Technical Field

The present invention relates to a piece of equipment for additional power supply, particularly usable in electric vehicles or the like.

Background Art

The use of electric vehicles, e.g. cars, provided with an electrically driven motor connected to one or more rechargeable electric batteries, is well-known and increasingly popular.

Also known are the so-called “hybrid” vehicles which combine the use of an electric motor with an additional internal combustion engine.

In particular, the so-called “extended range” electric vehicles use a propulsion system consisting of an electric motor connected to one or more electric batteries, wherein the batteries can be recharged, in addition to the conventional connection to an external power supply line, by means of an appropriate combustion engine installed on the vehicle itself.

The use of the combustion engine to recharge the batteries makes it possible to considerably increase the running range of the vehicle, which is generally limited in the case of purely electric vehicles.

Specifically, the extended range electric vehicles comprise an electric motor for the propulsion of the vehicle, one or more electric batteries connected to the electric motor, a combustion engine, a fuel reservoir connected to the combustion engine and an electric generator coupled to the combustion engine and connected to the electric battery.

The electric generator or accumulator is adapted to convert the mechanical energy generated by the combustion engine into electric energy for recharging the battery.

The solutions of known type do however have some drawbacks.

In particular, the combustion engine and the electric generator require a special housing and generally have dimensions that are anything but negligible as well as heavy. This inevitably entails the need to foresee, design and build a special space inside the vehicle adapted to house the assembly consisting of the combustion engine and the electric generator.

In addition, the result is an inevitable reduction in the space available to the users inside the vehicle, e.g. inside the trunk.

Description of the Invention

The main aim of the present invention is to devise a piece of equipment for additional power supply, particularly usable in electric vehicles or the like, and which has small dimensions and low weight compared to the solutions of known type.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a piece of equipment for additional power supply, particularly usable in electric vehicles or the like, which can be simply and rapidly installed within a vehicle.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a piece of equipment for additional power supply, particularly usable in electric vehicles or the like, and which enables to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art within the framework of a simple, rational, easy and effective to use as well as affordable solution.

The aforementioned objects are achieved by this piece of equipment for additional power supply, particularly usable in electric vehicles or the like, having the characteristics of claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a piece of equipment for additional power supply, particularly usable in electric vehicles or the like, illustrated by way of an indicative, yet non-limiting example, in the accompanying tables of drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an axonometric view of the equipment according to the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the equipment according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the equipment according to the invention; Figure 4 is a schematic representation of an electric vehicle provided with the equipment according to the invention;

Figure 5 is a schematic side view of an electric vehicle provided with the equipment according to the invention.

Embodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to these figures, reference numeral 1 globally indicates a piece of equipment for additional power supply, particularly usable in electric vehicles or the like.

The equipment 1 is installable on an electric vehicle 2 provided with an electrically driven motor 22 and with at least one electric battery 11, wherein the equipment 1 allows the electric battery itself to be charged.

Eventually, the equipment 1 may provide additional power directly to the electrically driven motor 22 of the electric vehicle 2 in the event that predefined conditions occur, during the transit of the electric vehicle itself.

It cannot be ruled out that the piece of equipment 1 is used for different applications such as, e.g., the generation of additional or emergency electric energy in industry or inside private homes.

The equipment 1 comprises at least one combustion engine 3 and at least one electric generator 4 operatively connected to the combustion engine 3 and adapted to generate electric energy starting from the mechanical energy produced by the combustion engine itself.

In particular, the combustion engine 3 comprises at least one engine body 5 provided with at least one cylinder 6 and with at least one piston 7 fitted inside the cylinder 6 in a sliding manner.

The combustion engine 3 also comprises at least one crankshaft 8 axially associated rotatable with the engine body 5 and operatively connected to the piston 7.

Furthermore, the combustion engine 3 is provided with at least one flywheel associated with the crankshaft 8 and operatively connected to the electric generator 4.

