thereby rotating said shaft and establishing a sustained external combustion cycle, and wherein the motor is operable, while the engine is in an inactive state but after the ignition sequence is initiated, from a first flow of electric energy from the plurality of electrical storage devices to said motor as directed by the algorithm.