Battery-electric and internal-combustion engine assist hybrid propulsion and implement drive work systems

Abstract

Provided is a lawn maintenance vehicle including a frame having a first axle and a second axle mounted to the frame. A first drive wheel and a second drive wheel are mounted to the first and second axle. An energy storage device and an electric motor having a motor shaft are mounted to the frame. The electric motor is in electrical communication with the energy storage device and the energy storage device provides electrical power to the electric motor. The lawn maintenance vehicle further includes a traction drive. The traction drive is operably connected to the motor shaft, and the traction drive is operably connected to the first and second axles. The lawn maintenance vehicle includes an implement mounted to the frame. The lawn maintenance vehicle can also include an internal combustion engine operably connected to the electric motor.

1 . A lawn maintenance vehicle comprising:
 a frame;   a first axle and a second axle mounted to said frame;   a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel mounted to said first axle and said second axle;   an energy storage device mounted to said frame;   an electric motor mounted to said frame, said electric motor includes a motor shaft, said electric motor is in electrical communication with said energy storage device and said energy storage device provides electrical power to said electric motor;   a traction drive mounted to said frame, said traction drive is operably connected to said motor shaft, and said traction drive is operably connected to said first and second axles; and   an implement, said implement is mounted to said frame.   
     
     
         2 . The lawn maintenance vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first belt, said first belt transfers mechanical power from said motor shaft to said traction drive, said traction drive rotates said first drive wheel and said second drive wheel; and   a second belt, said second belt transfers mechanical power from said motor shaft to said implement.   
     
     
         3 . The lawn maintenance vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein said electric motor recharges said energy storage device when said lawn maintenance vehicle is decelerating or descending slopes. 
     
     
         4 . The lawn maintenance vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein said electric motor comprises a brushed direct current (DC) motor. 
     
     
         5 . The lawn maintenance vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein said traction drive is variable speed and propels said lawn maintenance vehicle in the forward and reverse travel directions. 
     
     
         6 . The lawn maintenance vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising a belt tensioning mechanism to engage said traction drive. 
     
     
         7 . The lawn maintenance vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising a clutch to engage said traction drive. 
     
     
         8 . The lawn maintenance vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein said implement is selected from the group consisting of a spindle driven cutting deck, a snow blower, a rotary broom, and a power assist material collection mechanism. 
     
     
         9 . A lawn maintenance vehicle comprising:
 a frame;   a first axle and a second axle mounted to said frame;   a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel mounted to said first axle and said second axle;   an energy storage device mounted to said frame; an electric motor mounted to said frame, said electric motor includes a motor shaft, said electric motor is in electrical communication with said energy storage device and said energy storage device provides electrical power to said electric motor;   a traction drive mounted to said frame, said traction drive is operably connected to said motor shaft, and said traction drive is operably connected to said first and second axles;   an implement, said implement is mounted to said frame; and   an internal combustion engine, said internal combustion engine is operably connected to said electric motor.   
     
     
         10 . The lawn maintenance vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein said electric motor recharges said energy storage device when said lawn maintenance vehicle is decelerating or descending slopes. 
     
     
         11 . The lawn maintenance vehicle of  claim 9 , further comprising a power circuit, said power circuit comprises:
 a circuit breaker in electrical communication with said electric motor,   a key switch in electrical communication with said electric motor; and   an electrical path between said electric motor, said key switch, said circuit breaker, and said energy storage device,   wherein said power circuit is devoid of a controller.   
     
     
         12 . The lawn maintenance vehicle of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a traction drive shaft rotatably connected to said traction drive;   a first pulley mounted to said motor shaft, said first pulley is a V-pulley;   a second pulley mounted to said traction drive shaft, said second pulley is a V-pulley; and   a first belt, said first belt engaging said first pulley and said second pulley to operably connect said motor shaft to said traction drive,   wherein said first axle and said second axle connect said first and second drive wheels to said traction drive,   wherein said traction drive rotates said first drive wheel and said second drive wheel.   
     
     
         13 . The lawn maintenance vehicle of  claim 12 , further comprising an engagement device mounted proximally to said first belt at a location between said first pulley and said second pulley, wherein said engagement device regulates the amount of mechanical power transferred from said first pulley to said second pulley. 
     
     
         14 . The lawn maintenance vehicle of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 an implement shaft rotatably connected to said implement;   a third pulley mounted to said motor shaft, said third pulley is a V-pulley;   a fourth pulley mounted to said implement shaft, said fourth pulley is a V-pulley; and   a second belt engaging said third pulley and said fourth pulley to operably connect said motor shaft to said implement shaft, said second belt transfers mechanical power from said third pulley to said fourth pulley.   
     
     
         15 . The lawn maintenance vehicle of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 an engine shaft rotatably mounted to said internal combustion engine;   a fifth pulley mounted to said motor shaft, wherein said fifth pulley is a V-pulley;   a sixth pulley mounted to said engine shaft, wherein said sixth pulley is a V-pulley; and   a third belt engaging said fifth pulley and said sixth pulley to operably connect and transfer mechanical power between said motor shaft and said engine shaft, wherein said electric motor operates as a starting motor for said internal combustion engine.   
     
     
         16 . The lawn maintenance vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein said internal combustion engine provides supplemental mechanical power to said motor shaft, thereby allowing said electric motor to operate at maximum efficiency. 
     
     
         17 . The lawn maintenance vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein said electric motor acts as an electric generator to provide a voltage output to an electric receptacle on said lawn maintenance vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The lawn maintenance vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein said internal combustion engine transfers excess mechanical power to said motor shaft to recharge said energy storage device. 
     
     
         19 . The lawn maintenance vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein an engine clutch is mounted proximally to the third belt between said fifth pulley and said sixth pulley.