The flywheel is adapted to transfer the rotational motion of the crankshaft 8 to the electric generator 4. The electric generator 4 comprises at least one stator 9 and at least one rotor 10 associated rotatable with the stator 9.

In more detail, the rotor 10 is arranged internally to the stator 9.

The rotation of the rotor 10 results in the generation of a magnetic field which is converted by the stator 9 into electric current. The latter is then transferable to the electric battery 11 of the electric vehicle 2.

For this purpose, the equipment 1 also comprises connection means, not shown in detail in the figures, of the electric generator 4 to the electric battery 11 of the electric vehicle 2 and adapted to allow the electric battery itself to charge.

The connection means may also be adapted to allow the direct connection to the electrically driven motor of the electric vehicle 2, so as to provide additional power directly to the electric motor in case predefined conditions occur, during the transit of the vehicle itself.

According to the invention, the rotor 10 coincides with the flywheel.

In other words, the crankshaft 8 is directly associated with the rotor 10 of the electric generator 4 and transfers the rotational motion directly thereto.

This solution allows reducing the number of components in the equipment 1.

In this way, the equipment 1 has considerably small overall dimensions compared to the solutions of known type, and is therefore installable within a small space on an electric vehicle 2.

For example, the equipment 1 may be simply and quickly installed within a conventional electric vehicle 2, such as e.g. at the point where the compartment intended for housing the spare wheel is located or within the trunk of the vehicle itself.

Conveniently, the crankshaft 8 comprises a first end 8a associated with the piston 7 and a second end 8b, opposite the first end 8a, associated with the rotor 10.

The combustion engine 3 comprises a plurality of cylinders 6.

Specifically, the combustion engine 3 is of the type of an opposed-cylinder engine.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the engine body 5 comprises a pair of cylinders 6.

The combustion engine 3 comprises two pistons 7, each fitted inside a corresponding cylinder 6 in a sliding manner.

The pistons 7 are operatively connected to the first end 8a of the crankshaft 8 and, as a result of the combustion process, induce a rotation of the crankshaft itself.

The cylinders 6 extend from the engine body 5 along respective directions substantially opposite each other.

With reference to the particular and preferred embodiment of the equipment 1 shown in the figures, the two cylinders 6 extend from opposite portions of the engine body 5 along mutually parallel and coplanar directions.

The crankshaft 8 extends along a corresponding longitudinal axis A and is arranged substantially orthogonal to the cylinders 6.

Advantageously, the longitudinal axes of the cylinders 6 and the longitudinal axis A of the crankshaft 8 are substantially coplanar to each other.

The engine body 5 is adapted to induce a rotational motion to the crankshaft 8 having a fixed rotational speed comprised between 3500 and 4500 rpm. Preferably, the engine body 5 is adapted to induce a rotational motion to the crankshaft 8 having a fixed rotational speed of 4000 rpm.

This frequency of rotation allows for maximum efficiency of electric current generation by the electric generator 4.

Conveniently, the equipment 1 comprises starting means of the combustion engine 3 which are adapted to start the motion of the combustion engine itself. The starting means make it possible to overcome the initial inertia due to the frictional forces internal to the combustion engine 3 and to set the crankshaft 8 and, consequently, the pistons 7 in motion.

According to a possible embodiment, the electric generator 4 advantageously coincides with the starting means.

The electric generator 4 is substantially also adapted to start the combustion engine 3 when the latter is deactivated.

In more detail, the electric generator 4 uses some of the electric energy from the electric battery 11 of the electric vehicle 2 to induce rotation of the rotor 10 and consequently of the crankshaft 8.

The equipment 1 is, therefore, devoid of a real group of components dedicated to the starting of the combustion engine 3 when deactivated, a solution that allows further limiting the number of the components of the equipment itself and reducing the size and weight thereof.

The combustion engine 3 comprises at least one supply assembly 12 connected to the engine body 5 in a fluid-operated manner and adapted to supply at least one fuel fluid to the engine body 5.

Conveniently, the fuel fluid is chosen from the list comprising gasoline, liquid propane gas, methane, bioethanol, hydrogen or the like.

The supply assembly 12 comprises at least one plenum chamber 13 and at least one supply line 14 connected to the cylinder 6 in a fluid- operated manner.

As is known to the person skilled in the art, the plenum chamber 13 is adapted to store a comburent fluid and to supply it to the engine body 5 through the supply line 14.

For example, the comburent fluid is air.

Conveniently, the supply assembly 12 comprises at least two supply lines 14, each connected to a respective cylinder 6 in a fluid-operated manner.

In addition, the supply assembly 12 comprises connection means 15 adapted to connect the engine body 5 to at least one reservoir 16 of fuel fluid installed on the electric vehicle 2.

In more detail, the connection means 15 are associated with the supply lines 14. Along the supply lines 14, at the point where the inlet to the corresponding cylinders 6 is located, the mixing of fuel fluid/comburent fluid takes place, which allows the subsequent combustion.

Advantageously, the plenum chamber 13 is made of at least one plastic material. The use of a plastic material allows the weight of the supply assembly 12 and of the entire equipment 1 to be significantly reduced.

The plastic material is selected from the list comprising polyethylene, polycarbonate, PVC, composites. The combustion engine 3 also comprises at least one lubrication system 17 adapted to lubricate the components of the combustion engine itself.

The lubrication system 17 is provided with at least one cup body 18 adapted to contain a lubricating fluid.

The lubricating fluid e.g. comprises a mixture of oils of a hydrocarbon nature. Conveniently, the cup body 18 may also be made of at least one plastic material. Similarly to what has been claimed for the plenum chamber 13, the presence of a cup body 18 made of plastic material allows the weight of the lubrication system 17 and of the whole equipment 1 to be considerably reduced.

The equipment 1 also comprises at least one electronic management and control unit 19 operatively connected to at least the combustion engine 3.

The electronic management and control unit 19 comprises at least one on/off unit 20 of the combustion engine 3 configured to switch on/off the combustion engine itself according to the residual electric charge of the electric battery 11. The electronic management and control unit 19 is also operatively connected to the electric generator 4 and is configured, e.g., to drive the rotation of the rotor 10 during the start-up phase.

According to a further aspect, the present invention also relates to an electric vehicle 2.

The electric vehicle 2 comprises: movement means 21 adapted to move the electric vehicle 2; at least one electrically driven motor 22 operatively connected to the movement means 21; and at least one electric battery 11 operatively connected to the electrically driven motor 22.

The electric vehicle 2 may also comprise at least one voltage converter 23 placed between the electric battery 11 and the electrically driven motor 22.

The electric vehicle 2 according to the invention comprises at least one piece of equipment 1 for additional power supply, as previously described, operatively connected to the electric battery 11.

In more detail, the equipment 1 is connected to the electric battery 11 by means of the connection means.

The electric vehicle 2 comprises at least one housing compartment 24 for a spare wheel.

Advantageously, the equipment 1 is positioned in the housing compartment 24. It cannot, however, be ruled out that the equipment be housed in the trunk of the electric vehicle 2.

It has in practice been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects and, in particular, the fact is emphasized that the particular solution of providing a combustion engine the flywheel of which coincides with the rotor of the electric generator makes it possible to obtain a piece of equipment for additional power supply, particularly usable in electric vehicles or the like, with considerably smaller dimensions than the solutions of known type.

The particular configuration of the equipment, therefore, makes it possible to optimize the performance of the vehicle, while at the same time ensuring smaller dimensions and weight.

This result is also obtained thanks to the absence of a real start-up unit and the presence of components made of plastic material.

The piece of equipment according to the invention is simply and rapidly installable inside a conventional electric vehicle, e.g. at the point where the compartment intended for housing the spare wheel is located or inside the trunk of the vehicle itself.